The illusion that Black people are subservient to White people in some way or another is one that has been fed to us for centuries. Despite the many developments and progress that Blacks have made somehow that idea is steadily being ingrained into our heads. Someway, somehow, the media and those in power find a way to manipulate us into believing that we will always fall short and we should aspire to be like the other. After all, they are so much smarter, attractive, and better overall. This year’s edition is in comparing little White boys and little Black boys. A new report focusing on black males suggests that little black boys fall shorter than little White boys.
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According to the report, only 12 percent of black fourth-grade boys are proficient in reading, compared with 38 percent of white boys, and only 12 percent of black eighth-grade boys are proficient in math, compared with 44 percent of white boys. They go on to say that poverty alone does not seem to explain the differences: poor white boys do just as well as African-American boys who do not live in poverty, measured by whether they qualify for subsidized school lunches.
The data was distilled from highly respected national math and reading tests, known as the National Assessment for Educational Progress, which are given to students in fourth and eighth grades, most recently in 2009. The report, “A Call for Change,” is to be released Tuesday by the Council of the Great City Schools, an advocacy group for urban public schools.
We should all be cautious of “reports” and “studies” that are done to illustrate a drastic difference based majorly on race or ethnicity. Understand that I am not suggesting that these reports never have an inch of validity to them or that there are not serious issues in the Black community and that perhaps education needs to be emphasized more with little Black boys. There is always room for improvement. My worry is the reason behind the studies.
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I often am concerned that the studies done to illustrate the disparities between Blacks and Whites are done not only to better those that are lacking or to determine the reasons behind the differences but rather on some covert level to justify why one group of people should be treated poorly or treated differently in some way. As if to say “See, we have been saying for years that these people were stupid. We have been saying for years that they could never measure up to Whites. It starts from the time they are children.” This is why when I hear, read or see studies like these I choose to examine them further instead of taking them for face value.
I am not asking you to ignore studies like this or dismiss them wholly but rather think before you believe everything that is put on a platter and dressed up nicely with a piece of garnish on the side to make it easier to digest. They want us to just eat it and not to dig around with our forks. I want you to truly think about where the information is coming from and what benefits they may have in putting certain messages out there and making us believe it. Don’t fall into all of the hype people. Don’t give our little Black daughters and sons any excuse to feel like they don’t have to try. Be wary of what tags we allow to define our children.
If anything we should show our little Black boys this report and make them aware of how society sees them. These are the challenges that face them and what they must fight against. Help them to understand why it is detrimental that they show society otherwise by being diligent about their education.
Via: NY Times
As a mom of black boys I totally agree with that last paragragh. I try to be honest with my boys about society. How it should be, how it can be, and HOW IT IS. I want them to know, the fact is, odds are stacked against them, not because of their abilities but because of the way society will treat them. But this "fact" is no excuse for short comings.
People expect for them to have a harder time in school... so study harder and don't give in to the sterotype!
The judicial system isn't fair... so don't break the law!
The job market isn't going to be fair... so pull your pants up, get educated, and know how to speak proper english on the job!
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