1. What do you associate with African American Culture?

3. The first question from the discussion points asks: 'What do you associate with the history and culture of African Americans?' How does the first article, from Time Magazine, shed more light on the history of African Americans by tracing the origins of Black English? How might your associations with AAVE be attributed to this history?
The article from Time Magazine raises the issue of teaching 'correct' English to young African Americans. However, it offers no answers to this question. As we move towards an analysis of accents in Disney movies, do you think that children should be exposed to a range of dialects and accents? Or do you believe that children's movies have a duty to educate their audiences properly in the use of 'correct', standardized English?
The introduction to Spoken Soul celebrates the language of African Americans. Why might there be a "dizzying love-hate relationship with black talk that is as old and new as the nation itself?" Why do people love and hate these forms of language?
The second question from our discussion points asks: 'How are these associations expressed through the use of language?' Look at the list of differences between standard American English and AAVE. What associations do you have with these forms of AAVE? How do they make you feel?

4. Film
Examples of AAVE
What are the effects of this language? How might the use of language reinforce stereotypes?
Dumbo
Brer Rabbit
The Jungle Book
The Lion King
Shrek
The Princess and the Frog

5. What do you associate with the history and culture of African Americans?
How are these associations expressed through the use of language? To what extent do African Americans speak a 'different' language? What is the difference between AAVE, Ebonics or a Southern accent?
How does the use of language in children's movies reinforce stereotypes that are associated with African Americans?

6. Useful links