Higher Education in Blackness; a Dilemma

By J.R. Glover

It was not very long ago that there were no college educated family members or friends in most of our black neighborhoods or communities. Most of this was attributed to a lack of financing as well as a lack of opportunities. Blacks simply couldnt afford it! Had it not been for the G.I. Bill which was available to military veterans in the 60s, I would not have been able to get a college education. Today things have changed somewhat, and many of our families have now produced college graduates. However, everything that shines is not gold.

The purpose of this writing is to raise awareness of a significant problem facing the black community and the educational process which I define as a dilemma. This affects the cultural relations between the black and white communities of America. In many ways this is a subtle and often unforeseen situation that escapes the attention of those unaware. We as people are often prone to focus our attention on matters that concern our own immediate lives and families.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781491761465

J.R. Glover

J.R. Glover is accredited with a B.A. degree from Wiberforce University, master of Divinity and master of Christian education degrees from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. He pastored as an ordained minister for 30+ years. He is the author of three published books: “The Gilded Web”, “The Art of Home Bible Study”, and “Higher Education in Blackness; A Dilemma”.

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HIGHER EDUCATION IN BLACKNESS; A DILEMMA

Copyright © 2015 J.R. Glover.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-6145-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-6146-5 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 03/04/2015

This book is written in memory of my deceased wife of 46 years, Hattie, my deceased mother Marcella Harris and my current wife Wendy

CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1: 1. The crisis in historical perspective

Chapter 2: The Perpetuation of the crisis

Chapter 3: The result of the crisis: The hybrid black intellectual

Chapter 4: The hybrid intellectual in the black community

Chapter 5: The hybrid intellectual in the white community

Chapter 6: Fixing the problem

Chapter 7: Summary

A final word

Conclusion

FOREWORD

It was not very long ago that there were no college educated family members or friends in most of our black neighborhoods or communities. Most of this was attributed to a lack of financing as well as a lack of opportunities. Blacks simply couldn’t afford it! Had it not been for the G.I. Bill which was available to military veterans in the 60’s, I would not have been able to get a college education. Today things have changed somewhat, and many of our families have now produced college graduates. However, everything that shines is not gold.

The purpose of this writing is to raise awareness of a significant problem facing the black community and the educational process which I define as a dilemma. This affects the cultural relations between the black and white communities of America. In many ways this is a subtle and often unforeseen situation that escapes the attention of those unaware. We as people are often prone to focus our attention on matters that concern our own immediate lives and families.

The concern here, however, is focused on this subtle and seemingly insignificant issue that has now, over the years, grown to crisis proportions in the black community. We as blacks today often don’t understand it ourselves, because more blacks than ever are getting college educations, and this is causing a false sense of euphoria among us, because little or no change is taking place in our culture, similar to that of the first black president in America, Barack Obama!

We need to stay on guard of progress accomplished in some areas of modern life today, which tend to minimize the reality that every time we take one step forward, we often take one step backwards as well. This is what the 50th anniversary of the march on Washington that is celebrated now in 2013 has taught us. In spite of the gains made in racial relations between blacks and whites, Martin Luther King, Junior’s dream has yet to be realized in its entirety.

Ironically, there is now a crisis of Self Identity among blacks today called "blackness," which is threatening to undermine the black community, and the importance of history specifically of how black Americans have struggled to identify themselves in white America over the years.

This has become such an issue, that even whites do not know how to address blacks by name, for fear of saying the wrong thing or reference. Even the Census tracts of the U.S. have various listings for blacks by racial identification.

The extent of this problem is seen more clearly through the eyes of a black American who has lived and experienced the events depicted in this writing, as well as continuing to experience them even today. This is important for the mere fact that a black male is the one who needs to write these accounts, as they contain issues of a sensitive nature as well as critique of black lifestyle, that only a black college educated male can espouse from first-hand experience!

Blacks, especially males, who have successfully graduated from college, often have negative experiences with their peers because of it in the community in which they live. This has become so prevalent today, that young black Americans who attend college are often ridiculed by their classmates, if they study long hours in school, often ignoring the many after hour activities in the dorms and on the college campus, and are also belittled in their communities as losing their blackness or becoming whitewashed.

James R. Glover

INTRODUCTION

First, let us begin our discussion by talking about education in general. We all know that going to school and receiving an education is required of all citizens as a legal obligation. In elementary, middle school, and high school, it is mandatory that all children and youth go to school. We are not required to graduate or complete our education, unfortunately, which remains a mystery to me as to why one would not finish school, unless it is because of severe financial hardship or health conditions within the family.

The crux of the problem is better understood as the result of a personal agenda or mindset that dictates the desires and ambitions of the individual, no matter what others wish for them. This is probably one of the most frustrating concerns for parents to deal with involving their children, who always want what is best for their child, but often are unable to make it happen.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. This axiom is true not only for the horse, but to kids in school as well. This is a matter of what is of utmost importance to the child, and to a great extent of how they were raised. Because of this truism, they are made to go to school which, unfortunately does not mean that they will become students, with the desire to learn and become educated. Many students become in school dropouts simply because they choose not to become educated, or who fail to see the need of an education.

Periodically this time away from home by kids, however, is seen as an opportunity by some irresponsible parents to have free time. This is so unfortunate! If blame is to be place anywhere, it must begin with the parents of these children, who even when they have the time, do not help their children with Home Work, or talk to them about the importance or purpose or how education can affect their lives. In my opinion, this is precisely where the breakdown begins!

Society cannot be blamed for the shortcomings of parents, which some sociologist often attempt to use, as an excuse or scapegoat in many situations, but instead is often the result of parents who themselves have not received a college education, and therefore do not see the necessity to emphasize this to their children. It is indeed remarkable how we as parents often pass down the principles of our own upbringing to our children.

A child basically learns by being taught, or by example. If parents have a lackadaisical attitude about education, the children will have one as well. The family unit is the single most important fabric of any society. The attitude concerning education seems to have been placed on the individual, rather than on the family group.

I believe that this dates back to the 60’s and 70’s during the time of the social revolution in this country, where the decision making was placed on the individual rather than society as a whole, which was an excuse for it! That is why it pains me so much today to see how our government is undermining the family unit today, by placing so many proscriptions on parents when it comes to raising their children!

Society cannot dictate morality or parental supervision of children as matters of law, as it attempts to do by such actions of CSB (children services board). No child is greater than the parent. However, this appears to be the direction that our government is headed in. If you take a close look at the laws being passed down, even by the Supreme Courts, it is almost being weighted on the side of the children.

Children are no longer required to get parental permission concerning abortions, and obtaining contraceptives. Yet they claim that it is the parent’s obligation to talk to their children and educate them about sexual morality and the subsequent responsibility that it entails. What is that, if it not a double standard with mixed messages?

Children can now receive counseling and intervention on matters of sex from Planned Parenthood without parental consent. I cannot help but believe that Planned Parenthood from its inception was designed to