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June Jordan Essay On African American

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"Nobody means more to me than you and the future life of willie Jordan" is a powerful and moving essay by June Jordan that explores the themes of language, communication, love, family, and community. Through her use of language and imagery, Jordan creates a vivid picture of the importance of human language and the impact that different dialects can have on the lives of those around them. Black English use is very important in America and I agree with the fact that Black English should be more accepted in America. African American Vernacular English (AAVE), is a distinct dialect of English that is spoken by many African Americans in the United States. The use of AAVE has long been a topic of debate and controversy in American society, with some people viewing it as a legitimate form of expression, while others view it as incorrect or inferior to standard English. June Jordan emphasizes …show more content…

One reason she states that hits my heart is how if Black English is not seriously recognized in America then that must mean the black race is not fully welcome or accepted either. We preach being an accepting and equal country yet do not accept the most simple and common thing in language. People should be comfortable with speaking in whatever way feels comfortable and right for them without having to worry about the repercussions of what people think. Too many events and differences cause the African American community trouble on a daily basis and the last thing any African American should be worried about when preparing for a job interview is using the wrong form of dialect. It causes an added stress of repeatedly thinking and worrying about how you are speaking on top of answering all of the already stressful enough questions. Staying with job interviews, if they speak improperly or not in white English

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In the article, “Nobody Mean More to Me than You,” by June Jordan, is informative and detailed because the author gives examples of Standard English and Black English and some of the rules for Black English. Jordan was a playwright, professor of English, essayist, and poet at the University of California, Berkley. Standard English and Black English are different and people are either taught one or the other, not both. Some people are so set in their ways that they do not want to learn anything other than Standard English or to be corrected when they are wrong. Are we afraid of the way society has let English become?

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