---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An important aspect of the current…"
description: "\"An important aspect of the current situation is the strong social reaction against suggestions that the home language of African American children be u..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/william-labov-38600_african-american_an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situa_2257236.png"
---

#  An important aspect of the current situation is the strong…

![“An important aspect of the current situation is the strong social reaction against suggestions that the home language of African American children be used in the first steps of learning to read and write.” quote by William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/william-labov-38600_african-american_an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situa_2257236.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/william-labov-38600_african-american_an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situa_2257236.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/william-labov-38600_african-american_an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situa_2257236.png)

> “An important aspect of the current situation is the strong social reaction against suggestions that the home language of African American children be used in the first steps of learning to read and write.”

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote highlights resistance to using African American children's native language in early literacy education.

**In simple terms:** People oppose using kids' home language for early reading.

Key Takeaway

Consider inclusive language policies.

Themes

education language social resistance literacy equity

Mood

concerned reflective

Type

analytical critical

When to use this quote

- early childhood classrooms
- policy debates
- teacher training

Key Concepts

Sociolinguistics bilingual education cultural identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can educators balance cultural respect with standardized curricula?
- What supports help families embrace home language in schools?

A Different Perspective

Implementation may face community pushback and resource constraints.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [First steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-steps/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Learning to read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-to-read/) [Read And Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-and-write/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggestions/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [For every scientific (or engineering) action, there is an equal and opposite social reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-ralph-augustine/for-every-scientific-or-engineering-action-there-is-an-equal-and/)

[Norman Ralph Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-ralph-augustine/)

> [My father used to say that you could only access culture before cinema by learning to read and write, but that once cinema was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/my-father-used-to-say-that-you-could-only-access-culture-before/)

[Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/)

> [Learning to read and write makes little sense if you don't understand what you're reading and writing about. While we may have forgotten, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elkind/learning-to-read-and-write-makes-little-sense-if-you-don-t-understand/)

[David Elkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elkind/)

> [Learning to read and write changes lives; it means jobs, money, health, and dreams fulfilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-rania-of-jordan/learning-to-read-and-write-changes-lives-it-means-jobs-money-health/)

[Queen Rania of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-rania-of-jordan/)

> [“Licking a 9-volt battery, learning to whittle, riding a bicycle, climbing trees: we may not see these as necessities like learning to read and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gever-tulley/licking-a-9-volt-battery-learning-to-whittle-riding-a-bicycle/)

[Gever Tulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gever-tulley/)

> [“There are all kinds of ignorance in the world. Education, learning to read and write, doesn't necessarily give us knowledge. We have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-leaming/there-are-all-kinds-of-ignorance-in-the-world-education-learning-to/)

[Linda Leaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-leaming/)

> [“Although they probably know that some children were used and some children are used as miners, most adults are ignorant of the chocolate industry’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/although-they-probably-know-that-some-children-were-used-and-some/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [I was one of those children they used to call 'readers.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-schine/i-was-one-of-those-children-they-used-to-call-readers/)

[Cathleen Schine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-schine/)

> [“Joe knew that for some, really for most, the derivations of belladonna that blurred their vision and caused their hearts to race would, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-spencer/joe-knew-that-for-some-really-for-most-the-derivations-of-belladonna/)

[Judith Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-spencer/)

> [In Florida, North Florida, and across the South, Black children used to be used as alligator bait. That's how they would get children out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramell-ross/in-florida-north-florida-and-across-the-south-black-children-used-to/)

[RaMell Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramell-ross/)

> [“At schools, the children who are too stupid or lazy to learn languages, mathematics and elementary science can be set to doing the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-schools-the-children-who-are-too-stupid-or-lazy-to-learn-languages/)

[C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/)

> [Children used to be outside. Now the streets are empty. People are indoors looking at television or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-levitt/children-used-to-be-outside-now-the-streets-are-empty-people-are/)

[Helen Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-levitt/)

> [I have a nut allergy. When I was at school the other children used to make me play Russian roulette but force-feeding me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/i-have-a-nut-allergy-when-i-was-at-school-the-other-children-used-to/)

[Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/)

> [Rich countries don't need as many children. We used to need kids to work in the fields as farm hands, to crawl on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-g-buchholz/rich-countries-don-t-need-as-many-children-we-used-to-need-kids-to/)

[Todd G. Buchholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-g-buchholz/)

> [Proper British nannies put the child ahead of everything. They do not like to see children used as accessories, carried around in slings for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/proper-british-nannies-put-the-child-ahead-of-everything-they-do-not/)

[Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/)

## More by William Labov

> [And instead of getting a pepper-and-salt effect, we find very clear and sharp divisions between the dialects of the United States, which are getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/and-instead-of-getting-a-pepper-and-salt-effect-we-find-very-clear/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [“possible topics around which the currents of speech may flow: Death and the danger of death: violence, fighting, sickness, fear, dreams, premonitions and communication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/possible-topics-around-which-the-currents-of-speech-may-flow-death/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [I have resisted the term sociolinguistics for many years, since it implies that there can be a successful linguistic theory or practice which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/i-have-resisted-the-term-sociolinguistics-for-many-years-since-it/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [Well, American dialects have been studied for a hundred years or so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/well-american-dialects-have-been-studied-for-a-hundred-years-or-so/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [It appears that the present-day form of African American English is not the inheritance of the period of slavery, but the creation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/it-appears-that-the-present-day-form-of-african-american-english-is/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [However, research in the years that followed found that in many of its important features, African American Vernacular English was becoming not less, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/however-research-in-the-years-that-followed-found-that-in-many-of-its/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [I am now completing research supported by NSF and NEH that is mapping changes in the English language through all of North America, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/i-am-now-completing-research-supported-by-nsf-and-neh-that-is-mapping/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [We focus upon pairs of words very often which are the same in some areas and different in other areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/we-focus-upon-pairs-of-words-very-often-which-are-the-same-in-some/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [But unlike European countries, America has never finished a map of the United States, only the eastern United States is covered and a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/but-unlike-european-countries-america-has-never-finished-a-map-of-the/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

> [This African American Vernacular English shares most of its grammar and vocabulary with other dialects of English. But it is distinct in many ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/this-african-american-vernacular-english-shares-most-of-its-grammar/)

[William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

[Explore all 11 William Labov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/)

## More African american quotes

> [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/)

[Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

> [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/)

[Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/)

> [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/)

[Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/)

> [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&amp;B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/)

[Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/)

> [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/)

[Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/)

> [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/)

[Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/)

> [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/)

[Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/)

> [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/)

[Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/)

[Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "An important aspect of the current situation is the strong social reaction against suggestions that the home language of African American children be used in the first steps of learning to read and write.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Labov"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situation-is-the-strong-social/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "African american"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situation-is-the-strong-social/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/william-labov-38600_african-american_an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situa_2257236.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/william-labov-38600_african-american_an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situa_2257236.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a7/william-labov-38600_african-american_an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situa_2257236.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“An important aspect of the current situation is the strong social reaction against suggestions that the home…” — William Labov",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William Labov",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "An important aspect of the current...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situation-is-the-strong-social/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situation-is-the-strong-social/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
