‘Talking Black in America’ to be screened in Garland

Mar. 19, 2018

The Garland screening of a groundbreaking new film, “Talking Black in America,” will be Tuesday, April 3, in the performance hall of First Presbyterian Church, 930 West Avenue B, Garland. Screening begins at 7 p.m.

 

“Talking Black in America” is a documentary that takes a thoughtful look at linguistic discrimination that impacts black Americans in the classroom, in the workplace and in the culture in general. The free screening is being held in conjunction with the Garland Chapter of the Alliance of Black School Educators.

 

The film, which is being screened in cities throughout the U.S. this spring and last fall, was produced at North Carolina State University by The Life and Language Project. It is receiving excellent reviews by audience members, who find it insightful and affirming. Before this Garland event, it also was screened in the Metroplex at the University of North Texas at Dallas.

 

“With the perspective of everyday speakers and the guidance of historians, linguists and educators, “Talking Black in America” showcases the history and symbolic role of language in the lives of African-Americans and highlights its tremendous impact on the speech and culture of the United States. The documentary addresses the persistent misinformation about African-American speech and situates it as an integral part of the historical and cultural legacy of all Americans,” states promotional information on the film.

 

A time of feedback will follow the free screening.

 

About the Language and Life Project: The United States is an extremely diverse country in many ways – language is no exception. Our country has over 15 distinct dialects and 300 other thriving languages. The Language and Life Project was established in 1993 by Dr. Walt Wolfram, of North Carolina State University, in order to document the dialects of North Carolina and beyond. We work to document and celebrate the vast diversity of speech through research, education and various media. The Language and Life Project focuses on research, graduate and undergraduate education, and outreach programs related to language in the American South. The project has grown to include the development of many educational and cultural resources, as well as a host of media from DVDs to podcasts to museum exhibits.

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