Talkin and Testifyin: The Language of Black America (Waynebook, 51)

The issues that arise from American neglect of issues of language diversity have historically created barriers to the education of many children. Smitherman's classic text is a lesson in understanding how children begin schooling at different places, with different strengths to be tapped and explored. While it might be critiqued for being overly essentialist, it is a critical step in allowing non-African Americans (and may African Americans, too!) some insights into the history of a fascinating and rich linguistic tradition. I would consider this book an absolute MUST READ for anyone going into classrooms to teach. These are important ideas to consider and, politically, they get far to little time in the popular media. For a starter overview, let me also recommend Delpit & Perry's edited volume, _The Skin That We Speak_, with Smitherman as further explication to the overview presented there.

I don't really consider Ebonics to be a language, but since I had to read this book for class, I guess I could call it interesting... I wouldn't recommend this book unless it was required.