Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson

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Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson In his book, The Miseducation of the Negro, Carter G. Woodson addresses many issues that have been and are still prevalent in the African American community. Woodson believed that in the midst of receiving education, blacks lost sight of their original reasons for becoming educated. He believed that many blacks became educated only to assimilate to white culture and attempt to become successful under white standards, instead of investing in their communities and applying their knowledge to help other blacks. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is a prime example of Woodson’s argument on “miseducated” blacks. Although Thomas benefitted from programs like affirmative action, once he reached the high point in his career he supported legislature to end such programs. Hampton University and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities must take it upon themselves to teach their students the importance of contributing to their communities once they graduate and enter into the business world. Colleges like Hampton, Howard, Spelman and Morehouse have the opportunity to produce professionals that can restructure and save the black community. Students who graduate from these institutions have the resources and knowledge that are needed to revive the African American community and their economy. Black colleges must educate their students on the need for black businesses, role models and the importance of staying connected to their culture and community. Clarence Thomas and the many blacks like him also contribute to the “class” rift in the black community. The many educated blacks who do not give back to their community are labeled as “sellouts” by their peers and family me... ... middle of paper ... ...If we learn anything for the White Man, we could at least learn about how he treats his own kind. Johnica Garrett: In order to better ourselves, we must recognize and identify the problems within our community. Once this is done, we must be willing to work on these areas. We must implement programs that encourage unity within our communities. There are rifts amongst all groups of people, but the key is to not let these divisions be apparent to your enemy. An example of this is the unity America is portraying to the rest of the world right now. Despite the many problems we have within our country, our government realizes that we must at least appear to be united in the eyes of enemy. The black community needs to grasp the importance of strategy and competition. We must try twice as hard as anyone else in school and work to prove that we are at least their equals.

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