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Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1567
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 03:00 am: | 
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Oprah's `truth' shouldn't hurt
By Clarence Page
WASHINGTON -- Oprah Winfrey's poke at the short-sighted materialism of some of America's low-income students has delighted conservative commentators, but that doesn't mean she's wrong.
Liberals love to speak "truth to power," but the powerless need to hear the truth too. Knowledge, after all, is power. Don't keep it to yourself, I say. Spread it around.
That's why the Queen of Daytime Talk did poor folks a favor when she candidly explained in a recent Newsweek interview why she decided to build the lavish $40 million Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls for impoverished teenagers in South Africa instead of in an American city. South Africa's students, she said, had a greater need and appreciation for education.
"I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools [in America] that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn't there," she said. "If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school."
Having reported from South Africa at various times since the 1970s and as the parent of a teenager, I agree with Winfrey. She's not blaming the victims. Our kids are a reflection of us, their parents. Kids don't know anything except that which they are taught by parents, peers, teachers and other role models. My folks didn't even need college degrees to know that, as they let me know on a daily basis.
Yet, these sentiments sound so politically incorrect these days that it is easy to understand why Fox News Channel's John Gibson sounded shocked--Shocked!--at Winfrey's quote. "Uhh, just asking, but can anybody else in America say that and get away with it?" he opined.
And Rush Limbaugh responded with similar astonishment. "This is quite Cosby-esque of the Oprah," he said, approvingly. That, of course, was a direct reference to Bill Cosby. The Cos sparked a backlash from some quarters for lashing out at parents who buy their kids overpriced gym shoes instead of assisting them with their homework.
Indeed, there were some critics who accused Cosby (incorrectly, in my view) of blaming the victims. But having paid close attention to the reactions Cosby has received, I have heard more positive than negative responses from black parents and from educators of all races. But, to conflict-driven news media, it's conflict that sells. The same Cosby-esque frenzy has swirled up in recent days around Herman Badillo. Badillo, 77, the first native-born Puerto Rican elected to Congress, is being criticized for writing in his new book, "One Nation, One Standard," that too many of his fellow Hispanic-Americans are stuck in poverty because they don't value education.
"Education is not a high priority in the Hispanic community," wrote Badillo. "Hispanic parents rarely get involved with their children's schools. They seldom attend parent-teacher conferences, ensure that children do their homework or inspire their children to dream of attending college."
Unfortunately, Badillo is right and not only about Hispanics. Indifference to education is unfortunately epidemic across racial and ethnic lines, and it is particularly damaging to the poor. For earlier waves of immigrants to America, unskilled jobs were much more plentiful. Upward mobility for most of today's kids already requires at least a couple of years of schooling beyond high school.
Yet, instead of discussing the points Badillo raises, many will try to shout him down. Bronx Democratic leader Jose Rivera already has blasted Badillo in a New York Post interview as being a "total insult" to Latino parents. That's OK, Badillo says. He wanted to stir up a dialogue. The controversy will help him sell a few more books too. Puerto Ricans certainly are not the only Americans who need to read it.
With that in mind, I don't mind the lavishness of Oprah's academy, which has come under fire from critics on the right and the left. Sure, the $40 million could have serviced at least 10 times more South African students in more modest structures. But, alas, why shouldn't bright and promising future African leaders have a learning environment at least as nice as that enjoyed by the Ivy League elites who populate America's leadership class?
We want our kids to appreciate education. We should follow Oprah's example and fix up the crumbling structures into which we herd too many of our students here at home. If we want our kids to appreciate education, we grown-ups have to show some respect for it too.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 7930
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 06:40 am: |
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Ntfs,
BLACK native of CHICAGO Clarence Page is a (Pulitzer Prize winning) columnist for and is on the editorial board of the vaunted CHICAGO Tribune newspaper.
Oprah is CHICAGO's most powerful media figure and most wealthy & famous BLACK citizen.
So an article like this is to be expected. |
Kola_boof
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 4110
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 08:09 am: |
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Well, Clarence Page has also defended me, so I'm partial. 
*Yawning/not up yet.
Gotta fix breakfast so ignore me.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 7937
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 08:34 am: |
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Kola,
Page appears to be a great guy (though, admittedly, I'm not a impressed with his writing as I feel I should be). I'm just saying nowayinDEEHELL one member of Chicago's Black Media Glitterati (Page) is going to speak cross about its BRIGHTEST member (Oprah).
The shyt just AIN'T gon' be done. |
Kola_boof
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 4114
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 09:25 am: |
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HaHa!!! ABM
you're crazy
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 7938
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 10:10 am: |
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Kola,
Yeah. I know. Hahahaha!!!
But, seriously. You probably have to know something about the inner workings of Chi-Town to reall feel what I mean. |
Yukio
Veteran Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 1607
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 10:47 am: |
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i think Page is a fool, as is Oprah! So she has misrepresented an entire population of poor kids in the US, and this is correct?
Of course, they want games, sneakers, etc...but does that mean they don't value education...this is the US...you can't shit w/o a commercial trying to sell you something...isn't that what she does on her show...give a way shit? Dumb ass.... |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 7945
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 11:04 am: |
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Yukio: "i think Page is a fool, as is Oprah!...Of course, they want games, sneakers, etc...this is the US...you can't shit w/o a commercial trying to sell you something...isn't that what she does on her show...give a way shit? Dumb ass...."
Hahahahaha!!! Lookit young buck trynah peel off on on a mofo! |
Libralind2
Regular Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 449
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 11:34 am: |
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Yukio I usually agree with you on most topics but having worked with the kids that Oprah is talking about..not in Chi-Town but in Ohio, I have to say there is some merit to what she says. I too was outraged when I first read her words but I took a step back and thought about it. First of all, do we have any stats that show that our kids would not ask for material items over clothes for school or any of those material items thrown out in articles. I would suggest like everyone else has stated that items like IPods and the like are IN THE FACE of kids DAILY so Im saying we shouldnt "jump on" Oprah but talk to kids and ask them if given the choice..which would they choose..? My own grands as "smart" as they are, would NOT choose a scholarship over a 360 Playstation. They are KIDS.
LiLi |
Enchanted
Veteran Poster
Username: Enchanted
Post Number: 651
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 11:59 am: |
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Dont try to tell him anything lili theyr hardheaded and what they want to think of Oprah is set it has nothing to do with these articles. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 3045
Registered: 01-2006
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 12:06 pm: |
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I'm not sure if people are missing the point. Oprah pushes these things upon people (thru her "Favorite Things" show, her magazine ads, commercials, audience freebies, etc.), and then she turns around and harps on them for wanting/acquiring them. I think that's the beef some of us have with Oprah's latest comments.
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Enchanted
Veteran Poster
Username: Enchanted
Post Number: 653
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 12:42 pm: |
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Thats true Mzuri and i didnt think of that but I cant deny you there. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 6804
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 01:38 pm: |
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Well, having articulated the problem with American black kids, that great omnipotent, omniscient Oprah should've tried to remedy the situation in her own country by offering the incentive of attending a lavish, state-of-the-art academy replete with all the accutrements of "materialism" for the ambitious, motivated, young blacks who exist in this country. Oprah chose the pupils for her school by an elaborate screening process in order to glean the cream of the crop among young women in South Africa. She could've done the same thing in this country but the fanfare would'nt have been enough to elevate her to the status of savior. |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1571
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 02:43 pm: |
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"Yukio I usually agree with you on most topics but having worked with the kids that Oprah is talking about..not in Chi-Town but in Ohio, I have to say there is some merit to what she says. I too was outraged when I first read her words but I took a step back and thought about it. First of all, do we have any stats that ...........Oprah but talk to kids and ask them if given the choice..which would they choose..? My own grands as "smart" as they are, would NOT choose a scholarship over a 360 Playstation. They are KIDS."
I agree. I have a very good friend who has taught in the San Diego school district for 20 years and she can confirm what Orpah said. She has also taught in Edinburgh, Scotland. Now she teaches in the Oakland public schools and I tell you right now that her stories sound like a veteran describing a fire fight in the streets of Fallujah! It's that bad! Her stories are so depressing now and I think they are taking their toll on her because her tone and spirit are longer upbeat and positive as they once were. The kids are out of control and their parents are negligent and irresponsible. She had never seen it on a scale like this until she moved to Oakland.
Black people recoiled in hysterical denial and defensive race pride at her comments -but they are true. In fact, I talked to her last night and she had just gotten home at 7PM because of a situation involving a child and the parents. She was one second away from calling CPS. This is not to say this particular issue is exclusive to only black inner city children (because it is not), but it is something that any honest person cannot over look nor completely deny. And yes, I know Oprah is the poster child for hatin' on this board and I know that I am not a charter member of the Death to Oprah think tank, but there was truth in what she said. And I don't even like her.
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Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3415
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 10:57 am: |
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Clarence is such a wuss. If you ever get sent to jail request him as your cellmate. |
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