In spite of a growing black underclass of low- and non-achieving members in our communities, there are African Americans who are working relentlessly to give back to their communities through various programs design to shorten the gap that exist between achievers and nonachievers. Here is what three African Americans are doing to improve the academic performance of underprivileged black students.
Marva N. Collins? Perhaps the name might ring a bell if I input a tidbit of the celebrated educator claim to fame: Back in 1982, there was a movie which chronicled her life and work as a premier educator in the Chicago Public School System. The movie was called, "The Marva Collin Story" which further established her celebrity status as a premier educator. The Alabama-born educator who, after graduating from Clark College (now called Clark Atlanta University), returned to her hometown (Atmore) where she taught for two years before continuing her teaching career in Chicago. Yet, after only ten years in the system, she became very frustrated with the administration and resigned; consequently, taking the accrued pension of her retirement ($5000) and starting her Westside Preparatory Academy. Her students have done extremely well under her tutelage; and some of them have gone on to graduate from top Ivy-leagued schools. Additionally, the movie was very successful and won a number of Emmy Awards including one for best picture.
Furthermore, it took an additional 16 years from the premier of the movie to being spotlighted by the CBS hourly magazine, 60 minutes, to bring recognition to her school. Yet Marva Collins continued to do what she does best and that is bringing enlightenment and enrichment to young minds.
Next, Dr. Ben Carson is no stranger to Americans. We first met him in his book, "Gifted Hands" in which he revealed how his one-parent upbringing had a tremendous impact on his out-of-control young troubled life. The book was made into a TV movie and showned on Turner Network Television. The movie further garnered for the brilliant neurosurgeon credibility for inspiring and motivating a new generation of black students who wants to follow in the good doctor's footsteps. And Dr. Carson is as relentless in his efforts of making sure that every underprivileged young person have an equal foothold on education.
Thirdly, there is an unsung hero in my adoptive community of Atlanta who should be nominated and voted as the next teacher of the year. She is so exuberance whenever she enters the classroom; I should know because I have had the good fortune of sitting in on one of her classes when she going about her work. Yet she takes her profession seriously by being passionate about imparting her knowledge to her students. I hope that all teachers are as passionate as she in going about their work. If they are, then our schools will indeed be better.
Finally, the aforementioned examples are only a small fraction of what African Americans are doing to shortening the educational gap between achievers and nonachievers. More can be done; more must be done before we will have a level playing field to compete on a national basis. Let's hope that level playing field will be soon. READ FEED BACK
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Saturday, January 29th 2011 at 7:38AM
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