The Silenced Dialogue

The Silenced Dialogue

Lisa Delpit

Lisa Delpits argues that African American students do not gain the skills necessary for success through current education and the educators of color have their ideas silenced. For many students, there is a divide between the culture of their homes and their school, usually the middle-class. This class makes up the Culture of Power with implied rules and codes where people from that culture unconsciously follow those rules due to the fact that they were born into that culture. The techniques that educators use are frequently unsuited for minority or poor students and do not prepare these individuals for success in society. The aspects of the culture of power have five parts. "Issues of power are enacted in classrooms. There are codes or rules for participating in power; that is, there is a "culture of power.' The rules of the culture power are a reflection of the culture of those who have power. If you are not already a participant in the culture of power, being old explicitly the rules of that culture makes acquiring power easier. Those with power are frequently least aware of--or least willing to acknowledge--its existence. Those with less power are often most aware of its existence." These points talk about how students culture and how they present themselves cause teachers predict how they will do in school. If you are not a part of the culture in power its hard to succeed unless the people from that culture explain the codes and rules. She believes that African American children should be taught the 'culture in power' codes and rules as if it were a second language so that to not take away their cultural background. They are able to learn the codes and rules and should be allowed to have the same success as the students in the 'culture of power'. She states that explicit communication is required for success.

             I think that this could be compared to "White Privilege" written by Peggy McIntosh. Could we call this white privilege? The ability for the white culture to silence people of other cultures, and stereotyping their cultures, is that white privilege? I definitely think that it could be considered white privilege. The white culture is the "culture of power" making all other cultures having to learn the "culture of powers" way in how they act in order to fit into the society.

Lisa Delpit Presentation

What I really want to talk about is how we can use this in the future when we start teaching our own classes. What is the best way to get all the cultures on the same page in order for teaching to be more beneficial to all cultures in class? How can I make all students be able to take away what I'm teaching and make them prepared and successful in the future?