Educating Black Boys
Join DocumentaryStorm, Tony Harris, and Al Jazeera as we go into Baltimore, into the inner city, into the classrooms, and into the head of black boys of America.
The education system is failing black Americans. Why? You’ll be fascinated by what you see. Baltimore is known as “Charm City” for the waterfront. But that’s about as charming as the city gets. Venture further on land and it’s a violent place that calls to mind the brilliant TV show “The Wire,” which was set in Baltimore.
Baltimore is also home to Harris and he takes us on an up-close and personal journey to his old neighborhood to witness the challenges facing black youth today as they struggle to get out of the dead-end of life on inner-city streets.
The crime is disproportionately black Americans in Baltimore. Why did Harris make it out ‘successfully,’ while many friends weren’t as lucky? He looks at this, too. Enjoy!
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I expected something less mindlessly politically correct from Aljazeera. I work in a low income school area and the problem is not racism. Teachers do not go into inner cities to work with black youth because they are racist. This sort of apologetic argument has been droning on since the 60s and yet it has changed nothing. Asians dealt with as much racism as blacks early on and yet they managed to bootstrap themselves out and now make as much money as whites on average. Why? Because they did not accept this culture of violence and ignorance that infects poverty stricken populations in America. The black population (particularly black men), on the other hand, has embraced it so fully that it’s hard to separate traditional black culture from the vile urban crime culture and some people don’t even know the difference. It is this culture that is the problem and it is the black population that needs to reject it. All these apologetic arguments do is make an excuse for putting off that rejection and thus prolonging the very pattern it rails against.
That being said, the racism in criminal justice is real and cops, unlike teachers, do share a culture of racism. I know because many of my friends were cops. They are no longer my friends because I saw them call black school children n*****s. In large part the Black population is incarcerated for providing vice, such as drugs, to the white population. Whites get high and Blacks do the time. The result is almost a rebirth of the slave system within the penal system.
Wow, I am impressed with you insight.
well a children doesn’t bron as a racist but hwen he/she starts to grow up they started to know about the word…i think we should al together reject the word racism but beforehand the people who are calling themselves as sufferer needs to accept themselves who they are and keep continuing on their life. Those who are continuingly doing such act then just leave them alone and see how they ruin themselves by false pride and jealousy.
As an Asian individual, I think you missed one point when you compared Blacks to Asian Americans. By the time when Asians came in in late 19th century and early 20th century, the blacks had been under slavery for more than a century. Yes, they went through same severe racism, but Asians were starting their life fresh new, while Black community was severely damaged by the legacy of slavery and indentured servitude after they got freedom. And majority of Asian Americans you see now are from mid-1970s to 1990s by their choice; most of them had family who already settled down in the U.S. or had money to start small business here. Even the corner store owners you see got the highest education in their countries at that time. So, the start of Asians and Africans (most of them were forced to move to this land, by the way) were definitely different. I really don’t like when people compare other racial minorities to Asian Americans without enough understanding, really. They did not start from the same line chronologically, and even the earliest immigrants from Asia had a different start psychologically.
If they had the choice the get an education regardless of their background but refuse then it’s their own fault stop feeling sympathy for them get of the political correctness high horse and worry about your own business.
There is nothing wrong with a parent who gives there kid the belt for doing something wrong at least they try to do something about it before their kid ends up selling drugs or stealing of hardworking people, If every parent had taught their child that it is wrong to disrespect people, steal or take drugs then we wouldn’t have this problem today with the teenagers on our streets thinking they can do whatever they want and no one will do anything about it.
why am I not surprised, rap and hip hop blame your problems on that garbage.
Interesting documentary even if it is, IMO, slanted.
As a social worker I question the continued “pontifications” of racism particularly when they come from a community that is dominantly minority. Where I have worked in Detroit the court is administrated by a majority of minorities (black) as is the Detroit Public School System. Yet, the rate of illiteracy is astonishing as highlighted by a short snippet in this video.
Disconnected families is a major concern and it is up to the black community to address this. Children have a mother and father and both must be involved and must also be reasonably decent citizens – not engaging in things that could get them arrested and taken away from the Children who need them. This problem will not nor cannot be addressed and helped by any group outside the black community. Crime, deviance, violence, gangs and so on must be addressed by the black community and done so with a clear understand that “yes” racism exist and many people do not wish to have contact with the black community, yet, if the black community allows; “crime, deviance, violence and gangs” to be seen as a “part” of the community they allow such things to become a “part” of the so called “culture” regardless if the majority of blacks accept them as the “norm” as most don’t.
Not a single licensed educator in America wishes for the children they educate to be sub-standard. But when the child arrives in school emotionally unprepared (accepting of violence as a means to solve a “problem”), physically unprepared (hungry, lacking proper dress or materials) and socially unprepared (unable or willing to buy into accepted means of success; education, responsibility and so on) that educator is not able, no matter how wonderful they maybe, to “educate”. They are simply “warehousing” and “babysitting” children and to what end?
The recent George Zimmerman case in Florida is an amazing highlight of this problem. Forget for a second any bias or opinion you may have and just ask one simple question. How might have life been different for Trayvon Martin had he not been suspended from school for drugs, suspected stolen property and a so called “burglary” tool? What would the outcome have been if someone – anyone – had picked up on young Trayvon’s twitter / facebook pontifications on his love of “weed” and “alcohol” (lean)? What could have occurred if someone had noticed his messages on how he liked to “fight” and wanted to purchase a “gun”? Although we know the outcome and can dispute the “case” with regards to Mr. Zimmerman, the reality is that had anyone noticed and interceded in the behavior than it is possible Mr. Martin would not have been suspended from school and would have therefore not even physically been in Sanford. Why argue the “outcome” without looking at and asking why the “symptoms” were not addressed by those in responsible positions to begin with? Consider that while “racism” is a reality it is also used as a “sword” to address perceived grievances even when there is a better explanation. Think about Mr. Martin again for a second and consider that when he was “suspended” and “caught” with the aforementioned items the Miami Public School Police Department did not turn these items over to the local police nor did they contact the police about them. Had they done this is it not possible that Mr. Martin would have been placed in custody and again not in Sanford? Is it not possible that had they done this the family would have been placed on actual and constructive notice that young Trayvon was involved in things that could only lead to a poor outcome. So why did they not do this? Because in an effort to minimize the rate of “delinquency” they (MPSPD) followed a policy to “divert” youth. The problem is this “diversion” allows for such actions to continue and in the case of Mr. Martin placed in in Sanford on that faithful night all while his parents were unaware of his behavior.
The trouble here is that while racism is real it does not explain the disproportionate failure in education and socio-economic attainment that are most prevalent in minority – majority urban centers. When the head of the school system, head of the courts, head of the police and majority of political leaders are minorities (like in Baltimore and Detroit where I can speak from my experiences) “racism” rings hallow. The “community” ought not look to the “bogeyman” outside and point fingers but ought to look at the “boogeyman” in charge and ask why things have declined under there leadership.
I doubt we will have this “honest” conversation in America and I doubt that any politician will express these things. If they are black they will be called an “uncle Tom” and given the “Clarence Thomas” treatment. If they are white they will be called a “racist”. The problem is it is not only the truth but is supported by the statistical evidence presented by both the DOE (ref. education) and FBI (ref. crime). Ignoring the forest because of all the trees does not change the “forest”.
bullshit.
when r u blacks going stop making excuses .
all kids get a great education in the uk,
with the same underachievement,,and drop out rates
amongst blacks .
which lead to prison and crime,
yea im a hater,,that’s what happens when u get robed
n bullied ,,by blacks .
go back to Africa,,,,,,,,, the spears the grass skirts.
you don’t need an education there .
or take any responsibility for your kids…….dads !!!
Bob, thanks for the educated insight and near poetic grammar,have you tried the young UKIP party for like-minded people like yourself !
There is more money pumped in to education per child than at any time in our history so the question that need to be asked is why the black youth (in particular) still fail to take advantage. Its not entirely a colour/culture issue (white youth also rob, steal, sell drugs etc) its also a socio economic one. It is clear that those from poor and broken households still tend to think robbing, stealing, selling drugs etc are valid options despite knowing all too well it does not and will not pay. Stealing to stay alive I can understand but not may are so poor that they cant eat or stay warm. Education education and more education coupled with a mindset shift in the black mail is the best hope otherwise the system or the machine will continue to do what needs to be done. If you choose not to accept or value education, sell drugs, rob people, steal and so on do you then have a right to moan about the lack of progress you make??