Black = Education-less?

nikki1920 · #1 01-25-2007, 06:28 PM

This is something I see daily in my line of work. When I tell my young moms that:
1. I went to college
2. had a baby my junior year
3. went BACK to college AND worked AND am a single parent

they look at me like I grew two heads. I have a child to take care of, DAMN what anyone else says. If being edcuated (i.e, having a degree) makes me "white", then so be it. *shrug*

I refuse to let some small minded individuals, be they black or white, tell me that I am somehow "selling out" because I have a college education. I look in the mirror everyday and see my beautiful brown skin so how am I denying or ignoring my blackness? My parents sacrificed (out of state tuition, anyone?), my grandparents sacrificed so that I could go to college. Why would I let them down? Why would I let myself down by not getting an education?

Again, GTFOOHWTBS.

lovelyivy84 · #2 01-25-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki1920

This is something I see daily in my line of work. When I tell my young moms that:
1. I went to college
2. had a baby my junior year
3. went BACK to college AND worked AND am a single parent

they look at me like I grew two heads. I have a child to take care of, DAMN what anyone else says. If being edcuated (i.e, having a degree) makes me "white", then so be it. *shrug*

I refuse to let some small minded individuals, be they black or white, tell me that I am somehow "selling out" because I have a college education. I look in the mirror everyday and see my beautiful brown skin so how am I denying or ignoring my blackness? My parents sacrificed (out of state tuition, anyone?), my grandparents sacrificed so that I could go to college. Why would I let them down? Why would I let myself down by not getting an education?

Again, GTFOOHWTBS.

*claps*

I went through this as a teen- people who just couldn't understand my goals and thought it meant I was trying to be white. I was just trying to be employed and not-broke at a later date, lol.

It seems like most succesful African-American (I specify because most of the first-generation West Indian kids I know have NOT gone through this nearly as much, since for most of us we were born in this country with the expectation that we were here to do well and get an education) folks my age have gone through/are STILL going through this kind of thing.

I am so confused as to how it got to this point- it was only 50 years ago that black people had to FIGHT to get any education, FIGHT to be able to vote, and now it seems like the culture is shunning the people who are still fighting to attain those things.

AKA2D '91 · #3 01-25-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki1920

GTFOOHWTBS.

Enough Said!!!

Honeykiss1974 · #4 01-25-2007, 07:02 PM

This mindset (education = selling out or losing touch) is really a combination of a lot of factors - I don't think there is one or two causes, but I do think there are some HUGE influences into this mindset.

One of those influences has to do with the importance of athletics (or a rapper) over education as the only means to be successful or as a way to a better life. It is also these same athletes that are used as "realistic" role models in our community.

Another factor is the fact that unlike our parents time, successful and educated people that look like us primarily do not live in our neighborhoods anymore. So even if you parents did not attend college (or maybe didn't believe in higher education) you were still able to see and interact with those that did.

I think this lack of faces that look like you in addition to only seeing faces that do not look like you does affect you.

SummerChild · #5 01-25-2007, 07:48 PM

Ok, ya'll are getting off the chain with these acronyms.
SC

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki1920

Again, GTFOOHWTBS.

nikki1920 · #6 01-25-2007, 08:00 PM

Sorry... didnt want to type
get the freak out of here with that bull isht....lol..

MzDoctaKay · #7 01-25-2007, 08:19 PM

You know:

I was sitting here thinking about the converse of my situation and I have to admit that it's bad on both sides - just as a soror commented in the Omega Room. You get to a point where you find you're not "accepted" (for the lack of a better term) by either side. I'll never forget when a soror stood up during a forum and asked me, "Who gave you the right to speak on my behalf?" I couldn't understand that type of question, based on the fact I was fighting to get MLK Day observed at our University. Somehow, she felt I was taking away her right to speak because I assumed that all Black people wanted MLK Day off. My reaction? "Wooow"!

So you're right - you will never please everyone. I was perceived by my college peers as too black - and by my militant peers as not black enough.

Why can't I be both? Ya feel me?

I appreciate your responses!

delph998 · #8 01-26-2007, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikki1920

Sorry... didnt want to type
get the freak out of here with that bull isht....lol..

That's what's up! I'll respond to the matter at hand tomorrow when my mind's right.

MzDoctaKay · #9 01-26-2007, 01:03 PM

DST....I sent a message to Doggystyle when I realized what I'd done.....I'm already two steps ahead of you.

mccoyred · #10 01-27-2007, 07:31 PM

This is the same mindset that is causing our children to 'dumb down' in grade school. I always reiterate to my children that good grades and education gives you CHOICES. Many of us just don't get it...

MzDoctaKay · #11 02-02-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccoyred

This is the same mindset that is causing our children to 'dumb down' in grade school. I always reiterate to my children that good grades and education gives you CHOICES. Many of us just don't get it...

I like that. It's all about placing yourself in a position to have CHOICES!

raggann03 · #12 02-06-2007, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccoyred

This is the same mindset that is causing our children to 'dumb down' in grade school. I always reiterate to my children that good grades and education gives you CHOICES. Many of us just don't get it...

This is something I've dealt with personally. I remember "dumbing down" around the 4th grade after I had been told repeatedly by my peers that "I think I know everything", and "you always gotta answer for something". So I shut up, stopped reading those encyclopedia's my mother bought for me and just coasted through school. Even though my parents were educated I placed more value on the messages being sent to me by my peers than them. It took a long time to shake that mentality. In the small town I come from you aren't given options, if you aren't considered smart they don't try to invest anything into you. Many are labeled in grade school and not even given the chance to consider college. I had hoped this mentality was changing