Forum to address black success gap

This is what I am talking about! Finding solutions to overcome the obstacles. I am glad this is being addressed.

One question: Why aren't there any blog postings to the articles that are positive or about working to create positive change? You start to wonder why Vallejo is in its current condition.

Erika,
Its about time they start doing something positive, I hope they talk about how they can deal with all the violence that they commit on society on a daily basis. But I'm sure we will hear how its not there fault or they have been done wrong.
Its all about education, once one has an education they can do whatever they want regardless of color.

This a wonderful event, I am 45 years old w/2 school aged children; also Mr. Adkins was the principal at my Elementary school; I definitely plan to attend the event and share the info with my friends.

JcWhipple wrote:

Erika,
Its about time they start doing something positive, I hope they talk about how they can deal with all the violence that they commit on society on a daily basis. But I'm sure we will hear how its not there fault or they have been done wrong.
Its all about education, once one has an education they can do whatever they want regardless of color.

Wow, that was so not what I was talking about when I mentioned responding to the more positive articles in the paper. You represent everything that is wrong with Vallejo. Go spread your poison somewhere else.

JcWhipple wrote:

Erika,
Its about time they start doing something positive, I hope they talk about how they can deal with all the violence that they commit on society on a daily basis. But I'm sure we will hear how its not there fault or they have been done wrong.
Its all about education, once one has an education they can do whatever they want regardless of color.

I hear you.
Suspect is
Black male 18-25 with a hoody
Not being a racist. Just stating facts
OK, now let me hear it folks.

This sounds like a wonderful program and I hope they teach the kids that they are not entitled to anything - that it takes hard work to get ahead.

2 nights ago at 7:30 p.m. my doorbell rang and it was the kid from next door - probably around 12-14 years old. He told me that he needed to raise some money by Thursday and would I help. I told him that I don't just hand out money but if he would like to come over this weekend to do some yard work (rake leaves, pull weeds, plant flower bulbs, etc.) and it was o.k. with his parents, I would pay him. He got all snippy and said "Do it yourself" and stomped off.

Erika,
I represent everything that is real, the poison just might be in your pants.

Erika, this will be a good event. I attended a Life Skills 411 presentation last year at Hogan and the thing that impressed me most were the black men that were there. So many of these guy's are straight up gentlemen and you could tell how well respected they were among the black community that was there. I just can't figure out where the disconnect is happening with the kids when they get to school. Somehow if Vallejo schools can tap into the strength in the black community, they would have a good partnership. I hope Dr. Bull and her team can put something together.

Erika,
I apologize for that comment, I have been negative about a few issues and I have to admit I sound just like what you said. Please accept my apology.

Erika wrote:

<quoted text>
Wow, that was so not what I was talking about when I mentioned responding to the more positive articles in the paper. You represent everything that is wrong with Vallejo. Go spread your poison somewhere else.

"...African-American males make up 62 percent of the nation's prison population, but only 7 percent of the U.S..." I really get tired of hearing that quote over and over again. Is the author suggesting that these people don't really belong in jail because they are black? Or somehow it isn't their fault they are in jail? It's called personal responsiblity, and these prison bound people (regardless of their skin color)choose to do things that put them in jail, so quoting statistics like don't tell the whole story and is in itself a futile - racist attempt to gain some type of benifits or advantage for these people criminal behavior.

David you must not be black. Some friends of mine conducted and experiment. One black drove down a certain street and waved to every white person he saw and nobody waved back. The squentched their eyes trying to see who he was and why he was waving. One white drove down the same street and waved and every white person he saw and all but one waved back. Blacks are a suspect before they even commit a crime. Tell me you don't really believe that there are no innocent people locked up. Our stats are the way they are because of our history!! You can't ignore it!!

Spen wrote:

<quoted text>
I hear you.
Suspect is
Black male 18-25 with a hoody
Not being a racist. Just stating facts
OK, now let me hear it folks.

Are you sure it's not black-white-mexican-philipino with a hoodie on ? What is wrong with the way you were raised ? Come outside sometime , your comments might sound different.

well said ORIGINAL V-TOWN it could be any body in a hoody crime is E.O.E take care ORIGINAL V-TOWN

I have seen many of my former students benefit from the Willie B. Adkins project. This is a wonderful opportunity for young, serious minded highschool students. It is also an opportunity for their parents to become more saavy about enrollment and students loans. It teaches parents and kids to be more pro-active about their educational rights. Bravo to all of those who volunteer their time at at Willie B! However, I would like to see a similar program that reaches out to all students: Latino, Filipino, Indian, white and ALL students. There are many kids out there who are bright and talented and just do not have the correct information about applying to college. I am curious however, what will the agenda include? Bill Cosby seems to chastise young black urban youth. Hugh B. Price is the former president of the Urban League. He has a book out there (oldie, but a goodie) that talks about the same issues that we are talking about right now: how do we encourage and support young urban youth and compete with the "get it quick w/out working too hard ethic?" I am reading these comments and it is bothersome to see people attacking one another-let's be on the same side=providing a postive educational opportunity for our youth!

people wrote:

David you must not be black. Some friends of mine conducted and experiment. One black drove down a certain street and waved to every white person he saw and nobody waved back. The squentched their eyes trying to see who he was and why he was waving. One white drove down the same street and waved and every white person he saw and all but one waved back. Blacks are a suspect before they even commit a crime. Tell me you don't really believe that there are no innocent people locked up. Our stats are the way they are because of our history!! You can't ignore it!!

Have that "white person" drive down a "certain" street in Vallejo and see what the response would be. It isn't about being suspect, it is about not being welcome. Fix that and you just solved the world's problems.

I have a question how come when some one made a comment in the section about the clerk who was killed told about some crime statistics saying that African-Americans make up a larger group committing crimes and that individual stated I am only stating statistics he was blasted by another person as racist.

But there is Forum to address black success gap addressing underprivileged African-Americans. And I take a quote from the article in the Times-Herald
“A growing achievement gap for African-American students has resulted in lower graduation rates and higher dropout rates, group members say. Increased suspensions, violence and expulsions are other symptoms of the problem, organizers say. African-American males make up 62 percent of the nation's prison population, but only 7 percent of the U.S. population, they say.”
Why can those people make that statement about that group of people but when someone else makes a mention of the facts and statistics they are a racist.
Just curious

Critical I read your experiment and on one hand I can see your point. I grew up in Vallejo and new which parts of Vallejo to go into and which parts to tread lightly if you will. But I live in the country and people out there are friendly and wave regardless of race or color of skin I have noticed on my own that going to major cities the attitude of people are totally different and thus I see your test result. What I am trying to say is it may be the are in question.
Just a thought

Forgive the loss of thought what I ment to say is people in the country vs attitude of people in the city

Critical wrote:

<quoted text>
Have that "white person" drive down a "certain" street in Vallejo and see what the response would be. It isn't about being suspect, it is about not being welcome. Fix that and you just solved the world's problems.

This is true. There are historic places in Vallejo, where I know I am not welcome, kumbayah

The book "Laying Down the Law", Joe Clark and Joe Picard, tells a remarkable story of a high school turn around in the 1980's in a majority black district in New Jersey. This book is available on Amazon for a few bucks and is a must read on this topic. I think Bill Cosby’s message is inspired in part by the success of Joe Clark. Joe Clark is a true American hero!