The joy that we feel since the election of President-elect Obama has spawned many to re-evaluate many things. We can no longer use the lame excuses we once used to genuinely put forth the effort to make whole-scale changes in everything we do. From family and friends to education and business, it is time that we stand up and say, 'This is not good enough'. We have shortchanged our children by not providing the guidance that they need. Too many of our children are choosing not to rise, copping out by not applying themselves in school, joining gangs that destroy our neighborhoods, disrespecting our elders and walking the street using language that could curdle milk. As parents, we must realize that we are NOT our child's friends, we are their parents. That means that we need to reevaluate our roles and responsibilities. we need to make, and take, time for our children. we need to listen to their concerns, feel their pain and provide the comfort and support that they need so that they have no need or reason to look outside the family where they can wind up in jail, or worse. We must reclaim our legacies.
Our teachers simply need to be better educators. When will we realize that what works for a few doesn't work for all. Most tend to rely on what they were taught after they have finished their schooling. As educators, we should be proponents of lifelong learning. That being the case, then we, as practitioners, we need to practice what we preach by seeking out pedagogy that doesn't follow the path commonly used. If that means creating new ways of knowing and doing, then that is what we need to do to help our children have the success that inspires the drive towards excellence. We should dialogue with our colleagues where the goal isn't proficiency but accomplished. Our HBCUs were established to train teachers for the vast number of children entering the educational system, we now must now step up our game and expect more of them as well as our teacher educators.
With the recent debacle on Wall Street which was caused by pure greed, we need to support our black-owned businesses which will help us keep our money in our neighborhoods. Now I am not saying that we should stop supporting other businesses, but we should look at duplication of services. Our businesses are as, if not better, qualified to provide the same services that their competitors provide.
I am, by no means, a proponent of separate but equal. That is just a continuation of the 'good ol' boy' network that we have been fighting for so long. We must come together and find ways where it will work for everyone, not just a privileged few.
Racism still exists, unfortunately. But, thankfully, their numbers are decreasing. We must keep fighting the good fight because our children will be the beneficiaries of our struggle. Aren't they worth the effort?
Posted By: George Milliken
Saturday, November 8th 2008 at 4:06PM
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