Articles

Governors review fourth grade reading scores to determine prison growth. What strange bed fellows. This has become an epidemic in the African American community where 63 percent of its fourth-grade students are below grade level. If governments were genuine about balancing the budget, are they not cognizant that HeadStart, Title I, and Pell Grants are cost-effective? Prison recidivism hovers near 85 percent. Why would America spend $18-38,000 depending on the state with only a 15 percent efficacy? Why do most prison guards earn greater than most teachers? Rehabilitation and educational opportunities have been drastically reduced and in some prisons actually eliminated.

If the major precursor to prison growth is reading scores, would it not be cheaper to funnel monies and develop educational strategies to correct this acute problem? Why are African American reading scores abysmal? Why is it atrocious for African American males? In my book, State of Emergency: We Must Save African American Males, I indicate that African Americans only study four hours per week, while watching 30 hours of television, listening to 18 hours of rap music, talking on the telephone 11 hours, and playing outside over nine hours. When I speak to students, I share with them the secret to success: whatever you do most will be what you do best.

In 1980, there were less than 100,000 African American males incarcerated. In 2002, that number swelled to 1.5 million. The African American community must marshall every available resource to enhance literacy among African American youth and particularly African American males. Every African American adult should volunteer a minimum of two hours per week as a tutor and mentor. How could a child stay in a school five years (kindergarten-fourth grade) and remain illiterate? How could African American parents not be cognizant that their children are having severe reading and math problems? How could Homeland Security be more concerned about the Middle East when its greatest security challenge is its illiterate citizenry?

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu is the author of State of Emergency: We Must Save African American Males

Can you imagine African Americans may be the only group expecting someone else to educate their children? White female teachers constitute 83 percent of the U.S. elementary teaching force. African American students are 17 percent of public school students nationwide, but represent only 6 percent of the teachers.

Unfortunately, African American males constitute only 1 percent of the teaching population. There are schools without one African American male academic teacher. They are employed as custodians, security guards, and P.E. teachers. Often, schools will hire an African American male to be an assistant principal which translates into being in charge of all male behavioral problems.

What happened to African American teachers? Since the 1954 Brown vs. Topeka decision to integrate schools, there has been a 66 percent decline in African American teachers. Ironically, African American students benefitted from Jim Crow, because many brilliant African Americans who were denied corporate America, were confined to education or the ministry. Today, African Americans seem to be choosing corporate America and more dollars over their children.

Others espouse the major factors are lack of respect to the profession and poor student discipline. When I speak at colleges, many students tell me the children are too bad. Can you imagine a 19year-old African American is reporting the children are too bad? If they are problematic for African Americans, I wonder what White female teachers think of African American youth? Could their answer be greater special education placement? The turnover of White staff in the inner city is 40 percent within five years.

As a national educational consultant to school districts, I spend an enormous amount of time working with White female teachers. Is it fair to expect someone who never lived in the Black community, attended a rural college, did their student teaching in that region, took few if any courses on Black history, culture, psychology, family, learning styles, Ebonics, etc. to be effective?

I often wonder is the reason White girls are placed in special education the least and African American males the greatest, based on the race and gender of the teacher? Some people continue to equate being different as synonymous with deficient.

In my latest book, Black Students: Middle Class Teachers, I report research that African American children’s test scores improve 4 percent when the teacher is of the same race. While this is encouraging, how can this be achieved with the present decline in African American teachers? Black colleges only enroll 16 percent of African American students, but they produce 37 percent of African American teachers which is very encouraging. While I’m an advocate of African American teachers, this does not negate there are African-American teachers who are ineffective with Black youth. They deny choice to low-income families, while sending their children to private schools. They would never send their children to the school where they miseducate children.

I would challenge all African American professionals to consider teaching for a year, especially those who retired early. African American children deserve their best Black minds in the classroom.

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu is the author of Black Students: Middle Class Teachers

As we embark upon the holidays which should be a joyous time of year, it can be the worse for many African Americans. Doctors report the greatest increase in high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, and diabetic challenges. Could soul food be the culprit? What are the major ingredients in soul food? Pork, grease, sugar, and dairy products. Mix chitterlings and liquor together and we have a body ready to explode. This should be a joyous time to enjoy family around the dinner table rather than in the emergency room.

How can we eat healthy and enjoy our food? Many people have told me they would rather die than give up ham and fried chicken. My first suggestion would be to exercise before you eat. The major reason why almost 40 percent of the African American community including its children are overweight or obese is because we are consuming more calories than we are burning. The exercise can include walking, bicycling, or whatever you enjoy. Exercise is fantastic for diabetics. What you will soon discover is that exercise will give you a desire to drink water and eat fruit. My second recommendation is to drink a glass of water before your meal. Note, I did not say Kool-aid or pop, I said water which many people do not like because its sugarless.

Third, I recommend you eat fruit and salad before cooked food. The major contributor to cancer is cooked food. Your body has live cells that if properly nourished with raw food will never become cancerous. I pray that now after exercise, water, fruit, and salad, that you have little appetite for anything else! But if you do, I first recommend smaller portions. The adage is true, my eyes are larger than my stomach. Fill your plate with as much green food as possible. This includes greens, cabbage, stringbeans, okra, etc. Please tell the cook you want your greens porkless. Turkey, onions, and garlic provide great flavor. Concerning carbohydrates, try to avoid items with cheese. In addition, sweet potatoes should be just that rather than pounds of sugar and butter with a few sweet potatoes.

If you must consume meat, baked or broiled is better than fried. Fish or chicken is desired over beef and pork. I would encourage you to consider soy meat products. My family has invited meat eaters to gatherings and they could not make the distinction. If you are a bread lover remember, white bread has little fiber in contrast to whole wheat. You will need as much fiber as possible to eliminate those ham hocks.

As the dinner is concluding, why do you want to go back for seconds and thirds? If Jesus is the reason for the season, and He said “ do this in remembrance of me,” think of Him when you go back to the table. I would like to add 25 sit-ups for every additional helping.

As the meal is concluding, now its time for the dessert decision. Could I entertain you to consume more fruit? If not what about soy-ice cream or banana nut bread? Could you tell the cook to replace the 155 lbs. of sugar that we consume annually with molasses, fruit juice, or honey? I would also suggest you consider non-alcoholic beverages which is also available for beer drinkers.

In closing, before you fall asleep and I pray not at the table, take a colon cleanser. Please remember it will take 12 days for ham to be eliminated and the worms never leave, 8 days for roast beef, and 6 days for fried chicken, while okra, greens, salad, and fruit will be out within 24 hours.

Have a great holiday and show your family how much you love them by living longer and eating healthier.

In the next few months, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide the case between Gratz vs Bollinger. This involves the University of Michigan and its law school and whether they have the right to allow race as a factor in their desire to provide a diverse student body. The plaintiff and their followers argue that they have experienced reverse discrimination. They are correct that students of color who had lower GPAs and test scores were admitted while they were denied.

There are numerous factors related to this legal issue. Superficially, one could surmise people of color and particularly African Americans and Hispanics are genetically inferior. This is further exacerbated when the public assumes that between 1954 (Brown vs. Topeka) and the present, that a level playing field was created. There has been much discussion about dismantling affirmative action on college campuses, but little has been said about White preference, kindergarten-12th grade.

In middle and upper class school districts, the school per-pupil expenditure is between $10,000-$33,000 depending upon the district. The student-teacher ratio is smaller, a large percentage of the experienced staff possess graduate degrees, advanced placement is offered in almost every course, and there is enough equipment to restock Best Buy or Wal-Mart.

In contrast, in the inner city, the school per pupil expenditure is less than $7,000, the student-teacher ratio normally exceeds 30 students, very few staff possess graduate degrees, staff turnover is 40 percent within five years, and many teach math or science classes without qualifications and failed the state exam. There are few if any advanced placement courses and very little equipment is available even to remove lead paint and outdated heating units.

How does America believe it’s a level playing field under these conditions? I commend the University of Texas which considered the above and allows the top ten percent from all Texas high schools to be admitted. When African Americans are given the opportunity to compete, most in spite SAT scores 200 points below their White peers, outperformed them on college GPAs.

My first desire is to level the playing field, kindergarten-12th grade. In my book, Black Students: Middle Class Teachers, I share research from Education Trust, that the most important factor determining educational achievement in not race, income, or marital status, but the effectiveness of the teacher. Unfortunately, kindergarten-12th grade, most African American students are not being taught by our best educators. If America is unwilling to abolish affirmative action kindergarten -12^th grade, the University of Michigan should continue to be allowed to value diversity and give students of color the opportunity to compete against their privileged White peers, which they have fared very well.

PARENTING STRATEGIES

There is no greater gift parents can give children than to introduce them to a Lord and Savior who will never leave them or forsake them and give them eternal life. September 11 was another illustration that many adults and
children do not have relationship with Jesus. Recent polls reflect 70 percent of Americans are afraid. The Lord does not give us a spirit of fear.

The media showed planes crashing into the World Trade Center almost a million times. Did this contribute to the fear of flying? Before September 11, parents should have been listening and talking with their children, having
dinner together without television, playing family games, monitoring rap lyrics, observing their selection of friends, placing a high value on academics, Bible study, and prayer.

We are now bombarded with signs saying God bless America. I beg to differ, America needs to bless God! This can be done by returning prayer and the Ten Commandments back to school and repenting for over a million babies aborted last year.

In closing, the second greatest gift parents can give their children is to marry not shack, and stay together. A national divorce rate of 50 percent and 68 percent in Black America is unacceptable.

NBA

Why is White America so concerned about the Education of NBA Wannabes? Excerpt from forthcoming book
State of Emergency: We must save African American Males by Jawanza Kunjufu

You would think as you listen to the discussion on Nightline, the NCAA, and the larger White media that there is a new found interest in the overall welfare of African American males. They are concerned about our education,
long term financial planning, health, maturation, even our communication skills! The big question they keep discussing is should teenagers be allowed to play in the NBA?

I wonder if this question would be raised if large numbers of White high school males were being drafted? The few White males being drafted primarily come from Europe. We can answer the question by observing Nightline's,
NCAA's, and the White media's concern about White teenagers playing major league baseball, hockey, tennis, golf etc. There is no concern. It is perfectly acceptable for White male and female teenagers to fulfill their
dream and receive as much compensation as the market will bear. They and their families are very much aware of the risk involved.

The White female tennis player, Jennifer Capriati is a perfect example. She entered the tennis world at 14 like so many tennis players with no media concern. She could not handle her stardom and her career fizzled. Capriati
matured and is now one of the best tennis players in the game. I have not heard the media suggest that tennis players like Andy Roddick should wait until they are 25 like Capriati to fulfill their dreams.

Is White America really concerned about the overall welfare of African American males? Where was their concern when six African American males in Decatur Illinois were expelled without educational alternatives? Where is
their concern with 41 percent of the special education children being African American and 80 percent of those number African American males? Where is their concern with 1.3 million African American males incarcerated of which 60 percent are drugs related? If there really was a war on drugs, then the 74 percent White drug users should be feeling the greatest brunt of the war.

The White media is being disingenuous. They raked Vince Carter over the coals for participating in a once in a lifetime event-his college graduation ceremony. This would have been the perfect time to rave about a brilliant
basketball player who has his values and priorities in order.

The real issue is the NBA is one of the top paying sports and five African American high school graduates and numerous college students left early because they understood capitalism. I wonder how many White college students choose their major for the love of learning versus the love of money? America has a teacher shortage because it pays less than any other industry.

I commend Kwame Brown for being the first high school player to be drafted number one. Ironically, the decision was made by a Black man by the name of Michael Jordan. A former player, who also left early, returned to graduate, had a brilliant career, and now is president of the Washington Wizards. The
contract is guaranteed for several years. Is there anyone reading this article who would refuse and not enter or leave college for a multi-year multimillion dollar guaranteed contract?

In closing, my only concern is the basketball obsession that exists in Black America. There were only 57 slots available in the NBA draft. There are over a million African American males who have dreams to fill those slots.
As Isaiah Thomas, the former star, college graduate, and present coach of the Indiana Pacers often says, "just in case you don't make it, pursue your education."

My last desire is that those few who fill those slots need to create jobs like Shaq in the Black community.

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu is an author of over 20 titles including the national bestsellers, Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys, Restoring the Village, Satan I'm Taking Back My Health, and State of Emergency: We Must
Save African American Males. He is also an educational consultant, and public speaker.

$16 Billion Down the Drain
by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu

This summer and throughout the year our largest 150 African American organizations will convene their national conferences. They include the NAACP, Urban League, Operation Push, National Baptist, Omegas, Alphas, Kappas, Sigmas, Deltas, AKAs, Sigma Gamma Rho, and many more. I am honored that I will be speaking at many of them. My only regret is that we will spend $16 billion with Mr. Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, United ,American, Delta, etc. Can you imagine how much money we have spent with them since 1954? What do we have to show for it? At many of these conferences, speakers will talk about our plight and the impact of racism and White supremacy. I'm sure Mr. Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, United, American, and Delta are saying "talk about me all you want, but please don't stop coming!"

Can you imagine if we chose to meet in Black colleges or churches? Can you fathom if we chose not to meet at all, but asked members to send in what they would normally spend? Another option would be to meet over the internet or video conferencing. In my latest book, Solutions for Black America, I discuss the net effect would be $16 billion that we could use to build four regional luxury hotels that would accommodate 2-5,000 guests. I suggest we call them the Rosa Parks Palace, Harriet Tubman Tower, Malcom X Shabazz Suites, and the Martin Luther King Resorts. I also discuss in the book the purchasing of 10-20 corporate jets. The fleet could be named after the Tuskegee Airmen.

I have heard several problems and challenges. First, many of these organizations have signed contracts for future years. My suggestion is that we either agree to start in some future year outside the contract, or we simply pay the penalty and begin building our hotels and acquiring our Tuskegee jets. Second, middle class negroes who are accustomed to 24 hour room service and luxury acommodations have said they would not attend if they had to meet at a Black college and sleep in a dormitory. I know Harriet Tubman is turning over in her grave. She experienced similar foolishness trying to free 300 Africans in her 19 trips south. Last, organizations need their conference to financially sustain themselves. I suggest we either become better stewards with our budgets or continue to meet, but at a Black college for two years and accrue the savings estimated at $8 billion annually. In two years we would have our $16 billion. I suggest this be coordinated by the Black Leadership Forum. All monies would be sent to the Forum.

In closing, God is asking Black America have we been good stewards with our resources? How can a people who earn $688 billion, possess 9,000 plus elected officials, 4 million college graduates, and 85,00 churches that receive $3 billion annually and have $50 billion in assets be in such terrible shape? Are we suffering from post-traumatic slavery disorder?

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu is the author of 23 books including Solutions for Black America. His e-mail is aai@africanamericanimages.com