Thoughts on education

I am going to step out of the box a little and take a look at the education of the African-American, from a different point of view. Over time, it has been pointed out that the education of the African American child is behind that of other ethnic groups, and now recently compared to that of the Asian.

Based on some of the writings of other bloggers I have decided to take a further look at the situation, in order to try to understand their reasons as well as the answer, to the major question of why?

Within the context of my thoughts, I have decided to reflect a little on the history of Africa as it relates to the education of African-American in America.

Prior to the establishment of the United States, there was Africa, a continent with a wonderful heritage, culture and glorious history of its own. Thousands of years later on the continent of North America came a new country called America, born out of Europe's turmoil; its history had not yet been configured but after its struggle for independence, freedom was obtained and a new beginning was forged.

However, unlike others when the African was brought to the shores of America it was under different circumstances. The African was not allowed to participate in this thing called freedom nor was he granted independence. America had developed a new form of acceptance called Slavery, (although slavery has always existed among various cultures, there appeared to always be some form of assimilation).

Within America the definition of Slavery was different for the African, (without discussing the brutality and disgusting conditions in which the African was brought to America's shores, suffice it to say that the treatment was horrific) and a new form of slavery was created. One in which it completely dehumanized its captures.

Once on American shores, the African was stripped of language, heritage, culture, and history, the African was taught that he was no better than the common beast of burden; and under penalty of death, was not allowed to read, write, or to even be taught to read or write. He was constantly taught to believe that others were greater than he.

Once this type of thinking is inculcated into a People's thoughts, it can become what is called:

 "Belief Perseverance," The definition of which is once it is decided that people believe something they will tend to keep on believing it, even if the evidence proves, to the contrary. Particularly, if other people know of the belief, it can be embarrassing climb down from the previous assertions. It is also difficult to remove a belief once it has been woven into the wider web of belief, without disturbing those other beliefs.

Understanding America's thinking about Slavery and Segregation, it was not hard to understand the thought process regarding the education of the African it should be easy to understand why the lack of attention is paid to the education of the African-American.

Although the title of African-American has now been adopted, we still know little of our African Ancestry.

Educationally, we have been taught, the European way of thinking, which is not to say that it is bad but when it demoralizes our own culturally rich ancestry and enhances the European way of thinking, we will always lag behind others.

There has been no other group of people in this country that have been treated the way both the African and now the African-American has been treated, (whether or not others would have survived this type of treatment is another question). When comparisons are made, let it be known that the suffering of both the African in the beginning and the African-American today in order to convey the real truth about the lag in educating the African-American of today

In the end, it would seem that the arguments being presented are specious, because all the facts are not being presented.

Today, everyone is a minority, but for us (African-Americans) the struggle continues.