[Peace-discuss] Re: [Peace] CNN Coverage on Being Black in America

[Jenifer Cartwright]

And of course lack of relevency is even more the case wrt the HS curiculum... which makes the payoff (staying in school = getting a decent job after graduation) even more to the point. And another thing: If it's true that a large percentage of those incarcerated (30 to 50% in some studies) have learning disabilities in need of treatment/accomodations, then making school interesting and relevant becomes even more of a challenge for schools... and even more necessary that there are decent jobs at the end of the road. And of course that brings us to the need for vo-tech education (which is NOT a special education program) at the HS level, for those who aren't college bound... and of course that also brings us back to the need for decent jobs after graduation.
 --Jenifer


--- On Sat, 7/26/08, John W. <jbw292002 at gmail.com> wrote:

From: John W. <jbw292002 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Peace] CNN Coverage on Being Black in America
To: "Amy Clay" <amyr.clay at gmail.com>
Cc: jencart13 at yahoo.com, "Marti Wilkinson" <martiwilki at gmail.com>, "cu citizens" <discuss at communitycourtwatch.org>, "Peace Discuss" <peace-discuss at anti-war.net>
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2008, 2:51 AM





On Sat, Jul 26, 2008 at 2:38 AM, Amy Clay <amyr.clay at gmail.com> wrote:



You might also consider how "irrelevant" (and I'm definitely using that word with a grain of salt because i don't think it's all irrelevant)  much of a liberal arts education could be to Black Americans. Much of what we learn in our liberal arts educations are the histories, geographies, governments, languages, philosophies and literatures of the Anglo culture. As White Americans, we can see ourselves and our values in the books we read and the lessons that we are taught in schools from age 6. Except for the token "sections" of courses or books on syllabi, I wasn't really exposed to much in the way of African American culture or orientation (outside of February!) until I went to college, where I pursued those courses by choice. There is a whole school of thought (see Maulana Karenga) that suggests that a distinctively African American orientation exists in nearly every major field of study (as least within the Liberal Arts). That even the methods of
 teaching and learning in our school systems are anglo-centric.

If the reason we pursue an education (aside from a vocational interest) is empowerment, then how does learning about white history, culture, philosophy, etc, from a white point of view, in what is an inherently racist school system (not that everyone involved is racist, per se, but that institutional racism exists), empower black youth in America. When I was little, I got excited by Amelia Earhart, Madame Curie, Harper Lee, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Louisa May Alcott, for instance. These women helped me to believe that I could do anything. I saw myself in my education. I even got excited by Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln (especially Abraham Lincoln!). I saw myself in them to an extent as well. Who are we teaching to young black students that might excite them? Really? Why take an interest in a world that has dispossessed you? 

I'm interested to check out the CNN clips when I get home from work. I'm not sure what I'm saying is even related, but...when we're talking about education. We do have to think about whose education it is and why it empowers us. It's not simply that knowledge is power. It's knowledge that we can be agents in our own worlds that empowers. 

Just something to think about. 

Peace,
Amy 

Most definitely something to think about.  Your excellent commentary couldn't be more related to both race and education, Amy.






      
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