Ax or Ask?: The African American Guide To Better English - Softcover

McClendon, Garrard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0963932926 ISBN 13: 9780963932921

Publisher: McClendon Report.Com, 2003

Synopsis

This book is a must for teachers and parents of African American students and for African Americans in business. Used as a text and reference book in 42 school systems, the book explores how Blacks can improve their speaking and writing skills, avoiding educational and occupational exclusion and exploitation. Why do many Blacks say "finna, skrimps, ax, skrate, and fixin' to"? Why don't teachers correct Black English in primary classrooms? Why do African Americans have the lowest standardized test scores? The African American Guide to Better English increases awareness, improves student achievement, and provides advocacy for those wanting to speak mainstream English. A job opportunity can be won or lost by the words one chooses.

About this title

Review

If only I could get my students to actually use it! Only a few students actually WANT or DESIRE to sound educated and respected. Aaron K. Nesbitt

I like this book a lot. I wish I had this book in the past. I can see where Mr. McClendon could have added more English Guide. However; I am very happy that he has written this book.
I didn't have a clue how badly I needed an English Guide like this until I was past grown.
I was being belittled by teachers at my childrens' school meeting which was a very evil and embarrassing thing for those teachers do.
So, I hope this book reach other people who may need the same wake up call as I.

Amazon Customer

A great book. T. Barfield

Good background information. I feel that it should have more examples. Especially under the subject/verb agreement section. Some of our peoples most notorious errors are omitted. For example, when to use do and does, don't and doesn't, did and done, or seen and saw. I don't thank that the people who need the book most will be able to make the connection by themselves. I love the concept of the book, but it just needed a little more developed.

Ice Cold Ace CLub

Garrard McClendon has written a terrific book which is apparently receiving flak from some quarters for perceived political incorrectness. What are the issues here? The book is a useful guide to standard English for all groups, although it is especially designed for and directed to the African American community as indicated in its title("Ax or Ask? The African American Guide to Better English.") That there may be conflicted feelings from some within the community is understandable when we consider that no individual or group likes to feel singled out particularly when the implication is that remedial work is needed. Some of the controversy, however, also probably centers on the unfortunate choice of the word 'better' in the book's title. There is no good, better or best when applied to language. There is standard and dialect. Dialects, such as those used by some African Americans and many other groups, are valid and valuable in their own right and appropriate in many contexts (this point is addressed in the book). The value of mastering the standard language (not instead of, but as well as the dialect), is that the standard language cuts across groups and increases access and opportunity. Had Mr. McClendon entitled his book "Ax or Ask? The African American Guide to Standard English," he would have had the same terrific book without much of the controversy. I urge his critics to get over it, to acknowledge the author's laudable motives and achievement and get behind the effort.

Zen Gardener49

Not only did Mr. McClendon provide statistics and suggestions on how teachers could help their students, he also provides a glossary of forbidden words, definitions, phrases, and pronunctiations. Though it isn't funny, but quite the opposite, I could picture a comedian using some of the lines in this book, such as "Drowned - drowned is not pronounced with the extra "did" on the end: drowned (drown'd), not drown-did." Other misused words are noted as well as grammatical problems such as subject/verb agreement and double negatives. Ms. Melody - Loose Leaf Book Review

About the Author

Dr. Garrard McClendon is an associate professor at Chicago State University and the author of “Ax or Ask? The African American Guide to Better English.” McClendon has earned several other awards including an Emmy Award, the ONE REGION Award, Associated Press Award, an NAACP Champion Award, a LINKS award, a Human Relations Commission Leadership Award, and a Monarch Award. McClendon's research areas are perceptions and expectations in classroom settings, micro insults, and discrimination. McClendon is a cancer survivor fulfilling the legacy of his parents by being the Executive Director of the Milton & Ruby McClendon Educational Foundation, and he is on the boards of the Sheila A. Doyle Foundation, Donda’s House Foundation, and The Reporter’s Inc. Books by McClendon include Donda's Rules, The Excuses of Black Folk, Ebonics Anthology, Ebonics Empathy, and 99 Problems But Barack Wasn't One. He is also the director of the anti-violence film, “Forgiving Cain.”

About this edition

• Publisher: McClendon Report.Com
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0963932926
• ISBN 13: 9780963932921
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 83