Chapter 6: The English-Only Movement: The Power to Silence

The proponents of a policy of English Only assert that making English the official language of the United States would ensure that all members of this society would have equal opportunities to participate fully in American life and society. I believe, however, that by coercing non-English speakers to have knowledge of English as their only means of participating in American society is an exercise of power by the dominant culture that devalues the minority language and culture, and denies these people equality and human dignity by silencing them. It is not surprising that education is at the center of the struggle between opponents to and proponents of the English-Only movement, because this power to silence is especially effective with children, society’s most powerless members.