Rianni Lee

Instructor Hankerson
English 1010
October 25, 2015
Is It a Language or Not?
In If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?, James Baldwin discusses
how black English is an actual form of speech, not only that but it is language that is formed out
of the historical, social and cultural experiences of those who speak it. In Baldwins piece he
talked about how people who live in the same country can speak the same language and still
dont speak the same language. He also talked about how different terms may be used in
black English and English but theyre not used the same way. The last thing Baldwin
discussed in his article, was how people in our country have learned so little from the people that
are actually in our country.
In the beginning of Baldwins article, he talks about how people live in the same country,
speak the same language because its common, but they cant be speaking the same language
because the articulate it differently than others. For example, although Frenchmen all speak the
common language, which is French. Since some are from different parts of France, they all
articulate differently. They are saying the same thing, they each have very different realities to
articulate and control.
In the middle of the article, Baldwin talks about how white Americans and black
Americans dont use black English in the same way and he gave examples like jazz me up

baby is like a sexual term in Black English but white people purified it into the Jazz Age and
used sock it to me. Although they have the same meaning, just not said the same way. He also
says that Black English is a creation of black diaspora, meaning that black people came to the
united stated and came together and learned and taught each other this language. Slaves started
this language.
At the end of Baldwins article, he basically says that in America, white people never
were interested in teaching black people (children) unless they were serving a purpose for the
white people. He also claims that a child cant be taught by some who doesnt like them. Im
assuming he thinks that they will try to trick the child into learning the wrong things or learning
the wrong way. Which is taking away the overall experience of the child learning. Baldwin says
that in a countries that are corrupt, how a child, and his elder can learn anything from the people
of their country that has managed to learn so little.
Throughout James Baldwins article, he gives reasons and explains why how Black
English is a language. He explains how it is a form of history, social and cultural experiences. He
has showed how Black English is a language. So If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell
Me, What Is?