this book, but suffice it to say that postmodernism’s Marxist roots gave its ad-
vocates an aggressive edge that most commonly found expression in remark-
ably successful efforts to impose politically correct behavior on everyone. As
I’ve noted elsewhere (Williams, 2003a):
Western society, insofar as it is defined as the prevailing traditions and in-
stitutions that are deemed to be of historical significance, is fundamen-
tally evil, according to Marcuse [who in many respects can be
considered a founding father of postmodernism], and must be over-
turned by any means necessary. For example, in 1965, he argued that
only those with left-wing views should be afforded the right of free
speech. This right should be denied to those with incorrect thoughts by
invoking the “natural right” of “oppressed and overpowered minorities to
use extralegal means” to silence opposing points of view. (p. 89)In the ensuing “culture wars” of the 1990s, those advocating political cor-
rectness effectively silenced not only opposing points of view but discussion in
general. When this was combined with the rapid rise of identity politics, which
seemed eager to sacrifice the commonweal for personal gain, the result was a
seething resentment among many that seriously undermined support for mi-
nority issues (see Williams, 2002). Thus, when the issue of ebonics came up in
Oakland, it acted as a spark that ignited a tinderbox of frustration and latent
resentment nationwide.
Also, a court ruling on BEV almost 20 years earlier, in 1979, made it appear
that the Oakland school board was engaged in political grandstanding. The
case involved a group of attorneys who sued the Ann Arbor School District
board on behalf of 11 children who spoke Black English and who were failing
in school. The suit alleged that the district had not prepared teachers to instruct
children whose home dialect was BEV. Although this case raises the question
of how judges who know nothing about linguistics or education can make rul-
ings on complex topics after only a few hours of testimony, it nevertheless set
an inescapable precedent. Ruling for the plaintiffs, the court (Memorandum
Opinion and Order, 1979) found that:
Black English is not a language used by the mainstream of society—
black or white. It is not an acceptable method of communication in the
educational world, in the commercial community, in the community of the
arts and science, or among professionals (p. 1378).The district was ordered to provide teachers with 20 hours of linguistic train-
ing that gave them insight into the structure of Black English. This training,
however, did not include any instruction on how to utilize the new knowledge
240 CHAPTER 7