This remote public talk by Dr. Vershawn Ashanti Young talk will describe the ways that teachers and the public in both Canada and the U.S. have misappropriated the linguistic concept of code-switching as it applies to both Black language and standard language speakers. The effect of such misappropriation harms rather than assists (as it is intended) Black language speakers in their pursuit of academic and professional discourse. Misappropriated code-switching harms Black language users socially, culturally, and psychologically and further contributes to state sanctioned brutality against Black bodies. Drawing from the fields of linguistics, socio-cultural education, communication, and cultural studies, the researcher presents three calls to action, framed as solutions to the cultural conflict about Black language use in classrooms, boardrooms, and technical and professional environments.

The talk is presented by the Writing Intensive Curriculum; College of Liberal Arts, School of Writing, Literature and Film; Office of Academic Affairs; School of Communication; OSU Graduate School; School of History, Philosophy and Religion; School of Language, Culture and Society; The Writing Center and the School of Public Policy.

Scholar and Performer Vershawn Ashanti Young describes and proposes solutions to the cultural conflict about Black language use in classrooms, boardrooms, and technical and professional environments.