Jillian Mansfield

Larry Pearce

RD # 3

7 Feb 2007

James Baldwin

James Baldwin’s essay “If Black English Isn’t English, Then Tell Me, What Is?” argues that Black English is an absolute language; a language that is not necessarily derived from “white English”, but “a language that comes into existence out of brutal necessity…”. Further, he states that the brutal truth is that the bulk of the white people in America never had any interest in educating black people, except as this could serve white purposes. Baldwin argues that black English is a valid language because of the role it plays in the lives of black Americans; it serves as a means for blacks to control their own circumstances, define themselves, and obtain power.

The argument for Black English, commonly known today as “Ebonics”, comes down to the issue of experience per Baldwin. Without experience, language cannot be powerful. Baldwin worries that English will remain white, even after the education of black children. Baldwin justifies his reasons for the necessity of the creation of Black English by stating that in any language, there are going to be deviations from the norm. He cited the French dialect as an example of how, in many different areas and countries that speak French, the difference from the original language is so huge that one would have great difficulty trying to comprehend a language if they were not from that area. Just as well, they would not understand the necessity for deviation.