Boys II Men

We finally had our screening of Boys of Baraka at the Utopia center yesterday! I wasn’t really sure what to expect but from all the promoting we have been doing I thought people would be genuinely excited to view the film and have an open discussion. However, what I realized is as soon as people found out about the topic, they didn’t seem as interested. I can understand that classes are coming to a close and people had test and other group work but I was a little disappointed with the turn out. However, I was so thankful for those that did take the time to come out and also discusses the topic.

From class we all had seen Boys of Baraka but watching it again I was just as interested the second time as I was the first time. What I was surprised by was the film Kate Martin put together from her Boys II Men group. The film was well thought out and the message was similar to the Boys of Baraka film. I guess when I watched the Boys of Baraka, it was more of a movie just because they were from Baltimore and it didn’t affect me directly. Not to say that it wasn’t sad or touching but watching the film about kids from right here Austin and their desire to learn, same desire the Boys from Baltimore had was really inspiring. Overall, if one person that came out learned something or was inspired by Katie’s film then we have done our job. Personally, it has definitely inspired me to be more involved with the community.

Boys of Baraka

We are having our film screening and discussion on Wednesday from 5-7 pm. We hope everyone can make it!We are planning on showing the film and having an open discussion regarding 'achievement gap' and also topics the film touches on like why there is a lack programs like Baraka school here in the United States and systematic racism. we also hope to come up with solutions that can be enforced moving forward.

Police Don't like Black People

 This article focuses on a study of 40 black men in St. Louis, Missouri to understand black men's experiences with police.  The study age ranged from 13 to 19. Interviewing took place between spring 1999 and spring 2000. Participation in the study was voluntary, and assured confidentiality. Brunson targeted young black men because research has identified them as the group frequent involuntary police contacts in the United States. In the study, most of the young men interviewed had had an overall negative view toward police.

The in depth interview was divided in parts:

AGGRESSIVE POLICING

POLICE MISCONDUCT
POLICE VIOLENCE
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
WITNESSING POLICE VIOLENCE

 Experiences range from getting picked up and being dropped off in remote location instead of taking them to the police station, causing physically harm and taking money if the teens can’t explain where they got it from.

 Finding: Black adults and adolescents report more dissatisfaction and distrust than their counterparts from other racial groups. They never report misconduct because they don’t feel like it would be taken seriously and some are not comfortable going to the police station.

 Brunson explains at the end that citizen complaints against officers could be initiated in the prosecutor's office rather than in police stations.

 Flaw in study: African American’s perception of police before encounter came mostly from family and friend’s experiences which might be exaggerated.

Hip Hop

The film, Hip Hop and Beyond Beats was really insightful and a deeper take on what many have tried to understand: Hip Hop. I walked away kind of disturbed at some of the footage especially at the part where he asks men why they call women “bitches and hoes”. Just because the women were in outfits that were reveling doesn’t give a man a reason to call someone a hoe. If attention is what the women want in the way they dress than they are getting it.However, when many of them where asked about this subject they all said in defense that it doesn’t apply to them. I don’t have a problem with the way the women were dressed but the fact that these men thought it was okay to speak and physical touch them in such manner was just wrong.  In regards to Nelly and the Tip drill video, he was asked in an interview why he thought it was okay to objectify women and his response was that most of the action in that video was ideas from women, which is even more disturbing.

As far as examining explicit lyrics and young boys, I thought it was insightful when one of the men said that they get a clear message form top executives and from what is popular right now and that message is explicit disrespectful lyrics sell. It’s hard to argue and teach young men the opposite when they see their favorite rapper making a lot of money because of the stuff he/she raps about. However, educating men at a young age to see wrong from right is a step in the right direction.

As far as African American girls watching music videos and the message it sends out, I think that parents need to have discussion with their children. I had friends whose parents censored their TV from shows  and music videos they considered inappropriate but with the use of technology  children will get exposed to it one way or another so an honest open discussion is very much needed.  Girls also have to understand that the glamorized images are unrealistic and over exaggerated. I believe the results from the study are results of lack of education and open conversation.

Boys of Baraka

Boys of Baraka

I enjoyed watching the film, Boys of Baraka. It was funny, educational and at times really sad. The main thing that stuck out to me was how smart the boys were, not only about their surrounding but the bigger picture. They all knew that the place they call home was not the safest or nicest but I felt like they knew something better was out there for them. Many times we are forced to think that African American students don’t want to be in school so watching the boys with excitement when they found out they were going to Africa and the disappointment when the school shut down was eye-opening.

 In regards to systemic effect I feel that society simply doesn’t care. These boys have the ability to learn and succeed but the lack of resources available has kept them down. One of the saddest part of the movie was when they went to Africa and they were evaluated, finding out some of these boys who are supposed to be looking forward to high school were at second grade level was disheartening. How is it possible for a teacher that spends so much time with these kids not to notice that they are not getting the attention they deserve? We mentioned in class that if teachers were better prepared than we could begin to solve this problem. When it comes down to it resource is one the main missing.

 From individual level, the main thing I noticed was the physiological effect their surround has on them and the way they view their future. All of the boys grew up seeing people get arrested, in constant fear and drug dealers so when they were taken out of that surrounding you can see their views change. They recognized that people that look just like them live in “unity” unlike the atmosphere they are used too. Also, they saw people who didn’t have money making the best out of the situation. I think the trip was a confidence boost as far as individual factors are concerned only if they were given the opportunity to continue with the tremendous growth they experienced while in Kenya for that one year.

Closing the Gap

I wasn’t surprised to see such a gap exist between African Americans and Whites a letter grade difference (B for whites and C for Blacks). The attention African Americans get in school is incomparable. I can easily relate it back to high school where I felt like the success of white kids somehow measured the success of the teachers. Teachers had to give extra attention to white kids because they had parents coming to the school to check on their kid’s progress. Most of the teachers also happen to be coaches so school wasn’t a main priority, as long a passing grade was passed out no matter how low; some kids were okay with that. I don’t believe in a “real” achievement gap but rather structural oppression which forces this gap to occur. To assume an achievement gap exists would require an even playing field and we know that’s not the case so there is no way of figuring out this “gap”.

Racial/Ethnic Identity

I believe that stage of race identity intercepts with the concept of privilege through the encounters whites and African Americans have and how they differ. It’s a good assumption that in today’s society that race is still a big issue and something that affects many. The Trayvon Martin case is an example of race and its prevalence. White Racial Identity Model explains privilege regarding contact status, whites deny race as important in society and prefer to themselves as “color blind.” If you have never had a problem in school or at your job because of the color of your skin it’s no surprise to regard race as non factor.  

In regards to my daily encounter, white privilege is something I notice often. Having several classes were I am the only minority, it’s something I notice but a white person never has to think about. I also thing African Americans are caution when approaching other minorities and the way we think about them because of African Americans History. One point that came up in regards to the Trayvon martin case was that it would be hard to imagine an African American man/woman taking the same actions as Zimmerman. Regardless of where you might fall in the People of Color Identity Model, there is an understanding of African American oppression that it would be hard to relay the same hatred on to others.

In regards to the learning group project, we have to be open to encountering people in different stages and like we talked about in class we can’t change a set way of thinking, but we can let facts and actions speak for themselves. From the Beverly Tatum’s article Family life and school experiences: Factors in the racial identity development of black youth in white communities Tatum states that the student that had some kind of encounter with someone who was proud and educated in Black history, it had a positive impact in the way the students thought about their own culture. We can hope for our learning project that we can in some way be a positive role model to those we encounter.

Affirmative action: Racist by nature

The article discusses affirmative action and goes as far as calling it reverse-discrimination. There are so many things wrong with this article that I hard time believing someone through it was okay publish such a skewed opinion. To start, he mentions the reason for the affirmative action was in response to segregation and the “many wrong done to black” but had he understood the details of slavery and oppression he would come to realize that some of his assumptions are wrong-like assuming we are on the same playing field. Fact of the matter is racism still prevalent in today society demonstrated by the teen shooting in Florida so quoting Martin Luther King Jr. said to make his argument is inappropriate Also, McGravey talks about these injustices by mixing race and social class together.  He talks about the divide between whites and Asian American with African American and Hispanics and uses Affirmative action as a response to simply race but then goes further to talk about whites living in slums who don’t have the same advantages.

He does make some good points in that whites who are disadvantage should have a policy to help them but that’s a separate issue. Affirmative action doesn’t have to be all or nothing deal. We can still have affirmative action but also have another policy that looks out for the disadvantage in general.  The article is in support of Abigail in the Abigail Fisher v. University of Texas lawsuit. Abigail was denied acceptance at the University and her reasoning for the lawsuit was that it was because she was white and that other undeserving minorities took her place. The admission process takes in to account GPA and ethnicity but there are also other attributes that might separate one candidate from another like the required essay and extra activities so to assume it was solely based on race is crazy. Abigail decided to go after affirmative action but what about legacy admission??

In regards to African American children, there needs to be resources and programs so that we don’t rely on affirmative action but use it when there is injustice. Resource is the biggest thing that is hindering the Africa American community not ability as we saw from the SXSW video and Urban Prep and so there needs to be program supported by the state to make sure every student regardless of neighborhood gets the same education especially in Texas where TASK testing determines high school graduation.

Mid-Term Essay

For the children growing up in high distress areas with low self-authenticity and self-worth, who feel  like they don’t have much, this is devoted to you. I hope you find inspiration and one day define perseverance.

African Centered Behavioral Change model demonstrates ‘behavior is largely determined by culture, belief in what is real and perception of self within ones environment’. This transformation process is based on the environment and the person. Quadrant four also Aberrant is the concern of this essay.

Growing up witnessing crimes and misfortune can lead any child to believe that this was their destiny and there is no way to escape such a cycle. When the system has given up on you and you are forced to redefine yourself let alone a race that becomes a big burden. But somehow many have managed to make it out of such circumstances and define strength and hard work. We hear about rags to riches stories all over the media and although they can be inspiring many seem far from reach. Oprah is a great example of someone who had nothing and worked for everything but what about dreams of becoming doctors or lawyers? The Black Middle Class: Progress, Prospects, and Puzzles” defines the Talented Tenth as most educated and affluent part of the Black Community. But what has happened in the talented tenth in the African American community? Also, why is there such a high disproportion in Immigrants occupying high percentage of the middle class?

I have first-hand witness the struggles many immigrants face to live the “American Dream”.  This dream consists of higher education, high pay and high self-worth. There are a high percentage of immigrants obtaining bachelors and masters because it is the only way to reach that dream. Growing up my father always emphasized the importance of education and how it was the only guaranty in life to truly live to my full potential. Many Immigrants come to the United Stated and end up living in high distress areas while working low paying jobs to reach that ultimate goal but what separates them from quadrant four is that they believe in their future and they believe they can be the one to break the cycle of living in poverty. This type of tenacity is what quadrant four needs. We can’t let our neighborhood define us as people. By starting within and defining ourselves we can transform our environment. Just as these Immigrants had a goal of living the American Dream, quadrant one can be the ultimate goal one that consists of high self-worth.

CNN in American had a great peace in regards to quadrant four and Malaak Compton-Rock attempt to transform the lives of teenagers form Bushwick, Brooklyn -- a community of thriving drug trade, severely under-achieving schools, and extreme poverty. Rocks attempt took the children all the way to South Africa. Although, she took them out of the distressed environment, her goal was to work on their self-esteem and the way they viewed their goals. The problem I found with her method is that by removing the children form their environment, South Africa became another reality. They can transform and become all she hopes in South African but when they return home and they still face the same obstacles as before, and then it becomes inevitable to transition right back to their on reality. Instead we need to work on changing our mindset in our own environment.

Nguzo Saba’s Self- determination and Faith can be grate reference for our ultimate goal of reaching quadrant one. Self-determination refers to “defining ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves” and Faith refers to “believing with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.” If we have faith and self-determination then we know that anything is possible. From the Article Dynamic Duo “create for ourselves” stands out to me in self-determination because nothing is handed to the African American community, so to have the ability to create opportunities for our self and then extend that same opportunity to our brother and sisters would is an amazing accomplishment.  

To change our mind set completely would be asking for the impossible and not mentioning all the obstacles quadrant four face would be unfair. The system is set up discourage upward mobility in the African American community from the poor educational system to welfare system. Robert Hill’s article The Impact of Welfare Reform on Black Families discusses how hard children suffer from welfare. The article states that 4.7 million children who are eligible for health care don’t have one because new laws “decoupled health benefit and food stamps.” Health and safety are ranked low on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs so enable for these children to reach the top which is self-actualization; the system has to provide the basics.

We can’t change the welfare system or education system at this given moment but we can make the best decisions for ourselves in hopes of one day altering society. We can use our given circumstances as a challenge. Take every opportunity to talk to a mentor, ask for help in class, and reach for opportunities outside the norm. A Plea to the Talented Tenth states that the ‘talented tenth tends to use success to departure from the hood but leave their brother and sister behind. My hope for the quadrant four is to use every resource possible to find low distress and high self-worth but in the process to look back and help one another.

My Philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life,but doing the best at this momnet puts you in the best place for the next moment.
                                                                          -Oprah Winfrey

Class Discussion

Strange Bedfellows against Gay Marriage: I think the fact that conservatives want to ‘team’ up with the African American population against gay marriage is just crazy. They are in a way bribing the community with money that is highly needed to oppress another community. I think as an individual African Americans have a right to agree or disagree with gay marriage and the issue as a whole but to go after a community is wrong. Most African Americans identify as Democrat so what better way for conservative Republicans to gain votes as well as support from the African American community. According to the article 60% of African Americans are against gay unions, which happen to be a bridge that brings conservatives and African Americans together but I believe that’s where the similarities in values end. Conservatives don’t need African American communities help regarding gay marriage because it’s currently illegal in most states so I feel like this partnership holds other motives.

Class Discussion: It’s one thing to discuss in class after a reading articles about how we think African American Gays feel but it’s another to actually hear straight from them.  Kerry discussed his transition from Female-to-male and the first thing I learned is that they are not changing to become someone new but correcting what was wrong. It’s hard to understand the thought process that goes on especially at a young age but hir openness was helpful. I always assumed that transgender meant that you prefer the same-sex and I learned that it differs from person to person.  We talked a lot about lack of acceptance in the African American community so it was great to hear that everyone in the panel had a strong support system that understood and was accepting. Zach spoke about spirituality as a Pan-sexual and growing up in a mixed household.  I have never heard of pan-sexual and would have assumed he was a gay man so it was interesting to hear his side and his outlook. Lastly, it was great to hear Rose talk about her coming-out story with such a sense of humor. I feel like she made the class comfortable to ask question in the way she shared her story. I leaned overall to never assume about others based on preconceived notion. Zach said it best when he said it was like hearing someone speak French the way Kerry talked about the queer community because I never knew half of the things before class.

LGBTQ

Young black men prefer black counselors. Journal of Black Psychology

I found it kind of crazy that only 2% of psychologists are African American. I think it has a lot to do with growing up in the African American community and not really expressing and feeling the need for a psychologist. If you grow up dealing with your problems in a different way and especially for black man never really expressing their true feelings, you would never seek a psychologist let alone become one. After the class discussion regarding how men with depression only seek help when they are near suicide, I think we need more African American in these positions. If it became the norm to talk about our feelings with others in the community I think it can help a lot of people.

We also discussed in class the many reasons why black man might be so closed-off. The one explanation I found interesting was in regards to women raising young black men with the absence of a father. I believe that absence is the answer to so many of the problems black men face and they are not the only one. Women also suffer later in life when seeking love from absent father role.

For men, growing up with a single mother can be tough. Society already expects them to act like the man of the house and protect those under them but the problem lies in that they don’t have a place to go when they need it the most. There are a lot of things a single mother can teach a young man but men need an example that they can relate to and that’s something I don’t believe a single mother can provide. I have all the respect in the world for single mothers doing everything on their own but I can’t help but think that the absence of dominate male lead is the reason for so many problems.

“Self in community: African American women’s views of self-esteem”. 

The two components of self-esteem for black women are need for Self- Reliance and need for social support. The article states that self –reliance can be found from church and the family. It gives women the sense of independence and strength. Self-reliance is also important because it gives them a sense of self-worth and not depending on others for their happiness.  Social support comes from the people that instill in us our values at a young age. They include the family but also out neighborhood and community.

Found: 85, 000 Black gay households. Essay by Alain Dang & Somjen Grazer.

 Contrary to what many might want to believe heterosexual and black same-sex couples have a lot in common. The one I found interesting was that black female same-sex couples are raising non-biological children at the same rate as black married opposite-sex couple. This is a sensitive topic in that many Americans don’t believe same-sex couples should even be allowed to adopt.14% might seem like a low number but considering the struggle and other consideration that a same-sex couple would go through in the process of adoption I find 14% high. An adoption process takes time and money for opposite-sex couples so I could only imagine the harsh screening process same-sex couples go through.

Pitts, L (1998) The choice to be gay    AND Watson, J (2004). Strange Bedfellows

From the movie we watched, A different Type of Black Man I believe that being gay is not a choice. There was a man on the video that said if he could take a pill to be normal he would and that lets us know that it’s not a choice. Most of the men realized at a young age they are different and they did everything in their power to blind till they finally accepted who they are. As a Christian I do believe in the Bible and everything it stands for but I am not going to judge someone using the Bible.  We had a great discussion in class where a student stated that people take the Bible and only interpret in a way that fits their lifestyle and what they are doing right while ignoring their wrong doing. I think if someone is going to use the Bible to put down a community they should first fallow and uphold every bit of the Bible in our own life.

Understanding the marginalization of gay and gender non-conforming black male students.

The best way to combat homophobia in the Black community is to address it head on. I think we have been better about acceptance but having a conversation and understanding each other will be the best way. If we as a community are open-minded then it becomes easy to teach college students to be accepting. College campuses can have a panel of students talking about their own life experience will help others understand.

At least I’m not gay: Heterosexual identity-making among poor teens. 

This article makes coming out for African American gay and lesbian teens extremely difficult. It’s bad enough that they to deal with the stigma associated with the community. Recently there has been a trend of teen suicide due to not being accepted by peers or loved ones and the ones on the news are those of white teens and with the lack of black psychologist available for Black children it has to be difficult regardless of what quadrant they may fall.

Homophobia Quiz

I was just shocked by some of the questions on this quiz. The fact that they have to ask if it was okay that homosexual people work with children was just absurd. Children I feel like are the most open-minded, non-judgmental humans and to ask if it’s okay that a gay man/woman work with them is just crazy.

Love and Manhood

New York Times

I don’t believe it should be a concern to be 30 and never been married but a concern that she can’t seem to find a man that’s her equal. I feel like marriage is pressed against women in general but the focus seem to be more on women than men on why they are single. I found the fact that 73.1 percent of black men between the ages of 25 and 29 have never been married to be shocking. Like we discussed in class African American women are getting married as they get older and older so the age cap at 29 might not be as telling. The author also mentions interracial dating as a solution but when white men are not ‘choosing’ to be with a black women as she states in the article, it can be hard.

From the Bethea article, “African-American Women and the Male-Female Relationship Dilemma: A Counseling Perspective”:   

I think stereotypes have kept Black men and women apart and therefore the Black family is becoming uncommon. I think the negative view of both sex have been detrimental to the Black Family. From previous articles we have read we learned how black men used to cherish their families with the highest standard but in recent times it seems like a family is the last thing on a men’s mind. The sad part to me is that it’s not only society that’s filled with this view but we also use it against one another within the community. I hear so many of my friends say they don’t date African American women based on things they see in Bad Girls Club or Love and Hip Hop. I think the media is the biggest obstacle in reaching a high, successful marriage within the  African American community. This is true especially to the younger generation where most of the TV they watch is filled with “reality shows” and not really seeing a functional black family on TV if they dont have a role model at home.   

Issues and Approaches

Open communication: I think communication is important in all aspect of life and the article mentions that problems are never resolved because of broken communication. I think if there was an open environment where people’s true intentions were heard and understood, it would solve a lot of our day to day problems.

Stereotypes: we all have a reason we hold certain stereotypes to be true and so having a better understanding of where these view black women hold in regards to men are rooted from can help break barriers between black men and women.

Loss: I personally think that a personal loss can guide or misguide us and our view and take on the world. Loss is something thats hard to discuss so having a better method of dealing with loss and grief can be extremely beneficial.

  

 Being a man about it: Manhood meaning among African American men.

 Defining Manhood-

·         An interconnected state of being

·         A fluid process

·         Redemptive process

·         Proactive course

I was not surprised that Responsibility – Accountability was top ranked. I

believe that these are important to every man.  I just don’t think men voice them like

women do.

**Steve Harveys take on current state of Young Black Men

Relationship & Class

             

Living in a class apart

Living in a class apart discusses how there is a divide or subgroup within the African American. Those that were privileged enough to grow up in elite communities and those they looked down on. In our class discussion a point was raised in regards to African Americans not looking out for their counterparts, while other cultures seem to stay as a collectivist society. I think this has a lot to do with our mindset of “me against the world”. In this economy everyone is doing their best to stay stable but if you have more, than you should WANT to help others in the community. I don’t think it’s a requirement or a burden but I think unity is something the African American community is missing.

What’s love got to do with it?: Disparity between black men and women

The article covers the basis in why women are advancing further. The only thing I could add would be that women tend to mature faster than men. By the time women reach high school they practically have planned their future while men still struggle trying to find their identity. This point is true for every group not just African Americans but with so much uncertainty and circumstances it’s the only explanation I have besides ones already stated in the article.

“Successful women who are childless”

29% of African American women between 28-55 years old and earning over $55,000 a year are married. When Cornel West entered Harvard in 1970 the ratio of black men to black women was close to even. Today, the ratio is close to 9-1 female.

 

Franklins article African American Families depicts a completely different view on the African American family. It tells stories of men going the extra length to be with their wife if they were allowed to marry and their children. Which is something  to take pride in but also we need that mindset in our society.

    

From the article by Eckholm, E. (2006), “Studies sound alarm on plight of black males”

*Black men are becoming far more disconnected from mainstream society, and to far greater than comparable white or Hispanic men. Finishing high school has become the exception, legal work is scarcer than ever and prison is sadly become a routine.

The high rate of incarceration and attendant flood of former offenders into neighborhood have become major impediments. Second factor will be strict enforcement of child support. Improved collection of money from absent fathers has been a pillar of welfare overhaul.

“Bring me home a black girl” 

Increasing number of interracial union is leading to "Annihilation through integration” a weakening of the culture and economic resources of the black community. McLarin article tells a different story In that an African American woman is pursuing a relationship outside her race and so it opens new potential relationships. Although it did not work out for her it could possibly increase the marriageability index. When I hear about interracial relationships it’s always seems like it’s about a black man and a white woman so it’s a great view point when it’s reversed and there is a culture conflict that a black man might not address.

The Seven Principles

PART 1

Early Days and Slavery(1400’s-1865)

1773---The first book by an African American is published (in England) when Phillis Wheatley, then a slave, publishes "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral."

After years of prohibition against African Americans getting the right to read and write this year signifies an educational opportunity.

1787 Free blacks in New York City found the African Free School, where future leaders Henry Highland Garnett and Alexander Crummell are educated.

I think this opened up an opportunity to self-educate and help one another.

Building Democracy (1866-1953)

1866-The white supremacist organization known as the Ku Klux Klan is founded in Tennessee.

This was time where open violence and racism were accepted within society.

1890-Mississippi enacts a poll tax, which most African Americans cannot afford to pay, to try to keep blacks from voting.

With the current political debates and low voting this is still relevant.

Civil Rights Era (1954-1971)

1957 Althea Gibson becomes the first African American tennis player to win a major title by winning both the women's singles and doubles championships at Wimbledon.

One of the ways the black family has been able to be successful is to pursuit other ventures besides education and this in particular opportunity shows a positive image to the public.

1968 Martin Luther King, Jr., is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. His murder sparks a week of rioting across the country.

As a well-respected civil rights leader, the assassination of Martin Luther King,Jr I think started a division and tension for the African American community with others.

Modern Times(1972-Present)

1991 Black Entertainment Television (BET) Holdings, Inc., founded by Robert L. Johnson, becomes the first African American company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

BET is house hold name in my family and in many Africa American household, It has tremendous influence on young children and how they view and differentiate themselves in community. I also believe BET gives the black community a sense of pride and ownership.

2002 Halle Berry becomes the first African American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress, for her performance in Monster's Ball

I can personally remember this moment and I think it’s significant not just for African Americans but as an industry. Halle Berry is one of the most well-known and recognized positive image in entertainment. I think these also inspired little girls that they are not limited in what they can achieve in the entertainment world.

PART 2

EVENT 1773---The first book by an African American is published (in England) when Phillis Wheatley, then a slave, publishes "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral."

After years of prohibition against African Americans getting the right to read and write this year signifies an educational opportunity. Now not only can blacks read but they can relate to the content beyond just the words. The opportunities for black families to excel scholastically and to provide future generation a work that can never be taken away. With so much oppression this is something to be proud of and even pass down.

Nguzo Saba: 1) Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. Also, descried as speaking our personal truth and with something as personal as writing poems I thing this event is great reflection.2) Kuumba (creativity)  To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial that we inherited it.

1787 Free blacks in New York City found the African Free School, where future leaders Henry Highland Garnett and Alexander Crummell are educated.

I think lack education or quality is something that still affects the African American family but not all. Similar to 1773 this educational opportunity significant in that it shows willingness and ability that’s at core of everyone. This was a school found for and by and so the significant is huge in giving African American Families track to education.

Nguzo Saba:1) Ujima( Collective work and responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our sisters and brothers problems  our problems and to solve them together.2) Nia (purpose)- to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness

1866-The white supremacist organization known as the Ku Klux Klan is founded in Tennessee.

The display of racism exhibited by the KKK I believe is damaging to the African American families. I think it effects self-esteem and brings self-doubt to individuals. The public display of open violence I think is still prevalent. This was time where the black community had to look out for one another like never before.

Nguzo Saba: 1) Umoja(unity) to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, notion, and race.2) Ujima( Collective work and responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our sisters and brothers problems  our problems and to solve them together.

1890-Mississippi enacts a poll tax, which most African Americans cannot afford to pay, to try to keep blacks from voting.

With such low voting turn out among African Americans, this poll tax might have stopped a tradition of caring about politics or just being involved in politics election after election. Poll tax became a barrier for African Americans to care about politics, they would have to go the extra mile to get involved and I don’t think with the turmoil in politics at the time they has a fair chance for generations to come.

Nguzo Saba:1) Nia (purpose)- to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.2) Ujamaa)cooperative Economics) to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

PART 3

Ujamaa(Cooperative Economics) is one of the seven principle I found evident in both Dynamic Duo and Harvey articles. Dynamic Duo talks about how they as a couple want to help revive the black community. They are in a position where they can influence others and it seem like they take their role seriously. Harvey states his intentions are to create a collective effort within the African American culture.

Is Race For Real?

While sorting the race activity, I found myself categorization people based on characteristics that tend to be stereotypes. I though the activity would be fairly easy and was confident when I submitted my answers. I thought that I most likely got all but maybe one or two wrong. To my surprise I only got five correct and the ones I did get right were not the ones I thought were “obvious" but once i guessed. This exercise showed me that there is a difference in what the people consider themselves as and how the U.S. classified race. There were people who identified themselves as mixed but based on the stereotype characteristics they were labeled Asian.

Reviewing the facts under “Is Race Real”, I found all of the facts new and interesting. The three that stood out to me the most include; race is modern idea, skin color is only skin deep, and colorblindness will not end racism. Under race is a modern idea, it goes over the fact that ancient societies didn’t classify people under physical difference but based on religion, status and class. This was a surprise because watching Ethnic Notion; I assumed that stereotypes of African Americans were based mainly on their appearance. Under skin color is only skin deep it goes over how independently skin is from other physical appearances like hair for example. I just always though they kind of went hand in hand and lastly, I always thought if we as people were colorblind then most of society’s problems dealing with race would be solved so I was surprised to find the opposite true.

I personally believe that race would not be an issue if we could in fact be open and discuss it based on facts.  The excerpt from The Common Elements of Oppression states how we need to teach in our schools about black history like we do ‘American History’ instead of delegating a month to it. Also, American History should include how whites became whites and not the watered down version we get in middle school.

Peggy lists what she considered her ‘White Privileges’ and while I thought about mine, it was hard to come up with seven but here are the ones that came to mind.

• Education
• Health
• Name
• Religion
• Family
• Female
• Heterosexual

Most of them seem self-explanatory but the one I wanted to explain would be my name. As a business student the first thing listed on my resume is my name. Employers try to find small things to distinguish from the hundreds of resumes they receive and students the meet, some positive and some negative, so having a somewhat unique name has been a privilege.

Blog #1 A New Civil Rights Movement & Newt Gingrich Video

I was shocked by some of the statistics Bob Herbert mentions in A New Civil Rights Movement. The one that I went over the most was in regards to the HIV and AIDS infection among African Americans, especially women. The disproportion regarding new cases and women was extremely shocking. It was amazing to read how such a small percentage could contribute to a large number overall. The article was written in 2005 but if someone was to tell me this was statistic as recent as last year, I would sadly believe it. I believe Herbert wrote the article to start conversation like the one that took place in class rather than blame or attack. I agree with him when he stated that there needs to be a dramatic and powerful movement enable for change to take place but realistically, I don’t see such thing taking place anytime soon. The reason I am pessimistic about such a change is due to views like Presidential Hopeful, Newt Gingrich. Gingrich’s comments in regards to African American was wrong but after watching some of the Republican debate there are many Americans who believe such comments are warranted and acceptable, demonstrated by the loud applause his excuses get at debates. Gingrich also mentions wanting to go to the NAACP to speak about “pay checks “and not food stamps but he forgets to mention the fact that he was invited to speak several times when he served as speaker but declined.