This page has been created to provide interested people with helpful links for information on Ebonics. While the Ebonics issue remains a controversy, I hope to provide people with links to various opinions on Ebonics, factual information regarding Ebonics, and news releases concerning the issue. Please click here for my conclusions.
Afro-American Topics of Concern. A collection of links regarding concerns of the African-American community. The section on Ebonics includes links to the pros and cons of Ebonics, the enrichment of the English language due to "Black English," and a perspective concerning Ebonics and racism.
Afronet.com's Up For Discussion. Forum for Ebonics discussion. This site also has links to featured columns on Ebonics, CNN reports on Ebonics, Yahoo's index of Ebonics-related homepages, and MSNBC: Ebonics on the Internet.
AM 1110-WTBQ's THE CHRIS CORDANI SHOW Chris Cordani argues that Black English itself is not a language and has created a list of people profiting from the "Race Card." Interesting opposition in the one-sided style of many radio hosts....
Black English, Looking to the Future 21st Century Racism? A must-read article by Charles Dorsett. Recoginizing the normality of dialects, Charles highlights various dialects in other countries and compares the results to the Ebonics debate. Also included are useful links to the roots of the Ebonics controversy. Highly recommended.
Center for Applied Linguistics Ebonics Information Page. This is a page of lists which CAL distributes to those interested in learning about Ebonics. A very valuable resource.
Ebonics-Black English or Boondoggle? Penelope O'Malley, Ph.D. explores the Ebonics debate. Includes a thought-provoking quote from Toni Morrison.
Ebonics: Black English/White Weapon. Alicia Banks gives her personal opinion regarding causes for opposition to Ebonics.
Ebonics, math scores and the way children learn.Dr. Richard Rioux, colomnist for The Signal discusses the need to go back to traditional educational practices, and the need for educators to stop "experimenting every educational fad that appears on the scene. Dr. Richard Rioux claims that Ebonics is demeaning to children of African-American descent. From a cognitive-based approach, Dr. Rioux explains his opinions concerning education and Ebonics.
Ebonics: Pseudo-Intellectualism for the masses. In opposition to Ebonics, this page refers to Ebonics as fitting "...into the separatist and racist agenda of many black liberals."
John Rickford's Writings on the Ebonics Issue. John Rickford, professor of Linguistics at Stanford, provides multiple links concerning the Ebonics issue. Among the links included are examples of African-American Vernacular English, his pro-Ebonic stance, the resolution of the Linguistic Society of America's stance on Ebonics, and a letter drafted to Senator Arlen Specter, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Committee on Appropriations from January 23, 1997.
Leslie's Ebonics Resources. An interesting site exploring the history of Ebonics, questions and answers regarding Ebonics (its origins, its use to teach English, etc.) and many links to explore Ebonics from the linguistic perspective.
Letter to the Editor Regarding Ebonics. This letter is well worth reading. Richard S. Russell explains the impact of culture on a child's interactions with those outside of his/her culture. He presents an important side of the Ebonics issue: validating Ebonics is validating our students. I suggest this reading for those who see Ebonics as merely a political issue. This letter to the Editor takes Ebonics to the practical level for which it was intended.
The Linguist's List Ebonics Page. This site includes the January 15, 1997 Amended Oakland Resolution, a discussion amongst linguists and the parameters of Ebonics.
Oakland Policy on Ebonics. A synopsis describing the original inquiry into Ebonics, starting the debate. Included in the appendices are common misconceptions about Ebonics, statistical findings about African-American students in the Oakland Unified School District, and core curriculum standards at benchmark grade levels, recommendations made by the Oakland Unified School District Board of Education, and a bibliography.
Schools Recognize Black English. Michelle Locke of the Associated Press, provides a brief, factual report on Ebonics.
TALKINGback. Opinions of 12-14 year old students about Ebonics.
Training for Failure. Bert Woodwall discusses why he believes that "[Ebonics] is the antithesis of education itself."
Using Ebonics to Teach Standard English. An interesting article which demonstrates how Ebonics can be used in the classroom to teach English.
What is Ebonics? A conservative's view of Ebonics. John A. Dreyer claims that "Ebonics is an elaborate, yet ridiculous attempt to give credibility to the incorrect grammar, usage and pronunciation of the English language by some black Americans."
After viewing these sites, I hope that you now have an opinion regarding Ebonics. While the issue appears complicated, the facts remain the same. The current educational system is expressing a need to reach out to the students. Increasing the awareness of educators about the existence of Ebonics will lead to validating the students. Validation is a motivator in education: if our students feel that their lives and experiences are valuable to the classroom, our success in educating those students will be increased.
Comments or suggestions? Drop me a note!
Special thanks to the encouragement and support of Anselmo Villanueva, PhD., my professor of Bilingual and Multicultural Education at the University of Oregon.
Get your own Free Home Page
