Directions: Critically reflect on the contextual information, your own experiences, Black and minority community needs, the social, political, educational, and economical issues in the Black community and your own thoughts and ideas. Subsequently, respond to each of the following questions in 450 or more words. The responses should be well written and sufficiently address the question but be authentic. This is an opportunity to share your own stories, evaluate the issues, and propose solutions. Think freely and write freely.
Each response should be recorded on this document, so just answer the questions on this document.
Contextual Information
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. Du Bois, both had ideas about the education the Black people.
Du Bois believed in the higher education of a “Talented Tenth” who through their knowledge and achievement in liberal education would gain for American Blacks a status of economic and political equality. On the other hand, Washington believed that Blacks as efficient and skilled workers could generally improve their economic status and eventually achieve a recognized place in society. For this reason, he proposed placing the emphasis upon training Black children and youth in the skilled trades so they would believe in the dignity of common labor and contribute to the expected Industrial Revolution in the South.
- Describe the current state of Black and minority education.
2. What knowledge do you wish you had as a part of your formal education/schooling that could be beneficial to the progression of Black and minority communities? (keep in mind i am a 22 year old black woman that experieced schooling in the bronx, new york so answer this question in my perspective)
3. Does a “talented tenth” exist and this collection of people lead Black and other minority communities forward? Why or why not? How does the idea of a talented tenth create division?
4. Reflect on the education you have been provided thus far and explain if you have been positioned to be a member of Du Bois’ talented tenth or Washington’s labor force? (keep in mind this is a black education course)
