Parents, Students and Manufactured Apathy

As a candidate for political office one of my greatest challenges was the level of political apathy shown by many voters, particularly those in urban areas.  The commonly held idea that “those” folks gonna do what they gonna do, so it doesn’t matter if I vote or not stuck in my craw like no other sentiment shared along my political walk.  However, in the space of public education that mantra seems to hold true like no other.

Case in point and I am sure this is played out across the country in many other urban communities and school systems my alma mater is now in the mist of receiving its 3^rd principal in 3 years.  That means since the 9^th grade the upcoming class of 11^th graders have had a new instructional leader ever year since they started high school. All often times under guise of “school improvement.”  Couple this with the carousel of teachers that come and go in urban schools and you have a revolving door that’s reflective of the many teenage girls hairstyles. 

Without a doubt I am for whatever it takes to help students achieve and reach their full potential.  I do however; question the logic when schools reflect the unstable social environment many of these students come from.  It is my personal belief that part of what makes ALL environments whether its schools or work successful is consistent leadership at the top.  That consistent leadership at the top offers students in particular those from volatile environments an opportunity to know that at least for a while you know where you can go and someone knows your story.  It is further my belief that knowing a student, his family or his/her environmental story allows for accountability to develop based upon the fact “I SEE YOU.”  Inconsistent leadership oftentimes based upon over reliance of test data that has a huge level of skepticism in urban communities sends a message to those same communities and those same students that “WE” gone do what “WE” gone do and “YOU” can’t do anything about it.

Finally, what this inconsistency at the top leads to is a level of apathy that impacts parental and political involvement based upon lack of influence in any decision making process.  Not only does apathy impact parents, but I would offer it impacts student achievement as well.  Students by in large want to do well for people they know care about them and their story and that takes time.   Schools and student development are no different than any other human relationship (think 90 Day Rule).  However, when it comes to urban schools that relational development and its impact on student achievement seems to have more contingencies than true “economic recovery.” Thus leaving schools like every other institution within urban communities filled with nameless faces and irrelevant stories that do not impact the bottom line. 

That’s My Truth and I AM Sticking to It…

As I hit the customer service bell and scream NEXT...

Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen

From Dr. Dre to Paula Deen and the N-Word In Between

I like thousands of other people find Paula Deen’s words deplorable.  One would think that someone who has made a living much less an empire on the culinary skills created by African-American’s would be at least slightly socially conscious when it comes to the words that come out of their mouth.  However, the impact of her need I say social faux pas is much less impactful to me for several reasons than Dr. Dre. 

First, I never have not nor do I plan on visiting her restaurant.  Not because I don’t care for the food, but because I am a vegetarian.  And the one thing I do know is southern cuisine is not built for those of us who find delectable delight in tofu and vegetables.  There is something unappealing to me about items drizzled in bacon.

Secondly and probably more important to me is the line that has been a continuous part of the Paula Deen culinary experience since her sudden celebrity status.  I never understood nor appreciated the patience people show to stand in lines sometimes for hours to spend their money.  Call me impatient, but if I have to wait longer than 45 minutes to eat at a restaurant then it is time for Plan B. 

That being said the actions of Dr. Dre are far more impactful to me and I find much more egregious simply for their social impact.  For those who are reading this and unaware Dr. Dre recently gifted the University of Southern California $35,000,000.00. 

My issue is this Dre made millions on the backs of young African-American and Hispanic kids who purchased his records long before it was fashionable for young suburban white kids to own hip hop records.  It was those same kids who espoused to live the often times fictions gangster life that is talked about in Dre’s work.  Furthermore, it those very same kids that when they can’t get into USC (19% African-American and Hispanic enrollment) or any other SC for that matter they find themselves at the doors of HBCU’s or other minority serving institutions.  Who subsequently mold them into being real doctors and lawyers, etc. 

This is not to say Dr. Dre can’t spend HIS money as he sees fit, I simply find his actions more harmful to the outcomes of African-Americans than Paula Deen’s words.  Dre’s lyrics have consequences that have had a lasting impact on the collective consciousness of millions of young African-Americans and Hispanics and have thus created a culture that finds value in their prison experience, their over sexualized behavior and their out of control drug use. 

Finally, while Paula Deen words may hurt Dre’s actions hurt worse because not only does he call African-American’s the N word, but he also spends his money to make other communities better in the process.

Therefore, no Paula Deen for me and no Beats by Dre for my nephews.

That’s my Truth and I AM sticking to it…

I AM

Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen