[Honeykiss1974]

I agree with Lovehaiku84 on many fronts - its a very complex and multi-faceted issue.

I do know that education is key to rising up out of poverty, so therefore we need to remove this twisted idea that "going to school (education) is for white folks". We need to let kids know that the key to ending poverty is not with a basketball, but with a book (statistically speaking).

We need to let parents know that they need to be involved with the school and their kids education as much as they can - even if its phone call once a week to their child's counselor to see how they're doing (because I know some parents work one/two jobs).

Our churches need to become active again in our communities, showing Christ in action. If the local school is either too dangerous (larger cities) or if they feel that they just don't care about black students (smaller cities) then start your own neighborhood school - I've seen it done right here in my city. White people homeschool their kids all the time, so why can't we (via the church)?

In one of the poorer neightborhoods here, a lady noticed that black students were getting expelled from school at higher rates than whites. Once expelled, these students were just left to hang out at home or in the streets until the next school year, where they would be so behind in the coursework, they would more than likely repeat the grade. So she started a "homeschool" out of the basement of the church. It's about 10 years later and her "school" is so popular that parents WANT to send their kids there. This lady was no one rich or famous - just a retired teacher that saw a problem and did what she could.

The education issue is a universal problem - from the large urban ghettos all the way to the poor small towns. Somehow, we've got to instill in our kids that they can make it through school and even onto college or technical school. That type of life isn't just for certain people, but you too.