I argue that we discussAAVE: Its rich history, its rightfulplace in society, and, yes, all thenegative social connotations itholds in out-group communities.Teach students that there is aproper place and time to useAAVE in professional writingand speech (see Toni Morrison,Gwendolyn Brooks, Eve Ewing,Langston Hughes, etc.). You toocan be great poets and orators.However, for admission purposes,you must adopt SAE.

However, that advice—“Writethe way you speak” —cannot begiven to speakers of AAVE ormany other bilingual students.Instead, I have to say: “Write theway you would speak at a jobinterview in downtown Chicago.”

I speak AAVE more than SAEin interpersonal and romanticrelationships. It is more naturalto me than SAE as someone whogrew up in a hyper-segregatedChicago community.

Last year was myfirst year serving ina full-time, school-based position at apredominately Blackpublic charter school.