Posted on 09/04/2014 8:12:20 AM PDT by lbryce
Research confirms that the “acting white” charge is a real problem that intimidates some black students. Our job is to confront it.
As kids go back to school this week, when it comes to black ones, it’s time to do some myth-busting. This week’s topic: black teens calling their nerdy black peers “white” for liking school. It’s a problem, because too often, black kids who want to fit in end up letting their grades slip.
The social scientists John Ogbu and Signithia Fordham first called attention to this phenomenon in the 1980s. But over the past 10 years, a myth has settled in that the “acting white” idea has been disproven—that black kids do not devalue scholarly achievement as white, and that people who say so are promulgating a falsehood. A recent column by Nia-Malika Henderson is emblematic of this denial. She wrote that when Barack and Michelle Obama criticize the black community for tolerating these “acting white” allegations, “their rhetoric, while seen as refreshing and bold by some, actually seems to confirm a stereotype, that somehow African Americans don’t value academic achievement.”
Obama, though, has been arguing the case for a long time. In the Democratic Convention speech that introduced him to America in 2004, he derided the idea that “a black kid with a book in his hand is acting white.” But this summer a decade later, when Obama brought up the “acting white” problem in his pep talk to black boys kicking off his My Brother’s Keeper initiative, Henderson and other columnists—with the welcome exception of Jonathan Capeheart—dogpiled on him for hanging on to an illusion.
Folks, no. The research confirms that the “acting white” charge is a real problem that intimidates some black students away from doing their schoolwork as diligently as they’d prefer.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
That’s irrelevant. A less-intelligent student of any race can be just as well-behaved and hardworking as a more-intelligent student.
“it’s easier to be with your own kind”.
As we here on FR know when groups of immigrants come to this country they’re comfort level is with their “own kind”. They all meld in with us as the years pass and they acclimate. This has not happened with blacks even though families have been here for generations. There are a lot of reasons why but I think enough years have passed for them to fit in. It was thought in some circles that the guy in the white hut would help with the problem but he and his progg friends have only made things worse. Blacks will never correct the culture of “being black” unless they stop “being black” and become americans like other immigrants have done.
“As the article notes; It’s a problem, because too often, black kids who want to fit in (with their black peers) end up letting their grades slip.”
This isn’t a black phenomena. In the small town where I grew up, who made decent grades were stigmatized, physically attacked, and isolated by the ‘cool kids’. There were no blacks or other minorities in that town or school system.
You had a choice. Learn to fight or act dumb. Once the ‘cool kids’ learned you would fight, the usually left you alone. Of course, fighting will get you expelled today which doesn’t help your GPA.
[ Reading, writing and arithmetic are all White things? Well...More job opportunities for me! ]
But Algebra was invented by mooslims... so Blacks are being RACIST by not learning math and how to use “Arabic” Numerals......
Why would a kid want to act white ?
The order of the day is to celebrate diversity, so that even learning to speak and write the English language is considered an insult
Only black culture could equate “succeeding” with “acting white,” and then blame their failures on white people.
Its a demand for instant gratification vs delayed gratification and its not limited to any particular race.
Anyone who is not willing to work for what they want or behaves poorly is at fault, regardless of their race.
Next time before you push out racist attitudes remember that Jesus loved everyone enough that he gave his life for us, including the black people.
Everything is racism! We’d all better end it now! Oh...and Global Warming/Climate Change Racism!
Most of the so-called scientific achievements given credit to Muslims were ones that were usurped from the scientific community of the lands they conquered. Best example. Arabic numerals,the numbering system based on 10 as the global foundation for all thins mathematics, accounting was created in India, usurped by the Muslims. Algebra with its decidedly sounding Arabic name, was also created elsewhere and incorporated into the Arab culture, continues on today.
“It goes beyond that.
“The Man be keepin’ us down” is the mantra of the black underclass. Racism is the cause of their condition.”
And it goes beyond that. I am home schooling a child who frequently adopts the “It’s not my fault” or the “Everyone hates me,” mentality.
The only thing keeping anybody down is nearly always themselves. MArtin Luther King admonished Blacks that once they had gotten into the universities they should burn the midnight oil, so to speak, to get ahead. This is a lesson not only for Blacks but for everyone. Anyone who wants to get ahead needs to work hard, essentially to create an unfair advantage over others.
If we look critically at any immigrant group who gets ahead they always practice the virtues of perseverance and temperance and courage. These are the traits that can cause anyone to excel. Sadly, it has become politically incorrect to tell anyone they need to work harder and quit whining.
Furthermore, these lessons are all around us. I like going to the local amateur boxing tournaments. The level of proficiency is always surprisingly high and the cultural background of the fighters nearly always shockingly low. Yet, they fail to realize that the same discipline that allows them to be a competent boxer are the very same tools that would allow them to succeed in any venture in life. Imagine if the hours training were spent practicing mathematics, studying chemistry, or simply reading and writing, but sadly they seek to struggle against odds greater than those of winning a lottery often because it fits the stereotype of the line that has been sold to them.
[ Most of the so-called scientific achievements given credit to Muslims were ones that were usurped from the scientific community of the lands they conquered. Best example. Arabic numerals,the numbering system based on 10 as the global foundation for all thins mathematics, accounting was created in India, usurped by the Muslims. Algebra with its decidedly sounding Arabic name, was also created elsewhere and incorporated into the Arab culture, continues on today. ]
I know that, I just like hoisting lie-beralism by it’s own poorly constructed petard.
If you want to piss of a Hindu tell them that arabs invented the concept of Zero, LOL
The Arab world have a similar self-defeatist attitude.The UN publishes a annual report on the state of the Arab World. The utter lack of any scientific institutions, a 2% literacy rate, among a population block of 250 million people and ironically where “Mein Kampf” is a best seller. In addition, the GNP of the total Arab/Muslim world is that of less thanHoll and minus oil revenue.
Sharpton's in the 'hate whites' group. So is Holder. It's amazing any black kids want to do well in school and take up the American dream. It's easier for poverty pimps to control the 'black community' if they're 'outraged losers'. Holder likes the 'wallow in pity and rage' thing...then Obama falls down from Alinsky... Alinsky hated the middle class...
Really, black kids who want to make it on their own and achieve the dream have to fight their 'leaders'...
The Arabs having invented the concept of ‘zero’ speaks much louder regarding what they’ve actually contributed to society than the abstract concept of zero in philosophical, mathematical terms.
[ As we here on FR know when groups of immigrants come to this country they’re comfort level is with their “own kind”. They all meld in with us as the years pass and they acclimate. This has not happened with blacks even though families have been here for generations. There are a lot of reasons why but I think enough years have passed for them to fit in. It was thought in some circles that the guy in the white hut would help with the problem but he and his progg friends have only made things worse. Blacks will never correct the culture of “being black” unless they stop “being black” and become americans like other immigrants have done. ]
Some groups just play better with other than other groups. While you do see china towns and greek towns etc... they generally become decent neighbors to have and not slums. But that depends on the culture too.
Black Culture was very much starting to integreate in the 50’s especially in the north, and was making great progress in the early 60’s as civil rights was making reasonable demand, but then after MLK was killed the message was taken over by power hungry hucksters and Plantation Owning democrats who set it back another 50 years over the next 30 years...
The “Great Society” didn’t help as it destroyed family structures, especially the Black Community which was just then starting to gain economic footing from REAL injustice but then was given a carrot on a stick leading to hell that is welfare.
[ The Arabs having invented the concept of ‘zero’ speaks much louder regarding what they’ve actually contributed to society than the abstract concept of zero in philosophical, mathematical terms. ]
Very Apt.
[ Acting White means going to school every day, on time, working hard, not raping your fellow students, not smoking pot, not stealing, not having random wanton sex. Guess that’s expecting far too much. ]
I don’t think Blacks should “act white”, I think they should “Act Asian” (asian inthe US term, not european term) for a while....
That's odd, I thought our Liberal Betters told us that we cannot talk about minority groups with such sweeping statements. Hmmmm.
“acting white”
So isn’t that racist?
[ Does this suggest the return of segregated schools so whites can learn in their culture, blacks in their culture, Hispanics in their culture, Asians in their culture, Middle Easterners in their culture....
So much for the “Melting Pot” illustration I learned in school. ]
Neo-Multiculturalists are the most racist people ever, they think that someone’s DNA should be the sole determining factor of one’s culture one is mandated to practice. If there is deviation then that person is a sell out or racist if they are white.
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