Blog #5

    In the article I read the author, Geneva Smitherman describes the issue of defining  "Black English". She states that the dialect was originally studied in an attempt to change and assimilate blacks into mainstream society. She notes that the study of blacks and use of educational programs were a product of the civil rights movement, as well as the "up-from-the-ghetto and Great Society efforts". Not soon later she speaks on how the dialect is most commonly used today; specifically concerns of social policy and political matters. This is where I connected with this piece of writing, although Smitherman argues that Black dialect is used in social policy and political matters, I have experienced accounts where no social policy was involved but the dialect was still questioned. A specific example of this is hearing questions like "why are you talking black?" or statements like "you talk so white for a black person.". In these situation the interaction is at a low level where each person has nothing really to gain from the other, yet the dialect is still questioned. I found it to be odd that Smitherman didn't address this initially when stating the current use of the dialect. Smitherman instead focuses on the stylistic choices that Black dialect can have with examples like "it bees dat way sometimes" she explains that the statements suggests a point of view, a method of adapting to life's realities. This example is important because it illustrates the power of idioms, as well as highlighting the  adaptation that Blacks were subjected to mixing their own style with the English language stemming from Afro-American culture. Smitherman then dives into the history of the mixing of African culture and the English language. Smitherman later speaks on the issue I brought up earlier, that of black dialect being ostracized on a low social level. She notes that Blacks are ostracized by other Blacks for speaking White English. She then spotlights the Africans that free during slavery, shining light on how literate they were with White English. Smitherman even says that the ability to be competent was a very much correlated with being a "freeman".
    I would like to apply different types of English in my classroom and i'm sure it will arise on it's own. As an African American I don't think it will be too challenged to bring in Black dialect in an appropriate manner. I would try to focus on lyrics from certain artist; those who send a message with their lyrics. Using artist like Tupac and Ice Cube: focused on how they used their music to reflect their reality.
    I think this article helped with my final research project by helping me think of ways to incorporate media, like music into a lesson plan. How I can use the lyrics and language from artist that students recognize and idolize. The focus being mainly on the way the artist style their English.