To Protect and Serve:African American Female Literacies

It is safe to say that most African American's as children are raised with some form of the "mother tongue." They way the speak the English language is quite different from proper English. In Elaine Richardson's To Protect and Serve:African American Female Literacies she explained how the "mother tongue" has been a part of black culture for so long. So why is it that society is regards it as the wrong type of English? Because the "mother tongue has such a big influence on our lives that African American female in literature are not even acknowledged as a big part of literature. They are regarded as uncaring, heartless sex objects. After so many years that has been the stereotype so it seems that no matter how hard they try they still face adversity. She also pointed out they with African Americans females are at advantage because the can regard literature through the way the world see's it and also through our life style. So we have a double consciousness as to communicate in the way we were taught while growing up and also what is accepted in society.

The "mother tongue" is a benefit to black people, so many things can be taught through the mother tongue. Like Elaine pointed it out it is what shapes us as black women. We articulate ideas through the "mother tongue."  So many of us have been stereotyped that it has silenced African American girls but through the "mother tongue" we are able to express ourselves. With the use of the "mother tongue" we can learn a lot about literature.

Even though I found the article to be somewhat confusing I think the author put her point across. Her argument was very forward and she had pros and cons for everything that was said. I believe that everything she said was very true and straight forward. Not many people are willing to point out societies mistakes.