In February, I hosted a Virtual Literacy Fair for Black History Month. The purpose of this event was to share the importance of representation in the books we read. Representation is crucial for all children and I was reminded of this when a family visited our home. 

In my home, I display hardcover books I purchase. I love the imagery displayed and it is a visual representation of thoughtful, creative, and powerful artwork. A child from the family saw a book and immediately shared, “He looks just like me!” This response showed the power of representation in the books we read and share with students.

Representation does not stop with the characters, authors, or illustrators of a book. Representation is also important in the written language shared. This creates points of connection for students. For my daughter, she was able to see this in a conversation in “As Brave as You” by Jason Reynolds. 

"As Brave as You" is beautifully composed chronicling the journey of two siblings visiting their grandparents home in Virginia over the summer. As I was speaking with my daughter about the books, inside the book I noticed a phrase circled “Nunya bidness.” I chuckled intuitively knowing what it meant. Beside it my daughter shared it was mean of the character to respond this way. Laurel also circled the phrase, “We finna tend to the peas.” These sentences and phrases are examples of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE).

AAVE is defined as "A dialect of some African American communities that includes some pronunciations, idioms, and grammatical constructions different from those of Standard English (Omrod, 2011). AAVE is used in various settings and is often overlooked in education in favor of Standard English (Omrod, 2011, pg. 108.) However, it is important to acknowledge the cultural relevance of AAVE in the homes and communities of Black Americans and also in mainstream American culture. This goes beyond "slang" and extends to the historical underpinning of America. Take a look at this recent video shared by a Black Opera singer,

As my daughter continues her literary journey through various chapter books, moments where she is able to see herself and the experiences of her family are priceless! These moments are a point of connection between characters, language, and culture. 

There are other themes in this book worth noting including the familial relationships, The Great Migration, exploration, and so much more! Ultimately, there is a common thread in this book. Representation. Yes, this is what representation in literacy looks like too! It was a moment my daughter was able to experience the language of her home environment in the literary material she read. It was powerful!

What do you know about AAVE?

References: Omrod, J. (2011) Educational Psychology, Pgs. 107-108, Pearson