A New Black Afrikan American Education Agenda That Empowers Us
By
I must first acknowledge the efforts of our ancestors and those currently involved in the struggle to liberate the minds and behinds of Black Afrikan People in America, Afrika and the World. I am a graduate of Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 1990 and Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1992 with degrees in Social Work. I am an entrepreneur, working to develop innovative products and services that I can manufacture and sell for profit. My company is developing an innovative transportation system concept, entertainment and arts products, social service programs, a new energy system concept, consumer safety products and new computer technologies.
My conscious allows me to understand my history before the enslavement process, the horror of the middle passage, the brutality by White People upon my ancestors. I am keenly aware of the social and political games and policies that have been and are being used by both political parties to help maintain Black Afrikan American in their current conditions.
As a result of being exposed to the truth, I have learned to love my people, Afrika and myself. I was exposed to many truths through the teachings, writings and lectures of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Dr. W. E. B. DuBois, Fredrick Douglas, Chancellor Williams, Paul Robeson, Pastor Ray Hagins, Dr. Claud Andersons, Marcus M. Garvey, Dr. John Henrik Clark, Dr. Asa Hilliard, Dr. Maulana Karenga, Mba Mbulu, Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin L. King, Charles Finch, Professor James Small, Drs. Rosalind and Leonard Jeffries, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, Kamau Kambon, Amos N. Wilson, William (Bill) Moss, Dr. Alvin Poussant, Lerone Bennett, Jr., Dr. Molefi K. Asante, James Baldwin, Dr. Cornel West, Dr. Ivan Sertima, Richard Wright, Oba T’shaka, Langston Hughes, Gyasi A. Foluke, Neely Fuller Jr. and many, many others. These are some of our brightest thinkers and intellectuals who have written, lectured and provided the information that should be taught by HBCUs to systematically create millions of Conscious Black Afrikan Students. All of our children must be systematically exposed to their research, lectures and teachings starting at preschools and continuing through high schools, but especially at Historical Black Colleges and Universities. Why? The answer is simple! When you love yourself and your people, you will engage in that behavior, which uplifts and empowers them.
The Problem with HBCUs
Many HBCUs have been historically under-funded and have suffered from a lack of a serious Black Empowerment Agenda for their students. They have failed to program into their students and alumni a sense of collective Black Unity and Purpose. If this were implemented successfully, it would enable many of us to financially support them.
The Analysis
On every HBCU Campus, exist future inventors and creative geniuses like Imhotep, Dr. George Washington Carver, Elijah McCoy, Garret Morgan, Jan E. Mazeliger, Grandville T. Woods, Donald Cotton, Dr. Charles Drew, Benjamin Banneker, Lonnie Johnson and many others.
A Great Black Afrikan once said, “It is foolish for Black Afrikan American People to allow their historically oppressors (White People) to educate their Children and expect them to educate them sufficiently enough, to complete against White Children for jobs, wealth and power in a capitalistic society in which they want to maintain control.” The failure of Black Afrikan People was and is systematically planned, implemented and maintained. If you examine your community today, you would see the results of those plans. The current educational agenda at many HBCUs was established, approved or under funded by whites people. That’s why HBCUs have only a few Medical Schools, Law School, Engineering School and MBA Schools. Our education system must serve to empower and uplift the masses of Black Afrikan American People. HBCUs must begin to prepare their students to help their people compete in a global economy.
We must regain control over the education of our children and set a new agenda that seeks to uplift and empowerment them. We are the most innovative and creative people on this planet. We have everything we need to change our present conditions and prepare for a new future. Our method of education must be redesigned, especially on an elementary, high school and collegiate level. It must create conscious Black Students who understand their history, culture and the needs of their people. They must be given skills and a mentality of self-love and self-empowerment.
The Solution
What I propose is a New Empowerment Agenda for HBCUs that will allow them to harness and focus the collective energy and efforts of their Black Afrikan Students toward self-love, self-uplift and self-empowerment. As a result, their students and Black Afrikan American Community help them become more financially stable. HBCUs Students must focus on creating businesses that employ our people, rather than graduating and becoming a part of the labor force.
HBCUs must create the condition and environment that allow students to develop new products and services that lead to professional, manufacturing and business opportunities that they own and control. This strategy should include the collaboration between HBCUs through Partnership Agreements, which will allow their students and professors to share equipment and technology that benefits each university. Some of our Black Universities have people with ideas, but no equipment or capital to develop the ideas.
HBCUs must systematically teach Black Afrikan Students to love themselves by exposing them to many of the teachings of the Great Black Afrikan Thinkers. They must be taught to work together for the empowerment of each other. This process can only be achieved through creating Conscious Black Afrikan American Students who understand their history, culture and purpose.
HBCUs must shift their focus from graduating students seeking employment, to students creating employment opportunities for themselves, their communities and people. Students must have the opportunity to help their universities generate wealth through entrepreneurship. HBCUs must create business agreement with their participating students that offer a 50/50 Student Partnership Agreement, whereby the profits from any product or service developed at their university will be shared equally. This will provide students with a financial incentive to develop new products and service ideas.
Students must focus their knowledge toward the design, manufacturing, financial accounting, management, marketing, promoting, advertising, distribution and selling of products and services first to Black Afrikan People in America, in Afrika and then the World. Our leadership at HBCUs and every department head should work with students majoring in Arts and Science, Business and Industry, Education, International Studies, Entrepreneurship, Black Afrikan Studies, Computer Science and Technology must all be required to participate on “Entrepreneurial Teams” (ETs). These Entrepreneurial Teams must work together on projects together to produce new products and services. Any student who has an idea or concepts for a product or services should participate on these Entrepreneurial Teams, in addition to students majoring in those fields. Students majoring in Communication, English, History, Education, Drama must focus on creating consumer products like music, radio program, plays, books, screenplays, television programs, food products, games and other consumer products. Social Worker and Criminal Justice Majors must create new social services programs for our elderly, juveniles and adults released from prisons and children in foster care. Our science, engineering and chemistry majors must focus on creating new drugs, toys, soaps, lotions, medicines, new energy, transportation, communication, construction materials for housing and prepare for living and working in outer space. HBCU Students must focus on the development of Afrikan Countries and their resources for the benefit of Afrikan People.
Funding
Okay, that all sounds good, but how would it be funded? To generate venture capital funding for this New HBCU Education Agenda, alumni, students, faculty and Conscious Black People must be given the opportunity to invest $5.00 per month with those HBCUs who implement this new agenda. Their goal should be to target 10,000 Black Afrikan People. When this goal is reached, the Venture Capital Fund would generate $50,000 per month or $600,000 per year. Every student should be assessed an additional $60.00 per year with the clear understanding that those funds will be used to fund Entrepreneurial Team. If HBCUs work together, then collectively it can be achieved must faster. This new agenda would represent a radical shift in the thinking of some of our HBCU Leadership, administrators, faculty and students.
Conclusion
I have outlined a strategy for Black Empowerment in the area of Higher Education that should be implemented in January 2006. Every HBCU President, administrator, faculty and student, should implement this New HBCU Empowerment Agenda. Many Conscious Black Afrikan Americans would financially support such an agenda, if adopted by our leadership. Where there is a will, there is a way, but where there is no will, there are excuses. Anytime a HBCU President truly wants to achieve something, they will find a way. However, when they don’t want to achieve something, they will find an excuse. Reality should not be used as an excuse for not trying. Our history has been the ability to make a way out of no way. Let’s ignite the wildfire of our collective creativity and unity.
I have heard the predictions of many of our great thinkers and witness the growing problems in Black Afrikan American Communities. This is one solutions offered to empower and uplift our people.
I have also written The Quiet Resolution (TQR), which is based upon the writings of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Marcus M. Garvey, Dr. Claud Anderson and many others great thinkers. You can read it at my Web Blog at http://www.tqrbe.blogspot.com. It includes a role for those Conscious Black Afrikan People who understand the conditions of our people and want to support a national empowerment and liberation agenda. You can email me at wbsbpd88@worldnet.att.net and request a free copy of The Quiet Resolution (TQR) by email. I would welcome and enjoy your feedback, critical analysis and suggestion for improving it TQR.
Please forward this email to everyone your know. We must demand that our leaders work for our uplift and empowerment or get out of the way.
Asa' & Respect!
One Love, One People, One Goal: Black Empowerment
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4 comments:
I definitely agree with you...I wanted to go to a HBCU very bad; however, I looked at the conditions that they were in and I said No- this is not going to help me in the long run...remember college is about getting an education FIRST...then we can bring in the other social factors...so I don't blame the 75%+ African Americans choosing to go to non-HBCUs because the HBCU is its OWN PROBLEM and don't have the resources (equipment, funds, technology, etc) to help students like myself achieve at their full potential.
Besides it is a new era, it should not be the HBCU's responsibility to teach me about African American history and my identity, it is their responsibility to educate its students. African Americans need to do an "identity" check of themselves and understand their history and OTHER HISTORY as well.
What we should be focusing on for HBCUs is how they are going to be able to stay attracted to the black students in terms of academic preparation...because if you don't have what it takes then students are going to go other places and I FIND OUT WHAT IT TAKES!!
also i think HBCUs, which most wont, need to stop trying to appeal just Afro-Centric...because the world is not trying to here that...we need to learn how to embrace each other...that is why diversity is important because we get to learn about all kinds of people...no one saids that u have to agree/disagree with them but learning how to mix and mingle with all kinds of people...STILL KEEPING UR IDENTITY AS A BLACK PERSON...is the key
and HBCUS are not alone in alumuni giving and community giving....all educational instituitions, churches, family, the whole world SHOULD BE ABOUT HELPING AND SERVING MANKIND!
HBCUs MUST DO BETTER TO APPEAL THAT THEY OFFER SOMETHING...How many times do you hear African Americans attending HBCUs for the legacy, traditions, and the culture...AND NOT FOR THE EDUCATION!!!! Education should come first...then consider the other things...THAT IS WHY WE MESS UP...because most the HBCU programs are not top ranked at all so many of the students are just going often times for the legacy and traditions...but that WILL NOT LAND OR HELP GET U A JOB. LEARN ABOUT THEM AND MOST CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THEM..!!!
It is also important to EMPHASIZE BLACK PEOPLE LEARNING ABOUT OWNERSHIP IN CORPORATIONS (CEO'S, PRESIDENTS, ETC) AND EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PURSING PAST THE BACHELORS AND MASTER'S LEVEL (WE NEED TO SEE MORE PROFESSIONAL DEGREES IN ALL RESPECTED AREAS...PH.D , M.D, ETC)
I am an African American and I want to look at some of the self hating ignorant comments left by the people on this article.
Besides it is a new era, it should not be the HBCU's responsibility to teach me about African American history and my identity
When you go to a HWC, like I did, white children are taught about their Eurooean American History and Indenity. This is an ignorant and self hating comment be a clear young fool...
need to stop trying to appeal just Afro-Centric...because the world is not trying to here that
Well most white schools are Euro Centric and it appeals to all, and one thing about HBCUs they are more diverse than the large white univerities. Stop saying stuff because you think the mainstream wants to hear it you sound ignorant.
HBCUs MUST DO BETTER TO APPEAL THAT THEY OFFER SOMETHING
Man most colleges applications go up after they win a football national title game... Man please HBCUS offer allot and they tell you what they offer man this is clearly and baseless statement.
How many times do you hear African Americans attending HBCUs for the legacy, traditions, and the culture.
Im sorry but this is a statement of an idiot. White children go to the largely white colleges and universittes for the same thing LEGACY, TRADITIONS AND CULTURE... lord
Let me end this by saying, I didnt go to a HBCU. I went to the University of Alabama and the sad thing is the arguments you blacks made against HBCUs are what I believe are the fabric of many colleges. What you fail to realize is the diversity within black people. Almost every HBCU business head is a person who IS NON BLACK... In the college of business at alabama it was ALL WHITE, just like most Sr Management Jobs in America, 98% of headed by whites. You two seem to be very ignorant blacks who can do nothing more than spew empty baseless rheotric... I use to say the same ignorant things and I took my ass off to a big "diverse" university that is mostly WHITE... Its funny how ignorant blacks will make arguments against black colleges then go to all white colleges who are the very definition of their misscharacteristics of black colleges. The problem is the self hate of blacks is what driving HBCU numbers down. Most of these two idiots above me wont tell you that HBCUs are the top producers of blacks with degrees and that the rentention rate of black students at White colleges are poor. One thing about my big facny white college, its good for football and name, but as far as diversity, it wasnt diverse, it was a mostly white college, with white culture and atmopspher full of god ole boys, and before you call me a BAMA, check the rankings of the best Law School and Business Schools, when i went to other schools in the North: Penn State, Indiana i saw the same enviroments. and Alabama has more black students enrolled than UCLA and USC combined which is unreal.... Man the problem is really with the self hate of black. I will get my MBA from a HBCU because I wasted my time at a majority white colleges, because they just teach blacks how to be little worker aints for big white corporations and they ARENT DIVERSE. I had 0 black professors in the Business School, i visted an HBCU i saw professors of all different races and the student body was more diverse... I felt like a self hating sambo for thinking so little of black schools, I have no relationship with my professors and most the black kids were just trying to be accepted by whites. HBCUS just need our people to stop thinking the white mans coffee is better than ours and support our schools, then build businesses to support the graduates when they come out. I want to see a black harvard, wharton school of finance and yale, instead of blacks aping whites.
Wow, this column is old...but I do agree with your rationale for the purpose of HBCUs....but let me say this....even if one attends the top tier HBCUs...who wants to be stuck in DEBT...which messes up your credit in the long run when you don't pay them back....I live in the ATL and the HBCUs here of course are strong....Morehouse and Spelman, Clark, etc....however, I feel they are extremely overpriced compared to what they offer students...in particular African American students.
To respond to this: The problem is the self hate of blacks is what driving HBCU numbers down. Most of these two idiots above me won’t tell you that HBCUs are the top producers of blacks with degrees and that the retention rate of black students at White colleges are poor.
I think a lot of it has to deal with self-hate from our race; however, there are most COST EFFECTIVE options for African American students. Also, what good does it say to HBCUs to have an existence over 100 some years and all people know us for is our PARTYING, STEP SHOWS, GREEK LIFE, AND THE BLACK EXPERIENCE....what happened to offer the top academic programs in which college is built UPON first...then of the other goodies can be added. I feel that yes HBCUs are doing all that they can to stay alive and I WILL CONTRIBUTE TO MANY OF THEM WHEN I GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND GET A JOB. Besides, if black people loved HBCUs so much why are the retention rate piss poor and graduation rates so poor (in contrast to what you said - the highest is Spelman at 78% in 6 years...wow, 6 years) in addition we need to look at what is going on with these alumni giving rates....
In addition, there is nothing wrong with diversity. I know WE as a people are diverse – can’t white people say the same thing as well.....it just so happens that the majority race becomes the minority at a HBCU…no big deal there….What I am saying is that everyone, including white, black, etc…needs to learn how work together…that includes church, education, politics, etc. It will take everyone to help pull up HBCUs (white people, black people, etc.)
“I will get my MBA from a HBCU because I wasted my time at a majority white colleges, because they just teach blacks how to be little worker aints for big white corporations and they ARENT DIVERSE.” – SO ISN’T THE SAME THING GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU ATTEND AN HBCU….its not like you are going to come straight out of college and start yourself a business…We all have to start somewhere. You can have all the exposure to black professors, but at the end of the day you will need a job – regardless from an HBCU or PWI (it doesn’t matter). It seems like you regret going to your school – personal issues there (similar to mine though) – but I am making the best of it.
In response to this: You two seem to be very ignorant blacks who can do nothing more than spew empty baseless rheotric...
"HBCUs Need A New Empowerment Black Education Agenda" - Yes, HBCUs need to refocus their schools to offer much than the black experience. I think a lot of it has to do with how we as a people value education. Like you said, we would rather support white colleges in helping them grow instead of our own...A SHAME...thanks for your response though... Oh, and I DO NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH BLACK PEOPLE…OR SELF-HATE…I AM VERY PROUD OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR HBCUS AND STUDENTS AT NON-HBCUS..THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
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