You know the NY Times published tomorrow's stories on its web site around 11 pm at night, right? Well, I got email around 11:45 last night alerting me they're reporting the "digital divide" seems to be taking care of itself.
Then there's this from
Davey D's Hip Hop Political Palace, also received via email this morning. I had to track down the link..
F--k What You Heard About Black Males from the NYTimes-Steal this article!
By Omowale Adewale (formerly L. James)
I heard y'all bombarding my email with the New York Times' article on the plight of the black male and your own analysis and your friend's analysis, and frankly, it bothered me. I'm good though. I'm straight. I just wanted to enter into the discussion.
"Steal this article."
I'd like to say I'm immune to this wave, that it's just the inaccuracy of the statements being made that I'm responding to. But of course I can't. Even as I respond to the article's active assertions I find I have to address what feels like a tacit attack.
Now I'd like to point out the reason Black folks are being painted as incapable.
What's Happening to Boys?
Young Women These Days Are Driven -- but Guys Lack Direction
By Leonard Sax
Friday, March 31, 2006; Page A19
The point of this article is to introduce a national Boy's Project.
Since the late 1970's, young women have soared in college attendance while young men have stagnated. Young men's literacy is declining. Many young men are disengaging from school. Young men are less likely to be valedictorians, to be on the honor roll, and to be active in organizations like student government. Young men are more likely to get D's and F's, to be suspended or expelled from school, to drop out of school, and to commit suicide.
We are losing young boys to a sense of failure that comes from schooling poorly adapted to their needs. We are losing adolescent males to the depression that comes from feeling neither needed nor respected. We are losing young men to life tracks that include neither college nor any other energetic endeavor.
A large, sullen, poorly educated group of men will not keep the nation vital in the twenty-first century. The nation needs the energy, initiative, and ambition of its young men as well as its young women.
"We are losing young boys to a sense of failure that comes from schooling poorly adapted to their needs."
The schools are maladapted. Not the boys. Meanwhile "[t]here's something very different happening with young black men." Shelby Steele is set for a three hour live session on C-Span this weekend, trading on his expertise on denigrating civil rights and Black folks in general (go find the damn link yourself if you want it).
Bullshit. Why is this acceptable for white males and not anyone else? Or did I answer my own question?
Obviously there must be change. If Mr. Sax, Mr. Tierney and Mr. Patterson have their way, that change will be targeted to white male needs. Because Black males have "something different going on," changes as regards us will be intended to make us fit the new mold.
