Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - What is holding Black America back, if not Hip Hop?

yournamehere · 08-12-2003, 02:05 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Darkblack
Did you go to an inner city school which had low test scores which lowers the amount of cash the school had to hire quality teachers and provide antiquate materials for learning?/QUOTE]

No - I can't say that I did. Actually, I went to a very good high school.

But that wasn't relevant - I couldn't afford a 4-year university at the time, so I went to a Community College for the first 2 years - and High School GPA wasn't an issue. My admittance to the University two years later was based on my GPA at the Community College.

I see your point though - I would agree that I probably had a better "education foundation" on which to build than someone from an inner-city school. There was no "catching up " to do - but if there were, it wouldn't have affected the outcome, only the timetable.

But I will still assert that the opportunities are out there for anyone with the will and commitment to succeed. Sure - it'll be easier for some than others, but the opportunities are there.

BTW - when I wrote about "it doesn't really matter how hard opportunity knocks if you don't plan on opening the door, does it?", I meant that to include everyone. I didn't mean for anyone to infer that I was speaking only about blacks.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Darkblack
Remember that the parents of today’s young blacks were children of parents that were segregated and discriminated against. The structure of the black family is still being built and without help it will take these families a few generations to build a stable environment to pass down to their children. Without proper parenting and education how can you expect someone to notice an opportunity?/QUOTE]

I'm sorry - but I'm not buying that - Three generations down and a few more to go? How many generations is enough? The life my grandparents led had very little effect on my life. The effect their parents' lives had on my life is absolutely zero.

And nobody should have to learn to "notice" an opportunity - they're a product of the choices we make in life, and they exist every day. I'ved personally watched many slip away because of the bad choices I've made over my lifetime.

As a culture, perhaps we change too slowly, but as individuals, we all have the capacity to change at a pace we choose.

08-12-2003, 02:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Darkblack Did you go to an inner city school which had low test scores which lowers the amount of cash the school had to hire quality teachers and provide antiquate materials for learning?/QUOTE] No - I can't say that I did. Actually, I went to a very good high school. But that wasn't relevant - I couldn't afford a 4-year university at the time, so I went to a Community College for the first 2 years - and High School GPA wasn't an issue. My admittance to the University two years later was based on my GPA at the Community College. I see your point though - I would agree that I probably had a better "education foundation" on which to build than someone from an inner-city school. There was no "catching up " to do - but if there were, it wouldn't have affected the outcome, only the timetable. But I will still assert that the opportunities are out there for anyone with the will and commitment to succeed. Sure - it'll be easier for some than others, but the opportunities are there. BTW - when I wrote about "<i>it doesn't really matter how hard opportunity knocks if you don't plan on opening the door, does it?"</i>, I meant that to include <i>everyone</i>. I didn't mean for anyone to infer that I was speaking only about blacks. [QUOTE]Originally posted by Darkblack Remember that the parents of today’s young blacks were children of parents that were segregated and discriminated against. The structure of the black family is still being built and without help it will take these families a few generations to build a stable environment to pass down to their children. Without proper parenting and education how can you expect someone to notice an opportunity?/QUOTE] I'm sorry - but I'm not buying that - Three generations down and a few more to go? How many generations is enough? The life my grandparents led had very little effect on my life. The effect <i>their</i> parents' lives had on my life is absolutely zero. And nobody should have to learn to "notice" an opportunity - they're a product of the choices we make in life, and they exist every day. I'ved personally watched many slip away because of the bad choices I've made over my lifetime. As a culture, perhaps we change too slowly, but <i>as individuals</i>, we all have the capacity to change at a pace we choose. __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.