Final answer:
The use of African American Vernacular English (AAE) by African Americans is true as a means to assert cultural identity and resist oppression. It has been a significant form of expression that has helped maintain a sense of community and has continued despite facing stigmatization and issues of cultural appropriation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that African Americans use vernacular as a means of asserting cultural identity, fostering community, and resisting historical oppression is true. Vernacular, in this context, refers to dialects like African American Vernacular English (AAE) that are associated with specific social categories, in this case, an ethnicity.
This vernacular has served as a powerful tool for African Americans to navigate and resist a dehumanizing slave system, reinforce communal bonds, and express unique cultural identities. Despite the stigmatization of these dialects in formal settings like classrooms and courtrooms, and the complex issues surrounding cultural appropriation, AAE remains a highly structured linguistic system.
It contains regular grammatical patterns, innovative vocabularies, and communicates Black traditions and social truths. The persistence of the vernacular stands as a testament to the cultural resilience and identity of the African American community.