The push for multilingualism in California schools has taken a new turn, with radical left-wing groups advocating for the inclusion of Black vernacular in the state's language programs.
Black Californians United for Early Care and Education (BlackECE), a collaborative partnership of organizations committed to advancing language justice for Black children, is leading the charge.
The group's co-founder recalls being teased for "talking white" as a child and wants to ensure that Black children, like her son, don't face similar shame for the way they speak.
BlackECE's 10-point policy framework, which includes reparations, aims to challenge harmful language hierarchies and affirm Black English as a legitimate, rule-governed language rooted in Black history, culture, and community.
The group insists that Black English, also known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE), is not slang or broken English, but a systematic dialect with its own unique features.
Examples of AAVE include phrases like "She be working" and "They happy," which are not included in traditional language programs.
California's "Promoting Equitable Early Learning and Care For Dual Language Learners" program, implemented in 2020, focuses on multilingual proficiency and bilingualism as an asset and strength.
BlackECE argues that Black English should be added to this program, ensuring that Black children are included in the conversation around multilingualism and have access to resources and support.
At the heart of this push is the desire to affirm Black identity, culture, and humanity, rather than forcing Black children to conform to traditional language norms.
Co-founder Ashley Williams said, "Really, it's about affirming our identity and our culture and our humanity and not having to perform as something you're not just to be accepted in a room."
