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Let's Flip the Script An African American Discourse on Language, Literature, and Learning Keith Gilyard

Keith Gilyard, a respected poet and essayist, well-known for his work in sociolinguistics, extends his discussion of language issues in Let's Flip the Script. In an accessible and engaging style, he builds upon themes presented in his highly acclaimed Voices of the Self, his book on language, identity, and education that received an American Book Award in 1992. Fusing insights derived from practical experience with knowledge drawn from an impressive and interdisciplinary array of texts, including sources on education, language, and African American literature, he examines-always with an eye on the state of African America-connections among language, politics, expressive culture, and pedagogy. As the book's title implies, Gilyard seeks, in defiance of various neoconservative opinions, to turn discourses and activities in a direction that will enable more successes for African American students.

"This latest book by Keith Gilyard is a brilliant, inspiring collection of personal essays about freedom and literacy, and the life force that can empower us in our quest to 'flip the script.' There are profound truths in this visionary work from a major voice in the field. Written in an engaging style by a homeboy scholar, the book is a must-read for those of us engaged in the educational enterprise." —Geneva Smitherman, Michigan State University

African American Life Series $19.95s paper / ISBN 0-8143-2645-5 144 pages 1996