The Language of Ghetto Ebonics: Whatc y'all Talkn' Bout?

Ebonics has been, in the past, an African American vernacular. However, in the present age, it has been embraced in the black male community and transformed into a language that almost needs it's own dictionary in oder to be understood. 

There has been a debate about Ebonics being a main history of African American. Many have asked the question...

- Why are we not allowed to maintain a language that is our own? 

-If Ebonics is not real English, tell me what is?

The problem with Ebonics being adapted by the black male is that, it facilitates a certain frame of thinking. It maintains the frame of oppression and the illiteracy that was present during the slavery time period. I believe it was not the desire of many slaves to speak in the way that they did but rather, it was the limitations that they faced. The lack of privilege to read and write.

 

Many powerful African American movements fought for the voice of many citizens. Is this how we will use this voice? That is what greatly troubles me. It is a means of segregation in itself. We fought against segregation and yet we put ourselves in a different type of segregation! Language puts us in a place of recognition. It has the power to hold accountable. Going to Judith Butler-Giving Account to Oneself. Accountability is highly important since it makes you the presenter and spectator of your own account. Language gives an account of oneself. It thus divides us based on how we are able to engage with others.  In addition, the notion of Subject Formation, in judith Butler, views us as emerging subjects. It perceives the subject as being historical and continuos; the ebonics language affects the future of our children.