Written exclusively by Black scholars on behalf of, and in collaboration with local communities, the book looks at the commonalities and differences among Black speech communities in Africa and the Diaspora. Topics include: * the OJ Simpson trial * language issues in Southern Africa and Francophone West Africa * the language of Hip Hop * the language of the Rastafaria in Jamaica With a foreword by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, this is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the linguistic implications of colonization.

Sinfree Makoni is Associate Professor in Linguistics, Applied Language Studies and African American Studies at Penn State University, USA. Geneva Smitherman is University Distinguished Professor of English at Michigan State University, USA, and Director of My Brother's Keeper Program in Detroit. Arthur K. Spears is Professor of Anthropology and Linguistics at the City University of New York, USA. Arnetha Ball is Associate Professor of Education at Stanford University, USA.

List of figures and table, Foreword by Ngugi wa Thiong' o, Introduction: toward Black Linguistics, PART 1 Ideological practices in research on Black languages, PART 2 Conceptualization and status of Black languages, PART 3 Inclusion and exclusion through language, List of contributors, Index