The Ebonics Controversy

Abstract

In December 1996, the Oakland California School Board passed a resolution acknowledging the existence and legitimacy of Ebonics and proposed to use this nonstandard variety of English as a strategy for teaching Standard American English. The controversy that ensued was unprecedented in national scope and public hostility toward an educational policy advocated by a local school board. This controversy has important implications for both general and special education involving millions of African American students. In this article, the reasons and myths surrounding the Ebonics controversy are examined and recommendations are made for educating and diagnosing children whose primary dialect is Ebonics.