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Dr. Boyce Video: Are Black People Running Away from Education?
In this video, Dr. Boyce Watkins speaks with Dr. Worokya Duncan, an education expert and middle school teacher. The conversation centers around the cultural factors that may have led African Americans to walk away from education and how you can avoid this trend.
The video is below:
PB Short
April 23, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Yes, Black folks are running away from education…
I seen it 30 years ago when I was I college…and we tend to take the easy courses like Business Management & Sociology, etc…
One of the problems is that parents (single or dual parents) do not make their children do homework everyday of the week including weekends…
I constantly hear parents say “My child do not need to be in the house doing homework after being in school all day”…and then I constantly hear people say “My child is a quick learner”…basically meaning monkey see monkey do, because no one learns mathematics in a day…
Our race for some reason, even before RAP/HIP HOP, has always looked for the easy way out…
When I was growing up in the 70′s, I watched my cousin’s on both sides of the family drop out of high-school for no apparent reason other than to be cool…
When I graduated from high-school, both sides of the family tried to make me feel bad with some the things they said…I totally ignored it…
My point is that Black parents for some reason take pride in allowing their children to drop out of high-school…
The same goes for college…it appears that Blacks on only go to college for the name, or to look cool or to look intelligent then drop out as soon as their teachers start pouring on the homework…
It is sad, very sad when it comes to education within or own race…
PB Short
April 23, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Another way you can tell that we are running away from education is that no one will comment…
fig newton
April 23, 2012 at 7:31 pm
I am not going to read the article, yet. From my own experience, from my two sons going to community colleges, Black people are not learning, are not getting the financial aid necessary due to academic performance, are unable to afford books, labs, etc., and are met with adversity in places where they do not reside. One of my sons was sent a notice that he could not attend school because he was not maintaining a 2.0 average. After I pointed out the error made by the school, the semester was two week underway. The next semester, he again faced academic suspension, but had already registered for the semester. He dropped out because he felt like he was now a target. There were other circumstances before the aforementioned but this one was the last straw. On the other hand, my other son went south to go to school. He was appauld at how little education his college mates had, and was further appauld at how they were treated.
I’ll come back after reading the article.
Leta
April 25, 2012 at 11:49 am
The question can be rephrased to ask is education running away from blacks. This is not a one size fits all issue at hand. Look at what our educational system has boiled down to. On e No Child left Behind came into play the educational system took a turn for the worse and left masses of minority students and teachers behind. The majority of our students have not gotten a quality education because they have data thrown at them in order to pass the test and make AYP which is supposed to stand for Adequate Yearly Progress but really stands for Adequate Yearly Paycheck. Kids want to learn. Slamming them with a bunch of homework is not the solution. There is 24 hours in a day. Deduct 8 hours of sleep and you are left with 16. Deduct another 8 from the time they rise, go to school Nd participate in extra circular activities. That leaves about 6 hours.. How much time should your brain and body be allowed to rest before completing homework for 4 to 5 classes daily? You wonder why kids are dropping? Kids are taking the CRCT test in a room for 3 hours with a 2 minute break as well as pressure to score high. When elementary children are stressing and gripped with fear over passing a test something is truly wrong . PARENTS MUST BE INVOLVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sam
April 26, 2012 at 3:42 am
pb short is funny. but you right. for blacks because thats what i know, kids learn early that being smart is a pass to getting beat up. then after that they know to get the girls you have to be bad. So what will 95% of every boy do. skip homework and be bad. simple equation. DO what it takes to get the girl or the in crowd. What IS the Motivating of our people? What cultural values should we promote being taught to blacks?? We have to recognize that there are people on this planet, and in this country that wants blacks to fail. we have to remember that they are slick and divisive. My kids are very young but taking the advice of the lady in the video i will make sure my kids use there brains and know the world is so much bigger than america. Help them understand that life is more than whats at the end of there nose. NOTICE what i said. Help them understand vs tell them. big difference. but at the end of the day staying close with my ear on the street will help me teach the young people i mentor and my children how to be creative in there own mind to be successful in there own way. because Money is just a ways of trade. Not a measuring stick for success
Katie Lindsey
April 26, 2012 at 5:18 am
Thank you Dr Boyce and the contributors.My family is one of the millions suffering from this too.The adult parent somehow did not seem to hear my pleads to educate the child.I wonder what blockers in the adult accounts for this.Could it be the general society that had a hand in the nonsense.Yea, the wrapper music lyrics did not help make educate,mate at the right time help.Parents that are young seem to be challenged by their limitations and what the working world deals out.Something blocked my teaching.The women seem to be more concerned about hair and nails and how many holes in the jeans then their children.Not this situation, but the men on a whole are a lost cause.Brain dead from the hip hop music that blares in their ears. Corrupted by the systems that says yeah ,sell drugs,shoot to kill anybody,let the drugs numb you from your ability to fight this system.We have got to turn this around.Yes the comments are left for gossip web sites,we will not get them here from the folks in question,they don’t read this stuff.
Clark
April 29, 2012 at 2:16 pm
After ten years in education, I had trouble promoting/teaching lies that have been established to maintain an injustice system. Plus, I realized that I didn’t have any power. If I recommend that a student be held back…it was still up to the parents and superintendent. If I wanted to hire or fire an employee it was still up to the superintendent. You still got the same power structure issues even if you think you are helping by educating….Yea, we runnig!
Ryan
April 29, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Boyce keeps insisting up bring RAP into the conversation, even after having Dyson kick his ass on the issue. SMH
Willa
April 29, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Yes, blacks shun education and I blame the parents. Why would you not encourage your child to be the best?
Most black teens look on school as a social outlet and learn little academics. After highschool they are lost.
It starts in the home. Where are the adults?
Dot
April 29, 2012 at 11:48 pm
After 30 years in education I agree with Clark. You do all you can as an educator but unless you insist on changing the system to give students and their parents exposure to the world beyond their neighborhood it is futile. Unless you change the mindset of the students you have done nothing. It is very hard to instill the benefits of an education to students who go home to see and hear otherwise.
DR. FLOYD DARDEN
April 30, 2012 at 1:23 am
How could we forget the power of education with a black sitting president in the White House?
How could we allow our children to be taken in by the hip hop sounds that surround them with nigger-negative images and verbal take-down weekly?
Many of our parents are not even aware of the need for continuous education on, off TV and during weekends…sometimes it seems that the slave controls are still with in the community…we allow ourselves to be controlled. We can only do our best to show good, positive examples for all. And follow Dr. Cosby’s advice when he speak-out on occasion. Thank You for YBW for keeping us on our feet…and not sleeping while the world turns around with-out us if we fall asleep.
DR. FLOYD DARDEN
April 30, 2012 at 1:24 am
Joel Ward, this is not the beginning nor the end of a wide road that you are clearing for other men of color that will someday follow your powerful display of self-discipline, determination and personal energy to stay the course in your dream to be the best that you can be. I will continue to follow your successes as you strive to support your fellow team mates in their personal quests for championship status. Thanks you for your presence of mind, heart & positive spirit, as you continue to wage the war for us all ….so many rest in the spirit of brotherhood still fighting as is our Obama; we are with you, you are not alone; keep the Dream alive…Blessings to you, your family and especially your parents for giving you the survival attitude….Yes; we are proud of your spirit..Yes!
Jacqueline Wiggins
May 28, 2012 at 1:48 pm
As an educator readying for retirement, I think that all that was said in the video is right on time. If the message in the music of some hip hop artists can get into the minds and hearts of some of our children, then perhaps parental messages as stated by Dr. Duncan need to be composed and distributed to the parental masses. Don’t tell me it couldn’t happen! It’s all in the will!
BigWill
May 28, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Negative Rap Music and Negative Television Images have killed more brain cells in the black community than hydroencephalitis.
DIABLO
May 28, 2012 at 3:30 pm
big will you full of shit tv and music has nothing to do with it
etreman
May 28, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Excuses, excuses! White people have to ‘spend time’ in school to get an education too! Why do you think the education systems are being systematically dismantled?…because they know they can count on black people to make excuses for their faliures giving the whites a ‘free pass’ to move ahead of us. As I ride the city subway I listen to young white kida and young black kids talk. It’s scary how far apart they are in communication skills and intellectual demeanor. These are the same people looking for the same jobs in the future. Who do you think’s gonna get it? My parents refused to allow me to ‘hang out’ with the ‘cool’ kids. I almost hated them for it but once I got an education, came back and saw where all the ‘cool’ kids ended up I loved them for it! We have choices! If you don’t get your “free” education you’re forced to survive in other ways; most of which may be illegal. It’s been said before….do the work and stop making ‘cool’ the priority.
D McGee
May 28, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Parents do not have control of their households. We were not allowed to turn on television or play until we finished our housework(washing dishes, making bed, sweeping the floor,washing clothes or what ever else my father thought needed to be done). Church was a must until you moved from my fathers house. Had to do community service and help the old peple.
Next there was a time to do your homework. Then we had to read to our mother so that she could make sure that we could read.
All nine of us graduated from high school and six went to college.
It all start at home. My kids had to go through the same routine, but they cried a lot. I got the thanks from them once they moved away from home on their own. They said if I had not stuck to my guns they never would have been able to make it out in the world. And NO they do not and can not live with me. I reared them to be self reliable.
Joseph L. Bass, EdD
May 28, 2012 at 5:16 pm
The fact that many black Americans run away from education isn’t news. This has been going on for decades and is a cultural trait that goes back to slavery. There were house slaves and field slaves. The house slaves lived close to the master and lived better than field slaves. The field slaves saw the house slaves in a negative light. The house slaves that kowtowed to the masters became known as Uncle Toms. The field slaves often fought against the masters and were celebrated in the mini-series Roots in the person of Kunta Kinta. Today those that strive to be a part of the mainstream economy, taking advantage of educational opportunities, are still seen as Uncle Toms and are said to be “selling out.” Uncle Toms are also said to be “not black enough.” The Kunta Kintas are said to be “black enough” and they are the ones that beat up on black children that try to learn in school. They are also the ones out selling drugs in the open and getting caught by the police. White, Hispanic, and Asian drug dealers don’t sell their drugs out in the open like the blacks and they don’t get caught as often.
During segregation the Kunta Kintas and the Uncle Toms had to live in the same geographic areas. Of course the Uncle Toms were making more money then the Kunta Kintas and when legal integration went into effect, the somewhat better off Uncle Toms purchased houses in other areas and moved out, leaving the angry Kunta Kintas who are still angry today. With the War on Poverty the Kunta Kintas went on welfare and starting living in public housing where they still live today.
The “black enough” and “not black enough” situation is a major factor greatly hindering black Americans from achieving economic and educational parity with white and Asian Americans. For black Americans to become a part of the mainstream economy, this division must be overcome. Joseph L. Bass, Ed.D. http://www.abettersociety.info
Etania
May 28, 2012 at 5:58 pm
THANK YOU DR. WATKINS FOR THIS DISCUSSION! Please do more op-ed or discussions surrounding this, because I believe value of education has been severly diminshed amongst the African “American” community. I agree with the sister about the parents being more concerned with trying to live a particular lifestyle, instead of focusing on what can actually sustain monetary success, which every other group of people understand is education. I live in Oakland, CA and the value of education amongst the.Black community is almost non-existent and its really sad. My sister started up a education consultant company, with the target being Black kids in the hood, and it amazed me how even a lot of these non-profits headed by mostly Black people felt as if what my sister offered was unnecessary! So even a lot of the “Poverty Pimps” think education is not important, because that means in the long-run those people will not need those so called services they provide, and there goes their funding!
Tee
May 28, 2012 at 6:25 pm
Yes Blacks are running away from education. On any given Saturday, during peewee football season you can go by any park in the neighborhood and it is full with parents cheering on their soon to be NFL players.Or so they think! Yet you can’t get these same parents to attend a PTA meeting or a parent teacher conference. Whose fault is that? How many black parents make sure that their kid get’s the help they need even when it’s free? How many black parents ask their kid how their day was at school and do they have any homework? Black kids are not going to do better in school until their parents step up. It is ridiculous to think that teachers in crowded classrooms can give a kid the one on one attention he or she probably needs. And if Mitt Romney is elected no one should expect the school system to get any better. His attention is on going after the teachers union, he could care less about the kids! And dual parent households as Romney seems to think means nothing, if the parents are not committed to their kid being the best they can be.
Rachel
May 29, 2012 at 3:19 pm
While the media continual flaunts the antics and lifestyles of the rich and famous athletes, none of the children feel the need for an education. Likewise the parents feel their children dont’t have to learn, just play ball and you’ve got it made. Or become a hip hop artist. No worries. Just act real stupid and earn stupid money.
onesilverbac
May 29, 2012 at 9:19 pm
yep!It’s been that way for 50 years, we can dance and sing however when it comes to education, (I’m just keeping it real) is the order of the day.
All kind of excuse’s. it’s the teachers fault, they don’t put enough money into the schools all of the white teachers are racist.
The youth can make babies but have not a clue about how to make a dollar.
We depend upon the government for hand outs so we don’t need to have a education.
It does not apply to everyone, I would guess ten in two hundred have the education of suburban white students, and its not because of the books being used. Have you been to one of our schools lately? I’ve seen kids from Somalia who spoke no English at all 5 years ago and now is the valedictorian of the graduating class. It’s all about attitude and the importance that’s placed on education. Stop thinking it’s someone else’s fault that your child can’t even fill out a job app.
Get old fashion, become a real parent.
Take away the games, no excuses for not having work completed, show some interest in the work they do………