The Power of the Spoken Word | College Behind Bars

“Without language… one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savor their songs.” – Nelson Mandela

Bard College Prison Initiative students debate Harvard and present their senior projects for review. They also share their dreams of what they hope to do next outside of prison, as they go through the commencement ceremony and recieve their degrees.

In this lesson, the concept of “language” will be examined in relation to the BPI-Harvard debate. Using the included handout, students will develop both sides of an argument on the reality and relevance of linguistic determinism.