For centuries there have been significant disparities in terms of African Americans in society. Issues such as drugs, promiscuity, racism, and poor education have kept blacks below the social ranks of the successful. Legislations governing social reform such as the crack v. powder law and mandatory minimums have furthered the incapacitation of blacks in society. But everyone knows about the crack v. powder law. Everyone knows minorities lack sufficient and adequate education, that mandatory minimums have left many black mothers raising their children on their own while the fathers are serving inhumane sentences.
We examine how regulations resulting in single parent households affect children and the growth of the economy. However, how often do we examine the impacts these very same regulations have on the African American mothers in society? Black mothers have been dubbed “welfare junkies”, “crack whores”, and everything under the sun but strong and exceptional. They have continued to be blamed for their lack of success, lack of a family when they are successful, responsible for the destruction of their homes, and in recent news criminals.
Julianne Hing published an article today on colorlines.com describing the recent criminal charges faced by black mothers (Read Here). From jail time to community service to the removal of their children, social injustices continue to drive the destruction of these women’s homes yet they continue to fight and hold their heads high. The negative stigma placed on the black communities is on the rise with every economic downfall of the country, with every new federally funded self sufficiency program. Join in on the voice for equality and social justice. Tweet #SocialJustice to show your support.
We are all familiar with the use of psychotic medications for persons with mental disorders or defect. But what about people being prescribed these medications that have no mental disorder or defect? What about when it’s done to children only to restrain them? At what point do you say the justice system has gone too far?
Over the years there has been an increasing debate over the public school system and whether voucher programs or charter schools are better options. Many are conflicted over reevaluating the public school system and adding additional funding or simply allowing the charter school system to take over the place of the public school, thus allowing it to continue to fail.
However, a new issue that I see on the rise is parents (primarily mothers) being imprisoned for sending their children to schools outside of their allowed district. My question today is what is the significance of having district boundaries on schools and would it more or less effective to move or widen them?
In The News
The Latest from Dr. Boyce Watkins
Hey my friends,
As I prepare to speak at The University of New Mexico this weekend, I spent the day on another matter that affects us all. We’re currently forming a coalition to help Tonya McDowell, the homeless mother in Connecticut who was sent to jail for sending her five-year old child to a school outside his district (but she says she lived in a van in the city where he went to school). I’ve spoken with Tonya, who is a mother who loves her child very much and made a conscious decision to send her child to a school with a good reading program. Since he’s been taken out of the school, the boy has been been confused regarding why the school he loves in Norwalk, CT doesn’t want him there any longer. The schools in Bridgeport, CT (where he is now) are underfunded and failing, and (according to Gwen Samuel with the CT Parents Union) in danger of being taken over by the state.
We want to end this educational apartheid in America. The money that is being spent investigating, prosecuting and destroying this family could be used to help her find a home and get her son a quality education. I hope you will sign on to our petition of concerned citizens that want to fight for Tonya McDowell by clicking here. We plan to go to Norwalk, CT within the next two weeks to deal directly with the authorities there, so I would appreciate your support. I’m tired of our children being locked into a future of misery created by inadequate and discriminatory educational practices – there is a direct pipeline between poor school systems, mass incarceration and unacceptable black unemployment. It’s time to confront these systems head-on. Please, please, please spread the word and join our fight. None of us can afford to be on the sidelines and I can’t do this without you.
That’s the description of black hair. Natural hair. Movies like ‘The Color Purple’ and ‘Secret Life of Bees’ perfectly depict the issue of hair for African Americans. They show the hot combs, tender heads, and braids. They show precision and skill. They show black culture.
For centuries natural hairstyles have been inspiration and widely accepted as part of the black culture. Women prided themselves on wearing afro’s and twists. Hair was always about more than just hair. Having natural hair was a statment that you embraced your heritage and loved where you came from, you respected the struggle of your ancestors.
Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, and Marcus Garvey all wore their hair naturally and nappy. They stood for a change. They made their marks on history. Today icons like Eryka Badu, Lauren Hill, and Jill Scott have carried on this embracing of natural hair. They have brought soul and vibration and culture to black media. They have magnified the bag ladies fighting Tyrone and told the tails of how nothing really matters.
Since the emergence of chemicals, relaxers, and perms, the new description seems to be thin, silky, and straight. The hair that “everyone” wants. A type of hair that has become the new skinny. One that no longer resembles a significance but rather one that resembles acceptance in society.
But nappy hair has gone far beyond just being a thing on the top of our heads. It is more than what society expects or wants. It is more than just being accepted. Nappy hair is who we are, it is what we are, it is history being told. Love it, embrace it. Black History!
Somewhere in some neighborhood or song this whole “no homo” saga emerged and has spread like wild flies. It seems to be the explanation of one’s sexuality before they make a comment, as if the people they hang with every day and are expressing this “no homo” too don’t already know the state of their sexuality. The most frustrating part of this saga is the need for people to feel that they have to state that they are not homosexual before they say something that may sound homosexual.
However, although frustrating, the interesting aspect of it all is this whole “no homo” saga seems to more prominent in black men than any other male race or women. I’ve been engaged in more conversations where the men have felt the need to disclose the fact that they are straight and in to women than the conversations where there have been predominantly women involved. It seems to be a part of the whole male machoism thing where they feel the need to be fully understood.
But when did this widespread issue of homosexuality erupt? People have had problems with homosexuals since ancient times but it was never as openly discussed and displayed as it is now. Homosexuality has turned into this societal epidemic that no one wants to catch or be associated with, but why?
What is the real problem with being homosexual? Is it the low rate of HIV/AIDS cases that they have? Is the fact that their relationships tend to last longer overall than the average heterosexual one? Is it a matter of morals or just plain jealousy of their openness?
I’m not sure what the problem is but if people are happy let them be happy. No one bothers the heterosexuals when they make decisions that others do not agree with so why the double standard?
Whatever the case may be, there will be something new to take its place in due time. And when that occurs hopefully we will all get a chance at some sort of peace of mind. Not to mention the fact that having to hear “no homo” every 10 minutes in a conversation is very frustrating!
For centuries natural hairstyles have been inspiration and widely accepted as part of the black culture. Women prided themselves on wearing afro’s and twists. Hair was always about more than just hair. Having natural hair was a statment that you embraced your heritage and loved where you came from, you respected the struggle of your ancestors.
Somewhere in some neighborhood or song this whole “no homo” saga emerged and has spread like wild flies. It seems to be the explanation of one’s sexuality before they make a comment, as if the people they hang with every day and are expressing this “no homo” too don’t already know the state of their sexuality. The most frustrating part of this saga is the need for people to feel that they have to state that they are not homosexual before they say something that may sound homosexual.
However, although frustrating, the interesting aspect of it all is this whole “no homo” saga seems to more prominent in black men than any other male race or women. I’ve been engaged in more conversations where the men have felt the need to disclose the fact that they are straight and in to women than the conversations where there have been predominantly women involved. It seems to be a part of the whole male machoism thing where they feel the need to be fully understood.