New Education Study Shows Bleak Picture for Black Boys

Another study was released this month showing that educational achievement for Black males has reached a crisis level and may be worse than previously thought. The report, entitled "A Call for Change: The Social and Educational Factors Contributing to the Outcomes of Black Males in Urban Schools", was funded by The Council Of The Great City Schools. This is yet another report which indicates that the disparities in educational performance cannot simply be blamed on poverty.

From the New York Times:

Poverty alone does not seem to explain the differences: poor white boys do just as well as African-American boys who do not live in poverty, measured by whether they qualify for subsidized school lunches.

Perhaps the toughest finding from the report is the fact that Black male students with no disabilities, are barely even with White male students who are learning disabled. Read more from The Loop21. See a summary of the CGCS report (pdf).See the Full Report.

Hear an in-depth discussion about the findings of the report from NPR.

The CGCS report seems to confirm the Policy Bridge report from a few years ago, which had a similar focus and generally presented many of the same findings. However, I believe the CGCS report may be more extensive. It also echoed information from The Schott Foundation report. So just within the last 3 or 4 years you have 3 major reports on the same issue... from Policy Bridge, the Schott Foundation, and now CGCS which are all generally reporting the same findings. Not to mention all of the other reports and studies over the last decade.

The Black establishment focuses on "The system" and "poverty" as the culprits for these problems, but those arguments can no longer be used as excuses. I have stated here several times that the core problem has to do with culture, as the Policy Bridge Report points out. The problem also lies with parents. I think the Black establishment (Civil Rights Inc. etc) uses these excuses as a way to somehow protect Black culture or Black parenthood. I made my argument in a previous commentary regarding the Black male achievement gap. You can also find links to the Policy Bridge study there as well. So I won't repeat my argument again. But it is clear that the old arguments are not going to cut it anymore.

In terms of conclusions... I was a little disappointed to see that the CGCS report did not seem to focus on the cultural gap. It seemed to tiptoe around that issue... perhaps for the purpose of political correctness...who knows. This is where I think the Policy Bridge study really shined. It came out and addressed the elephant in the room... "culture".... today's "Black/Urban culture" in particular. Instead of focusing on the real causes... the CGCS report simply calls for "a White House Conference", and more studies (although this issue has probably been studied more than anything known to man). We don't need more huge studies or commissions... we need a cultural shift and parents willing to take responsibility for raising and educating their children.

Hear a discussion with Dr. Ron Ferguson of the Achievement Gap Initiative from Harvard University. (From KMOX RAdio in St. Louis)

Hear full discussion.

I am also annoyed by the effort to demonize teachers and use them as scapegoats. The Black establishment, and even "the system" have joined together to focus the blame on teachers. A teacher in California recently took his own life because the test scores for his students were released by a major newspaper (with no context whatsoever). The newspaper report (which I will not link...nor will I provide clicks for the newspaper in question) gave the impression that the teacher was not doing the best he could. It turns out...the teacher who killed himself was one of the hardest working and most dedicated instructors in his school and his district. The test score issue is a red herring, used by school administrators (misused) to intimidate teachers. The fact is, standardized test scores are not usually a good reflection of the dedication or quality of a teacher. This is especially the case in urban schools.

Teachers have a hard enough time already. They are undervalued and under-appreciated considering the role they play in society, particularly in shaping America's future. They are underpaid and they often have to work in awful work environments where their safety is in question and where they are not given the support they need from school administrators. It's the same nonsense at every urban school district in the Country (and even in some suburban districts). Sure there are bad teachers...but they don't make up the majority. There are ways to evaluate teachers and get rid of the bad apples (by sending in panels of experienced instructors from other schools to watch the teachers in class and provide objective feedback, and by getting feedback from peers and from students. It should not be done through test scores alone). In the case of the California teacher...he was also dealing with a language barrier...with a significant number of his students having trouble with English or not having English as their first language - yet another variable that is not taken into account.

A great example of the kind of insanity that I am referring to can be seen in the A&E program Tony Danza: Teach. The taping of the program takes place in an urban high school in Philadelphia. Unfortunately this show didn't get renewed for another season...but despite that, it provides insight into what is ailing the American public school system. In episode #7, one of Danza's Black students- Algernon- is given numerous chances to turn in a simple homework assignment, but fails to do the work. Can you guess who the school principal jumped on for that? Yep... the principal took a bite out of Danza's ass for the student not listening and refusing to turn in his homework. The student was coddled. The principal is the typical urban school administrator. This is the kind of nonsense that makes my conservative side kick in.... and it is one of the things that annoys me about liberals... sometimes their way of thinking goes too far to the left with no rhyme or reason. Overall... i'm progressive, but I have a few conservative tendencies. I don't embrace many of the positions on the far left. The proper, logical response from this principal (or any principal) should have been to call the parents in...and sit down together with the student, and the teacher to try to find a solution. This would be an opportunity to give the parents a kick in the ass (encourage them to get more involved... provide them with options...and challenge them). But instead of holding the student and his parents responsible for the students performance...she blames the teacher. INCREDIBLE! If this is going on all over the Country (and I know it is)... then America is screwed if it stays on this path. I know this is one reason why the turnover is so high for urban schools. Good teachers don't want to stick around to deal with that kind of nonsense. They pack up and leave for better suburban schools and private schools, where they get more support from administrators and where the working conditions tend to be better.

Watch The Full Episode:

Philly Police Chief Charles Ramsey Fed Up

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has message for parents after rioting last week involving thousands of youth.

I wish Arne Duncan could be forced to hear Ramsey's Press Conference replayed 1000 times. (would that be enough to deprogram Duncan? Might be considered torture by the Obama Administration....hmmm). But the fact is....Ramsey has it right.

This video features a "community activist" who was critical of Ramsey's comments. There is always a band of these "community activist" apologists in every big city across the Country - Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Baltimore, NYC, Memphis, Oakland, D.C., everywhere... They annoy me to no end. I tried to find an unedited video of his Press Conference...but this was unfortunately the best I could find.

Interesting story about "Acting White"

When I was growing up I had to deal with this Black cultural idiocy and I f***ing hated it. Endured it somehow.... but didn't really see many adults doing anything about the problem at the time (this was the 80's though). But now, a legal case from South Carolina may help encourage a push back (although i'm not that hopeful... because it would require action from Black parents, which isn't very likely. I'll be nice & will just leave it at that).

Another Example of How Black Thug Culture Has Ruined The NBA

We have yet another example of Black thug culture spreading through the sports world like Cancer, killing everything good in the process. NBA Commissioner David Stern has had to take on the role of a Prison Warden over the last several years. Is it any surprise that we hear of more brawls at High School games? The kids are simply following the lead of their thug role models. This behavior has the "cool" seal of approval... The message has been sent that this is how to behave.

UPDATE: Stephen A. Smith's comments back me up for the most part - now I know it's not just me. He spoke on Thursday's Ed Schultz Show

This is why I shun a sport that I used to enjoy. I haven't been a fan of the NBA since Magic/Bird. And I haven't watched a complete game since the mid 1990's. The teams, rivalries and personalities of the 1970's and 80's were the best to me. After that, it was all downhill. I think it had to do with the ridiculous salaries being handed out... especially to guys who aren't even mature men yet. Many of these guys are essentially college drop-outs, thugs and immature playboys. Not all...but the majority. There is really no difference between the common street thug and an NBA thug....the NBA thug simply has more resources to live out that lifestyle and to engage in more thuggish behavior...which is often criminal behavior.

Who in the Hell would want to take their kid to an NBA game now? It's one incident after another, on and off the court. I won't list them all (because the list would be too long). Hell, Stern even had to tell these players to pull their pants up a few years back.... grown men... Black men... had to be told to pull up their pants. This is why the NBA has become a Minstrel Show. It's embarrassing to me.... because I of course share the same skin tone with most of these idiots. I can't stand to even watch a game ...I can't even watch the highlights. I don't even think I could name all the teams in the league at this point.

We are seeing the same thing with the NFL right now.... Black thug culture is now spreading throughout that league....and the process is almost complete. Once the cancer takes hold completely...the NFL may start to die too. College is also starting to deteriorate.

The only sport I enjoy now is MLB.... but it won't be long before the Cancer spreads there as well. But as of right now baseball is still the greatest past time for American families.

There are a few solutions for this problem... but they would never be implemented- such as:

1. Only accepting college graduates. If you didn't graduate, you don't play.
2. Perhaps allowing non-graduates to enter, only after they have played for 3 years in the developmental league and have gone through character-building and have had a chance to be evaluated.
3. Strengthening the code of conduct for players and prospective players on and off the court.
4. Zero tolerance for off court legal problems. One arrest = suspension & fine. Two arrests = Permanent, irrevocable ban from league.
5. Ban on fraternizing with Rap culture characters (no appearances on music videos, CD's or websites) or with folks (other than family members) who are known felons. Breaking of this rule would = permanent ban from league.

But I think Stern is afraid of these people to some extent. He is careful not to seem too aggressive with them... when he probably knows what needs to be done.

Of course Black folks love this buffoonery, at least the masses do. It's welcomed in today's Black culture... should be no secret why I have rejected modern Black culture over the last 20 years...and now have no identification with it whatsoever. But if you're Black, society will still find a way to lump you in with these miscreants... especially when you have Brown Skin and you're male.


--Comments Off--

Black Women and the Race to the Bottom Part III

Thugs and the Black Women Who Love Them - Singer Rihanna Beaten to a Bloody Pulp.

She wanted a thug, but I guess she didn't know that "Thug Luvin'" comes with a price. Will these women ever learn?

See my two previous posts on this subject. Part I and Part II.


Black girl lusts after Thug/Bad Boy -- Thug/Bad Boy beats or mistreats girl -- Wash, rinse, repeat.

How many times have we heard this story? This storyline has become all too common and you would think that it would serve as a lesson and warning to these women. Apparently the R&B singer Rihanna was brutally beaten to a bloody pulp over the weekend in LA. The suspect turned out to be her boyfriend... Hip Hop/R&B performer Chris Brown. From the reports... the injuries to this young woman were "horrific". Her face & head were apparently left swollen and bruised. This is not your ordinary domestic violence case... this woman was damn near beaten to death.

Rihanna suffers from the same disease that so many other young Black women (probably the majority) suffer from - The Bad Boy Disease. You could also call it... "Thug Addiction". But more often than not, the Chickens eventually come home to roost for these women. We are only hearing about this case because Rihanna is a "Star". But this is becoming more and more common, especially in minority communities. And of course they want the world to feel sorry for them. But I have a hard time feeling sorry for women who seek these men out...who lust for the bad boys and the thugs.

Rihanna expresses her love for thugs with her song "There's A Thug In My Life".



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Youtubers Try to Make Sense of "The Race to the Bottom"

1. On Black Women (generally speaking) not being interested in more educated Black men. (Also a part 2 & 3).

2. Why Women choose these men.

3. Why Do Women Want Thugs?

These last two videos are of lesser quality but seem to somehow get to the same point. The language used is not the language that I would use...but this is how these issues are discussed in the so-called "Black Community"....in the barber shops....in the privacy of people's homes, etc. So please forgive the language. (Rated R).

4. A Male asks "Why do Black women (some) lust after thugs"...and he poses the question to a female acquaintance.... where he's actually going with this.. i'm not sure...but he seems to make his point.

5. Even a thug asks... WTF?
The Angry Independent Does Not Support all of the Comments of This Youtuber.


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Here are a few Chris Brown selections: Rapper Ludacris feat. Chris Brown (listen to the lyrics). Video 2, Video 3, Video 4.

No, i'm not into blaming the victim... but these women (in most cases) make a choice to be with these men... despite all the evidence that the bad boy thing is really no good. Some might say that Chris Brown is not a "thug" (that's a common response from Black women/girls... their point of reference on what a good man is tends to be so skewed that they end up with this warped idea of what a decent man looks like. Many don't have a point of reference at all...and so they end up defending these guys, not understanding what they are defending). You don't necessarily need a rap sheet like Charles Manson to be a Bad Boy. I always thought Chris Brown was a thug... no... not hardcore like the worst of what's out there... but if it quacks like a Duck, walks like a Duck, looks like a Duck... then it's probably a Duck. He has all the mannerisms... and keep in mind... he's a 19 year old... he hasn't had much of a chance to get started yet... With young men...you are looking at...how are they treating young women... what lyrics are they using... how do they behave around their mothers and so forth. I saw this young man's behavior around his mother on one TV program... not so good...foul language...threatening behavior, etc...and this was when he was about 17 years old...he exhibited all the behavior of "The Thug". I know a lot of women find that attractive... but how much evidence has to accumulate before it sinks in that this is not the way to go?

I am not a fan of either of these "entertainers". I hate their music...and I don't care for the Hip Hop/R&B genre. I especially hate the Beyonce clones. I usually don't care about what goes on in the Black Hollywood gutter culture of Hip Hop. But this problem of women and thugs, especially Black women and thugs is a social sickness and there seems to be no end in sight for it. My "Black Women and the Race to the Bottom" argument or theory is constantly being proven with one example after another. This is a teachable moment because this singer, Robyn Fenty, is a role model for tens of thousands of young women, young minority women in particular, who emulate her. That includes my 20 year old baby sister. Since this is so high profile... it's a teachable moment that shouldn't go to waste.

The teachable moment could be that lusting for the thugs and the bad boys comes with a price and that price isn't worth it. Another lesson here is that young women shouldn't protect their thug boyfriends by not cooperating with police, or by accepting criminal charges for these men, by covering for the illegal activities of these men, etc... (something all too common for young women in the so-called "Black Community").

If the reports about Rihanna refusing to cooperate with Police & not pressing charges are true, then it's just another example of how these women send the wrong message to the young women (and Black males) who emulate them and look up to them. Luckily in the State of California (if i'm not mistaken) it may not be necessary for the woman...or victim in a domestic violence case such as this (with visible injuries) to file charges. The State can actually become the complainant if the victim refuses to press charges.

And why are these teachable moments always squandered? Why is it that lessons are never learned from these incidents? This is especially true for young Black women. These lessons never seem to work...in fact, the "Black Community" seldom frames these incidents as teachable moments...as examples of what to avoid, who to avoid, what not to do, etc. Why is that?

The message to young Black women...from older Black women should be ... NO it is not o.k. to seek and lust after these men. NO Black women should not desire these men. NO it is not o.k. for Rihanna or any other women to try to cover for their thug boyfriends. NO a man should never hit a woman...this IS NOT o.k. NO Rihanna or any other woman should not protect their thug boyfriends from the law. THIS IS NOT O.K.
NO it is not o.k. for Rihanna or any other young woman to obstruct Police when they are trying to lock these ***holes up. But the message from Black women = **crickets chirping**. Unfortunately, young Black women get the opposite message from the Rihanna's every time something like this happens. And it seems to happen about once a week... either nationally or locally. There is always a story with the same general script.... a script repeated all over the Country. And it's poison for "Black Communities".

So I don't think this particular lesson will be taken to heart by young Black women, because there are so many of these lessons on a regular basis and they never seem to work. It will be another teachable moment wasted in the "Black Community". In fact, there seems to be a strange & almost opposite impact. The worse these men are, the more desired and attractive they become in some cases. I am willing to bet that Chris Brown's career won't suffer all that much from this incident. And I am also willing to bet that BET and the NAACP will find something to honor Chris Brown for post-beating. He'll still be a Black hero. Mark my words. Because this never fails to hold true. His chances for more NAACP recognition just went up.... not down. *Sigh* (Wishing that the Goddamn NAACP would go away as an entity... It has morphed into something that DuBois didn't have in mind).

The issue of the Bad Boy is a problem in all ethnic groups... but it's especially strong with Black women. This problem is one of the primary reasons why I don't identify with modern Black culture and it is why my dating preference tends to be White, Asian women, etc. Of course Black women who prefer these men are not for me... that doesn't leave much left in that dating pool, considering that so many women tend to fit that mold. But the pickings are not much better with White and Asian women... because they tend to prefer White males. Even the decent Black women... those who I would consider... tend to date White men exclusively (I have seen this first-hand at least twice... finding out that the Black women who caught my eye dated White men only). So this largely explains why I have always been single... and will likely continue to be single..and will probably die alone. lol Yippee.... Being a Black man in America is just wonderful. (kill me now please).

I was listening to an interview on Public Radio the other day... I believe it was Tavis Smiley's PRI program... and the topic was the Grammy's. When the discussion turned to the rapper "Little Wayne" (?) you could hear how excited the Black woman being interviewed became (I thought she was having an orgasm). It sounded as if she was talking about the greatest thing in the World.

*Sigh*

Black Women and Thugs Part I (also referred to as "Black Women and the Race to the Bottom").

Black Women and Thugs Part II

I also mentioned this problem just a few months ago.

Additional Blog post on this incident, including injuries.

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UPDATE:

Listen as Black women attempt to make excuses for Chris Brown and attempt to soften his image...while discouraging the victim from pressing criminal charges. This is from NPR's News and Notes program (Feb. 11th).

Pay attention to their talking points...

1. "We don't know what sparked it". (as if that has anything to do with anything..... as if whatever the disagreement was about made it o.k. for a man to hit a woman).

2. Chris Brown is an angel....poor Chris Brown.

3. It could have been Rihanna's fault. Perhaps she was the aggressor. Women can be quite violent.

4. This is not as brutal as it was made out to be. The victim is not THAT hurt.

5. Suggesting that Rihanna shouldn't press charges. (sending the wrong message to young women everywhere).

6. What is Chris Brown's side of the story? It's of the utmost importance that we hear from Chris Brown. (unbelievable).

Listen to discussions between NPR's Allison Samuels, Marvet Britto, and Paris Finner-Williams (a domestic violence specialist.......whatever).

Listen to segment 1

Listen to segment 2


Articles

Huffington Post - Rihanna...Just Say No To Abuse

Huffington Post on Previous Abuse

Commentary from Kevin Powell

Not just a little lovey dovey disagreement
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There will be no comments for this posting. I am tired of defending common sense. I am tired of trying to hold a debate with crazy Black folks on this issue. I am tired of attempting to have a discussion with Black women who defend certain kinds of behavior, a certain lifestyle..certain values... etc. There's just no point in doing that anymore. I'm tired of the nonsense.