The+Steele-Factory

Arright everyone, here's the essay. For those of you who stumble across this page, feel free to make any edits you think should be made, but make edits in brackets, with red font.

= __Ambitions of an Afrocentric School__ =

=== In the fall season of 2009, the first black-focused, [|Afrocentric], school is set to open under the Toronto District School Board. This school system, which some consider to be reminiscent of the segregated schools of so many years ago, is intended to be a remedy for the 40 per cent dropout rate of Toronto’s black teenagers (Brown; CBC). This astonishing rate is an increase from the 13 per cent of black teens not graduating high school in 1997 (Sound Vision). The parents and teachers lobbying for this Afrocentric school understand that it is a big risk and will not be accepted by all, but with big risk may come big return: It is a brazen paradigm shift from the common school systems, but the common system is resulting in undue dropouts. There are already sceptics of the new program even though it has yet to open: Critics believe that the school is a step back from Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and other civil rights leaders’ struggle for desegregation and equality. Although Malcolm X and Dr. King had different approaches – one believed in nonviolence in all situations while the other believed in achieving goals by any means – they did strive for similar goals; a better quality of life for minorities. The black-focused school system has been compared to other specialized institutions, such as those with religious focuses, but seems to draw more negative criticism. The current school system should not be solely to blame for the dropout rate however, because the media that is internalized by many black youths does not emphasize the importance of education: In fact, it often encourages alternate lifestyles. Through criticism or support, the school will attempt to make an improvement in the academic success of black and other minority students, and it will begin in the fall of 2009. ===

=== [|Martin Luther King Jr]. and [|Malcolm X] primarily fought their civil rights bouts in the United States of America, but their struggle was not restrained within those borders. Dr. King, as a prominent minister in Alabama, centered his goal of black and white integration on a nonviolent method. This perspective stems from his optimistic belief that justice is best achieved through love (Cone, 61). Based on Dr. King’s beliefs, it can be gathered that he would be against the Afrocentric school system. ===

=== Although the school is not intended to segregate student, it has an emphatic focus on black students and their success. Donna Harrow, a community activist, has stated that supporters did not propose a school restricted to black students, teachers or curriculum (Brown); Harrow pleads, “ Let us stop it. This is a school where all people could come and get support. No one said little white children could not go there.” The lingering memory of the segregated South has closed the minds of the negative critics, so much so that they would not consider the black-focused system: Harrow considers segregation an “old” attitude. Dr. King would be opposed to this system as well, despite Harrow’s beliefs that it is unrelated to the Civil Rights struggle against segregation, because he believed that “human beings were created for community with each other and not for separation from each other... Segregation is evil, and I cannot ... condone evil” (Cone, 63). The school is planned to teach from an Afrocentric perspective, to help black students improve, and King always strived for equality and balance. Dr. Martin Luther King’s nonviolent approach was utilized through the organization of marches, most notably the “[|March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom]” which slated the “passage of the Kennedy Administration’s civil rights legislative package” (Cone, 82). Although Malcolm X desired the same ends as Dr. King, however, he believed nonviolence was synonymous with passivity and compliance. Malcolm believed that one’s anger should not be suppressed. === === Malcolm X revealed the hypocrisy behind King’s nonviolence philosophy as an aspect of false consciousness (Sales, 168). Regardless of the numerous crowds and attention that Martin Luther King’s nonviolent rallies attracted, Malcolm though that violence from police and critics of his goals for freedom should be defended against by similar means. He was an advocate for self-defence. Being an opposite of Dr. King in many ways, Malcolm’s beliefs would lead to him accepting the black-focused school system; he would be against whoever opposed the school. [|Dalton McGuinty], Ontario’s Premier, voiced concerns, stating that he “does not support the idea of schools for one group of students, while excluding others” (CBC), and thus, Malcolm would have criticized him. Malcolm would have considered McGuinty’s dissent as resistance against the freedom of black people to excel and improve their own lives, which is the intention of the school. He was adamant in his desire for the youth and students to educate themselves, as he recognized “a potential for change in youth and students... If [people] were ever going to change, it would first be seen in students” (Sales, 169). ===

=== Throughout his struggle for freedom, Malcolm was commonly thought to be against all white people, but that is a fallacy: He expressed his oppression to those whom oppressed him and his goals, and cleared rumours of this hatred by saying: “Don’t call me anti-white because I tell you what I think. I’m not anti-white because I say America made a slave out of my father” (Cone, 305). The Afrocentric school system was conceived as a method of improving black students through education, which would diversify their future opportunities and improve their lives: Malcolm supported education. As an intellectual himself, he challenged every youth to base their lives on a solid foundation of intellect (Sales, 207). However, in today’s society, academic pursuits are often rivalled by media distractions. ===

=== A stark difference made to the Afrocentric school is the African American historical and cultural focus, although history class is not commonly considered a solid foundation on which to build future success. The school system is an ambitious venue to initiate a black-improvement plan, but the detrimental effect of media marketed toward black youth may not have been considered by the school supporters. The media portray ideal black lifestyles in music videos, and the apparently effortless success of athletes or actors: Through this, education is neglected and herein lays the problem. Rap and hip-hop culture especially has increased its violent and sexual content. Lyrics in these songs often encourage fast money, and the attainment of it by any means necessary. Negative, easy lifestyles are being glorified. In fact, the [|2008 BET Hip-Hop Award’s]people’s choice artist was [|Lil Wayne], a prominent rapper in the music industry, for his song “[|A Milli].” Voters and listeners choose to perpetuate the attitude portrayed by lyrics such as: “... my seconds, minutes, hours go to the all mighty dollar... /A million here, a million there/ Sicilian [chick] with long hair with [cocaine] in her derriere...” The lyrical content, as well as characters and objects placed in music videos, is emphatically marketed toward black youth, though it is not restricted to them. The young, black generations have been immersed in this hip-hop culture, internalizing these lyrical myths and ideals, and “those who watched ... rap videos ... [held] more negative views on the likelihood of succeeding through academic pursuits” (Copley). Perhaps more domestic control should be exercised, rather than creating another venue for students with like interests, often with like backgrounds, to discuss this media. ===

=== This year, 2009, has exuberantly been marked as a year the change. Black people have gained more attention, due to the election of America’s 44th president, Barack Obama: With this attention has come great responsibility, and several concerned parents and staff have considered it their responsibility to improve the lives of black teenagers by creating a black-focused, Afrocentric school. It has failed to earn the endorsement of one Ontario politician, but community activist Grace Edward Galabuzi that plans will commence without endorsement, after all, McGuinty is entitled to an opinion (CBC). Critics foresee the fall of 2009 as a flashback to the segregated South and the resurgence of a condition that the late Civil Rights leaders fought against, and died for, for many years. Supporters, however, see the fall season as a chance to give the black youth a better life. ===

Works Cited Brown, Louise, and Brett Popplewell. "Board okays black-focused school." __TheStar.com__. 30 Jan. 2008. 01 Feb. 2009 . Carter, Dwayne. "A Milli." By Lil Wayne. MP3. Bangladesh, 2008. CBC. "Lobby group says black-focus school will go ahead." __CBC.ca__. 07 Feb. 2008. 01 Feb. 2009 . CBC. "Your View - Toronto: Black-focused schools." __CBC.ca__. 30 Jan. 2008. 01 Feb. 2009 . Cone, James H. __Martin and Malcolm and America : A Dream or a Nightmare__. New York: Orbis Books, 1991. Copley, Jennifer. "Rap Music's Psychological Effects: Research into Mood, Behavior, Crime, Violence and Gender Relations." __Cognitive Psychology @ Suite101.com__. 08 May 2008. 03 Feb. 2009 . Dyson, Michael Eric. __Making Malcolm : The Myth and Meaning of Malcolm X__. New York: Oxford UP, 1995. Sales, William W. __From Civil Rights to Black Liberation : Malcolm X and the Organization of Afro-American Unity__. New York: South End P, 1994. Sound Vision. "STATISTICS ON TEENS." __Islamic Information & Products - SoundVision.com__. 02 Feb. 2009 .

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