“Ebonics” was a term coined by a group of black scholars to describe the style of speech used by North American people of African descent. Is it divisive? Yes, because it precludes its speakers from academic, and economic competition in a capitalist society. A language barrier of any kind presents this issue, whether it is a native speaker of Spanish in an English speaking environment or an English speaker in a native Italian speaking environment. In any knowledge based environment. It is only when we master these essential skills can we ever assess whether an economic divide is based on race or achievement.

The unofficial official language of the United States is English. It is a required subject whether one attends public or private schools. There is no reason for anyone who has attained at least a sixth grade education to not be proficient in written or spoken English. In fact, I have noticed through my own experience with the older generations, that many of them use language differently in public than they do in the home. Unfortunately, within a decade or so, there is an emphasis on “keeping it real” in which speaking in a certain manner professionally in contrast with friends, is viewed as being a sell out. We can see evidence of this in pop culture. If you take a stroll back in time, and look at acceptance speeches for the Grammy’s for example. You will notice a great divide in an acceptance speech given by Diana Ross or Lena Horne versus one given by Beyonce or Alicia Keyes. Even when if you come across a Delta Blue Queen such as the late Koko Taylor, you will never see her dishonor herself by speaking in a careless fashion.

So what happened? Why is it that economic and educational opportunities have increased and the language quality of a generation with more access, has decreased? Why is it that one can listen to a speech of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or Malcolm X and never hear slang, mispronounced words or subjects and verbs failing to agree? Should we call it apathy, Nihilism or a fear of facing rejection from ones peers.

I often think people mistake authentic black culture with pop culture. The only true African derived dialect of which I am aware is that of sea island creole or Gullah and it sounds nothing close to what is called Ebonics. How do I know, because my grandmother spoke it among her family members but when she went out in public, she used standard English. This was a woman raised in the Jim Crow south. Language filled with slang, urban idioms, and euphemisms have nothing to do with being black. In fact, if you listen to someone like the late chef Justin Wilson, his language is no different from any Depression Era black American. What are we then to call the language of southern whites? Whiteonics? I think it is absolutely ridiculous that people are accepting Ebonics as a language and even suggesting that it should be taught in schools.

In all societies, there are standards to be followed in order for said society to function as a whole. Just as there are rules in basketball, football, and other sports, there are rules to be followed in the game of economic and educational achievement. If one fails to follow, said person will find themselves on the sidelines, warming the bench.