[Marie]

First, in regards to the question of hope in the black community: I think that what RBL might mean is that many poor African Americans do not see life in "mainstream society" (i.e. a college education, house in the burbs w/white picket fence, 2.5 kids and a station wagon) as a reality for them. I don't think that they have hope for obtaining many of the specific goals that my be an expectation for middle or upper class families. Here's an example: I just graduated from school in a college town that has a very poor African American community. One of the organizations that I was in while a student was geared towards motivating African American high school students to attend college. We found that although this town has the university name plastered all over it and although the university's culture is ingrained in almost every aspect of this community, many of the African American high school students never considered going to college before. When we asked them why they didn't plan on attending college they said things like, "I didn't think that I could afford it" "No one in my family ever went to college before" "None of my friends have gone to college" "My counselors haven't told me ANYTHING about my options or how to apply". Now I'm not saying that they have no hope for a happy life, but in regards to attanding college they truly didn't believe that it was a possibility for them. I think that this is the sort of hopelessness that RBL is referring to.

Second, I do see a lot of truth in Bill Cosby's message in as much as poor grammar and misplaced priorities will not elevate you from your current position (unless of course you're a rapper). However, I feel that Bill Cosby is implying that the lower class of America realize that their priorities are out of wack and that their grammar is a mess, but yet they choose not to make a change. I just don't buy that. It seems to me that if everyone around you values expensive gym shoes and uses slang, then you might not know that this is not the way that life should be. I agree with the people who stated the value of positive role models in the community. If kids never see what is right, then how would they know or have the desire to break free of the patterns that are all around them? I know that many people spoke about how well they were raised in spite of their poor upbringing. I can feel them b/c my mom and her siblings we raised well inspite of their poor environment too. However, after working w/my mom (a teacher) in the public school system, I can say that this is not really a reality for the majority of the kids. Many do have parents who are concerned and are instilling proper values, but many many more do not. So these kids need to see that there is a different way of life than the one that they have been shown.

Lastly, it seems to me that poor people have the greatest odds to overcome in breaking free from their current state, yet they have the least resources and support to do so. So why is it surprising that this community is struggling? It is most definitely a grass roots effort b/c it involves not just providing financial assistance, but really working one on one to change their state of mind.

Marie