Jordan has a problem with the quote, “one of the most unselfish missions ever undertaken by one nation in defense of another,” because she knows Nixon does not mean what he says. She says white people, specifically the ones in power “debase” the meaning of the words they use, so they don’t mean what they say. For example, when Nixon uses the words “unselfish” and “compassionate” he uses the words meaninglessly. He’s using those words just to use them and not based on their meaning/definition. Because everyone knows that nothing these people ever do is “unselfish.” Whatever is done by these powerful white people is always done in their best interest. “White English” holds other meanings than just the words being used.
Language is very powerful. We view the world through the languages we speak and the way we speak in general, so it holds some meaning/value to us. So, when Black Americans are taught at a young age that the way they speak is “wrong,” and they have to learn a different way of speaking, it almost makes them inferior. Because what’s so “wrong” about the way they speak? This goes to show the power “White English” holds over “Black English.” The “White English” is what is taught at school and what is expected and accepted. Even though both “White English” and “Black English” can be understood, of course, “Black English” has to be the “unusual” English. The “standard” is “White English” so Jordan explains how it could even cause Black kids to fail courses. When Jordan says we’re “dealing with power” not language, she means white people are always finding ways to control other races, in this case, Black people. They go as far as to say the way they speak is incorrect as if other cultures and dialects don’t exist.
I agree with how white standard English is being used as a power or control point. The so-called black English is being put down simply for being different, in the end, the white standard English was just created by white educated people. It wasn’t created by everyone else.
I agree that by using white English people are only looking out for themselves which what they say has no meaning to us because their intentions are for themselves not for us. White English can have a purpose that people wouldn’t see the real issue. And it’s sad black English it’s not more acknowledged like how white is.