Homework 6 Mr.Zhang

How does Delpit respond to Gee? Who do you agree with and why?

Since we have read about the definitions of Literacy given by Gee and discussed about the understanding of Literacy before, what were demonstrated by Delpit in the passage appeared to be a very good critical thinking of Gee's opinion. And as the same as us, the writer Delpit first agreed with Gee's identification of Discourses. But after further thinking of First Discourses and Second Discourses ( given from School and Home), Delpit found that what Gee demonstrated that the two different statuses--socially dominant and some nondominant were seemed different from his and his colleagues' experience who helped to educate the poor children and children of color.

Next, he gives out what the different points: 1. Delpit thought Gee had overly estimated the difficulty if man was 'not been born into Dominant Discourses and wanted to understand it.  2.He thought that Gee had also over demonstrated the trouble and conflicts when ' attempting to acquire another Discourses' (P 266).  Followed with the negative effects which Gee's idea would brought, Delpit demonstrated those 'successful' African American should also acquire another Discourse instead of his own one.

According to my point of view, I would definitely agree with what Gee said. As I came to the U.S, I've made over 200 friends but most of them are Chinese. I can even count my American friends' number with my fingers. The reason of this is obvious: difference in speaking, which should be concluded to Gee's 'Second Discourses'. I tried quite hard to communicate with them, just similar as Delpits' example, but the relationship between me and my American friends was just saying Hello to each other. Although Delpit did believe this could be overcame, for me, I think, it should be an impossible mission--I have to do that all the time, but no final answer.