Posted on 11/04/2002 6:59:52 PM PST by What Is Ain't
A few months ago, I wrote here that black people come in at the bottom of just about every index of academic achievement "Education: what blacks owe themselves," Aug. 26). It's sad but true that whether it is a measure of math skills, literacy, college entrance exam scores, level of educational achievement or academic readiness, black people can almost always be counted on to bring up the rear.
My theory is that this is because we don't tend to have a lot of generations in our families who were well-educated because of a host of historical factors, starting with the fact that it was illegal to teach slaves to read. This assertion of a limited tradition of valuing education generated some heated disagreement:
" ... [Y]our baseless, racist assumptions about black families give us the very best argument for reparations. Statements like yours, reminiscent of the ignorant, archaic, idiotic claims whites used to justify slavery, prove more than ever that it's not just blacks that continue to cause the divide in all aspects of American life. It's racist attitudes like yours, which continue to infest every crevice of American society."
One reader took offense at my holding up the disgraced Prepared Table Charter School as an example of a school that black people should rail against rather than support, as parents who sent their children there have: "How can you generalize from one charlatan who ran some b.s. school to the conclusion that black people as a race don't value education?"
Another reader wrote, "I strongly disagree with this position. Education is reinforced throughout the black community."
"Where the hell were you when black folks' rallying cry was, `Get an education?,' " another reader demanded to know. "Hell, Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver were better educated than most whites two years after they were freed from slavery. Get ready for a fight ... "
"You're black, but you're still a racist," I was informed.
A couple of readers compared me to the vomitively knee-jerk conservative columnist Michelle Malkin, which would have stung a little except that I am so sure that what I am advocating is the best way to help black children gain most all the advantages that all well-educated people have in this country.
I acknowledge that racism is a factor in maintaining the education achievement gap between blacks and whites. But more important than dwelling on some people's narrow-mindedness is striving for the one thing that will make it possible to overcome the disadvantages of lingering racism: education.
Every child of every hue deserves a good education. I decided to frame my education crusade in terms of black people because I happen to be black myself. To all those black folks who got mad at me for saying that we as a people need to take education more seriously in our community, I say, don't get mad at me. Get even.
Even out the advantages for our children by not waiting for pre-school to get our children ready to learn. Teach our 1- and 2-year-old children to recognize colors and shapes, to count, say the alphabet and to enjoy simple songs. Pre-verbal children can get interested in pictures of animals and toys. Turn off the television and engage children daily by pointing out and naming the people and things in their environment.
No one needs a teaching certificate or to be even functionally literate to be successful at this. And yet, I cannot fathom that any parent or caretaker who undertook these simple -- free! -- measures would not end up with a ready-to-learn preschooler. Headstart is a wonderful and needed program that should be fully funded, but why shouldn't every black child start Headstart knowing many of the basics that this federal program works to instill?
Beyond that, every black child should have access to good schools. But much of what makes a good learning environment has to do not only with the condition of the buildings and the quality of the instruction, but also with the respect that students and parents have for learning process.
I'd like to see black politicians, clergy and community leaders harping on the personal responsibility aspect of education. I'd like to see someone like, say, Quanell X, spending less time marching about with dangerous weapons and more energy encouraging young black men to fight discrimination with a superior intellect gleaned of an excellent education.
I've been told I'm being "pollyanna-ish" on this issue. But, why not try this simple thing? It couldn't possibly do anyone any harm, but it could potentially do so much good.
Escape. Vote against business as usual. Take a risk. Vote conservative. Truth alone shall set you free.
When you speak the truth, alone, among the tribe of liars, first you must have courage, then you must have a strong voice. I pray she has both.
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.
"There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs. There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don't want the patient to get well." --Booker T. Washington, 1911
There have been many groups with FAR worse "histories" to "deal with" than American blacks. Let's talk about your basic Vietnam War refugee..........and what he / she has accomplished after coming here to start anew. I won't insult the readers of this forum by pointing out the extreme differences............let's just say that some cultures understand education combined with hard work and strong family values.
Others don't. Others want the rest of the populace to support them. Pathetic, IMHO.
No mercy.
Coming soon: Tha SYNDICATE.
But an excellent education includes reason and logic...and then you wind up with conservatives instead of sheep.
It's unfortunate that examples of educational excellence by Blacks receive little or no media attention. People who could be role models are not prominently on display. I recall one story about a black share cropper family in Arkansas that raised five children. All of them graduated from college with advanced degrees and became professionals, doctors, lawyers, business leaders. That kind of drive was inspired by dedicated parents who were determined that their children would succeed.
Examples of excellence in the political arena, such as Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice and Colin Powell, three of the most powerful people in the country are derided and scorned by black liberals. That sorry example coupled with the support of candidates and issues that are hostile to Blacks, as you pointed out, seem to lock Blacks into a cycle of self defeat.
It's time for Blacks to wake up and smell the (political) coffee in order to be a viable constituency again
Clearly, what she is saying in this paragraph is correct. But who is going to be doing the teaching? With 70% illegitamacy, mom is working too hard to make ends meet (or busy having the next kid), and Dad isn't around. In the families that are nuclear, this goal is workable, but it is not what the 'black leaders' are promoting. And if parents did push and teach their children this way, would they fall into the same 'house negro' category that any other striving, successful black gets labeled as?
Conservative, successful blacks HAVE to fight back more vociferously against the dumbing-down culture that is so accepted by many blacks. And as soon as they do, their race will no longer matter to the vast majority of whites who would welcome any parents and their chilren that are working hard to make a better life and avoiding the victim-class mentality. A generation of such vociferous fighting back, and the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons will be seen as the damaging lying racists they are.
Now, one a different subject -- what the hell is she doing bad mouthing Michelle Malkin???
You should visit a Sierra Club meeting. You will find wacky left-wing white Birkenstock elitists, for the most part. And Planned Parenthood is well known in the South. When they enter a new town, the first place they set up shop is in the Black community. Margaret Singer would be proud.
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