The media frenzy surrounding the 1996 resolution by the Oakland School Board brought public attention to the term "Ebonics," however the idea remains a mystery to most. John Baugh, a well-known African-American linguist and education expert, offers an accessible explanation of the origins of the term, the linguistic reality behind the hype, and the politics behind the outcry on both sides of the debate. Using a non-technical, first-person style, and bringing in many of his own personal experiences, Baugh debunks many commonly-held notions about the way African-Americans speak English, and the result is a nuanced and balanced portrait of a fraught subject. This volume should appeal to students and scholars in anthropology, linguistics, education, urban studies, and African-American studies.

• 1.: Linguistic Pride and Racial Prejudice


• 2.: Ebonic Genesis


• 3.: A Contentious Global Debut


• 4.: The Oakland Resolutions


• 5.: Legislative Lament


• 6.: Legal Implications


• 7.: Disparate Theoretical Foundations


• 8.: Racist Reactions and Ebonics Satire


• 9.: Beyond Ebonics: Striving toward Enhanced Linguistic Tolerance


• Appendix A: Linguistic Society of American Resolution on the Oakland "Ebonics" Issue


• Appendix B: Texas 75th Legislature, Regular Session: House Resolution 28


• Appendix C: California 1997-98 Regular Session: Senate Bill 205

John Baugh is Professor of Education and Linguistics at Stanford University. He has also served as President of the American Dialect Society.