Language as Resistence

 It is not the English language that hurts me, but what the oppressors do with it, how they shape it to become a territory that limits and defines, how they make it a weapon that can shame, humiliate, colonize.

Bell Hooks

As this quote focuses on the point of how English or other languages become territory that limits and defines and makes some people ashamed, humiliated and colonize people for it. We can analyse texts from 1800s when racial segregation was apparent. We can analyse such as old animations where they use AAVE as a funny accent. For example, The Jungle Books dubbed the monkeys in AAVE while they dubbed other animals and Mowgli with 'standard English'. This example can used as an evidence to prove that English language was use to shame, humiliate, and colonize.
For my FOA, I can use this as my source to prove my thoughts that English - or any language has the power to oppress people.

This quote serves a great role in the speech by Bell Hooks as she writes about her anger about oppression and segregation she felt due to her English. This text also refers back to language priority as some accents are thought as to be 'standard' while other accents, such as the AAVE is thought to be inferior. She also talks about how she does not want the oppression and wants every language to be treated equally. 

This quote is powerful as she uses strong diction such as 'weapon,shape it terriotory, oppressor'. As her point was to criticize 'stand English', the strong diction shows her anger and this can stand out to the audience about her main point.