CNN - African-Americans made small gains relative to their white counterparts in the 2010 Equality Index, released Wednesday by the National Urban League.
The index attempts to measure the "relative status of blacks and whites in American society," using the categories of economics, health, education, social justice and civic engagement.
The 2010 index stands at 71.8 percent – an increase of 0.6 percent over the year before. An equality index of less than 100 percent suggests that blacks are doing worse relative to whites, while an index greater than 100 percent suggests that blacks are doing better.
This article is asinine! By whos metric is this being measured? How can you quantify gains equality relative to another race that so called defines parr?!
ReplyDeleteJust further validates that you can 'make' statistics say whatever you want. If you ask any rational individual to speak to the any of the first four categories I doubt you'll find anyone (other than the individuals behind this study) who believe significant gains are being made by Blacks in any one of these areas. Studies like this, a source that perpetuates ignorance, is part of the problem. My two cents....
ReplyDeleteGains?
ReplyDeleteWake County school board ends diversity policy:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7345240
Come on, let's get real! That diversity policy did little to address the issues. It's more so a smoke screen that gained comfort within the constituency! In my opinion, if those that are in the know are paying attention to what is going on, you stand a far better chance at stirring the pot with the new plan. It keeps people on their toes! Get away from the PC crap behind token stamped protocol.
ReplyDeleteI think the bullshit even throughout the above comments that the problem isn't even expressed with clarity, or with the stink it exudes.
ReplyDeleteRACISM!!! - period. Whites and blacks. Lets remove policies and blur lines so accountably is nill....
First, Your comment does what in this audience, Dimitri? Second, there was no accountability WITH the damn protocol, but if that makes comfort levels go up.....sure, ok!!! Is that all it takes, we're finished? I see no path to teaching in your rationale. Please explain.
ReplyDeleteMy point is that we haven't moved from the same sort of racial discourse that plagued our society during the civil rights era.... It's not about not seeing race, you can't change who you are, but segregation and desegregation acts, are you serious?
ReplyDeleteI would have to second Taj; there have not been any gains in equality in this country, especially in terms of the categories of the statistics D provided nor in the education arena. Black children are still purposely placed within the lower spectrum of the infamous bell curve of standardized state testing, as well as in American society; they expect us to fail. The Wake County decision is only a step in the direction closer to "putting us back in out place." Lets talk about it--separate but equal yet again. Community schools are usually inadequate and they don't allow Blacks an opportunity to a better education and the broader picture, which is overall success and great strides and gains. Until we recognize the system for what it is, essentially black and white, we will never make any gains for ourselves as a people. We cannot just write off policies and laws as PC; they are absolutely necessary as another reminder that we need to take care of us because no one else will--nor do they plan to.
ReplyDeleteChristen, Before I begin to share my thoughts, I need some help in understanding some statements you made within your post. Could you please elaborate and/or provide an example to further explain what you mean within each of the points below:
ReplyDelete1.) Black children are still purposely placed within the lower spectrum of the infamous...of standardized testing -- help me understand the use of the word placed and purposely? What is quantifying each?
2.) They expect us to fail -- who is they and how?
3.) Community schools are 'usually' inadequate -- how do you delineate those that are and those that aren't?
4.) ...they don't allow Blacks an opportunity...and the broader picture, which is overall success and ....as baselined and benchmarked by what?
5.) they are absolutely necessary as a reminder we must take care of us...what does this mean? How are you quantifying level of care / satisfaction of need?
I do not want to make assumptions as to what was meant.
Placing blame on others, in my opinion is unproductive in the sense that it doesn't produce results. What I believe it will take is for us as a people to take ownership of the problem at hand is seeking change within us, educating ourselves and returning to our communities to improve our own situations. And I agree with Christen that Wake Country is a prime example as to why we (as in the black community) must continue to move forward, despite that fact that history is repeating itself, or hasn't changed, or whatever you want to call it...
ReplyDelete@ Taj -- I'm not sure I understand where you're directing your comment regarding blame.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, your action plan of 'educating ourselves' further perpetuates the problem of segregation. The first step, as D continues to point out, is to bring to light the problem. The second is a plan of action that teaches and impacts effective and real change that sets a course not to be repeated.
@Victoria--the statements I made were examples as the reasons why Wake County is an example of why we need to take initiative to support ourselves and be more involved in life processes, especially the education of our children (Black children that is). As an educator, I encounter daily students who were placed in my care ( at a charter school), under my watch because parents did not feel traditional public community schools were planting in their children seeds of success.
ReplyDeleteStandardized testing is based on a bell curve; there is an expected percentage that is supposed to fail--usually, the students who fail are students in poverty-stricken areas and are predominantly Black children.
"They" are lawmakers and the people in positions of power within the U.S., who are primarily people of Caucasian decent.
The opportunities that are given to Caucasian students versus Black students in lower income areas are hardly not the same or even comparable.
Therefore, which goes back to my point and @ Taj; we do not need to blame anyone; instead we need to be progressive in our efforts to advance our situation and circumstances and rear productive members of American society.
@ Vic, "educating ourselves" does not perpetuate segregation. I want to remind you that to date there remains life times of black history that are forever lost and/or have been omitted from history as it actually occurred per the purposeful direction of the dominant culture.
ReplyDeleteFurther I will have to candidly say that your comment "education ourselves perpetuates segregation" as written, examplifies the unconscious perception that one culture has of another. Why would you being a different race than I express that by learning more about and teaching me things is segregationist?
Blacks are the ONLY race in the world that don't have a culture. Remember race and culture are very different. In order for a race to succeed and overcome it must have knowledge of self. Without the knowledge of self, race will assimilate other cultural practices that are counter productive to positive sustainability.
@ Taj, I agree that we need to get "us" understood and stifle the disenfranchisement we suffer from internally. Every race on this planet has a culture except African Americans. We truly are the lost race.
@ Christen, its funny you say what you did in you r last comment. Taj and I were speaking the other day and like her, I too have been told by an African American child that they wished they were not black and/or light skin. This is because as a child they wold rather be a different color than black as they are talk to be black is hard, hurts and results in a dismal lifestyle. We must as a race teach our babies that skin color is beautiful no matter what. Only the race from which one derives can teach the beauty of that race however, with no culture it almost an impossibility.
I'm truly not the enemy. My comments were intended to look broader in scope at a path forward and challenge thought that, in my opinion, allows those who are followers to settle for that which perpetuates the issues at hand. It seems if we continue to 'get' what we expect, we guarantee a predictable path.
ReplyDelete@ Vic, no one is calling you the enemy - not sure why/how you deduced that as a term equal to my/our perception of you.
ReplyDeleteAs you, we are all expressing from our respective stances our views on the given topic. Instead f speaking in generalities we honed in on a specific content and issues.
I personally dig deeper into your comments for enhanced understanding or to teach. Your comment above, to me, doesn't say much in regards to the banter above. What does what you just said mean in respect to my above comments?
It wold be great, if you spoke to specifics as noted above so that we can all understand. Sometimes that takes extensive banter and challenging remarks, but this and only this is when understand becomes realized.
@ Victoria- I think everyone would agree when I say that no one sees you as "the enemy". You have a different thought process that is predicated on the limits of your experiences. And although that is the case for me as well, what you are not seeing so clearly is that unless we help ourselves, we will continue to get band-aid support. My comment about placing blame wasn't directed toward anyone in particular and was meant to be a blanket statement. My point is that if we as blacks can identify the problem, then we can also identify the solution. What I feel is setting us back is our own ignorance, and like Dimitri states, a lack of culture, and a lack of self-love. So we allow others who are unaware, ignorant, and sympathetic (or not) to the circumstance of the black community to create or enforce policy or development that doesn't develop anything. I think my next statement will create an entirely new discourse, but I also feel like real change can't come from outside of the black community because in this country, the "they" that Christen refers to is fully aware that if we don't re-up soon, we will devour ourselves based on our own ignorance! (which may or may not be the goal) Look at the situation on the African continent as a prime example of the effects of Colonization...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm off topic (somewhat) but in terms of segregating ourselves, I don't see it that way. It would simply be survival to educate and reintroduce the educated to our communities. My point above concerning blacks being our demise is why placing blame does nothing. We need to take care of ourselves before we expect anyone else to. And that is not to say that "others" can't assist, but we have to desire it for ourselves.
All,
ReplyDeleteI'm not arguing the challenges and, in fact, concur the needs for many young African Americans to be guided in taking pride in their race. As well, I understand that many pieces can only be provided through mentoring, teaching and guiding by positive African Americans.
It's horrific the pain of not understanding / knowing your lineage because it was stripped from your family history by idiotic decisions made by white slave masters. It is devastating to know there are Black children who verbalize not wanting to be their own race, little girls who choose, repeatedly, white doll babies. It makes my skin crawl to know there are educators who 'dumb down' or expect / tolerate failure for some children. It's not just relative or specific to African American children but I hear your frustration and pain.
I've been involved in education in several third world countries and seen horrific / devastating practices in place, heard conversation specific to what 'these children' could never be / accomplish, walked in to schools where students with simple learning disabilities were removed and sent to 'institutions' because they didn't fit. My scope is not narrow, and my life has been enriched from the children and adults I've met around the world.
Please know I'm not minimizing experiences each of you have had with the children you work with, love, teach...but I stand beside my belief that education is the path forward -- not as we currently see it playing out, but also not segregated. I truly believe tossing textbooks to the side and teaching educators how to open the doors of the world through technology and real world expectations -- developing children as independent thinkers and providing them honest, real understanding of the world, history of who they are and introducing them to the world and others is the right way. I believe standards should be rigorous for all, data must be taken apart (put in the hands of staff, students and parents) to guide the process. If we don't know where we're going, any road will indeed take us there. We can never settle for what is. So too, we know most educators haven't been taught how to teach and give through this perspective. We must teach them, and teach parents to take pride and take part. Education is the path.
@Victoria- I completely agree with your last paragraph. In my opinion, the home and the community are the foundation for revitatlizing the value of education. However, I'd like to take a step further and ask where do you envision this taking place? Charter Schools? Sure! But for some reason I don't see it happening in the Wake County newly revised community schools. There are entire districts that need restructuring. The teacher doesn't want to teach in a school falling apart (or doesn't know how), and the student doesn't really have a choice. I feel exactly as you do in terms of current (or archaic) diversity policies not actually being a solution, but when life gives you lemons...
ReplyDeleteThis is why I feel that we need to prepare our teachers, motivate them to want to go into the most under-resourced schools and do exactly what it is that you say, "developing children as independent thinkers and providing them honest, real understanding of the world, history of who they are...".
Unfortunately, the pool we currently have to pull from is rather shallow. And in that shallow pool, there are even fewer people of color looking for an opportunity to return to the 'hood and give back. The sense of responsibility isn't there, or, the glory or financial stability isn't. If children feel as they do in the example in your second paragraph, when they become adults why would they want to go back????? And if they don't want to go back, how or why should we expect someone else to? We need brown teachers in the mix who can serve as beacons of light ...
Why does this matter? Because in order for our students to believe and have hope in what we are trying to develop in them (a sense of self and understanding of the world), they must see that they have a place within it. It's not just "talk". This matters for developing a student's "I can" mindset. It creates a sense of possibility and establishes trust. Not only positive interactions with students but between teachers as well.
I say all of this to say that I agree with you Victoria, but somehow we need to reach past the limits of what is, recruit and train all that have a desire to serve, teach, and lead ALL STUDENTS, but we especially need the colorful ones
@ Taj, I concur with what you're saying specific to the need for teachers of color, as I stated above. As articulated in my first paragraph, it takes teaching, mentoring and modeling by positive role models of all walks -- not just teachers. A foundation has to be developed from which pride can foster, and want, desire and love for self and community will grow. It won't be easy, but I believe can occur.
ReplyDeleteAs well, change is a ripple effect, not occurring overnight. The Wake Counties of the world will not be at the forefront of change, as won't most traditional public schools. It is going to take those who are not afraid to push past status quo, push past the comfort level of most and stir the pot. It doesn't matter the platform (although a charter school is an easier political pool in which to step). What matters is the leadership to implement, recruit, teach and navigate the journey; awakening thought, initiating interest and impacting change (the ripple effect)....for me, there is no other way! And, personally, I intend to be a forerunner!
Very admirable Victoria! And I will agree again that the responsibility rests on more shoulders than just the teachers (and black folks lol). Be a forerunner, blaze new trails from which our next group of leaders can branch out. But do not forget the discourse here. EMPOWERMENT is key.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Hellen Keller said it best:
"I had once believed that we were all masters of our fate– that we could mould our lives into any form we pleased...I had overcome deafness and blindness sufficiently enough to be happy, and I supposed that anyone could come out victorious if he threw himself valiently into life's struggle. But as I went more and more about the country I learned that I had spoken with assurance on a subject I knew little about. I forgot that I owed my success partly to the advantages of my birth and environment... Now, however, I learned that the power to rise in the world is not within the reach of everyone."