We shouldn't let it be a source of divisiveness...

... but rather a source of connection.

I believe that studying Black English is absolutely essential to our understanding of language and society, to our understanding of diversity, and to our understanding of ourselves.

Although it could be convincingly argued that I am wrong, I can't help but believe that the backlash against studying Black English in our class is the result of cultural alienation; that is to say, we (especially in Utah, where there is so little diversity in comparison to other regions) are uncomfortable approaching something that is outside of us, with which we have so little interaction, about which we draw our own proof-less conclusions, and therefore, feel no compulsion to analyze.

Black English has become such an integral part of our society - how can we not analyze it? How can we not wish to understand how it is utilized, why it is utilized?

How many of us can say we fully and completely understand how and why the "N-word" is used among Black communities, but remains a symbol - or, perhaps more accurately, a tool - of oppression for Whites?

I noted above that study of Black English is vital to understanding ourselves; I believe this because each of us, in our own ethnicity, regardless of where we originate from, are very much entrenched in American cultural, including the spectres of our past, and the racism of our present. Accordingly, we ought to, as Deleuze and Foucault would say, use the theories of Black English as a toolbox, to analyze ourselves, and to effect change where we identify it as necessary. I suppose the same could be said on a societal level, but I digress.

So, I cast my vote for continuing our studies of Black English, among other topics.