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<p>Get real. There’s a lot more to it than this.</p>
<p>Wow, well a lot of you guys have good sides and opinions to this topic. I totally agree with Ogbu’s words though. I’m a black student and both of my parents hail from Nigeria so they both really push me on education a lot and getting A’s in school. I take all honors classes in a dominantly black/hispanic school. Most people call me “white” because of this, but I don’t understand why they think that the typical stereotype of a black girl is a ghetto hoodlum looking for boys and sex. It’s outrageous. But I know that I am highly motivated to succeed in life.</p>
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<p>There’s no other way to put it.</p>
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<p>Because all, excuse me, most African Americans are the same, think the same and have held an exclusive all African American meeting to decide that most will not think about college.</p>
<p>It’s the same for any group, PlattsburghLoser. You can ignore the statistical information for fear of over-stereotyping or you can accept the reality and work toward a solution. To interpret a generalization of a statistical group as a blanket statement of every individual member is ridiculous, and to deny the merit of statistical information is just as ridiculous.</p>
<p>If you’re accusing me, someone who wishes to improve the situation, of being racist against African Americans (funny that the author of the OP’s article also had good intentions and negative response due to over-sensitivity), I’ll let you know that I believe you can make the same statement for whites, though to a lesser extent as it’s no secret whites receive higher education to a greater degree than blacks. Consider me if you must too reliant on statistics and trends (which I cannot see how anyone could deny exist), but far from racist :)</p>
<p>I hardly stated you were racist. I simply suggested that your…notion…relied too heavily on statistics, which can easily be manipulated, have varying factors, or in some cases just plain incorrect - statistics are not law.</p>
<p>That’s fine then. I merely mentioned it as a possibility as your post didn’t quite specify what exactly you meant (sarcasm is hardly the best way to go about this) and my first paragraph still stands.</p>
<p>Well then I suppose I must be ridiculous as I deny the merit of statistical information for the reasons previously stated.
Silly me.</p>
<p>There’s really no need to be sarcastic. What exactly are you denying? Are you denying the fact that African Americans are simply not going to have the same goals as means of achieving those goals as people on a website named CollegeConfidential? This website represents a world entirely disconnected from the world of most Americans, of African descent or not. I stated African American because that’s the topic of this discussion, but it could just as easily refocus on whites.</p>
<p>You might consider reading John McWhorter’s “Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America” (I’m pretty sure that’s the title); he has a view quite similar to that of Ogbu-the reason many AAs aren’t succeeding is due to a cultural disengagement/lack of focus/priority with academics (he calls it “The Cult of Anti-Intellectualism.”) It’s a pretty good read (and covers more than just the achievement gap question.)</p>
<p>xotriish; I haven’t read all of this ( these get old), but do you really mean this?</p>
<p>Quote:
If African Americans thought like Africans, they would do well. period. </p>
<p>There’s no other way to put it.</p>
<p>Are you saying all “Africans” are alike? That ALL thoughts of ALL Africans lead to doing well? Don’t mean to belabor this, but do you really want to go along with that streaotype? I have been to Nigeria. Did a medical school rotation there. Are you saying it’s all good? I know we are sort of talking about school here, but schooling and culture are intimately related.</p>
<p>I’m a sarcastic person. I enjoy sarcasm. Nobody is forcing you to read my sarcastic pixels. </p>
<p>In any case, I’m beginning to question whether it’s worth wasting my sarcasm on you any further as everything I have written you have successfully managed to misconstrue and run with it.</p>
<p>I have not denied anything in regards to African Americans. I have said (now a wonderful three times) that statistics mean little to me. I can ask one man whether he likes mushrooms, if he says yes, I can now say that 100% of men polled like mushrooms without revealing how many I’ve questioned. Hence, there are several outside factors that can affect a statistic.
I don’t believe I can spell my position out any clearer. </p>
<p>I have not stated an opinion on the plight of African Americans, only that you, as well as several posters here continue to cite statistics for your reasonings. I would enjoy it if somebody could cite something that does not rely on the manipulable sources. </p>
<p>Secondly, I don’t recall suggesting, saying, implying, that the average African American, or even the average student is comparable to the lovable contributers to College Confidential.</p>
<p>I second Shrinkrap’s questions…</p>
<p>I haven’t misconstrued anything: I’ve been asking questions in response to your vague and sarcastic posts. We’re on a forum to discuss, so I don’t see why there’s a problem with me attempting to find a little bit of clarity in your posts. In regard to your second point, I mentioned that in response to your original criticism where you quoted my statement that few African Americans have the aspirations of CCers. But I understand now exactly what you meant, so thank you for clearing that up.</p>
<p>xotriish; I just noticed your female. Surely their must be SOME values you would change!</p>
<p>BTW, I am just thinking of Nigeria here; don’t get me started on all the countries we are leaving pout. For all my fellow Black cc’ers…I hate doing this in “public”.</p>
<p>As an African guy who is going to a “top” college, here’s my input:</p>
<p>Whenever I see African people speak in almost a condescending manner about African-Americans, I’m always reminded of that cross-eyed, self-hating black guy from the Boondocks. It’s ridiculous to have to have such divisiveness. It’s pretty sad (and ironic) when minorities try to make these types of distinctions amongst THEMSELVES. </p>
<p>I used to exhibit those tendencies when I was 13 - 14, and I live in New York City. Through my own introspection, I realized that it’s self-destructive. Now, I’m not here preaching for Black unity, because for one, it’s more of a culture issue, and I’m too mellow to care, anyway. Being immersed in so many cultures here, I’ve able to forge my own path—I wasn’t trying to be “Black” or “White”—just myself. So, whether I’m playing basketball or practicing jazz guitar, it’s not because I’m trying to live up to some ridiculous conception of culture/race.</p>
<p>How about this for an outrageous statement. </p>
<p>If All African American’s had Barack Obama’s attitude towards school, there would be no academic achievement gap in school.</p>
<p>Ogbu is saying something important. There is a pathology in African American society that is sabotaging young African American’s academic success. This same pathology is NOT sabotaging black students from Africa, and the Carribean.</p>
<p>Book reviews on Ogbu’s articles, are the first posting of this string or posting number 16…</p>
<p>If someone wants to read for themselves what Ogbu has said about African American under performance in schools.</p>
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<p>Barack Obama is a truly exceptional example. All races should strive to be like him.</p>
<p>Yes, it would be helpful if all races worked harder in school.</p>
<p>but as Ogbu has said, that is a problem faced more often by middle and upper middle class African Americans that middle or upper middle whites or Asians.</p>
<p>Read posting #16 to better understand what I mean…</p>