Beyond Ebonics

Despite the media frenzy surrounding the 1996 Ebonics resolution by the Oakland School Board, the term "Ebonics" remains a mystery to most. John Baugh, a well known African-American linguist and education expert, here offers a short and accessible explanation of the origins of the term, the linguistic reality behind the hype, and the politics behind the outcry on both sides of the debate. Using a non-technical, first-person style, and bringing in many of his own personal experiences, Baugh debunks many commonly-held notions about the way African-Americans speak English, and the result is a nuanced and balanced portrait of a complex and deeply fraught subject.