Standard English?

Since I grew up speaking "Standard English" in my home and in school, I don't have any experience with learning another dialect out of necessity or in order to further my education. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to learn when to use each type of English, which settings are appropriate and which are not. It is so unfortunate that in order for many African-Americans in this country, this education of Standard English is necessary to "succeed". Why do you have to talk a certain way to get a good-paying job when your home dialect can get the same points across, just in a different way? How does Standard English make you sound any more intelligent than Black English? Tell me that one, I'd sure like to know. I know people won't change their mind anytime soon, but I'd like to challenge anyone who reads this to think about how you judge people the next time you hear an African-American speaking Ebonics. What is your immediate reaction? Why do you think you had that reaction? It's something to consider.