Comments on: The Crisis of the African-American Male http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:01:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ana http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-9109 Ana Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:55:54 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-9109 Talking about using tools. I am always shocked as to the fact that here in the States black boys and men are not very handy in terms of skills that most men around the world have. I have a Dominican friend(a professional woman with a Masters degree) who says that a man is diminished in her eyes if he cannot handle tools and fix anything. Yes, I am talking about using the hammer, screw driver, etc. In most cultures, both educated and non-educated men can use their hands and fix things. My father was a Panama Canal professional and he could fix things around the house. Immigrant men come here with these type of skills and they have cornered these makets especially in the construction industry and in many other technicallly skilled profession. A good many of them own their own busisness too. Black boys and men native to this country need to get rid of their phobia of doing certain jobs. In Ny Cty, Mexicans, Indian Sikks ,Caribbean, other Latinos and even European men, recent immigrant to this country are usually marketable because they are skilled in many areas. One rarely sees black American men in these skilled professions. Too many are usually standing on the street corners with their sense of entitlement while the world is moving by leaving them standing right there. A new mind set must be instilled in these young boys, or else sooner or later ,if we are not there already, the great United States of America would not be needing any of them to contribute to anything worthwhile. Saludos, Ana Talking about using tools. I am always shocked as to the fact that here in the States black boys and men are not very handy in terms of skills that most men around the world have.

I have a Dominican friend(a professional woman with a Masters degree) who says that a man is diminished in her eyes if he cannot handle tools and fix anything.

Yes, I am talking about using the hammer, screw driver, etc.

In most cultures, both educated and non-educated men can use their hands and fix things.
My father was a Panama Canal professional and he could fix things around the house.

Immigrant men come here with these type of skills and they have cornered these makets especially in the construction industry and in many other technicallly skilled profession. A good many of them own their own busisness too.

Black boys and men native to this country need to get rid of their phobia of doing certain jobs.

In Ny Cty, Mexicans, Indian Sikks ,Caribbean, other Latinos and even European men, recent immigrant to this country are usually marketable because they are skilled in many areas.

One rarely sees black American men in these skilled
professions. Too many are usually standing on the street corners with their sense of entitlement while the world is moving by leaving them standing right there.

A new mind set must be instilled in these young boys, or else sooner or later ,if we are not there already, the great United States of America would not be needing any of them to contribute to anything worthwhile.

Saludos,
Ana

]]> By: Kenneth Draper http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-9094 Kenneth Draper Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:48:51 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-9094 I AM A GENERAL CONTRACTOR, I AM AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND I HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN FROM 11-23 YRS OLD. MY CHILDREN WORK WITH ME FROM TIME TO TIME AND WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT FROM THEM AND MOST OF THERE FRIENDS IS THAT THEY ALL WANT TO LEARN. THEY ARE VERY TEACHABLE IF WE WOULD JUST TAKE THE TIME TO DO SO.MOST OF THESE KIDS ARE FROM SINGLE- MOTHER DISFUNCTIONAL HOMES,I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT ,THEY TELL ME THERE HORROR STORIES AND I DO THE BEST I CAN TO COUNCIL THEM BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH WE MUST DO MORE AS MEN TO FILL THE GAPS AND RECONCILE THESE KIDS TO SOME SIMILENCE OF A MALE FIGURE NOT TO MENTION MANY OF THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER USED EVEN THE MOST COMMON HAND TOOLS SUCH AS A HAMMER ,A SHOVEL EVEN A SCREWDRIVER.WHAT A GREAT REWARD TO WATCH THEM DO SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME.FROM 10-30 YRS OLD TO HAVE THEM CALL YOU TO SEE IF YOU HAVE MORE FOR THEM TO DO.ONE YOUNG MAN TOLD ME I WAS ALL HE HAD................IT'S NOT SOME GREAT THING THAT HAS BLACK AMERICA SO TORN........IT'S US. I AM A GENERAL CONTRACTOR, I AM AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND I HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN FROM 11-23 YRS OLD. MY CHILDREN WORK WITH ME FROM TIME TO TIME AND WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT FROM THEM AND MOST OF THERE FRIENDS IS THAT THEY ALL WANT TO LEARN. THEY ARE VERY TEACHABLE IF WE WOULD JUST TAKE THE TIME TO DO SO.MOST OF THESE KIDS ARE FROM SINGLE- MOTHER DISFUNCTIONAL HOMES,I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT ,THEY TELL ME THERE HORROR STORIES AND I DO THE BEST I CAN TO COUNCIL THEM BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH WE MUST DO MORE AS MEN TO FILL THE GAPS AND RECONCILE THESE KIDS TO SOME SIMILENCE OF A MALE FIGURE NOT TO MENTION MANY OF THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER USED EVEN THE MOST COMMON HAND TOOLS SUCH AS A HAMMER ,A SHOVEL EVEN A SCREWDRIVER.WHAT A GREAT REWARD TO WATCH THEM DO SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME.FROM 10-30 YRS OLD TO HAVE THEM CALL YOU TO SEE IF YOU HAVE MORE FOR THEM TO DO.ONE YOUNG MAN TOLD ME I WAS ALL HE HAD…………….IT’S NOT SOME GREAT THING THAT HAS BLACK AMERICA SO TORN……..IT’S US.

]]> By: brian free http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-8946 brian free Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:22:49 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-8946 Brandon, I agree we need to expect more from African American me. However, older African American Males need to take more responsibility in the lives of their children. Regardless of education, skill level fathers need to be involved in the lives of their children, especially in the formative years. But staying involved through their early adult years in this competitive society is necessary as well. I really agree that the greater society is not going to take up the slack for our families not taking responsibility for our children. I have a friend who works in a prison in Illinois as a volunteer. He says that a majority of the young men incarcerated hate or have anger at their fathers. This hate and anger becomes a life long affliction. The absence of a father creates a void in a young man's life that can be filled with negative social behavior. Regardless of income or social standing African American males need to stay in their sons/daughters lives. And, mothers should not prohibit that involvement because the loss is creates a life long void. We need to start there at the family level to right this profound wrong. No intellectual or social creation will ever fill that void. Without this crucil first step there are likely to be many missteps. Brandon, I agree we need to expect more from African American me. However, older African American Males need to take more responsibility in the lives of their children. Regardless of education, skill level fathers need to be involved in the lives of their children, especially in the formative years. But staying involved through their early adult years in this competitive society is necessary as well. I really agree that the greater society is not going to take up the slack for our families not taking responsibility for our children. I have a friend who works in a prison in Illinois as a volunteer. He says that a majority of the young men incarcerated hate or have anger at their fathers. This hate and anger becomes a life long affliction. The absence of a father creates a void in a young man’s life that can be filled with negative social behavior. Regardless of income or social standing African American males need to stay in their sons/daughters lives. And, mothers should not prohibit that involvement because the loss is creates a life long void. We need to start there at the family level to right this profound wrong. No intellectual or social creation will ever fill that void. Without this crucil first step there are likely to be many missteps.

]]> By: Glenn Towery http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-8169 Glenn Towery Sat, 16 May 2009 23:25:51 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-8169 I am creating a seminar to accompany my new documentary film : "Glenn & Linus Michael Attend the Million Man March", this website is proving invaluable as it regards the information I am researching for the seminar. thank you for being so forthright and a great source of information that often cannot be gotten any place else. I am creating a seminar to accompany my new documentary film : “Glenn & Linus Michael Attend the Million Man March”, this website is proving invaluable as it regards the information I am researching for the seminar. thank you for being so forthright and a great source of information that often cannot be gotten any place else.

]]> By: Shaun S. http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-7648 Shaun S. Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:39:44 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-7648 I would not know where to start with the degrading circumstances concerning the plight of African-Americans, more specifically, black males. Nevertheless, I really can not say that historically, we can say that poverty may be the root cause, though it can be a contributing factor. Since 1661 with the legalization of slavery in the colony, later state, of Virginia and other colonies, people understood the value of the black worker and exploited that labor to its zenith. Thus blacks were subjected to a "working class" labor system that started us behind economically in terms of wealth and alienated from the "American dream" of new opportunities of social, political and economic mobility. Since the era of freedom, we have now the chance to work for at least a slice of the "American pie" or a glimpse of the "American dream." But, we must understand that our economy has shifted from agricultural to industrial and from that to technological. Therefore, we must be willing to shift with the shift of the economy of this country. We can not afford to have an industrial mindset in a technological age. I believe that is a point of contention that puts us in an impoverished mindset. Needless to say that though we are inundated with images on our so called "black" television networks, we do not adequately portray ourselves or are accurately portrayed, hence we must fight to improve our image and recapture our self-esteem. For some reason we (some of us) have slipped into the mindset that to be intelligent and speak in correct gramatical structure, it is to be "white." Thus, everything associated with malevolence, ignorance and anything negative is acquainted with blackness. So, succinctly, it is high time that we rethink, recapture and reconfigure our image to the world, television and whoever else may be watching and begin to take control of ourselves. I would not know where to start with the degrading circumstances concerning the plight of African-Americans, more specifically, black males. Nevertheless, I really can not say that historically, we can say that poverty may be the root cause, though it can be a contributing factor. Since 1661 with the legalization of slavery in the colony, later state, of Virginia and other colonies, people understood the value of the black worker and exploited that labor to its zenith. Thus blacks were subjected to a “working class” labor system that started us behind economically in terms of wealth and alienated from the “American dream” of new opportunities of social, political and economic mobility. Since the era of freedom, we have now the chance to work for at least a slice of the “American pie” or a glimpse of the “American dream.” But, we must understand that our economy has shifted from agricultural to industrial and from that to technological. Therefore, we must be willing to shift with the shift of the economy of this country. We can not afford to have an industrial mindset in a technological age. I believe that is a point of contention that puts us in an impoverished mindset. Needless to say that though we are inundated with images on our so called “black” television networks, we do not adequately portray ourselves or are accurately portrayed, hence we must fight to improve our image and recapture our self-esteem. For some reason we (some of us) have slipped into the mindset that to be intelligent and speak in correct gramatical structure, it is to be “white.” Thus, everything associated with malevolence, ignorance and anything negative is acquainted with blackness. So, succinctly, it is high time that we rethink, recapture and reconfigure our image to the world, television and whoever else may be watching and begin to take control of ourselves.

]]> By: Zaron Johnson http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-7263 Zaron Johnson Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:40:13 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-7263 I have always felt that the blame is on us. If I had an idea that I felt will be very prosperous for the black male and the rest of the human race, who would you most likely go to to voice this idea withou someone being money hungry with a desire to keep blacks down, regardless of their race, so they wont steal it and use it to generate moneys for themselves? These type of questions plague the black male that want to help... Not that they dont want to but, will our effort really be heard and taken serious. I have always felt that the blame is on us. If I had an idea that I felt will be very prosperous for the black male and the rest of the human race, who would you most likely go to to voice this idea withou someone being money hungry with a desire to keep blacks down, regardless of their race, so they wont steal it and use it to generate moneys for themselves?

These type of questions plague the black male that want to help… Not that they dont want to but, will our effort really be heard and taken serious.

]]> By: umbrarchist http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-7245 umbrarchist Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:32:28 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-7245 This is not as simple as teachers saying what parents should do. The White teachers at my grade school never suggested any books I considered worth reading. When I started reading science fiction at the time my mother told me it was "something crazy". I ignored her. These computers and the internet give us the opportunity to bypass the entire White controlled educational system. I don't hear the White folks saying that accounting should be mandatory for the White kids. If they did everyone might pay attention to depreciation of automobiles. They are talking about bailing out the auto industry but not saying anything about how much Americans have lost on depreciation of automobiles in the last 40 years since the moon landing. When do you hear any so called scientists talk about the planned obsolescence of automobiles? Didn't the pollution created by producing that junk have to contribute to our global warming problem? The educational system dribbles out trivia too slowly. It is easy to see why kids are bored out of their skulls. I have seen a post by a teacher complaining about science education in New Zealand so that can't be about race. I tried getting a Black librarian to obtain a book on electronics for her library. That was a 4 month waste of time. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Teach-Yourself-Electricity-and-Electronics/Stan-Gibilisco/e/9780071459334 And then there are Black women who act like there is something wrong with reading a book and only care about knowledge used to make money to throw away on junk. Try telling a Black woman about the planned obsolescence of automobiles and see what happens. ROFL I drove 20 miles to try to sell a pair of Acoustic Research speakers to a Black woman for her home theater system for $400. She asked why I was getting rid of them. I said I had replaced them with Vandersteen speakers. She said, "Why are you always buying stuff that nobody ever heard of." She didn't buy them. I sold them to a White woman for $450. She called me a week later and said they sounded great. What good is knowledge when people won't listen. This is not as simple as teachers saying what parents should do.

The White teachers at my grade school never suggested any books I considered worth reading. When I started reading science fiction at the time my mother told me it was “something crazy”. I ignored her.

These computers and the internet give us the opportunity to bypass the entire White controlled educational system. I don’t hear the White folks saying that accounting should be mandatory for the White kids. If they did everyone might pay attention to depreciation of automobiles. They are talking about bailing out the auto industry but not saying anything about how much Americans have lost on depreciation of automobiles in the last 40 years since the moon landing.

When do you hear any so called scientists talk about the planned obsolescence of automobiles? Didn’t the pollution created by producing that junk have to contribute to our global warming problem?

The educational system dribbles out trivia too slowly. It is easy to see why kids are bored out of their skulls. I have seen a post by a teacher complaining about science education in New Zealand so that can’t be about race. I tried getting a Black librarian to obtain a book on electronics for her library. That was a 4 month waste of time.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Teach-Yourself-Electricity-and-Electronics/Stan-Gibilisco/e/9780071459334

And then there are Black women who act like there is something wrong with reading a book and only care about knowledge used to make money to throw away on junk.

Try telling a Black woman about the planned obsolescence of automobiles and see what happens. ROFL

I drove 20 miles to try to sell a pair of Acoustic Research speakers to a Black woman for her home theater system for $400. She asked why I was getting rid of them. I said I had replaced them with Vandersteen speakers. She said, “Why are you always buying stuff that nobody ever heard of.” She didn’t buy them. I sold them to a White woman for $450. She called me a week later and said they sounded great. What good is knowledge when people won’t listen.

]]> By: Vaughn http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-4786 Vaughn Sun, 02 Dec 2007 22:15:38 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-4786 The comments from ms. t speak to an issue that really needs to be given more thought. Children that come to school from dysfunctional or broken homes can not be expected to show up to school with a genuine interest in learning. The home environment a child lives in has a direct effect on how they perform in school. It can be taken for granted from a well to do or middle class perspective that a child has the things they need to be all that they can as a student. It stands to reason that everyone commenting on this blog is literate, likely educated beyond high school, and are products of homes that had many of the things that were needed as a child to promote their learning. But a child that comes from a dysfunctional home could easily lack: A quiet, safe and assigned area(s) for study Good nutrition on a regular basis A parent or parents that take an interest in what took place in school, and what homework was assigned A parent or parents detailing what they expect academically from their child or children A home environment that directly and indirectly advocates education through the presence of books, periodicals, and intelligent discourse and conversation (parent to parent, and between adults to children) A structured schedule that has the child in bed at a regular time to make sure they get enough sleep Teachers and educators can't do these things for children! But, all of these things will directly effect how much well a child behaves in school and how well they learn. Broken and dysfunctional homes will lack many if not all of these things. These types of home ultimately end up perpetuating themselves. A child grows up in one of these homes and ultimately brings forth children in a similar home environment. We need more than to focus on who is doing the teaching in the class. We need to break the cycle of broken homes by educating the adults of children so that they know what their child needs at home. They might not be able to provide all the things in the list above (not everyone can fill their homes with books, or speak at a level of a person who is college educated), but they can probably make changes that would allow most of them. The comments from ms. t speak to an issue that really needs to be given more thought. Children that come to school from dysfunctional or broken homes can not be expected to show up to school with a genuine interest in learning. The home environment a child lives in has a direct effect on how they perform in school. It can be taken for granted from a well to do or middle class perspective that a child has the things they need to be all that they can as a student. It stands to reason that everyone commenting on this blog is literate, likely educated beyond high school, and are products of homes that had many of the things that were needed as a child to promote their learning. But a child that comes from a dysfunctional home could easily lack:

A quiet, safe and assigned area(s) for study

Good nutrition on a regular basis

A parent or parents that take an interest in what took place in school, and what homework was assigned

A parent or parents detailing what they expect academically from their child or children

A home environment that directly and indirectly advocates education through the presence of books, periodicals, and intelligent discourse and conversation (parent to parent, and between adults to children)

A structured schedule that has the child in bed at a regular time to make sure they get enough sleep

Teachers and educators can’t do these things for children! But, all of these things will directly effect how much well a child behaves in school and how well they learn. Broken and dysfunctional homes will lack many if not all of these things. These types of home ultimately end up perpetuating themselves. A child grows up in one of these homes and ultimately brings forth children in a similar home environment. We need more than to focus on who is doing the teaching in the class. We need to break the cycle of broken homes by educating the adults of children so that they know what their child needs at home. They might not be able to provide all the things in the list above (not everyone can fill their homes with books, or speak at a level of a person who is college educated), but they can probably make changes that would allow most of them.

]]> By: Karl http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-4770 Karl Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:41:10 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-4770 I agree with ms.t. I am very involved with my sons school. However we live in an affluent area and the overwhelming majority of my sons schoolmates are white. Education is top priority for parents at this school as well as the children. My son a young black male is influenced by positive peer pressure to be the most intelligent student he can be. He is just that, making honor roll after honor roll and he wants to be a scientist. He's in the third grade! Couple this with the school where my mother-inlaw teaches in the hood and she says the kids there dont want to learn. The parents are not involved with the child and his education. Your teased if you want to do well even threatened with bodily harm. These kids talk openly about sexual things and this is elementary school. I want my young black male not to be a statistic. I am hard on him and I let him know that as a black man he needs to be better. He needs to be mindful of who he is and how he is perceived by the world in general. I teach him all of this so he can be prepared for life. Even though hes only 8 years old. The majority of kids in the hood do not have this. They may not even know who their daddy is. Therefore they become a product of their environment. Its a cycle that unfortunately is getting out of control. I dont know how we can stop it unless we get our young girls to demand that condoms be worn and dont have babies. We need to educate them so we can stop all of this 5 children by 4 different daddys syndrome. Sorry for venting but this sean taylor incident has me angry. I agree with ms.t. I am very involved with my sons school. However we live in an affluent area and the overwhelming majority of my sons schoolmates are white. Education is top priority for parents at this school as well as the children. My son a young black male is influenced by positive peer pressure to be the most intelligent student he can be. He is just that, making honor roll after honor roll and he wants to be a scientist. He’s in the third grade! Couple this with the school where my mother-inlaw teaches in the hood and she says the kids there dont want to learn. The parents are not involved with the child and his education. Your teased if you want to do well even threatened with bodily harm. These kids talk openly about sexual things and this is elementary school. I want my young black male not to be a statistic. I am hard on him and I let him know that as a black man he needs to be better. He needs to be mindful of who he is and how he is perceived by the world in general. I teach him all of this so he can be prepared for life. Even though hes only 8 years old. The majority of kids in the hood do not have this. They may not even know who their daddy is. Therefore they become a product of their environment. Its a cycle that unfortunately is getting out of control. I dont know how we can stop it unless we get our young girls to demand that condoms be worn and dont have babies. We need to educate them so we can stop all of this 5 children by 4 different daddys syndrome.

Sorry for venting but this sean taylor incident has me angry.

]]> By: tragikm http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-2851 tragikm Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:12:32 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-2851 The talk of eliminating teachers' unions is misplaced. I am not condoning stodgy, deadweight institutions that stifle the potential for change in the public school system, or any system. However, talk of ridding ourselves of the teachers' unions would create many more (new and recurring) problems than it would solve. I think that more teachers who are itching for change need to 'Learn/Infiltrate/Take Over' (just as shanay says) their unions. The public schools and the state of education in this country is broken. Those problems are much more than just the teachers, the union, the students or the superintendents. However, the removal of teachers unions would result in the loss of hard-fought gains -- healthcare, pension, vacation -- that have made teaching a middle-class and middle-income occupation. The teachers' unions are not perfect, but they ought not be done away with. We'd be serving a neo-con, anti-worker, capitalist's agenda with talk of busting unions. The talk of eliminating teachers’ unions is misplaced. I am not condoning stodgy, deadweight institutions that stifle the potential for change in the public school system, or any system. However, talk of ridding ourselves of the teachers’ unions would create many more (new and recurring) problems than it would solve.

I think that more teachers who are itching for change need to ‘Learn/Infiltrate/Take Over’ (just as shanay says) their unions. The public schools and the state of education in this country is broken. Those problems are much more than just the teachers, the union, the students or the superintendents.

However, the removal of teachers unions would result in the loss of hard-fought gains — healthcare, pension, vacation — that have made teaching a middle-class and middle-income occupation. The teachers’ unions are not perfect, but they ought not be done away with. We’d be serving a neo-con, anti-worker, capitalist’s agenda with talk of busting unions.

]]> By: ms. t http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-1980 ms. t Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:51:53 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-1980 let me say this for all of you who have something negative to say about the teachers check yourselves. i am a young black educator who has been in the system less than 5 years, however i feel wise beyond my years. i have worked at several urban schools, where blacks are the majority. and let me tell you all, getting an education is probably the last thing on some of these kids minds. and believe me they will do any and everything to make it hard for any child who does care about education to succeed. it is not the teacher's responsiblity to teach a child respect or to value education. it starts at home and the parents just are not doing their jobs. stop blaming the teachers who are trying to do their jobs and start looking at the parents who gave birth to these children. they dont teach them any values or morals. they come to school with nothing and we are asked to give them everything. it cant work like that. teachers can and will teach those students, if they WANT to learn. The problem is a lot of these "bad" kids don't want to learn and just don't care. let me say this for all of you who have something negative to say about the teachers check yourselves. i am a young black educator who has been in the system less than 5 years, however i feel wise beyond my years. i have worked at several urban schools, where blacks are the majority. and let me tell you all, getting an education is probably the last thing on some of these kids minds. and believe me they will do any and everything to make it hard for any child who does care about education to succeed. it is not the teacher’s responsiblity to teach a child respect or to value education. it starts at home and the parents just are not doing their jobs. stop blaming the teachers who are trying to do their jobs and start looking at the parents who gave birth to these children. they dont teach them any values or morals. they come to school with nothing and we are asked to give them everything. it cant work like that. teachers can and will teach those students, if they WANT to learn. The problem is a lot of these “bad” kids don’t want to learn and just don’t care.

]]> By: Tony http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-729 Tony Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:37:19 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-729 It's true the black men have a great mountain to climb, anyone with the ability to read knows that. The problem is that we (Negros) continue to with the skit and highlight the ill's. This is a complete diservice to you boys who are trying to find their ways towards MANHOOD! It is the resposibility of the responsible adults to make known the men that have made it. Not just the one's in entertainment or corporate america. But the Black man with the landscaping company, the honest black mechanic in the hood, the black drycleaner owner. We need to give our children ACCESS to EXCELLENCE. not continue to fill the papers and blogs with ignorance. As for the statistics sisters. Our race need to be just as concerned for the ladies. HIV is greatly taking over, proverty and pregnacy, and under your watch our children are being killed in mass numbers, failing classes, and running amuck. Thats why many family courts are really paying attention to Fathers when the petition for custody. It’s true the black men have a great mountain to climb, anyone with the ability to read knows that. The problem is that we (Negros) continue to with the skit and highlight the ill’s. This is a complete diservice to you boys who are trying to find their ways towards MANHOOD! It is the resposibility of the responsible adults to make known the men that have made it. Not just the one’s in entertainment or corporate america. But the Black man with the landscaping company, the honest black mechanic in the hood, the black drycleaner owner. We need to give our children ACCESS to EXCELLENCE. not continue to fill the papers and blogs with ignorance.
As for the statistics sisters. Our race need to be just as concerned for the ladies. HIV is greatly taking over, proverty and pregnacy, and under your watch our children are being killed in mass numbers, failing classes, and running amuck. Thats why many family courts are really paying attention to Fathers when the petition for custody.

]]> By: shanay http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-724 shanay Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:31:36 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-724 When I hear these statistics my eyes start to burn and I become very upset. I am tired of the top-down messages that my generation receives, this needs to be more of a peer to peer wake up call! Yes, the kids need daddies and yes it is important to have two parent homes (I wonder if this exclusively applies to the "traditional" family setting) but the problems that black America specifically black men encounter are much more complex. There are educational disparities that can be contributed to our unfair tax system. There is environmental racism and its affects can lead to neurological problems, physical illness and mental illness. There are psychological problems - not being socially accepted, respected and loved by the dominant culture. What about self-esteem and the constant affirmation of stereotypical behavior that the media/dominant culture and our own people promote and profit from? You ask what people should do...Become engaged and learn, learn, learn! Vote, participate in politics and social organizations - locally, statewide and nationally! Go to low profile as well as high profile events for visibility. Donate to politicians - they owe you and you better make sure they know it! If you cannot donate money by yourself, have a susu -pool the money with a group of people and randomly pick who attends events and fundraisers. My motto is "Learn. Earn. Infiltrate. Take over!" Learn about different social and political organizations and the people who run them. Earn their trust by showing up consistently and showing genuine concern for the issues. Infiltrate - let them invite you in and you become a "member of the club." Finally the take over - make your mark by setting your agenda and making sure the organization that you're a member of addresses your concerns and does something about them. When I hear these statistics my eyes start to burn and I become very upset. I am tired of the top-down messages that my generation receives, this needs to be more of a peer to peer wake up call!

Yes, the kids need daddies and yes it is important to have two parent homes (I wonder if this exclusively applies to the “traditional” family setting) but the problems that black America specifically black men encounter are much more complex.

There are educational disparities that can be contributed to our unfair tax system. There is environmental racism and its affects can lead to neurological problems, physical illness and mental illness. There are psychological problems – not being socially accepted, respected and loved by the dominant culture. What about self-esteem and the constant affirmation of stereotypical behavior that the media/dominant culture and our own people promote and profit from?

You ask what people should do…Become engaged and learn, learn, learn! Vote, participate in politics and social organizations – locally, statewide and nationally! Go to low profile as well as high profile events for visibility. Donate to politicians – they owe you and you better make sure they know it! If you cannot donate money by yourself, have a susu -pool the money with a group of people and randomly pick who attends events and fundraisers.

My motto is “Learn. Earn. Infiltrate. Take over!” Learn about different social and political organizations and the people who run them. Earn their trust by showing up consistently and showing genuine concern for the issues. Infiltrate – let them invite you in and you become a “member of the club.” Finally the take over – make your mark by setting your agenda and making sure the organization that you’re a member of addresses your concerns and does something about them.

]]> By: hathor http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-723 hathor Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:31:16 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-723 The unions may have to go. I agree that we need people with skills that are teachers, rather than credentialed in education. To me a master degree in Mathematics is worth more than one in education. I had such a teacher, but unfortunately she was only shared with the brightest students. There are some people who are really great with children, even getting the baddest ones to cooperate. Can that talent be seen and hired as a aide if they don't have enough education? I had seen where some school system had hired retired military and were getting both academic and disciplinary successes. There are so many variations that could help in the long run. The unions may have to go. I agree that we need people with skills that are teachers, rather than credentialed in education.
To me a master degree in Mathematics is worth more than one in education. I had such a teacher, but unfortunately she was only shared with the brightest students. There are some people who are really great with children, even getting the baddest ones to cooperate. Can that talent be seen and hired as a aide if they don’t have enough education? I had seen where some school system had hired retired military and were getting both academic and disciplinary successes. There are so many variations that could help in the long run.

]]> By: Eddie Griffin http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-717 Eddie Griffin Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:47:22 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-717 I have been examining the crisis of African-American male youth on my blogsite, CODE NAME: Baby Moses Project. Thanks to the Afrospear, I am getting new information and great ideas. I am in a position where many of these strategies are put to the test. (I work on many local committees) We are somewhat advanced in our stategic planning, recognizing the full range of the black boy problem, from birth to death. Therefore, we seek a comprehensive approach to a solution. Any obstacle is only as effective as its ability to stop us. Like teachers' unions- I've run up against and found that they obstruct progress. I would as soon crush the unions and fire all the teachers and start over. At least, this is my mindset as Junichi and I prepare for this evening's school board meeting. My beef is with the school system administrator for continuous underachievement of the 5 schools in my district. To save herself, I may recommend the superintendent kick the union out and revamp the entire teaching corp. We need more technicians and technology experts and hands-on instructors, than we do rote memorization dictators, standing at the blackboard, presenting a dry 9-5 curriculum, devoid of content, meaning, and relevancy. I am about ready to show the entire school administration how much they are appreciated. My 5 schools are concentrated in the bottom quartile. And, I got juvenile delinquents growing like corn. I have been examining the crisis of African-American male youth on my blogsite, CODE NAME: Baby Moses Project. Thanks to the Afrospear, I am getting new information and great ideas. I am in a position where many of these strategies are put to the test. (I work on many local committees)

We are somewhat advanced in our stategic planning, recognizing the full range of the black boy problem, from birth to death. Therefore, we seek a comprehensive approach to a solution.

Any obstacle is only as effective as its ability to stop us. Like teachers’ unions- I’ve run up against and found that they obstruct progress. I would as soon crush the unions and fire all the teachers and start over. At least, this is my mindset as Junichi and I prepare for this evening’s school board meeting.

My beef is with the school system administrator for continuous underachievement of the 5 schools in my district. To save herself, I may recommend the superintendent kick the union out and revamp the entire teaching corp. We need more technicians and technology experts and hands-on instructors, than we do rote memorization dictators, standing at the blackboard, presenting a dry 9-5 curriculum, devoid of content, meaning, and relevancy.

I am about ready to show the entire school administration how much they are appreciated. My 5 schools are concentrated in the bottom quartile. And, I got juvenile delinquents growing like corn.

]]> By: Malik http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-698 Malik Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:39:12 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-698 I hear where you're coming from. Sometimes though the conversation veers off into that dead end despite our intentions. I hear where you’re coming from. Sometimes though the conversation veers off into that dead end despite our intentions.

]]> By: Sylvia http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-685 Sylvia Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:19:20 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-685 I agree; I hope my post doesn't come off sounding as if the situations and conditions affecting black males are "Black Problems." I was concerned when I wrote this about furthering the idea of some black male pathology. I'm mainly asking what sorts of community solutions could arise so that the impact of faulty structures in the American systems don't have as devastating an impact on African-Americans. Whether that comes in the form of deeper involvement, holding people accountable, or creating systems within these structures to ameliorate the effects that make the most negative impact. I agree; I hope my post doesn’t come off sounding as if the situations and conditions affecting black males are “Black Problems.” I was concerned when I wrote this about furthering the idea of some black male pathology. I’m mainly asking what sorts of community solutions could arise so that the impact of faulty structures in the American systems don’t have as devastating an impact on African-Americans. Whether that comes in the form of deeper involvement, holding people accountable, or creating systems within these structures to ameliorate the effects that make the most negative impact.

]]> By: Malik http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-684 Malik Mon, 11 Jun 2007 01:09:33 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-684 One thought: It's impossible to talk about problems that affect Black males and Black people in general without talking about America's problems, because poverty, crime and whatever other problem you'd like to address, didn't originate in the Black community. That doesn't mean that Black people aren't responsible for their own actions, it means that Black people's actions don't come about simply because they're Black. One thought: It’s impossible to talk about problems that affect Black males and Black people in general without talking about America’s problems, because poverty, crime and whatever other problem you’d like to address, didn’t originate in the Black community. That doesn’t mean that Black people aren’t responsible for their own actions, it means that Black people’s actions don’t come about simply because they’re Black.

]]> By: field negro http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-673 field negro Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:20:57 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-673 "I believe that we need to expect more from African American men." I co-sign with Brandon on this one. I have a poersonal experience with this, as sadly one of my gigs is prosecuting so called "dead beat" dads. As Roland Martin said the other day; "we have too many sperm donors and not enough fathers in the hood". I see it every day. When you are not yet thirty, and have eight children with five different women, we have a problem. Especially when you have no job, and you are not invovled with those children's lives. How do you think the son of this individual is going to grow up? We can't expect the mother's to do it all by themselves. Young men need fathers and real role models. Hell, I had two solid parents at home staying on my ass, and I still had my problems growing up. As a community we have to start taking more responsibility for making sure that our young men understand what it means to be fathers. Here in Philly we are at 172 murders and counting, mostly young black men being slaughtered in the streets, most of them from single mother homes. It's sad, but we can't just sit back and say; hey that's the way it is in the hood. We must do something, or we will all feel the ripple effects sooner rather than later. Having said that, here are just a couple of suggestions: 1. From my end, I know that in the legal system we should put just as much emphasis on custody enforcement as we do support. I can't tell you how many sisters come to me and say; "if I could just get him to spend more time with his son I would lower his child support order, or I would not want any at all". 2. We need to keep pushing local government politicians to keep more community rec. centers open and to fund more organized basketball leagues etc. 3. We should get the criminal and probation departments to work closer with family court, and some of our social services such as DHS. Once kids get into the system they should not be forgotten about and thrown to the wolves. We have to follow up on their progress in school and in their home life, once they are out of the juvenile justice system. 4. More education about safe sex, and the responsibilities of fatherhood in our public schools. 5. And finally, more groups discussions and think tanks like this one, on the net and other outlets, so that we can throw ideas around and try to implement them in our communities, churches, social groups, fraternities etc. Peace. BTW, sorry about the bad spelling. “I believe that we need to expect more from African American men.”

I co-sign with Brandon on this one.

I have a poersonal experience with this, as sadly one of my gigs is prosecuting so called “dead beat” dads.

As Roland Martin said the other day; “we have too many sperm donors and not enough fathers in the hood”. I see it every day. When you are not yet thirty, and have eight children with five different women, we have a problem. Especially when you have no job, and you are not invovled with those children’s lives. How do you think the son of this individual is going to grow up?

We can’t expect the mother’s to do it all by themselves. Young men need fathers and real role models. Hell, I had two solid parents at home staying on my ass, and I still had my problems growing up.

As a community we have to start taking more responsibility for making sure that our young men understand what it means to be fathers.

Here in Philly we are at 172 murders and counting, mostly young black men being slaughtered in the streets, most of them from single mother homes.

It’s sad, but we can’t just sit back and say; hey that’s the way it is in the hood. We must do something, or we will all feel the ripple effects sooner rather than later.

Having said that, here are just a couple of suggestions:

1. From my end, I know that in the legal system we should put just as much emphasis on custody enforcement as we do support. I can’t tell you how many sisters come to me and say; “if I could just get him to spend more time with his son I would lower his child support order, or I would not want any at all”.
2. We need to keep pushing local government politicians to keep more community rec. centers open and to fund more organized basketball leagues etc.
3. We should get the criminal and probation departments to work closer with family court, and some of our social services such as DHS. Once kids get into the system they should not be forgotten about and thrown to the wolves. We have to follow up on their progress in school and in their home life, once they are out of the juvenile justice system.
4. More education about safe sex, and the responsibilities of fatherhood in our public schools.
5. And finally, more groups discussions and think tanks like this one, on the net and other outlets, so that we can throw ideas around and try to implement them in our communities, churches, social groups, fraternities etc.

Peace.

BTW, sorry about the bad spelling.

]]> By: hathor http://afrospear.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-650 hathor Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:39:33 +0000 http://afrospear.wordpress.com/2007/06/08/the-crisis-of-the-african-american-male/#comment-650 Sylvia, Somehow the dialog has to be keep between the school system, community and teachers. If we could assure the union that we were not out to destroy the union and only trying to provide workable solutions, while demanding accountability. It requires diplomacy and strategies I could not give you at the moment. Another problem blacks have is when we do become involve, some politician or political party co-ops our objections and takes our protest out of context and uses it for a political agenda. This leads to confusion in the mind of the parties we are communicating with and sometime the backlash disrupts any progress. The conservatives have used our issues as a reason to bring up the issues of vouchers and getting rid of teachers unions. Even though those ideas have been around at least 50 years they were not pushed until they could say this would solved the problem of failing black schools. This puts the union on edge, so whether this is what blacks want or not, the "right" has tainted the conversation. I want to say, I know that there are other problems, I'm not giving the teacher the complete fault. There are other institutions and community involvement that need to be encouraged or improved. Sylvia,

Somehow the dialog has to be keep between the school system, community and teachers. If we could assure the union that we were not out to destroy the union and only trying to provide workable solutions, while demanding accountability. It requires diplomacy and strategies I could not give you at the moment. Another problem blacks have is when we do become involve, some politician or political party co-ops our objections and takes our protest out of context and uses it for a political agenda. This leads to confusion in the mind of the parties we are communicating with and sometime the backlash disrupts any progress.

The conservatives have used our issues as a reason to bring up the issues of vouchers and getting rid of teachers unions. Even though those ideas have been around at least 50 years they were not pushed until they could say this would solved the problem of failing black schools. This puts the union on edge, so whether this is what blacks want or not, the “right” has tainted the conversation.

I want to say, I know that there are other problems, I’m not giving the teacher the complete fault. There are other institutions and community involvement that need to be encouraged or improved.

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