She quotes Jackson’s famous statement that “excellence is the best
deterrent to racism” but fails to discuss her equation between lack of
excellence and the primary language of the African American community.
Winfrey focuses the discussion of Black English on the social
repercussions this language brings with it in the world outside the African
American community. She seems truly distraught and dismayed when
young African Americans in the audience tell her that they want to use
their own functional language and reject pressure to assimilate. Here,
Winfrey’s own status as a successful business woman and employer of
many seems to push to the forefront. Given her own position, she does not
understand young Blacks who still voice their resistance to assimilation.
In fact, she challenges a white panelist on this count: “Let me ask you,
why would you want to tell Black people or make Black people believe
that corporate America is going to change for them?”
Winfrey justifies her rejection of AAVE based on the documented
history of its reception. However, when call-in viewers or audience
members who agree with this basic premise move on to openly deride
AAVE, she momentarily switches allegiance. In four cases there are
comments from whites which cause her to pause and come to the defense
of AAVE or AAVE speakers. She sometimes does this with humor, but
there is also tangible uneasiness when the discussion moves beyond
grammar to statements which are at the very least intolerant, and in some
cases tip over the line into racism.
The arguments put forth by those who call in (none of whom are AAVE
speakers) to the show fall into four categories:
1. African Americans choose to set themselves aside; if they are
excluded, it’s because they want to be.
2. African Americans are ignorant because they can say the word
“ask,” because to say “aks” is to confuse the listener. Here
Winfrey points out that if the caller understands the word
“aks” in context, what exactly is the problem?
3. African Americans are ungrateful. If they don’t want to speak
proper English, they should go back to Africa. Winfrey’s
objection here is quick and to the point when she repeats a
point made by Dr. Smithermann: What country do Black
people go to?