1. According to Baldwin’s argument language is power and it can be dangerous. Language can reveal in the inner feeling what a person trying to say. It can also reveal the private identity and inner hopes of a person. Also, he described that language allows a group to define and express who they are from their own point of view, instead of having their reality expressed by another group. For example, he uses this quote, “A child cannot be taught by anyone who despises him, and a child cannot afford to be fooled. A child cannot be taught by anyone whose demand”. This quote also emphasizes that the U.S. doesn’t have to be interested to educate black people because of their language.
2. Staub’s essay is new and helpful because when we provide our feedback to the writer they can easily be aware of what they should do better in future writing. One piece of advice I wish my teachers comment on my writing is about asking questions. It would help me to find out where I should improve more. And also if he would provide some examples then I could really understand what actual point do I need to improve and how to do so. However, I think sometimes praise about good writing encourages me to write better in future writing essays.
Thanks, Tanzid! Yes, I’ll try to ask plenty of questions on your first draft— in my own writing, I find thoughtful questions are better motivators for me than evaluative feedback.
I agree with your first response on how language is considered dangerous. It is definitely a concept I didn’t think of before and I was surprised when I first read about it.