Mocking Black History Month

[Dr. Cheese]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100304/...ry_suspensions

This story is sad to me because I teach for a living. Whatever a teacher's political philosophy is, that teacher should take curriculum seriously, and try to broaden his or her student's horizons. Offering two athletes of poor character and a drag queen as examples of Black History is a pretty obvious put down of the celebration. The fact that the teachers did it at a school that is 90% Latino in a city that has had serious problems between African Americans and Latinos is reprehensible. Any teacher who takes the profession seriously would use occassions like Black History Month, Women's History Month, Hispanic History Month, Columbus Day, etc. as a time to truly inform the students about different people instead of making fun.

[sloasdaylight]

To be fair, Rodman and The juice were both amazing in their respective sports arenas.

That being said, I definitely believe that those teachers could have picked better black Americans as role models.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

To be fair, Rodman and The juice were both amazing in their respective sports arenas.

That being said, I definitely believe that those teachers could have picked better black Americans as role models.

Seriously, I don't think kids need school to let them know that black people play football and basketball. If the teachers wanted to get into the history of race and sports at a deeper level, it would be worth doing. If those teachers actually thought they did something meaningful, they are prety poor teachers.

[sloasdaylight]

Again, to be fair; The Juice was one of the best running backs in the history of the league, and Rodman set the mold for the Power Forward position in the 90s and 00s.

Getting back onto the point though, those teachers definitely could have picked better role models.

[TrooperFarva]

I found the inclusion of Michael Jackson somewhat interesting. Several years ago, I doubt he would have been included, with his reputation as a recluse and the allegations of being a pedophile. Now that he's dead, he's generally regarded in a positive light, and his inclusion wasn't protested.

His death didn't change anything he did in his life, good or bad, so why should he be viewed any differently now that he has passed on?

[sloasdaylight]

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

I found the inclusion of Michael Jackson somewhat interesting. Several years ago, I doubt he would have been included, with his reputation as a recluse and the allegations of being a pedophile. Now that he's dead, he's generally regarded in a positive light, and his inclusion wasn't protested.

His death didn't change anything he did in his life, good or bad, so why should he be viewed any differently now that he has passed on?

It appears to be human nature, or at least the nature of the American media to continuously bring up the bad things some one did while they are alive, but instantly forget them and remember instead only the good things they did after they died.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Getting back onto the point though, those teachers definitely could have picked better role models.

IMO, it's not even about role models. Naming those three guys is just weak history period. Two athletes and singer, you have Black History program, and that's all they could come up with? If that was an honest effort, it was lazy and thoughtless.

[Dr_Funkdamental]

I agree. He should have had someone like Garrett Morgan.

[McHaven]

James Jamerson for Black History Month.

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by Dr_Funkdamental

I agree. He should have had someone like Garrett Morgan.

Now this is an example of good citizenship which should be brought to the attention of any group of school children!

Mr. Morgan's approach to problem solving displayed that balanced blend of ingenuity and compassion which forms the cornerstone of a business model in which everyone benefits.

Merit-->respect-->acceptance-->unity-->strength.

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by McHaven

James Jamerson for Black History Month.

An ENORMOUS +1!

[Munjibunga]

There's a giant flap going on out here at UC San Diego about a party, the "Compton Cookout" thrown by a bunch of knuckleheads. It was off-campus and not university sanctioned, but the school is taking the brunt of the protests over it. I'd like to see the instigators expelled permanently, but that would be violating their right to free speech, wouldn't it. At least that's the reason that no action against the perpetrators has been taken yet.

[Holy War]

This one ought to be good.

[Joey3313]

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

An ENORMOUS +1!

Didn't he die of cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism?


Yeah, great role model.

[Holy War]

Originally Posted by Joey3313

Didn't he die of cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism?


Yeah, great role model.

and off we go

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by Joey3313

Didn't he die of cirrhosis of the liver due to alcoholism?


Yeah, great role model.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jamerson

[UnsungZeros]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeixtYS-P3s

This.

[Mark Latimour]

Children from other classes at the school displayed photos of more appropriate black role models, such as Nelson Mandela

Its face palm all round....

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

In 1961, Mandela became leader of the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (translated Spear of the Nation, and also abbreviated MK), which he co-founded.[32] He coordinated sabotage campaigns against military and government targets, making plans for a possible guerrilla war if the sabotage failed to end apartheid.[33] Mandela also raised funds for MK abroad and arranged for paramilitary training of the group.[33]

Fellow ANC member Wolfie Kadesh explains the bombing campaign led by Mandela: "When we knew that we [sic] going to start on 16 December 1961, to blast the symbolic places of apartheid, like pass offices, native magistrates courts, and things like that ... post offices and ... the government offices. But we were to do it in such a way that nobody would be hurt, nobody would get killed."[34] Mandela said of Wolfie: "His knowledge of warfare and his first hand battle experience were extremely helpful to me."[10]

Mandela described the move to armed struggle as a last resort; years of increasing repression and violence from the state convinced him that many years of non-violent protest against apartheid had not and could not achieve any progress.[10][35]

Later, mostly in the 1980s, MK waged a guerrilla war against the apartheid regime in which many civilians became casualties.[33] Mandela later admitted that the ANC, in its struggle against apartheid, also violated human rights, sharply criticising those in his own party who attempted to remove statements supporting this fact from the reports of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[36]

Up until July 2008, Mandela and ANC party members were barred from entering the United States — except the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan — without a special waiver from the US Secretary of State, because of their South African apartheid regime era designation as terrorists.[37][38]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_mandela#Early_life

Not to say that ultimately the goal of the ANC (ie anti-aparthied) wasn't completely righteous, but at the end of the day, you can't ignore that this was a terrorist campaign that the US even recognised as such.

[username n/a]

****, I keep forgetting Obama's black.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Its face palm all round....



Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_mandela#Early_life

Not to say that ultimately the goal of the ANC (ie anti-aparthied) wasn't completely righteous, but at the end of the day, you can't ignore that this was a terrorist campaign that the US even recognised as such.

By that standard, America should not celebrate July 4th. Afterall, Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, et. al. started a guerilla war against a legitimate government because they didn't like the tax rates.

I don't know of any international law that says only white people get to wage wars.