Gene Marks of Forbes.com recently posted an article entitled “If I Were A Poor Black Kid”. In the article he dishes out advice on how poor Black children can use much of the free technology around them to aid them in their education.
After reading his take, there wasn’t too much I disagreed with. In fact, there are many successful Blacks I know personally who would tend to agree with what he had to say. But the fact that this “nothing new” commentary is coming from someone who is not Black, that in of itself has quickly become the detraction of choice.
But it wasn’t until I read Devin Coldewey’s response to the article that I began to feel my frustration begin to rise. you can read his piece here. In fact, I would encourage you to read it first. Once you do that, come back here and you can read my response (I posted it as a comment under his post).
“Devin, I do not know where to begin.
As a writer, tech guy, photographer myself, I get so aggravated when I read White “progressive-types” take on the assumption that underprivileged somehow equates to ignorance and sheer stupidity when it comes to technology.
This country is full of people that would be considered “underprivileged” (White, Black, Hispanic, etc.). But the conversation to raise the unwashed masses into our lil’ virtual cloud space in the sky always seem to start with Black folks.
This summer we witnessed first hand how “underprivileged” kids both here and abroad (U.K.) used social networks like Twitter and Facebook to organize and meet at specific times and places–not for learning, but for the destruction of the communities around them. As one who has worked with these types of kids for years, I have seen first hand how they also can easily adapt to technology–WHEN THEY WANT TO. These kids demonstrated that they had the brains and the know-how to embrace technology for useless purposes. But when it comes to education, there are some in the echo chamber of cyberspace who feel that a virtual handicap ramp has to be constructed for those we deem as “underprivileged”.
Urban Prep Academy (Chicago’s all-Black male charter) is made up of nothing but the underprivileged kids you are talking about. Last year, every member of the senior class was accepted into a 4-year college. There are many, MANY examples I can give you.
I do agree with many of your ideas that suggests encouraging teachers and administrations to use some of the many free/cheap options out there as cost-cutting mechanisms. But as you say, this is a very naive way of thinking, especially when you factor in the reality of pensions, union entitlements, etc. that oftentimes come before the kids themselves. Look no further than places like Atlanta, Ga (where I live).
When a kid does not have someone in his/her life encouraging them to push themselves, oftentimes the future of that kid is damned. The problem isn’t that there aren’t enough apps that address the needs of the underprivileged. The problem in most cases is that there is nobody at home to reinforce the labor teachers put in for these kids (sending a text to a parent that does not even care to show up to parent/teacher conferences is useless. The fact that you suggested something like this is very telling). That is the core problem. Most White kids have some type of system beyond school (parents, aunts, uncles and extended family) that will not only encourage them with their words and time, but will also bankroll their secondary education.
While I do believe that there are gaps out there when it comes to various groups embracing technology, too few people are willing to focus on the bridges that being constructed everyday by these so-called underprivileged. Like you, they are deciding to make something of themselves.”
Many of my hard-core Liberal/Progressive friends (when I talk to them face to face) readily agree that minus some exceptions, many of our own Black kids simply do not take advantage of the opportunities around them. But that agreement in most cases is muted when they are online. Suddenly, the conversation turns into “Stop beating up Black kids”. These same people have the first hand experience of working hard, being creative with little, and not expecting the world to always be there to give them a hand out. But somehow, the plight of “those po’ Black kids” should be accompanied with a virtual wheelchair. You busted you behind to get where you are. Why do you expect success to come any easier for them? To them I say “stop using po’ Black kids to perpetuate White guilt.” We can all think of scenarios where our kids are faced against massive impossibilities in their education. But once all the hot air has left the room, I think we can all agree that unless these kids get a stable support system outside of the classroom, they are toast.
The “Poor Black Kid” Makes the Spotlight Again (sigh!)
by Duane on December 14th, 2011 at 9:36 pmGene Marks of Forbes.com recently posted an article entitled “If I Were A Poor Black Kid”. In the article he dishes out advice on how poor Black children can use much of the free technology around them to aid them in their education.
After reading his take, there wasn’t too much I disagreed with. In fact, there are many successful Blacks I know personally who would tend to agree with what he had to say. But the fact that this “nothing new” commentary is coming from someone who is not Black, that in of itself has quickly become the detraction of choice.
But it wasn’t until I read Devin Coldewey’s response to the article that I began to feel my frustration begin to rise. you can read his piece here. In fact, I would encourage you to read it first. Once you do that, come back here and you can read my response (I posted it as a comment under his post).
“Devin, I do not know where to begin.
As a writer, tech guy, photographer myself, I get so aggravated when I read White “progressive-types” take on the assumption that underprivileged somehow equates to ignorance and sheer stupidity when it comes to technology.
This country is full of people that would be considered “underprivileged” (White, Black, Hispanic, etc.). But the conversation to raise the unwashed masses into our lil’ virtual cloud space in the sky always seem to start with Black folks.
This summer we witnessed first hand how “underprivileged” kids both here and abroad (U.K.) used social networks like Twitter and Facebook to organize and meet at specific times and places–not for learning, but for the destruction of the communities around them. As one who has worked with these types of kids for years, I have seen first hand how they also can easily adapt to technology–WHEN THEY WANT TO. These kids demonstrated that they had the brains and the know-how to embrace technology for useless purposes. But when it comes to education, there are some in the echo chamber of cyberspace who feel that a virtual handicap ramp has to be constructed for those we deem as “underprivileged”.
Urban Prep Academy (Chicago’s all-Black male charter) is made up of nothing but the underprivileged kids you are talking about. Last year, every member of the senior class was accepted into a 4-year college. There are many, MANY examples I can give you.
I do agree with many of your ideas that suggests encouraging teachers and administrations to use some of the many free/cheap options out there as cost-cutting mechanisms. But as you say, this is a very naive way of thinking, especially when you factor in the reality of pensions, union entitlements, etc. that oftentimes come before the kids themselves. Look no further than places like Atlanta, Ga (where I live).
When a kid does not have someone in his/her life encouraging them to push themselves, oftentimes the future of that kid is damned. The problem isn’t that there aren’t enough apps that address the needs of the underprivileged. The problem in most cases is that there is nobody at home to reinforce the labor teachers put in for these kids (sending a text to a parent that does not even care to show up to parent/teacher conferences is useless. The fact that you suggested something like this is very telling). That is the core problem. Most White kids have some type of system beyond school (parents, aunts, uncles and extended family) that will not only encourage them with their words and time, but will also bankroll their secondary education.
While I do believe that there are gaps out there when it comes to various groups embracing technology, too few people are willing to focus on the bridges that being constructed everyday by these so-called underprivileged. Like you, they are deciding to make something of themselves.”
Many of my hard-core Liberal/Progressive friends (when I talk to them face to face) readily agree that minus some exceptions, many of our own Black kids simply do not take advantage of the opportunities around them. But that agreement in most cases is muted when they are online. Suddenly, the conversation turns into “Stop beating up Black kids”. These same people have the first hand experience of working hard, being creative with little, and not expecting the world to always be there to give them a hand out. But somehow, the plight of “those po’ Black kids” should be accompanied with a virtual wheelchair. You busted you behind to get where you are. Why do you expect success to come any easier for them? To them I say “stop using po’ Black kids to perpetuate White guilt.” We can all think of scenarios where our kids are faced against massive impossibilities in their education. But once all the hot air has left the room, I think we can all agree that unless these kids get a stable support system outside of the classroom, they are toast.