Enslavement, forced migration, war and colonization have led to the global dispersal of Black communities and to the fragmentation of common experiences. The majority of Black language researchers explore the social and linguistic phenomena of individual Black communities, without looking at Black experiences outside a given community. This groundbreaking collection re-orders the elitist and colonial elements of language studies by drawing together the multiple perspectives of Black language researchers. In doing so, the book recognises and formalises the existence of a "Black Linguistic Perspective" highlights the contributions of Black language researchers in the field. Written exclusively by Black scholars on behalf of, and in collaboration with local communities, the book looks at the commonalities and differences among Black speech communities in Africa and the Diaspora. Topics include: * the OJ Simpson trial * language issues in Southern Africa and Francophone West Africa * the language of Hip Hop * the language of the Rastafaria in Jamaica With a foreword by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, this is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the linguistic implications of colonization.

'This book will be of interest not only to people whose focus is language varieties used by Blacks, but also to those concerned with a critical history of linguistics, to anthropologists and sociolinguists, particularly those working on language policy and planning, variation, and language in education.' - Kay McCormick, University of Cape Town

Sinfree Makoni is Associate Professor in Linguistics, Applied Language Studies and African American Studies at Penn State University, USA. Geneva Smitherman is University Distinguished Professor of English at Michigan State University, USA, and Director of My Brother's Keeper Program in Detroit. Arthur K. Spears is Professor of Anthropology and Linguistics at the City University of New York, USA. Arnetha Ball is Associate Professor of Education at Stanford University, USA.