Contrary to what the current educational data on Black children’s achievement suggest, the African American community has always placed a high value on education. From slaves who were beaten for sneaking away to hidden sanctuaries on slave plantations to learn and teach others to read to the Little Rock Nine who suffered physical and verbal abuse to integrate schools following the Brown v. Board decision African Americans have overcome many obstacles and paid a high price to receive an education. Today, this legacy is in serious peril.
President Obama and the President of the NAACP Ben Jealous agree that eradicating educational disparities between Black (and Brown) and White children is the premier Civil Rights fight of 21st Century. In his speech to the NAACP’s 100th Anniversary convention, President Obama spoke these truths:
“…more than half a century after Brown v. Board, the dream of a world-class education is still being deferred all across the country. African American students are lagging behind white classmates in reading and math -- an achievement gap that is growing in states that once led the way in the civil rights movement. Over half of all African American students are dropping out of school in some places. There are overcrowded classrooms, and crumbling schools, and corridors of shame in America filled with poor children -- not just black children, brown and white children as well. The state of our schools is not an African American problem; it is an American problem because if Black and Brown children cannot compete, then America cannot compete. Innovative programs and expanded opportunities will not, in and of themselves, make a difference if each of us, as parents and as community leaders, fail to do our part by encouraging excellence in our children…Government programs alone won't get our children to the Promised Land. We need a new mind set, a new set of attitudes -- because one of the most durable and destructive legacies of discrimination is the way we've internalized a sense of limitation…We've got to say to our children, yes, if you're African American, the odds of growing up amid crime and gangs are higher. Yes, if you live in a poor neighborhood, you will face challenges that somebody in a wealthy suburb does not have to face. But that's not a reason to get bad grades, that's not a reason to cut class, that’s not a reason to give up on your education and drop out of school. No one has written your destiny for you. Your destiny is in your hands -- you cannot forget that. That's what we have to teach all of our children. No excuses …To parents we can't tell our kids to do well in school and then fail to support them when they get home. For our kids to excel, we have to accept our responsibility to help them learn. That means putting away the Xbox, putting our kids to bed at a reasonable hour. It means attending those parent-teacher conferences and reading to our children and helping them with their homework. And by the way, it means we need to be there for our neighbor's sons and daughters.”
On general principle, it’s hard to argue against the President’s appeal to individual responsibility. Like many who are counted among the so-called “Black intelligentsia” or as Michael Eric Dyson refers to them, the “Afristocracy,” which are made up of black professionals and the Black elite (i.e. Bill Cosby, Dr. Alvin Pouissant and Juan Williams to mention the more familiar voices) the President promotes the tenets of the “culture of poverty” theory which shifts the brunt of the responsibility of African American youth’s failure—socially and educationally—to the parents, home environment and individual behavior while downplaying or ignoring the more persistent and pernicious structural influences that block opportunity and encumber achievement. They focus on the outcomes or the symptoms of the problems that have manifested into individual behaviors as opposed to the systemic and structural influences that create and reproduce urban blight, broken families, crime and violence, teen pregnancy, drug use and drug selling, cultural indignities and vulgarities in music and language, and children uneducated and undisciplined. Most of us know that personal responsibility or individual effort alone cannot solve the problems that are plaguing our schools and preventing Black and Brown children from succeeding in our schools.
If we are truly committed to improving the educational achievement of ALL children and equipping them to live out the American dream as competitive and productive global citizens, we have to take an honest assessment of the processes and mechanisms whereby education is used to reproduce social inequality in larger society and create a permanent underclass made up largely of Black and Hispanic/Latino people. We must get back to practicing the principle of collective responsibility. Every adult--whether you have a child in the school system or not, whether you are among the affluent or impoverished, whether you live in the “hood” or in a gated community---should make it a priority to take an active role in helping to improve the academic outcomes of African American and poor children. From mentoring and tutoring a child who is not your own, helping a young single parent rear his or her child correctly, regularly attending local school board meetings to joining and working with the local NAACP—no act is too small or insignificant. The making of history runs on a parallel track with the present. When the final record is written about this generation the question will be where were you and what role did you play in helping to advance the Civil Rights agenda of your era, not how well you knew or how proud you were of the work that others did who went before you.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Black America Suffering the Brunt of the Economic Crisis
Black America Suffering the Brunt of the Economic Crisis
There is a saying that when White America catches a cold that Black America gets the flu. If that is true, then what does it mean for Black America when White America catches pneumonia? The harrowing economic crisis and related escalating unemployment rate is perhaps the strongest indicator that America has an acute case of pneumonia and well, African Americans, many are “catching their death” as the old folk used to say.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the national unemployment rate in February 2009 was 8.1. On a state and regional level, North Carolina had the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country, (10.7) following Michigan (12.0), South Carolina (11.0) and Oregon (10.8). According to BLS data, North Carolina reported the largest jobless rate increase from a year earlier (+5.5 percentage points), jumping from 5.2 in February 2008 to 10.7 in February 2009.
On a national level as the economic pandemic continues to spread, efforts to stimulate the economy have been tantamount to quick injections of large amounts of funding into the arms of corporations and financial institutions (some of which may be too sick to save), many people in local communities and towns are waiting to receive what amounts to a teaspoon of emergency relief in comparison. This is especially true for African Americans when it comes to the jobless issue. African Americans aged 16 to 19 had an unemployment rate of 36.5 in January 2009 and 38.2 in February 2009 compared to whites aged 16 to 19 who experienced an unemployment rate of 19.2 in January and 20.5 in February 2009.
The unemployment rate for African Americans aged 20 and over was 12.4 in January and 12.8 in February 2009 compared to 7.3 for whites aged 20 and over in January 2009 and 7.7 for whites aged 20 and over in February. .
When the data are examined by race and gender, the picture portraying how African Americans are faring during these deleterious economic times is even bleaker. The unemployment rate for African American males aged 20 slightly increased in February (16.1) from 15.8 in January 2009 compared to white males (aged 20 and over) who experienced an unemployment rate of 8.3 in January and 9.0 in February. For African American males aged 16 to 19 the unemployment rate was 46.0 in January and 46.2 in February compared to white males aged 16 to 19 whose unemployment rates were 22 and 25.7 in January and February 2009 respectively. .
Women aren’t doing much better which is particularly frightening considering that most have African American women are also single-heads of household. African American females aged 16 to 19 experienced an unemployment rate of 29.1 in January and 30.4 in February 2009. African American women aged 20 and over their unemployment rates were 12.4 and 12.8 in January and February 2009. For both age groups, African American women’s unemployment rate almost doubles that for white women. White women aged 16 to 19, the unemployment rate was 14.7 and 15.4, in January and February 2009 and white women aged 20 years and over, experienced an unemployment rate of 6.2 for both January and February.
Not only are African Americans most likely than any other race/ethnic group to be unemployed but they remain unemployed for longer periods of time. The BLS data substantiates the fact that Black America is suffering the greatest in terms of the jobless situation during these very challenging and discouraging economic times. If there ever was a time in Black America’s history when the relevance and moral conscious of faith and civic organizations was put to the test, the time is now.
In addition to the dismal realities surrounding the economic crisis that our nation and state are currently facing, we must still deal with the record number reentry of ex-offenders back into the community whose very chance of not recidivating hinges on the availability of viable employment among other things i.e. housing and critical health and human services e.g. substance abuse counseling and mental health services. Add to the reentry issue the fact that the clock is continuing to tick away for hundreds of women who must get and keep gainful employment as conditions of their federal and state public assistance under the Temporary Assistance to Need Families requirements, which by the way was one of the more detrimental and poorly developed components of former President Bill Clinton’s “infamous” Welfare Reform laws.
And as if it wasn’t hard enough for certain segments of our population to gain employment that pays a livable wage, the push to the bottom of higher skilled, better educated workers who are seeking and getting jobs at lower skill and pay levels is going to cause an already bad situation to get even worse for low-skilled less educated worker e.g. welfare or TANF worker, ex-offender. Empirical data have shown time and time again that ex-offenders, welfare recipients, workers with long-term unemployment are less likely than any other group to receive job offers and get employment, even during times when the economy is stable or growing, yet alone during times of economic depression or recession.
If Black America is to survive its bout with pneumonia during this economic crisis, we are going to need more than rest and plenty of fluids. Now is the time to exercise political prudence tempered with morality and social justice when it comes to attending to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged populations. Similar to the strategy used by the Red Cross or UNICEF when responding to humanitarian crisis across the globe, we must use our resources to treat those who are the sickest and most vulnerable among us FIRST. We must ensure that those who have the least receive the greatest support and aide. And we must hold our elected officials accountable –from the Governor and state legislators to local bodies of government—to not causing greater harm and calamity by balancing the budget and stimulating our economy on the backs of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
There is a saying that when White America catches a cold that Black America gets the flu. If that is true, then what does it mean for Black America when White America catches pneumonia? The harrowing economic crisis and related escalating unemployment rate is perhaps the strongest indicator that America has an acute case of pneumonia and well, African Americans, many are “catching their death” as the old folk used to say.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the national unemployment rate in February 2009 was 8.1. On a state and regional level, North Carolina had the fourth highest unemployment rate in the country, (10.7) following Michigan (12.0), South Carolina (11.0) and Oregon (10.8). According to BLS data, North Carolina reported the largest jobless rate increase from a year earlier (+5.5 percentage points), jumping from 5.2 in February 2008 to 10.7 in February 2009.
On a national level as the economic pandemic continues to spread, efforts to stimulate the economy have been tantamount to quick injections of large amounts of funding into the arms of corporations and financial institutions (some of which may be too sick to save), many people in local communities and towns are waiting to receive what amounts to a teaspoon of emergency relief in comparison. This is especially true for African Americans when it comes to the jobless issue. African Americans aged 16 to 19 had an unemployment rate of 36.5 in January 2009 and 38.2 in February 2009 compared to whites aged 16 to 19 who experienced an unemployment rate of 19.2 in January and 20.5 in February 2009.
The unemployment rate for African Americans aged 20 and over was 12.4 in January and 12.8 in February 2009 compared to 7.3 for whites aged 20 and over in January 2009 and 7.7 for whites aged 20 and over in February. .
When the data are examined by race and gender, the picture portraying how African Americans are faring during these deleterious economic times is even bleaker. The unemployment rate for African American males aged 20 slightly increased in February (16.1) from 15.8 in January 2009 compared to white males (aged 20 and over) who experienced an unemployment rate of 8.3 in January and 9.0 in February. For African American males aged 16 to 19 the unemployment rate was 46.0 in January and 46.2 in February compared to white males aged 16 to 19 whose unemployment rates were 22 and 25.7 in January and February 2009 respectively. .
Women aren’t doing much better which is particularly frightening considering that most have African American women are also single-heads of household. African American females aged 16 to 19 experienced an unemployment rate of 29.1 in January and 30.4 in February 2009. African American women aged 20 and over their unemployment rates were 12.4 and 12.8 in January and February 2009. For both age groups, African American women’s unemployment rate almost doubles that for white women. White women aged 16 to 19, the unemployment rate was 14.7 and 15.4, in January and February 2009 and white women aged 20 years and over, experienced an unemployment rate of 6.2 for both January and February.
Not only are African Americans most likely than any other race/ethnic group to be unemployed but they remain unemployed for longer periods of time. The BLS data substantiates the fact that Black America is suffering the greatest in terms of the jobless situation during these very challenging and discouraging economic times. If there ever was a time in Black America’s history when the relevance and moral conscious of faith and civic organizations was put to the test, the time is now.
In addition to the dismal realities surrounding the economic crisis that our nation and state are currently facing, we must still deal with the record number reentry of ex-offenders back into the community whose very chance of not recidivating hinges on the availability of viable employment among other things i.e. housing and critical health and human services e.g. substance abuse counseling and mental health services. Add to the reentry issue the fact that the clock is continuing to tick away for hundreds of women who must get and keep gainful employment as conditions of their federal and state public assistance under the Temporary Assistance to Need Families requirements, which by the way was one of the more detrimental and poorly developed components of former President Bill Clinton’s “infamous” Welfare Reform laws.
And as if it wasn’t hard enough for certain segments of our population to gain employment that pays a livable wage, the push to the bottom of higher skilled, better educated workers who are seeking and getting jobs at lower skill and pay levels is going to cause an already bad situation to get even worse for low-skilled less educated worker e.g. welfare or TANF worker, ex-offender. Empirical data have shown time and time again that ex-offenders, welfare recipients, workers with long-term unemployment are less likely than any other group to receive job offers and get employment, even during times when the economy is stable or growing, yet alone during times of economic depression or recession.
If Black America is to survive its bout with pneumonia during this economic crisis, we are going to need more than rest and plenty of fluids. Now is the time to exercise political prudence tempered with morality and social justice when it comes to attending to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged populations. Similar to the strategy used by the Red Cross or UNICEF when responding to humanitarian crisis across the globe, we must use our resources to treat those who are the sickest and most vulnerable among us FIRST. We must ensure that those who have the least receive the greatest support and aide. And we must hold our elected officials accountable –from the Governor and state legislators to local bodies of government—to not causing greater harm and calamity by balancing the budget and stimulating our economy on the backs of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Victory in the Promised Land
It is now 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday November 4, 2008 and Barack Obama has officially been declared the president of the United States of America! He has made history in so many ways including running an extraordinary and masterfully engineered campaign, and defying all odds to become the first Black president of these United States. What a mighty God we serve! As Michelle Obama and even Barack have stated or alluded to on several occasions, there was a greater force working behind the scenes; Obama was simply an instrument in the hands of an omnipotent God who is indeed able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can think or hope for.
Be not deceived, it is God Almighty who has spoken. He has shown the world that truth crushed down to the earth will rise again; that evil will never triumph over good; and that the sufferings of His creation and the oppression of His people tug at the heart of God and force His hand to move in a mighty way. Empires that are not built on the principles that God challenges us in Micah to live by: to love mercy, to do justice and to walk HUMBLY with our God, will ultimately crumble. "Except the Lord builds the house then the laborer labors in vain." This includes the world house, the White house, and the state house as well as our own personal houses e.g. families, communities, neighborhoods, faith institutions and the like.
This event has reordered things and presents us with a challenge to rise to the occasion accordingly. Barack can't change things alone; we all have a responsibility to refocus our works and efforts to operate on a higher level and to renew our commitment to work for a greater and more noble good in this world where the sufferings of the poor, marginalized, stigmatized and oppressed are alleviated if not eradicated.
While the Republicans made fun of the notion of "redistributing the wealth" the truth of the matter is there is enough wealth to go around where every family and especially our children can have a decent place to live, three meals a day, a high quality education, health care and access to extracurricular activities and working parents who are making a livable wage and not just the minimum.
If Barack is to succeed we must help him and this must become our sole mission--a shift from self service to servitude. As President John F. Kennedy challenged us in 1963, we must now indeed ask "what can I do for my country" and as Rev. Jeremiah Wright challenged, no longer should we say God bless America, but now is the time for Americans to bless God.
Based on what we have just witnessed, we can do it; YES WE CAN!
What makes this night even more monumental is the fact that 40 years ago Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the age of 40 after delivering one of his most soul-stirring and prophetic speeches,"I Have Been to The Mountain Top" speech, delivered on April 3, 1968 in Memphis Tennessee. In this speech, Dr. King eloquently, prophetically and powerfully said these words:
"Well,I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days a head. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop.And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything.I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
Well tonight, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can rest in peace because his prophecy has come to past: we as a people have seen God's glory and together, whites, Blacks, Asian, Hispanic, Native Americans, and mixed races, young, old, rich, poor and in between, have walked hand in hand, worked shoulder to shoulder and marched together as a people to a place we hope is at least a part of the territory of the prophetic "promised land" that Dr. King presaged.
Be not deceived, it is God Almighty who has spoken. He has shown the world that truth crushed down to the earth will rise again; that evil will never triumph over good; and that the sufferings of His creation and the oppression of His people tug at the heart of God and force His hand to move in a mighty way. Empires that are not built on the principles that God challenges us in Micah to live by: to love mercy, to do justice and to walk HUMBLY with our God, will ultimately crumble. "Except the Lord builds the house then the laborer labors in vain." This includes the world house, the White house, and the state house as well as our own personal houses e.g. families, communities, neighborhoods, faith institutions and the like.
This event has reordered things and presents us with a challenge to rise to the occasion accordingly. Barack can't change things alone; we all have a responsibility to refocus our works and efforts to operate on a higher level and to renew our commitment to work for a greater and more noble good in this world where the sufferings of the poor, marginalized, stigmatized and oppressed are alleviated if not eradicated.
While the Republicans made fun of the notion of "redistributing the wealth" the truth of the matter is there is enough wealth to go around where every family and especially our children can have a decent place to live, three meals a day, a high quality education, health care and access to extracurricular activities and working parents who are making a livable wage and not just the minimum.
If Barack is to succeed we must help him and this must become our sole mission--a shift from self service to servitude. As President John F. Kennedy challenged us in 1963, we must now indeed ask "what can I do for my country" and as Rev. Jeremiah Wright challenged, no longer should we say God bless America, but now is the time for Americans to bless God.
Based on what we have just witnessed, we can do it; YES WE CAN!
What makes this night even more monumental is the fact that 40 years ago Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the age of 40 after delivering one of his most soul-stirring and prophetic speeches,"I Have Been to The Mountain Top" speech, delivered on April 3, 1968 in Memphis Tennessee. In this speech, Dr. King eloquently, prophetically and powerfully said these words:
"Well,I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days a head. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop.And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything.I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
Well tonight, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can rest in peace because his prophecy has come to past: we as a people have seen God's glory and together, whites, Blacks, Asian, Hispanic, Native Americans, and mixed races, young, old, rich, poor and in between, have walked hand in hand, worked shoulder to shoulder and marched together as a people to a place we hope is at least a part of the territory of the prophetic "promised land" that Dr. King presaged.
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