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Article: Oakland School Board approves Black English program and sparks national debate.(Oakland, CA; Ebonics)
- Article from:
- Jet
- Article date:
- January 13, 1997
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Johnson Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Oakland (CA) School Board recently voted to recognize Black English, or Ebonics, as a second language, which has spawned a widespread debate.
Ebonics, a term combining the words "ebony" and "phonics" helps students to make the transition to standard English by understanding and translating their mother tongue, according to proponents of the idea.
Several Black leaders have spoken out against the Oakland School Board's plan.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, on NBC's "Meet the Press" said: "I understand the attempt to reach out to these children, but this is an unacceptable surrender, borderlining on disgrace. It's ...