Lynch in the New Millennium (Part 2 of 2)
In part two of our analysis, we explore another disturbing example of how the racist principles of power and control delineated by Willie Lynch—a British slave owner who taught methods for controlling slaves and preserving the subjugation of slavery to Virginia slave owners in 1712—are still being put to use today. Somehow the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Take for instance the recent decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to file a lawsuit against the Salvation Army for firing two of its employees for failing to speak English in the workplace. Sidestepping, for a moment, the valid and justifiable argument that the King’s English is NOT the native language of America, let’s focus on the fact that this country was built from the blood, sweat, and tears of immigrants who came from their respective home countries—some by force and others by choice—to form the diverse, multicultural Mecca that is the United States of America.
What the Salvation Army (and any other employer who attempts to adopt similar policies) is essentially doing to its Spanish-speaking employees is stripping them of their culture, requiring them to conform to a foreign tongue in a foreign land. Forcing immigrants to speak English or lose their jobs is an unjust, institutional barrier to employment and professional advancement based on race.
Willie Lynch well knew the power that is held by people who have strong ties to their native language. In his infamous speech, he warned Virginia slave owners that effective controlling and oppressing slaves required that they control the language spoken by African slaves. Lynch knew the power of the tongue was so mighty that he indoctrinated the slave owners on the urgent need to “ANNIHILATE THE MOTHER TONGUE” of their slaves.
Why did Lynch put so much emphasis on stripping slaves of their language and thus, their culture? Because the destruction of native language and culture is fundamental to discrimination, subjugation, and racism. Ethnicity scholar and philosopher, Horace Kallen, said it is “not only unrealistic, but cruel and harmful, to force new immigrants to shed their familiar, lifelong cultural attributes as the price of admission to American society.” In other words, immigrants to this country should not have to pay—the steep price of giving up their native language—to stay.
Willie Lynch made one true, insightful statement in his otherwise demeaning, racist diatribe when he said that language “leads to the heart of a people.” Language is, indeed, a matter of the heart, a part of shared, cultural heritage. Kudos to the EEOC for challenging the Salvation Army’s “Willie Lynch” mentality and its attempt to place immigrants at a disadvantage in the workplace.
Take for instance the recent decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to file a lawsuit against the Salvation Army for firing two of its employees for failing to speak English in the workplace. Sidestepping, for a moment, the valid and justifiable argument that the King’s English is NOT the native language of America, let’s focus on the fact that this country was built from the blood, sweat, and tears of immigrants who came from their respective home countries—some by force and others by choice—to form the diverse, multicultural Mecca that is the United States of America.
What the Salvation Army (and any other employer who attempts to adopt similar policies) is essentially doing to its Spanish-speaking employees is stripping them of their culture, requiring them to conform to a foreign tongue in a foreign land. Forcing immigrants to speak English or lose their jobs is an unjust, institutional barrier to employment and professional advancement based on race.
Willie Lynch well knew the power that is held by people who have strong ties to their native language. In his infamous speech, he warned Virginia slave owners that effective controlling and oppressing slaves required that they control the language spoken by African slaves. Lynch knew the power of the tongue was so mighty that he indoctrinated the slave owners on the urgent need to “ANNIHILATE THE MOTHER TONGUE” of their slaves.
Why did Lynch put so much emphasis on stripping slaves of their language and thus, their culture? Because the destruction of native language and culture is fundamental to discrimination, subjugation, and racism. Ethnicity scholar and philosopher, Horace Kallen, said it is “not only unrealistic, but cruel and harmful, to force new immigrants to shed their familiar, lifelong cultural attributes as the price of admission to American society.” In other words, immigrants to this country should not have to pay—the steep price of giving up their native language—to stay.
Willie Lynch made one true, insightful statement in his otherwise demeaning, racist diatribe when he said that language “leads to the heart of a people.” Language is, indeed, a matter of the heart, a part of shared, cultural heritage. Kudos to the EEOC for challenging the Salvation Army’s “Willie Lynch” mentality and its attempt to place immigrants at a disadvantage in the workplace.
posted by Butterfly87 | 9:32 PM
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