In this economic downturn when jobs are scarce, the US Department of Justice just added 9 new job openings to the economy. The the DEA has 9 openings for jobs with the title of Ebonics Translator. Basically what they need are nine individuals who can understand Ebonics and translate to other investigators. They will be listening to and translating Ebonics heard while monitoring secretly recorded conversations within narcotic investigations. The jobs will be at the Atlanta Georgia Drug Enforcement Administrations field office.

Ebonics is a subject of much debate. In the 1990′s a California school district passed a resolution which recognized the language as legitimate. They wanted to teach Ebonics to some of the African American students. At the time the debate of the school districts’ decision created a political war, garnering national attention for the language.

John Braugh, who is considered an expert on African American English, gave his opinion on the recent job openings, saying, “They probably want reliable expertise to make sure they’ve got an accurate interpretation for what is said,” he said.”Because there’s the perception in many minds that you don’t need a translator, people believe they’ve understood something when they haven’t.”