"When we talk about unemployment, the levels of underemployment, the decrepit schools, disgraceful school systems and decrepit housing, we’re talking about power and privilege versus poverty and relative powerlessness - and Race is integral." -Cornell West
My response:
@Dr. West. Well said. It all starts with education; the level of education attained, more often than not, is directly a reflection of your socioeconomic class. And with the growing wealth discrepancy between blacks and whites, the point you are making is perfectly clear.
Subsequent remarks:
There is irrefutable evidence that points to a direct relationship between education, or lack thereof, and poverty. Many people believe (or lead you to think they believe) that the playing field is even. This could not be further from the truth.
The evidence that the belief of this theoretical "even playing field" exists is the implementation of standardized high school exit exams. If you analyze the scores of these examinations you will discover that there is a huge divide between the number African-Americans that pass and number of Anglo-Saxons that pass. Why is that? Are whites simply smarter than blacks? I was in one of my poli-sci classes and my professor, whom is an African-American, made some very interesting comments. She basically communicated to us that she refused to believe that whites were smarter that blacks and that when this proposal to abolish standardized exams came up to for vote, that she would vote in favor of continuing these exams. I must admit my thoughts about her, in response to her comments, were very condescending. To say that she is professor I felt she was a bit naive. She had fallen victim to the fallacious propaganda of the proponents of these exams. Thats exactly what they want you to believe.
To make the this easy to understand lets take a look at a couple of high schools in Houston, TX. There is no way that anyone could believe that the kids at Katy High School and the kids at Jack Yates High School are receiving the same caliber of education (no pun intended). The Katy Independent School District has far more programs and tools that can be utilize to enhance their students education. Jack Yates High School does not have access to the same programs and tools. Why is that? Wealth. Many of you who own homes or are shopping for homes are aware that there is a tax, paid by you, to the school district that your neighborhood is in. What are these taxes used for? These taxes are used to help enhance the facilities, programs, and personnel of the respective district. Katy has higher taxes therefore can afford better and more of the aforementioned attributes. Who can afford to pay these higher taxes? Wealthier people.
Based on recent studies there is a growing wealth divide between whites and blacks. Numbers don't lie. With that in mind, it is safe to say that a higher percentage of whites are able to afford to send their kids to schools that are able to provide a better education. While a higher percent of black due to the income divide are forced to go to school that are not as well equipped. Based on this, there is clearly inequities in regard to education.
My beef with the standardized exam, is that it assumes that all high schoolers are receiving, to a degree, the same level of education (hence that word standardized). When in reality they are not. So these standardized tests that prevent kids from graduating are really hurting african-americans, not because they are not smart enough but because of their socioeconomic status. This a big problem and will continue to ruin future of young black people.
Full circle:
Due to the growing gap in wealth between blacks and whites (race), a higher percentage of whites are receiving a better high school education. While on the other hand the education of the young African-American is limited. Consequently, the direct correlation between education and (poverty), adversely affects African-American communities. "Race and Poverty"
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I think there is a clear divide within social classes that hinders educational opportunities to a certain extent. I believe complacency deafens those that may not have the socioeconomical advantages of the "upper class". I believe that most at a disadvantage should find the will power of the few with the same disadvantages that manages to reach the same destination of those upper class citizens in the end.
ReplyDeleteWell said!!!!! The playing field is not even.....the level and quality of education is very different depending on what neighborhood you live in. There was a huge argument where this girl from Harvard accidently sent a personal email to everyone. It basically said that whites are proven to be smarter than blacks, all her statistics were based on public school system records....she failed to say she was comparing chicago's (deep ghetto) academics to kids who went to better schools in the suburbs surrounding.....so yes I agree with everything. For as long as I have known you, you have been very good with words and intelligent. I enjoyed reading this. Be good.
ReplyDelete*Applause* Very intriguing points. I am an product of the exact research that you are bringing into discussion. Ms. Kelly Ann, as well, can vouch for some of the things that I am about to say. Growing up in Baytown, Lee and Sterling High School, both have had the same socioeconomic problems. Just as you hinted to earlier, we had the just of the "minority" in Baytown at Lee High School. Thus, we had the "leftovers" of the communities money and support due to our higher rate of ethnicity. Our school was burned to the ground in the late 60's and they built our school right back on top of the ashes in which the foundation was burned on. Yet, Sterling, was the newer high school and once the "divide" of having two high schools in Baytown was evident the anglo-saxon of our community IRONICALLY was the majority of the population of that school. Simultaneously, the neighborhoods in which these children were coming from were most of the most wealthy in the city. Seems odd, looking back, that the community "chose" the newer school and not the "tainted" older one to be submersed in the "majority" race (hence the start of the economic, racial, and support rivalry). But, what is really alarming is that the "majority" race in Baytown seems to be more of the Hispanic culture. Which is also who was shuffled into the pile at Lee with us. Now, I am somewhat a straddler, due to the fact that the same problem happens in the junior high, and elementary systems in Baytown (all of which are in the same school district). With all that I said about high school, I went to the most prestigious junior high in the city, wealth and scholastic wise, so I have a broader retrospect then most that stay on "one side". I do solidly believe that the wealth played a role in why Lee's scholastics never paralleled to Sterling's, yet I also feel that it was our parents involvement that ultimately determined our success. My parents were not going to accept anything less than excellence, so I had no choice but to achieve. But, I know in some, if not most cases, that if the parents were there to support that it could have been a better scholastic output in Lee. Now, since my High School Graduation, there is another High School in Baytown. And we will see how this will effect the economic status of the rest of the community in the years to come. The new high school is only 2 years old and just had its first class of Graduating Seniors. So there history up to this point is bleak. Yet, all of this is relevant, to hit back on your point, in college like in high school I achieved more scholastic attributes than the counterpart school's graduates in most cases. I played college football, and stayed on the Dean's List at an HBCU my entire college career. And I don't think, in my case, it was just based on economic status or discipline but a combination of both. And my HBCU was of the same, if not of worse, economic status than my High School...which is ANOTHER story. But your opinion has what most people's discussions don't have and that's RESEARCH and THOUGHT behind it which makes it credible more so than a lot of "educated guesses". Hope I could only have gave an intellectually acceptable response to it. Following you, is hard work. Excellent Job Fam.
ReplyDeleteOk, so I will be the Debbie Downer on this post! I agree that there is a huge gap in socio-economic classes between the ethnicities. I do agree with your teacher, that whites are not smarter than blacks and blacks are noth smarter than whites, etc. No all students and schools are not on the same level playing field, but that should not be an excuse for the poor grades and high drop out rate within the African American community. I believe that everyone is smart as you want to be. Everyone has barriers whether you are in Katy or Yates. But it depends on your will and the drive you have to accomplish something. Everyone can look at their situations and say, "oh well it is because i'm poor that's why i'm not as smart." But that should not be the case, everyone is responsible for him or herself. You have to be accountable for you. And you should not blame what's in your parent's bank account or how much your school receives in taxes. So don't blame the money, or the taxes, blame the person. Remember when you point one finger, four more are pointing back at you!
ReplyDeleteI would like to begin by saying that I believe that each comment made to this post has been well spoken and added value to this topic.
ReplyDeleteMy response to this post is simply this:
Yes, it is true that your socio-economic status during your upbringing does reflect on the level of education you recieve in MOST cases. There are always exceptions to the rule and I am one of those exceptions.
I was raised in a single-parent home for the majority of my primary and secondary education. My family lived in a small town right outside of a wealthy suburban area. I went to school in one of the richest school districts around and had the opportunity to attend school on the better side of town. I do believe that even though my parents did not have the same social status as the majority of my classmates, I did not let that hinder me from doing the best that I could be.
The playing field is not even and probably never will be, but I agree with Crystal that everyone has to be accountable for his or herself. I applaud Mr. Herman's parents for not allowing their social status to determine his scholastic ability. I would admonish each and every parent, rich and poor to do the same, but here is the bottom line:
If we as a people (African Americans) would work together to changes these inequalities and injustices that are taking place in our communities, then we could begin to close the gap that divides us financially and academically.