Reader Response: “Nobody Mean More to Me Than You And the Future Life of Willie Jordan” by June Jordan
In the essay, “Nobody Mean More to Me Than You and the Future Life of Willie Jordan,” June Jordan examines the black language in America and how it is not a recognized one, for she says, “White English, in America, is ‘Standard English’” (Jordan 125). In other words, because black language is ignored in the United States, its race and identity are ignored, as well. Throughout this essay, Jordan describes her experience as a teacher and how she decided to teach her students, who were mostly blacks, Black English even though they learned that it was not considered proper English. Since Jordan wanted her students to identify with the language that most of them spoke regularly with, she decided to teach Black English. As a matter of a fact, Jordan wanted her students to know how …show more content…
In addition, she wanted to show her students the power Black English can bring, for “the syntax and diction of sentences will tell [the reader] the identity of speakers, the probable age and sex and class of speakers” (125). One day, one of Jordan’s student, named Willie Jordan and who had attended class every meeting except this particular one, unexpectedly did not show up in class. Jordan found out that Willie’s brother, Reggie, was murdered by the police. Sadly, Jordan says, “Unfortunately Black victims of police violence are truly numerous while the resources available to prosecute their killers are truly scarce” (134). Consequently, Jordan and her students wanted to take a stand for Reggie, for they have had families and friends who have experienced this same fate. Therefore, they wrote a letter in Black English to
In the essay, “Nobody Mean More to Me Than You and the Future Life of Willie Jordan,” June Jordan examines the black language in America and how it is not a recognized one, for she says, “White English, in America, is ‘Standard English’” (Jordan 125). In other words, because black language is ignored in the United States, its race and identity are ignored, as well. Throughout this essay, Jordan describes her experience as a teacher and how she decided to teach her students, who were mostly blacks, Black English even though they learned that it was not considered proper English. Since Jordan wanted her students to identify with the language that most of them spoke regularly with, she decided to teach Black English. As a matter of a fact, Jordan wanted her students to know how …show more content…
In addition, she wanted to show her students the power Black English can bring, for “the syntax and diction of sentences will tell [the reader] the identity of speakers, the probable age and sex and class of speakers” (125). One day, one of Jordan’s student, named Willie Jordan and who had attended class every meeting except this particular one, unexpectedly did not show up in class. Jordan found out that Willie’s brother, Reggie, was murdered by the police. Sadly, Jordan says, “Unfortunately Black victims of police violence are truly numerous while the resources available to prosecute their killers are truly scarce” (134). Consequently, Jordan and her students wanted to take a stand for Reggie, for they have had families and friends who have experienced this same fate. Therefore, they wrote a letter in Black English to