Lisa Delpit: The Politics of Teaching Literature Discourse. Literacy: A Critical Source Book. Cushman, Ellen. et al. New York: Bedford/St Martins, 2001



Lisa Delpit seems to agree with most of Gee’s theories. However, his notion of "people who have not been born into dominant discourses will find it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to acquire such a discourse...if you’re not already in, don’t expect go get in" (Delpit P546) is troublesome for her. This theory proves unethical because it permanently sets the present discourse of people within that realm throughout life. It sets a stage of impossibility and powerlessness to enhance change into a better lead life. Unlike Gee, Delpit believes this as quite the opposite. For Delpit, while she does feel that discourses may contain opposing values, there are people who overcome these obstacles. There is no door that separates discourses but there is a key to opening and obtaining others.

Delpit uses the examples of students that went beyond and excelled into other discourses through their teachers’ determinism to make them succeed, "They held visions for us that we could not imagine for ourselves...The world is tough out there and you have to be tougher" (Delpit P 549). More importantly, these teachers were not of elite, high power and dominant discourses and yet, they enabled these students to climb into another more dominant world (discourse). She makes the point that these teachers put in extra support to shape these students’ learning. Thus, illustrating that by bringing in different ideas and concepts that contribute to other races and cultures can , in fact, have a positive impact. As Delpit demonstrates with these teachers and their students, nothing is impossible. It is through the participants effort that shape and put forth the ultimate success of acquiring a more dominant discourse.