As the racial social climate of America transitions into an new Era, it is imperative that the initiatives of the NAACP do so as well, or else this lack of advancement will render the NAACP obsolete.
The NAACP has been a progressive group that has fought for the equality of African American citizens throughout history. While its goals in regards to the advancement of the African American were crucial during the period of its erection, since then they have become rather dated and irrelevant to current situation of the African American.
The NAACP has been a progressive group that has fought for the equality of African American citizens throughout history. While its goals in regards to the advancement of the African American were crucial during the period of its erection, since then they have become rather dated and irrelevant to current situation of the African American.
A primary focus of the NAACP has been to abolish the “n” word from the common vocabulary. While this is a noble task to accomplish, it lacks the possibility to advance the state of the African American both socially and socioeconomically. I think that it should definitely be an issue that we attack over a long period of time, but equaling the socioeconomic and political play field holds just as much if not more in contemporary America.
More energy should go into advancing the school systems of African American ghettos. Statistics show that few African Americans graduate high school, and even fewer matriculate to college. Deconstructing the system of institutionalized racism that has been established would benefit the black community significantly more than the abolishment of the “n” word. While the “n” word holds historical derogatory significance, as an African American it’s more important to me that my community becomes more politically and socioeconomically included, as opposed to creating this perceived equality gained by completely abolishing the “n” word.
Please do not misinterpret my desire for more significant social change as a discrediting factor in the fight to abolish the “n” word. Look at this website and hopefully it will make you think twice when using the word only amongst your private circle of friends.
This is an extremely interesting topic, I absolutely agree with the idea that more emphasis should be put on advancing school systems for African Americans. But this issue of deconstructing institutional racism deserves a much closer look because it is far more intricate and complicated than simply "focusing" more attention.
ReplyDeletePublic education is tied with property tax (house tax), meaning higher valued houses and neighborhoods produce better public schools. Statistically, higher property tax reside in the suburbs and a higher proportion of White Americans than African Americans live in the suburbs. I think that this was the beginning of "institutional racism" as the self-perpetuation of better education leads to better income, leading to better housing and ultimately better education. Strategically, African Americans should just move into better neighborhoods, but that is quite ridiculous to propose, since the opposite results of better education apply to poor education.
But looking at this issue from a more micro stand point, it becomes much easier to see why this system exists. Change perspectives, if you had a family living in a affluent community sending your kids to the best public school in the country, would you really give that up or trade schools with a unknown underprivileged student? If you answered yes, the world is in need of more people like you, if you answered no, you fit in with the sweeping majority of Americans.
Saying the "n" word is something that has been an issue amongst us African Americans for a long time. I have become accustomed to hearing and using it for a very long time. Personally, I have conflicts whether African American youth, including myself, should be using it or if other non-black people should either. Not everyone uses the "n" word in a negative manner, yet should we be using it at all? I tend to shove aside that question and I "go with the flow of things instead" and in regards to the word I will "use it, but don't abuse it."
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you Derrick, as I too find that advancement through education is the ONLY way the African American community will find economic empowerment and equality. Ultimately, the NAACP needs to focus more of its resources and energy to expand education to black youth rather than focus on a word that has a subjective meaning. It is difficult to eliminate words from linguistics and thus getting rid of the word will have less of an effect than bettering education.