Hey guys,
I read this article about High School Students graduating and going to college.
A whole class graduates and goes to college
I have a serious problem with this and I need to know your thoughts.
Why are we surprised and celebratory when something happens that should happen.
Black Young Men graduate and go to college and we celebrate!!!
It does not mean that they will graduate, receive the support they need to successful in college, or mean that they are free from challenges that exist in their community.
Why are we celebrating this!!! We are and have been qualified for the longest! College is the standard! not some great feat! (call me when they all get into graduate school!)
I have gotten this new over my email many times (a please continue to send them) But I am DISTURBED!
What say you?
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Just because something ought to happen, or should happen, or should be the standard doesn't make any less real the obstacles that face people attempting to achieve that thing. As it pertains to these young men getting accepted into college, just because you or I may may view college in a particular light doesn't negate the very real obstacles both culturally and systemically that lead to African American males both not graduating from high school and not going to college. And the numbers, I think bear this out. While there are more african american males going to college today than say 30 years ago, there are still more african american males going to prison every year than there are going to college. Just saying and believing something should be so doesn't make it so and as such programs that reach the ends that we desire should be celebrated, if not at least acknowledged so as to make replication easier.
ReplyDeleteWith all of that, programs like this may misrepresent the value of charter schools and their role in the education system and may lead to the further eroding of the quality of public education in this country. For that reason I kind of don't like the attention this story is getting, but other than that....kudos to the lot of them
It should be noted that even for the majority/ privileged race, rarely does an entire graduating high school class all get into college - elite prep schools are probably the exception. That being said, it kinda IS a big deal that people can come out of high school and all get into college - especially given where so much of public education is these days. I agree, we shouldn't be surprised, but with the current real stats about black men and the prison industrial complex, it is something to celebrate. Yes, retention rates and college graduation rates are another issue, but getting in is a big step. One might argue that students that have this kind of support to get into college may well have the needed support to get through college. That's not always the case, but hopefully. Don't rain on their parade Mr. Dorsey. : )
ReplyDeleteI think its a sad reality... but we cannot hide the fact that many black youth don't make it to college. Latino and African American Children have the highest high school drop out rates. Unfortunately there are external circumstances that effect these numbers. Some parents are forced to focus on their children surviving to the age of 18 versus having the privellege to focus on empowering them to go to school. Again due to external circumstances beyond their control. We don't celebrate because we doubt that our children are smart or that they cannot and will not achieve... unfortunately, there are other factors that play into a child finishing high school... getting through the application process... and going to college suceeding there and graduating... some have support some don't... Everyone's different there are kids who can and will achieve with little to no support and then there are other kids who need someone there pushing them along the way. Unfortunately, if we don't get support at home we may not get it elsewhere. The media doesn't promote black intellect... they promote black entertainment.... images of black bodies being excellent as athletes and entertainers... but when is the last time the media portrayed our intellect... when is the last time you sat in a classroom and had a professor promote black intellect. I hear... a disproportionate number of blacks don't do well on standardized tests, blacks and browns have drop out of high school at a disprortionate rate... black and browns... excuse me "minority" retention is dispropotionately low at University "xyz" "but thats historical so we don't need to be alarmed"...
ReplyDeleteNow these statistics may indeed be facts however though they are marked as "disproportional" no one talks about or explains the disproportion... the outside, external factors that contribute to these numbers... As a result others are left to assume what about black intellect? I'll let you fill in the blanks... furthermore and what is more dangerous what are we taught to think of ourselves? Again I'll let you do the honors of filling in the blanks.
For those of us who know that blacks are intellectually sound yet also understand the road blocks many of us face whether raised in the inner-city or in the suburbs of America we REJOICE when we hear that one of our own has beat the statistics, graduated, and made it into college. Our Rejoicing of course in all of this in my own humble opinion motivates them as they enter into college often times being the minority on a majority campus with majors such as mine which repeatedly force you to learn negative statistics about black and brown bodies being "disproportionately... [fill in the blank]"
Sorry for the late response (it was easter season),
ReplyDelete@greg I certainly didn't look at the part of the story concerning charter school. You make a good point that this might not help the public education system.
on the other stuff, my problem is not with the celebration. My problem is the type of or magnitude of the celebration. I would never say that it is not a good thing for Black to go to college. I would never say that it is a negative thing for Black Men to be accepted into college all that is great. I am just challenged by the way these things are celebrated. If you are going to celebrate one in the new paper celebrate all
@monica coleman
You are right it is a big deal but help me understand a couple of things.
If they get in and feel ready to drop out, will the same community put on an event that makes sure they stay in college? If they all graduate, will that same community throw another celebration? When they need help with that same community supply?
Or
will that community simply be satisfied with the acceptance? and is acceptance substantiated without completion?
I am not trying to rain on anyones parade (lol) I am simply concerned about the message we (or the media) sends when they publish these kinds of articles. The motives carry too much variety for comfort.
I graduated from a rough neighborhood and no ones camera was at my graduation, therefore I didn't leave my school with a false sense of support. My family and friends said congrats, gave me some ballons, and said off to the next step.
I don't know, I just get concerned about peoples reception of these types of celebrations
@ Mrs. Dorsey
ReplyDeleteI certainly appreciate the attention to the "unfortunate realities." I am however not suggesting that we don't celebrate.
I personally know what the life is like growing up with these types of stats haunting you. It was a great experience for me graduating from high school. I thought to myself wow, I did it! But that is the reality i am concerned with.
I do feel like we set our standards too low. I feel like we, black people, don't teach ourselves that graduation is a step not a peak. Sometimes it seems like we throw major celebrations for things that we are supposed to do.
Celebrating graduation is like celebrating the fact that a man fathers his children. Do we pat people on the back and throw major celebrations when they do what they are supposed to?
Are we sending a message that say we celebrate the fact that you actually demonstrated responsibility?
I think a celebration is fine but I would hate for someone to see the article and think that they have all of a sudden made it.
thats all i am saying