I'm with you, Big Mick. My Grandson (who is black, Pa-Sha) is 13, getting straight A's, has been nominated for the National Honor Society, is a 2nd level black belt and is in the International Karate Hall Of Fame. He also volunteers at a food shelter. He's black, not negro. One of my sons (who is white) dumbed down in High school, because he was constantly ridiculed for doing well, and for his vocabulary among his all-white friends. His younger brother and I used to ride him for his suddenly poor grammar. He came out of High School with barely a C average, but impressed his friends. Now, he is a high-tech computer consultant, in high demand. He finally realized that impressing his friends was destorying his life. He got new friends, went to college and is very happily married. My other son did very well in High School and was a National Scholar. He's white, too. Let's see, that means that half of white kids dumb down to impress their peers, but black kids are honor roll students...

I was just talking to a friend of mine last night who is taking a year's leave of absence from all outside activities to spend more time with his 14 year old son, to make sure he reamins committed to getting an education and going on to college. He's black.

Mick is right... hope is the driving force for all of us, black or white. It's a lot harder to have hope when you see the discrimination and negative generalities around you. More doors still open if you're white.

Whether you meant it or not, your statements sound condescending and judgmental. An implied, ""what are black folkses coming to" attitude.
I see a lot of pride in the black community and an emphasis on education that you won't hear in rap videos. If you ahve an yserious concern about kids of any flavor rejecting school, try to do something about it. Something more than starting a thread on Mudcat..

Jerry