African-American Literacies is a personal, public and political exploration of the problems faced by student writers from the African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) culture. Drawing on personal experience, Elaine Richardson provides a compelling account of the language and literacy practices of African-American students. The book analyses the problems encountered by the teachers of AAVE speakers, and offers African American centred theories and pedagogical methods of addressing these problems. Richardson builds on recent research to argue that teachers need not only to recognise the value and importance of African-American culture, but also to use African-American English when teaching AAVE speakers standard English. African-American Literacies offers a holistic and culturally relevant approach to literacy education, and is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the literacy practices of African-American students. 'A personal, public and political exploration of literacy education from the points of view of students from the African-American Vernacular English culture. The book offers teachers new ways of thinking about and incorporating linguistic diversity into their theories and pedagogical methods of addressing students from AAVE cultures.' - Wasafiri 'This book should be mandatory reading for literacy teachers and researchers.' - Rebecca Rogers, Washington University, St Louis 'Elaine Richardson's African American Literacies provides a much-needed contribution to current discussions on the literacy education of African American students.' - Journal of Literary Research 'A personal, public and political exploration of literacy education from the points of view of students from the African-American Vernacular English culture. The book offers teachers new ways of thinking about and incorporating linguistic diversity into their theories and pedagogical methods of addressing students from AAVE cultures.' - Wasafiri Elaine Richardson is Assistant Professor of English and Applied Linguistics at Pennsylvania State University.