Blog #4: Delpit

Yes, I do agree with Delpit. When it comes down to the question if I disagree or not to Delpit argument and weather or not if it is possible for those born into non-dominant Discourses to learn dominant Discourses. As Delpit mentions in her article, “instead of being locked into 'your place' by your genes, you are now locked hopelessly into a lower-class status by your discourse,” (Delpit 546) which I believe a lot of urban students now in days are categorized into these categories by discourses. Children who were born and raised into a lower-class don't wish for themselves to be born into a lower-class home. These lower-class children have to work ten times hard to reach that Discourse, where they could have access to social power and money, not much will succeed while reaching to the discourse with a capital “D.” Due to of weak minded, lack of education, and etc.

The reason I agree with Delpit, was because I was one of those children born into a lower 0case “d,” going up on welfare and having to struggle to reach the higher education level. My parents did not hold me back from receiving my education, I could say it was their way of growing up. They grew up in a working family, so they believe working, paying bills, and buying personal things was a way of life. I knew since I was young, I wanted to go to college, but on my way to college I have had a rocky road. Notice in elementary, was wonderful, had good grades and passed the required state test. On my way to middle school, that's when things got shaky. Went from being an “A'” and “B” student to a “D” and “F,” notice myself getting into trouble and not caring bout school. Coming from a discourse home and having my parents separating, made it a bit harder for me to concentrate on my education.

When Gee argued, that you can not learn a discourse, honestly have to say I did not understand exactly what he was trying to get his point across. After our English 201 professor, broke it down and hearing the rest of the students opinion, it came to a better understanding the difference between “D” and “d” discourse. Reflecting back to my personal experience, even though I came from a discourse home, going through high school it was pretty mellow but not what I was expecting. Even though I graduated as a honor roll student I had to repeat some high school level courses in college but did not get any credit from it. Thought I was well prepared, but reality hit, I really wasn't. Sad to say, thought was well prepared for college, even though that had happened. Went from a discourse home to a Discourse education. That being said, I agree with Delpit, on how you could learn from a discourse and adapt yourself into a Discourse. Not everyone comes from a Discourse and have it made, from my point of view and life experience, you could learn how to adapt into a Discourse.