How to Reach Black Boys: Scribe vs Champion
On Tuesday evenings, there is an intriguing Twitter chat centered on the education of today’s youth. The discussion is similar to those populated by many educator driven online dialogues – achievement, parent engagement and school resources – have been given a spotlight. However, these chats are slightly different because they are committed to unraveling the challenges which have been griping the urban communities. How does street violence, the influence of media and incarceration impact the social maturation and academic development of the African American learner? Digging deeper, how do we reach black Boys who are growing up in a culture that can on one hand emasculate them and then at the same time hyper-sexualize them? The messages within the music and movies they watch are heavily imbued with symbols of machismo…aka sawgger. When reared in single family homes, they are appointed ‘the man of the house’ at very young ages. And yet, as they engage in society outside of their familial and peer spheres, such as schools and other public places, they are ‘boys.’
Several years ago, I heard a radio news announcement in which a former student was being sought for attempted rape. I froze. I knew this young man when he was no older than 12 years of age and now at the age of 17, his life was spiraling out of control. Or was it? Perhaps, that trajectory started long before that news announcement and had been occurring when he sat in our sixth grade class. As a classroom educator, what is our role in connecting our black boys to their best selves and to ensure that their future paths are not relegated to attaining the most swagger and continuing a cycle of poverty and crime? I believe that if we continue to believe that schools serve the purpose of just training our children academically, we will continue to lose the fight. Our young black men are seeking to find self-validation and purpose and we have the ability to do that if look beyond just teaching to the test and checking off the standards on our list. By imparting culturally relevant curriculum, our young men have touch points to assist in their development.
My question, if our young men have to choose, which theme would they identify with most – The Champion, an athlete dedicated to sports; or The Scribe, a writer who uses words and lyrics to express their thoughts? We are looking for people to weigh in on social media. Leave a comment on our Facebook page and share your thoughts.