James Baldwin writes a passionate and persuasive essay about how language can be POWERFUL to give insights to understand each other’s cultures.
At the same time, dangerous if we misunderstand each other.
About James Arthur Baldwin
James is remembered for short stories, plays, poems, and novels regarding complex social, racial, and sexual topics.
His notable works include:
| James Baldwin Popular Books | ||
|---|---|---|
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Top | James Baldwin: The Last Interview: and other Conversations (The Last Interview Series) | Check Price |
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Top | James Baldwin: A Biography | Check Price |
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Top | James Baldwin: Early Novels and Stories: Go Tell It on a Mountain / Giovanni's Room / Another Country / Going to Meet the Man | Check Price |
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Top | I Am Not Your Negro | Check Price |
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Top | James Baldwin. Steve Schapiro. The Fire Next Time | Check Price |
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Top | Go Tell It on the Mountain (Vintage International) | Check Price |
If Black English isn’t a Language, then tell me what is? Summary & Analysis
In this essay, the author makes a persuasive argument that we can connect with a community through language.
Yet, we could also disconnect FROM EACH OTHER.
Language allows us to DISCOVER undiscovered such as a person’s identity, hidden hopes, and dreams.
James points out that hypothetically, there were never any black people living in the United States of America.
The white people would not sound how they sound, which is interesting TO THINK ABOUT.
In the essay, it highlights that Black English plays a huge role in American society.
Like White English, it has a deep root in American History.
It emphasizes the point that black English is not a dialect but a Language.
As we all live together in an integrated society, we all influence each other.
James makes a valid point that black people have and will continue to either consciously or unconsciously influence American culture.
i.e., how people speak, musical influence or the way people dress, etc.
As this essay was published in 1979, we have to understand that times were very different back then.
Some of his views could sound controversial, such as why white people taught black people THEIR LANGUAGE to follow their order so they can be slaves.
If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me What Is Quote.
If Black English Isn’t A Language, Then Tell Me What Is
“What joins all languages, and all men, is the necessity to confront life, in order, not inconceivably, to outwit death:
The price of this is the acceptance, and achievement, of one’s temporal identity.”
“Now, I do not know what white Americans would sound like if there had never been any black people in the United States, but they would not sound the way they sound.
Jazz, for example, is a very specific sexual term, as in jazz me, baby. Still, white people purified it into the Jazz Age.”
“The brutal truth is that the bulk of white people in America never had any interest in educating black people, except as this could serve white purposes.”
“It goes without saying, then, that language is also an apolitical instrument, means, and proof of power. it is the most vivid and crucial key to identity.”
“A language comes into existence by means of brutal necessity, and the rules of a language are dictated by what the language must convey.”
“What joins all languages, and all men, is the necessity to confront life, in order, not inconceivably, to outwit death: The price of this is the acceptance, and achievement, of one’s temporal identity.”
“People evolve a language in order to describe and thus control their circumstances, or in order not to be submerged by a reality that they cannot articulate. And, if they cannot articulate it, they are submerged.”
“…under these conditions, the slave began the formation of the black church, and it is within this unprecedented tabernacle that black English began to be formed”.
“People evolve a language in order to describe and thus control their circumstances, or in order not to be submerged by a reality that they cannot articulate.”
Essay Relevance to Today
It could be a valid argument that there will always be some form of racism and discrimination in existence.
Even we feel it is NOT FAIR; We live in a world now where we may take the opportunities we have for granted.
Things our older generation didn’t have, mainly THE INTERNET, allowed people to be all on a level playing field.
In today’s modern western world, we can search for a solution to a problem or any questions we may have WITHIN SPLIT SECONDS.
With the technology growing so rapidly (it’s excellent, but you could also argue the potential risk of AI if we are not careful)…
..it will be interesting to see what 2070 WILL LOOK LIKE.
However, times were not quite the same in the mid 20th century with enormous economic struggle, Civil rights movements, and women’s rights movement.
It was rare to see a highly successful black person (financially) back then because racism, discrimination, and lack of opportunities for black people WERE NOT THE SAME.
Now in the modern world, we live in today, we could argue not just the black race any other race who may have previously been subjected to racism and discrimination is getting equal opportunities regardless of your age, race, or religion.
For example, It has become common to see a highly successful black person.
Whether you see an NBA average salary of $7.7 million, over 70% of NBA players are black.
You see the same in the music and business industry lots of highly successful black men and women.
During the time James Baldwin published this article in 1979, there was inequality.
It was just the beginning of a cultural transformation known as the “me decade.”
It is true that when we look into our society.
We may still find evidence of some form of discrimination and racism even today, which comes across as quite shocking to most of us.
However, in the modern world, we live in today, we could argue things are not as bad as they used to be in the old days and a lot of progress has been made.
People of color could not drink from the SAME FOUNTAIN, had to separate bathrooms, etc. Imagine that!
We have come a long way.
Our grandchildren may find it hard to comprehend that people used to get discriminated against because of their skin color or language.
America is known around the world for its entrepreneurial spirit and FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
James Baldwin 1979 Essay “If black English isn’t a language, then tell me what is?” is a testament to being able to fully express your views, even though YOU MAY DISAGREE with his thoughts.
Due to freedom of speech and among many people, people like James Baldwin, through his writings, helped bring awareness to issues.
It was a little controversial when the essay was written and influenced how we view black English.
