Bridging the Gap

How many studies does it take to prove there is a crisis?
That is the question some educators are asking as a new study argues that the achievement gap between black male students and their white counterparts in American schools is far worse than anyone thought.
The study, published this week by the Council of the Great City Schools, found black males are twice as likely to drop out of high school than white males, and only 12 percent of them are proficient in reading by the fourth grade, compared with 38 percent of white males.
What's even more disquieting, some educators say, is that this was already known.
"They haven't said anything new," James Comer, a child psychiatry professor at Yale University and founder of the Comer School Development Program in New Haven, Conn., told AOL News today.
Indeed, the report is only the latest in a long line of studies showing that the achievement gap between black and white students has widened in recent years, and that black males are being left behind in America's schools at alarming rates. Frustrated after years of seeing similar data, many say it's time to start applying lessons educators have already learned about how to close the gap.
"There are a number of schools where poor black boys are doing well," Comer said. "That ought to raise the question of, 'What goes on there that's not going on in other places?'"
One well-known example is the Harlem Children's Zone's Promise Academy in New York, a charter school that eliminated the achievement gap between its black students and white students among eighth-graders in math. Comer said plenty of public schools are succeeding as well.
Michael Holzman, a consultant with education research group the Schott Foundation, said educators already know that poor schools are to blame for the gap.
"If we look at schools that are predominately black, and we look at the achievement of white kids who are in those schools, we find that the white kids don't do well either," Holzman told National Public Radio.
But Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, said the country needs a wake-up call about the scope of the crisis.
"We hope that this is a louder and more jolting wake-up call to the nation than this country is used to hearing," he wrote in the study, as noted by The Washington Post. "The fact that previous calls have fallen on so many deaf ears is not encouraging, but we are convinced that we must ring the alarms one more time and play a larger role in setting this situation right."

Others said closing the gap will mean holding society -- not just struggling students -- accountable for success.
"There's accumulating evidence that there are racial differences in what kids experience before the first day of kindergarten," Ronald Ferguson, director of the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard, told The New York Times, which first reported the study this week. "They have to do with a lot of sociological and historical forces. In order to address those, we have to be able to have conversations that people are unwilling to have."
Comer agrees. He said the role of race and racism in education cannot be ignored. Poor black boys, he said, often suffer from low expectations from their teachers and from society.
"The sense of belonging in school is greater among white boys than black boys. The feeling, 'I have a right to be here,' and 'I am valued in school' -- sometimes that's just not there for black students," he said.

-Mara Gay, contributor AOL News

As you can see this a problem that has been around for years. Sadly little is done to fix it. We need to put more value on education. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it now. It’s never ok to be stupid. Until we learn to do this we will forever be one step behind. So read a book, read a book, read a muthfucking book….but you don’t hear me though so whatevea nigga……

Would You Ignorant Niggas Please Shut The Hell Up

 

 

We live in an age where people think its ok to be dumb. Its never ok, NEVER! We seem to forget about the people that suffered before us. We have no respect for history. We are doomed to repeat ourselves. Look at all the trouble in the world, don’t think we haven’t been here before. We spend so much time worried about things that don’t really matter and fail to look at the world as a whole. What makes it worse is that nobody is taking responsibility for their own actions. Its not a conspiracy against you, you’ve had some of the same choices as the rest of the world. The difference is when it came time to take that extra step you decided against it. Stop complaining that the world is always holding you back. Your greatest enemy is yourself. We talk about how the government and the world treats never stopping to think that its our own fault that people see us the way they do. Until we stop letting other people dictate to us what and who we are and learn to be our true individual selves we are forever doomed. But yall ignorant niggas won’t shut the hell up, so whateva nigga…..

Protect & Serve

 

(Oct. 18) -- Authorities in a New York suburb are investigating the death of a Pace University football player fatally shot by police during a brawl outside a bar.
Danroy Henry, 20, a junior at the university's Westchester County campus, was shot early Sunday after he reportedly hit two officers with his car in the suburb of Thornwood, police officials said, according to reports.
Henry, from Easton, Mass., was speeding away from officers who approached him, according to authorities, the Journal News reported. His car had been parked in a fire lane outside the bar where a fight had broken out, and he fled when officers knocked on the window, the paper said.

Two officers shot at him, including one standing in front of the car and another who was hit by Henry's car and clung to the hood when he fired the fatal shot, the paper said. About 150 people, many Pace students, were outside the bar at the time, about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police would not comment on whether the use of deadly force was justified. It was unclear how many shots were fired and why Henry fled.
Mount Pleasant Police Chief Louis Alagno said today that a "thorough investigation" is under way into the events that preceded Henry's death, the New York Daily News reported. The New York State Police major case squad is also helping.
"This is going to be a long, hard investigation and we will be as thorough as possible. We want to identify exactly what happened and why it happened," Alagno said.

Full Article Here

It seems more and more of  these stories are popping up in the news. The people that are supposed to be protecting us from the “bad element” are killing us just as fast as the rest. The real problem is that it seems to be no real consequences for the police officers, even if found guilty of wrongdoing(See “While The World Waited”). Until we start to hold these people truly accountable for their actions things like this will continue to happen. But you don’t hear me though, so whateva nigga…

Lost Message

In an effort to eventually gain more support for this blog and hopefully transition into an internet radio show I decided to change the name. But, after I was reminded of why I started it anyway I have decided against it. I will not dumb down the message I'm trying to send. I will not conform so that I may be accepted by a society that loses its own identity on a daily basis. This blog is here to inspire change in the world as a whole and maybe one day we will realize that aside from small differences we are all the same. But, you don't hear me though, so whateva nigga...

SN: Be sure to check out http://ronijoy.tumblr.com
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

While The World Waited

Tonight the entire country was glued to the television, waiting on one man to decide his career path. Lebron James’ decision to play for the Miami Heat kept most people in front of their TV sets. But while this is going on something more important was happening. If I said the name Oscar Grant most people won’t know who I’m talking about, and honestly I didn’t either until tonight…here is the story

The BART Police shooting of Oscar Grant was a fatal shooting in Oakland, California, United States, in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009.^[1] Responding to reports of a fight on a crowded Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train returning from San Francisco,^[2] BART Police officers detained Oscar Grant and several other passengers on the platform at the Fruitvale BART Station. Officer Johannes Mehserle and another officer were restraining Grant, who was prostrate and allegedly resisting arrest.^[3][4][5] Officer Mehserle stood, drew his gun and shot Grant once in the back. During his court testimony, Mehserle claimed that Grant then exclaimed, "You shot me!" Grant was unarmed.^[2][3][6] Grant was pronounced dead the next morning atHighland Hospital in Oakland.^[6]

The events were captured on multiple digital and cell phone cameras. The footage was disseminated to media outlets and to various websites, where it was watched hundreds of thousands of times.^[7] The following days saw both peaceful and violent protests.^[8]

The shooting has been variously labeled an involuntary manslaughter and an execution.^[9] On January 13, Alameda County prosecutors charged Mehserle with murder for the shooting. He resigned his position and pled not guilty. The trial began on June 10, 2010. Michael Rains, Mehserle'scriminal defense attorney, has claimed Mehserle intended to fire his Taser, but mistakenly shot Grant with a pistol when he thought Grant was reaching for a gun.^[3][4] Pretrial filings argue that his client did not commit first-degree murder and asked a Los Angeles judge to instruct the jury to limit its deliberations to either second-degree murder or acquittal.

Oakland civil rights attorney John Burris filed a $25 million wrongful death claim against BART on behalf of Grant's family.^[10][11]

On July 8, 2010, the jury returned its verdict: Not guilty of second degree murder, not guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and guilty of involuntary manslaughter.^[12] The sentencing date was set for August 6th.

 

When will we learn to focus on what’s really important…? The police are killing people and getting away with it…but hey at least we know what Lebron is going to do next right…? Yea, whateva nigga….

Listen To The Words

It seems as though we have come to the point where the words in a song mean absolutely nothing. I was attending open mic night this evening, where a grouped called Armageddon performed a song. The song had wonderful production and was very up tempo. The women in the club began to dance in the normal provocative way, however not listening to one word of the song. The song was about women being loose and dancing provocative in clubs, and the negative aspects of it. It sadden me that all the men in the club seemed to realize what the song was really about but the women just kept on dancing. It reminded of something Chris Rock once said,”women don’t care what you say in a song, as long as it got a good beat. The song could be called smack that bitch with a dick and she gonna love it.” But yall not hearing me though…..whateva,nigga……

Father’s Day

I’ve heard so many negative things about fathers today that I wanted to say something positive. There are a lot of good fathers out there contrary to what you hear. I have been lucky enough to be raised by such. My father has been consistent force throughout my life, and I appreciate him greatly. I know of other good fathers out there, that take care of their responsibilities as husbands and fathers.  We need to spend more time uplifting these good men instead of lumping them with all of the ones that fail. You will not be a good man until you see a good man. So to all the good fathers out there, happy father’s day. If you know a good father make sure you tell them happy father’s day today. To all those absentee fathers you are missing out on something wonderful. But yall don’t hear though…so, whateva nigga…

Are You Sure….?

As I look at current fashions, more specifically concerning men, I wonder if most of these guys are straight. When has it ever been cool for a man and his woman to wear the same size and style of jeans…? Then on top of the jeans already being so tight that blood circulation begins to be a concern, they have the nerve to sag them. Seriously? I see guys walking around with jeans so tight they look like spandex. As a man your girl should not have to help you squeeze into your jeans before you help her into hers. I not saying that your jeans should be the skater style and super baggy, but come on at least have them actually fit. I always believed a man should dress and act like a man. So if you wearing skinny jeans and extra small shirts, don’t be surprised when somebody questions if you are straight or not, because you basically have on the same outfit as the female that just walked by. But, whateva nigga……

Don’t Shoot The Messenger

 

In life we often put more emphasis on who is giving us a message than what the message is. As I was watching the latest episode of Aaron McGruder’s “The Boondocks”,a white character said something along these lines. “Niggers would be ok, if they would get a job, stop being lazy, and stop complaining.” While this is perceived as extremely racist, to some extent its also true.  We have to at some point stop looking at the world as holding us back and realize that some of this is our own fault. We are our own greatest enemy…. yea, whateva nigga…..

The Experience

Sometimes somebody can say it just as well…..

 

Lyrics

I Thought you said you was the G-O-D
sound like another nigger to me, ha ha, yeah
I thought you said you was the G-O-D
sound like another nigger to me, shit
What a nigger do, what a nigger does
and a nigger is what a nigger was
and a nigger done read history but yet his eyes didn't see
the only reason you a nigger is because somebody else wants you to be
well a nigger uneducated, intergrated, singin' "We shall overcome"
A nigger trying to be white is what a nigger seem like have become
and when they call me a nigger to my face'
can't do nothin' but walk away
but here it is niggers call other niggers niggers each and every day
dividing and conquering
when they say the lighter shade of black is okay
after the middle class and they passin' by
the project land where we stay
since a nigger had got grown, had a little bitty of nigger of my own
should've known I couldn't show 'em no better what I was showin'
Shit, I could've hit the club as fresh as I could be
really, all for another nigger to see
you know how a nigger get when he see another nigger outfit
don't want nobody to have what he ain't got
somebody get drunk, get mad, and get shot
that why the property value ain't no good in a nigger neihborhood
a nigger could overstand if he only understood
I'm sick of lyin' I'm sick of glorifyin' dyin'
I'm sick of not trying, shit I'm sick of being a nigger
destiny sent me to this dread and she said she felt led
to offer me some wisdom from this notebook she read
and it said that right then the black man's downfall
was not know that we were not ever niggers at all, hmm
and she looked deeply into my eyes and said brother don't you know
you complain about being black,
when they mad coz they can't be black no mo'
so many black men out here trying to be niggers
keeping it real to the point that they dying to be niggers
when in actuality the fact is you ain't a nigger because you black
you a nigger cause of how you act
but, you don't want me to tell you the truth, so I'ma lie to you
make it sound fly to you huh, huh,
you don't wanna hear the truth, so I'ma lie to you
make it sound fly to you, shit
The nigger experience
the nigger experience
has been stated, it was created
The nigger experience

I’m Hating It

Why is that every time I turn on a McDonald’s commercial, a black person is singing about chicken nuggets or rapping about the breakfast dollar menu? Justin Bieber doesn’t like chicken nuggets? Toby Keith hates dollar menus? Now I’m not upset that these artists are getting exposure, by all means do what you have to. But, I would also like to see a little bit of parity.  I mean it seems we are almost back to the point of shucking and jiving to get ahead. But yall don’t hear me though….whateva nigga

You Might Be A…….

You can never judge somebody by the color of their skin. Honestly, we are all the same. This is my attempt to prove just such…..

You Might Be A Nigga..

You ever cut your grass and found a car.

You were shooting pool when any of your kids were born.

You keep a can of RAID on the kitchen table.

Your mother has "ammo" on her Christmas list.

There are more than five McDonald's bags in your car.

There has ever been crime-scene tape on your bathroom door.

The taillight covers of your car are made of red tape.

you have a rag for a gas cap.

Your mother has been involved in a fistfight at a high school sports event.

There are four or more cars up on blocks in the front yard.

You just bought an 8-track player to put in your car.

Your belt buckle doubles as a serving platter.

The neighbors started a petition over your Christmas lights…….

The funny thing about all of those is that they can be found here. Not much of a difference between us is it…? But you don’t hear me though so whateva nigga…..

The Black Family

The Winslows, The Cosbys, The Kyles, The Hughleys, these families all have at least one thing in common, successful black families. There was a time when these things were in abundance on TV. That time however is long gone. You can barely find a black person on TV let alone a while family. I miss the days of the black sitcom. There are no more hard working fathers trying to instill wholesome values to their children. Hey at least we got Cleveland Brown right....? But you don't get it, so whateva nigga.......
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

If I Ruled the World

 

“You can have all the chips be poor or rich, still nobody want a nigga having shit.” Sadly this statement is as true now as it was 14 years ago when Nas spoke it. If you take a look at it there are really no positive black images portrayed on tv. Even our so called own channel, BET, mostly shows negative images of African Americans. You will see plenty images of our celebrities going to prison and getting involved in other immoral behavior, but you will not see the images of those that give back and try to uplift people. You don’t hear about Ludacris and Big Boi of Outkast giving back to the community. Nobody knows that Pharrell gives out food to the needy every year. Our children know every lyric to a Wacka Flocka song, but have no idea who Dr. Ben Carson is. We rarely think of the consequence of  what the media puts in front of us has on our communities. Our daughters are being portrayed as having attitudes, and being nothing but eye candy. Our sons are shown as drugs dealers and overall thugs. We cant expect people to treat us better until we understand that they have no respect for us and have no consideration for our feelings. The truly sad part is that we don’t either as African Americans. We belittle each other just as much as they do to us. When somebody tries to tell us something for the betterment of each other, we usually get the same response…yea, whateva nigga….

Give Me Some Credit

It amazes me how people can want credit for something they supposed to do. You take care of your kids and you've never been to jail. That's great you're supposed to take care of your kids and not go to jail. It seems that people are lacking in the praise department and are looking for it anyway they can get it. Don't get me wrong I'm glad to see people thriving as productive citizens. Asking for praise for something you supposed to do is like asking for credit for breathing. You are not always going to get credit for doing the right thing. Be happy in knowing that you have down what you are supposed to......but whateva nigga...
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Closet Hating…..

Have you ever had some good news or a good idea and told one of your “friends” and they reply with the stomach virus face? It seems that these days nobody can be happy for somebody without wanting to make the happy person as miserable as they are. Its the old crabs in a barrel theory. Happiness should be contagious but its the hating that seems to get passed around. If you have been having a rough time of late and things start to go your way, its like no you can’t be happy. People start to plant seeds of doubt in everything you do. Just because you’re miserable and unhappy doesn’t mean I have to be too. We need to uplift people that are making better choices for themselves instead of tearing each other down with back biting, rumors, and hating. Next time somebody gives you good news be happy for them and take it as a sign that maybe you need to make some changes too….but I know what you thinking, whateva nigga…..

Dumb It Down….

 

Ever notice that the lyrics to the most popular music are fairly simple….? We live in a time where nobody wants to think too hard. Its shows in our youth. Hip Hop went from being messages to the people to sometimes being blatant advertisements for bad behavior. Music like that of Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, even 2 Pac, is long gone. Today music is all about partying and bullshit. Now there are artists like Lupe Fiasco, Common, Talib Kweli, Kanye West(the old Kanye, before his mother passed), that carry on the torch of the early music. We don’t realize that people judge us on the music we listen to. So all that partying and ass shaking is how the world views us as a people. Until we change what we accept as ok the world will always view us the same. The key is education. Dumb it down….? I think not….but you ain’t listening so, whateva nigga……

Uncommonly Normal

So plenty of times, I have been told I am weird and or abnormal by people who realistically are the abnormal ones themselves. So, to entertain their thoughts I wanted to know what in their minds makes ME the weird one. These are some of the things I have heard:
 What kind of college student doesn't drink, you're so lame!
 What you mean you don't have any kids!
 You ain't got no baby daddy! Wow
 Damn you aint get none this weekend!
To further prove my point, I was at the local baby momma hotspot aka Wal-Mart to pick something up and I saw a few girls ( yes, I say girls because their minds aren't that of a woman yet) from high school. Now, I didn't have the best relationship with them in high school but I am grown woman so I wasn't even paying them attention. But at soon as they spotted me the first thing out of their mouths was "Look at her, she alone! That must mean she still ain't found a man." Now I wasn't even sure how to respond to such ignorance. They continue by saying "we got babies bc we were able to find a man who wanted us! The only reason you don't have a baby is bc you ugly" At this point, I just laughed.
But, that situation made me think.
How can having 3 kids before the age of 21 be normal? Unfortunately, it has become common but there is no way in hell that, that is normal! It saddens me to see that more and more children are having children. I know when I was in high school (I sound so old lol), there was at least 20+ girls with babies or about to have babies.
On a whole other note, now that I am in college I have notice the thing to do it to drink to the point that you pass out. No way in hell, that is normal either! Why on earth, as a lady, would I want to put myself in that situation. I guess being passed out on the floor; face in my own puke is the thing to do nowadays. Well, I am going to have to respectfully decline. I know that I am not perfect and I will tell you up front that I enjoy having a good time and partying with friends and trust me I do make mistakes. But I do try to prevent certain things.
Anyways,
The things I do are nowhere abnormal. Uncommon? Yes, but not abnormal. I am not a heavy drinker. When I have a man's child, I can guarantee you that I will be his wife first. I do believe in getting an education, and getting my life together first before I bring a child into the world.. My way of thinking sounds pretty normal to me, but like I said not too common.
So I guess, I am UNCOMMONLY NORMAL.
I am not here to knock anyone but sled light that we can do better. But I already know what your thinking,
"YEAH, whatever nigga!"
-Sharonica

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Whateva Nigga……The Beginning

The Boondocks television show has been associated with the African American subculture since its beginnings as a comic strip. It has caused much up-roar for its controversial and blunt way of addressing issues that apply to the African American subculture. The creator Aaron McGruder uses these controversial methods, to inform those of the African American subculture about today’s issues that impact them and how to improve their selves. Many of those who do not belong to the African American subculture find his methods to be absolutely offensive and shameful. However, his intended audience has created a faithful following of viewers.

The Boondocks cartoon television series originated from the daily comic strip written by Aaron McGruder. The Boondocks is a social satire of American culture and race relations, revolving around the lives of the Freeman Family- ten-year-old Huey, his younger brother, eight-year-old Riley, and their grandfather, Robert. The Freeman family, having recently moved from the South side of Chicago to the peaceful, fictional suburb of Woodcrest, find different ways to cope with this acute change in setting as well as the drastically different suburban cultures and lifestyles to which they are exposed. The perspective offered this mixture of cultures, lifestyles, and races provides for much of the comedy in this series. The Boondocks TV series is widely known for its cutting-edge humor and unapologetic, sometimes unpopular, views on various issues, including race, politics, the war on terrorism and the Sept 11. One of McGruder’s most controversial episodes was the “Return of the King” episode. In this episode McGruder has his character Huey Freeman tells of an alternate version of the history regarding the “attempted” assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Instead of being killed, Dr. King falls into a deep coma and wakes up October 27, 2000. McGruder begins this episode with two quotes, the first being:

“ I want young men and young woman who are not alive today to know and see that these new privileges and opportunities did not come without somebody suffering and sacrificing for them.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

And the second:

“Whatever, nigga”

-Anonymous

Of course initially many were offended by this opening to this episode, however it did grasp their attention.

McGruder’s reasoning for writing this episode was to challenge the youth of the African American subculture to evaluate their behavior and to make think about how hard Dr. King fought to give them the freedoms they have today. He wanted to point out how many of those in the African American subculture were presenting their selves in a way Dr. King would disapprove of if alive today.

In this episode McGruder brings to light many problems African Americans face today because of their ignorance. In this episode, Dr. King faces much scrutiny because of his “turn the other cheek” way of thinking. Dr. King appears on Politically Incorrect, stating that his Christian faith teaches him to “turn the other cheek”, even with respect to enemies such as Al-Qaeda. His commentary receives severe scorn from the white House Press Secretary, CNN, and Time magazine, and causes his popularity to plummet. McGruder uses this as an example of how Dr. King’s teachings are ideal however not realistic to many modern Americans.

McGruder furthermore has Dr. King meet Huey and they begin to express their disgust with the state of black popular culture. To help increase Dr. King’s popularity again, Huey convinces Dr. King to try to reach out to the public again and that they should start a political party. The goal of their party is disrupted when Dr. King hires an “urban promotions firm” to advertise the party’s planning meeting, which advertise it on an FM radio pop music station as a “party”. As a result, dozens of young black people arrive at the church and being behaving as though it were a club. Dr. King is immediately stunned by their unrestrained behavior and is shocked to see that the podium has been taken over by a series of rappers, televangelists, and other superficial black pop culture icons.

Dr. King suddenly proclaims, “WILL YOU IGNORANT NIGGAS PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP?!”

Not only was the crowd shocked but this scene also shocked and outraged many of McGruder’s viewers.

McGruder continues with Dr. King asking “Is this it? This is what I got all those ass-whooping for?”

Dr. King continues to refer to the audience as “niggas” out of apparent frustration that current generation of black people have will fully assumed the negative racial stereotypes associated with.

Although this climatic scene goes considerably too far in the minds of those who oppose this episode, it did shed light to many problem that the African American subculture face today.

McGruder ends this episode with Dr. King’s tyrant being the flame to light the torch for African Americans to better their selves. After the media exposed his speech, black citizens become angry with their situations and begin to change to what Dr. King would have been proud of, if alive today.

The overall mood of this episode is meant to be comical, however it has a very serious under tone. The point of tension in this episode is Kings arrival to the “promotion party” in which he instantly become s outraged with anger. In this episode, this is a problem that needs to be solved; however the problem that is raised is by far more complex than the normal situation comedy problem. McGruder wanted this episode to be a thought-provoking way to show Dr. Kings bravery and what he stood for. He also wanted to bring to light how African Americans as a whole would highly disappoint Dr. King if he had actually returned to view today’s African American subculture.

McGruder intensions were never meant to degrade African Americans, rather to get them to think about their behavior. McGruder is highly scrutinized for his use of the word “nigga” in this episode. In his defense, I believed he wanted to challenge African Americans to get out of this “whatever nigga” mentality. He further more wanted this episode to encourage African Americans to continue to take action, and make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proud to have fought and died for them.

(Thank you, Sharonica Smedley)

With that said in this blog we will try to point out these issues, not to criticize but, for understanding that we as a people MUST do better. But you don’t hear us, so Whateva nigga………..