Confronting the Raciolinguistic Hegemony of White Standardized English in U.S. Literacy Education

Promoting Multilingualism in Policy, Theory, and Practice

Abstract

This conceptual article discusses language ideologies in the context of white standardized English hegemony by critically examining historical and contemporary perspectives on U.S. language policy across the intersection of race and language. Its primary goal is to promote equitable multilingualism in literacy education in the United States. Because educational language policy is inseparable from its colonial history, equity cannot be achieved without structural changes. Through a critical examination of policy, theory, and practice, this article emphasizes the role of raciolinguistic ideologies in literacy instruction, offering recommendations for research and practice to support more equitable approaches to instruction for multilingual learners.