Do Black Children Need a High-Five from a Well-Dressed Black Man?

Black Children Need a High-Five Complaints and Criticisms of The Million Father March Million Father March Drives Best First Day Attendance Ever Support The Million Father March Links: The Black Star Project's website: blackstarproject.org Black Star Journal: blackstarjournal.org Become a Member: Click Here Make a donation: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: NewBlackMan (in Exile) Professor Lawrence Ware says, "Black Children Need More than a High-Five from a Well-Dressed Black Man" ---------------------------------------------- But Phillip Jackson says "Black Children NEED a High-Five from a WELL-DRESSED Black Man" Black Children Need More than a High-Five from a Well-Dressed Black Man By Lawrence Ware, Professor of Philosophy Oklahoma State University September 10, 2015 Professor Lawrence Ware Recently, black men lined up in suits to give high-fives and greet kids on the first day of school. These men were asked to wear business attire so that they could combat the stereotype of black men as unprofessional and thugs. Pictures and videos traveled around social media celebrating the greetings. The men were praised for their commitment to the success of black children. However, I also see this as potentially problematic for two reasons. These kids don't need a high-five from men in suits. They need advocates for policy that will improve the schools they attend. The students need someone to show up at the school board and city council pushing for changes that will combat economic inequality and educational inequity ravishing that community. I hope these men are those advocates. Otherwise, this will be little more than a highly publicized 'attaboy.' Further, there is something distasteful about the emphasis on the men being "impeccably" or "elegantly" dressed. Were the men unable to afford upper middle class attire not welcomed? Were working class men not invited? This plays into notions of respectability championed by middle class black folk as a remedy to police violence against black bodies. This is unhelpful at best and classism at worst. Either way, it is problematic. The title of the announcement was "Calling all Brothers." A call went out for men and women in Philadelphia, but that was probably because female clergy helped organize the greeting. The reason expressed by an organizer in Hartford was, "In an urban community, people say that black men [aren't] valued or there aren't enough black men doing something...I wanted to prove everyone wrong." The efficacy of this action remains to be seen. There is value in putting a smile on a child's face, but our goals must extend beyond that. Additionally, I want to push back against the notion that black men are not valued in the black community. It seems like all I hear is the need for black men to be in the lives of black children, and how, if these men were more active, the neighborhoods would benefit. I'm not denying this is true, but it speaks to the value placed upon men in these communities. Further, in the same way that there is a need for male students to see successful black men, there is also a need for female students to see successful black women. Black men are not the only victims of misrepresentation in the media. More troubling, a few women reported that they were discouraged from attending the greeting in Boston. This participates in the history of black men marginalizing black women that goes back to the civil rights era and beyond. The intention behind these greetings is commendable, but the kids need more than a feel-good moment. I hope the black men that attended will also show up for the kids when policy is discussed at the next school board meeting...and that time the suits can be optional, but inviting black women should be mandatory. Click Here to Read Full Article You may contact Professor Ware at lawrence.ware@okstate.edu Complaints and Criticisms of The Million Father March When Black men start criticizing other Black men for helping Black children, we have sank to new levels of despair! Questions and comments that I have heard and read about the Million Father March along with answers by me.- Phillip Jackson Question: Who do these men think they are and what do they think they are doing? Answer: They think they are Black men and the fathers of these children, and they know they have a responsibility to educate and nurture their children. Question: Why they got to all wear suits?Answer: If Black men choose to wear suits, God bless them. Question: Why can't they all wear suits? Answer: If Black men choose to wear coveralls or African garb or khakis, Allah bless them. Question: Why can't women participate? Answer: Women did participate. Women were some of the biggest organizers of the event. Some women asked their sons to go down the receiving lines 3 and 4 times to shake the hands of positive Black men. Question: Why don't the men come out more? Answer: The answer to this question is why don't we create more opportunities for the men to come out? Question: Why they got to take off work? Answer: Most jobs were happy to give the men 1 or 2 hours off with pay to take their children to school. Men should quit jobs that won't let them take off for their children. Question: Why can't they fight the police? Answer: I don't want these men to fight the police. I want them to become the police! Question: Why can't they fight the gangs? Answer: I don't want these men to fight the gangs, I want them to mentor the gangs and to work with the gangs to build our communities. Question: Where have they been until today? Answer: These men have always been there. And I am ecstatic that they showed up on this day! Question: Why you let ex-felons participate? Answer: Ex-felons or returning citizens are fathers and community leaders. We need them to move our communities forward. Question: What are they going to do after the first day? Answer: Black Star has a twelve month curriculum of father and male engagement in the lives of children and communities. Comment: These not real brothers! Comment: If these are not real brothers, nor am I. Comment: These are the White man's schools! Comment: Yes! And the White man's country and the White man's jobs and the White man's economic system. None of this is news. Question: Is this associated with Farrakhan? Answer: Yes! The Million Father March was inspired by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Million Man March in 1995. Question: Is this approved by the School Board and the Mayor? Answer: No. While we invited them to participate, we do not seek their approval. Question:Did Black leaders approve this? Answer: No. We did not ask for their approval. Comment: These Black men ain't doing nothing special--that's they job! Comment: I agree! Million Father March Drives Highest First Day Attendance Ever in Chicago Tens of Thousands of Fathers and Men Help Lead 95% of Chicago Students Back to School Men from Kappa Alpha Psi prepare to greet students at Emmit Till Math and Science Academy in Chicago. (Photo by Andre Guichard) "The most important lesson for our children today was not inside the schools but in the long lines of fathers and men outside of the schools who came to encourage children to do well in school and life." Phillip Jackson (Chicago, Illinois)- Question - What was different about the first day of school in Chicago in 2015 that created the best first day of attendance ever? Answer - The tremendous success of the Million Father March!!! Tens of thousands of men, mostly Black and Latino men, made a conscious decision to ensure that their children started school on that first day. Their actions led to a 95% first day attendance rate for Chicago schools, highest ever in the history of Chicago. In all parts of the city, more fathers took their children to school and more men welcomed children to schools than ever before. Most educational experts know that one of the best ways to improve the academic performance of students is to get fathers and families to participate effectively in the educational and social-developmental lives of their children. 100-plus fathers and men welcome students back to Wentworth Elementary School in Chicago. (Photo by Ranoule Tatum) Fatherhood research predicted this massive turnout of Chicago students on the first day because better attendance is one of the by-products of more father participation in the educational lives of their children. Research also shows that children whose fathers take an active role in their educational lives do better in school (earn better grades, score higher on tests, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college). Additionally, children whose fathers listen to and talk with them regularly, and are active in their lives, have fewer behavior problems. Good fathers are part of a good parent team, which is critical to creating strong family structures. Strong family structures produce children who are more academically proficient, socially developed, and self-assured. Such children become adults who are valuable assets to their communities. "Better parents produce better families, better communities, better schools, and better students with higher academic achievements," says Phillip Jackson, founder ofThe Million Father March. Pershing East Magnet School in Chicago was the National Demonstration School. (Photo by Leonard McGee) While fathers, educators and students were ecstatic about the showing of fathers and men at Chicago schools, the people who were most appreciative were mothers, grandmothers and women who brought young men to school. Some women took their sons down the long receiving lines of strong, powerful, positive Black men two, three and four times! "The most important lesson for our children today was not inside the schools but in the long lines of fathers and men outside of the schools who came to encourage children to do well in school and life," Jackson says. The Million Father March is a special day when fathers and other men make a commitment to their children, their families, their communities and their country with their dynamic presence at a school. Fathers were asked to make a year-long commitment by volunteering 10 hours during the coming school year at their child's school. This is the real Fathers Day! Five hundred fifty (550) cities across America participated in the2015 Million Father March, many getting similar results as Chicago. Cities in Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Virgin Islands also participated. Participants in the Million Father March include fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers, mentors and family friends. Businesses were asked to give fathers and other men two hours off that morning, with pay, to take their children to school. Dear Friend of The Black Star Project, TheMillion Father March happened with virtually no money from federal, state or local government and no money from foundations. The Black Star Project is working night and day to advocate for our children's well-being and provide necessary programs and services to support struggling Black students in our global educational ecology. Here's how you can help: 1. Make a donation to The Black Star Project! With programs such as the Million Father March, the Mass Black Male Graduation Ceremony, Daddy Daughter Dances, Saturday University, Sunday University, Student Motivation and Mentoring Program, Math Boot Camp, Young Black Men Of Honor Mentor Program, Real Men Read, Youth Technology Workshop (YouthTech), Take A Young Black Man to Worship and our Black Male Reading Academy, we are filling in the gaps in support services to students who need the most help. Give $50.00, $100.00, $250.00 or more today and we will ensure that your donation will be used effectively to support our programs for our youth. At Black Star, our students see results! For example, one 6th grade student's GPA jumped from a2.6 (C+/B- average) to a 3.4 (B+ average) in only one trimester, and Saturday University was the only extra tutoring she received! Her science grade alone leaped from a C to an A! You should have seen her face when she showed us her report card. She was glowing with pride! Please donate today and help instill that same pride and commitment to success in students across the America! Don't wait--please make your tax-deductible gift today. Please give online with a credit or debit card or send your gift via money order or check to: The Black Star Project 3509 South King Drive, Suite 2B Chicago, IL 60653. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Phillip Jackson Executive Director P.S. Though gifts of any size mean the world to us, donations over $50 come with membership benefits, including special newsletters and updates, invitations to member-exclusive events, free or reduced admission to other events, and more!Please give today to help our students in this tough time!