Our Own Language / Lang a nou — Book Launch & Public Conversation

Celebrate MIT Prof. Michel DeGraff’s new book Our Own Language / Lang a nou. Introductory remarks, conversation & book signing.

OUR OWN LANGUAGE / LANG A NOU

A Book Launch & Public Conversation with Michel DeGraff and Haynes Miller.

Introduced and Moderated by M. S. Vijay Kumar.

What happens when children are denied the right to learn in the language they know best?

What becomes possible when communities reclaim their own languages as tools for knowledge, education, human rights, dignity, democracy, liberation and nation-building?

Join us at the MIT Museum for a special evening celebrating the publication of Michel DeGraff’s new MIT Press book, written in English and Kreyòl:

Our Own Language: Harnessing the Power of Kreyòl and Other Mother Tongues for Education and Liberation

Lang a nou: Kreyòl ak lòt lang manman se zouti pou edikasyon ak liberasyon

Drawing on Haiti’s revolutionary history, the struggle for Kreyòl in education, and the predicament of post-colonies around the world, Our Own Language / Lang a nou challenges a belief with deep roots in colonial history, namely the belief that some languages — and, by implication, some people — are more worthy of access to knowledge and power than others.

For this special evening, linguist, activist and author Michel DeGraff will introduce some of the stories and ideas that led him to write the book, then he and Haynes Miller will engage each other and the audience in a conversation about language, education, inequality and the possibilities afforded by Liberatory Linguistics.

The conversation will be introduced and moderated by M. S. Vijay Kumar.

Audience discussion will follow.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Come celebrate our languages and imagine an education where every child counts.

The event is free and open to the public.