Bell Hooks

4. For in the incorrect usage of words, in the incorrect placement of words, was a spirit of rebellion that claimed language as a site of resistance. Using English in a way that ruptured standard usage and meaning, so that white folks could often not understand black speech, made English into more than the oppressor’s language.

TEXT- "https://www.youtube.com/watchv=CB8pBiUavtg" - Ebonics 101

In this spoken word poem by Steven Willis, we observe exactly what the essence of this quote is about. Steven Willis begins the poem by saying that he is "bilingual", immediately he has put up a divide between the "Standard Queen's" English and his own "African Vernacular English. He describes African Vernacular English as a more "Southern Fried English". Since the South, is associated with Black Slavery he is trying to portray the historically painful roots of African Vernacular English, and how it stands for resistance. He further clarifies this when he says his "Big Mama" (Grandmom) hid AAV under her tongue, when she migrated to the north during the great migration, but had never forgotten the tongue. This implies that the language was so important that it couldn't be forgotten. Then Willis goes on to say that AAV is the "last remaining squab birthed from an African and European". This phrase implies that even though all of the African migrants languages  and culture were taken away, they didn't give up since they made a new one, which still remains in use today. He further backs this up by saying that "Ebonics is the official language of the undefined black culture" and "the native tongue of the underrepresented black American". These phrases further exemplify that AAV serves as something to bond the Black Americans together and since it is the "undefined language of black culture", AAV serves as the representative of the black struggle and "culture" as well. 

Then, Willis moves on by asking the viewers to "get their Notepads out for Ebonics 101". Even though, it is subtle Willis's demand of asking for the notebook, shows that he considers the topic (Ebonics) to be of a significant importance and thats why it should be noted down. He moves on by giving "Chapter 1 - Any English word in the (in) combination is replaced with (an). To this he gives the example after All of MLK's walking his feet didn't stink they Stank. By implementing this example, not only does Willis give an example of AAV, but he yet again goes on to represent the struggle and history that is associated with it.  Moving on Willis introduces "Chapter 2 - Any English word in the (or) combination, the (r) becomes silent. Giving the example of Rodney King saying "Don't be no mo'". Yet again, intervening a language lesson with the painful yet rich historical struggle that is associated with it. These examples continue and then Willis concludes by saying the Black people will not be slaves to the phonetics and dictions of the Standard English. This perfectly links with Bell Hooks's quote on how the Black people showed resistance by making their English different and was an avenue to separate their ties with their oppressors at that time.