Race Relations and Education

Race Relations and Education

Rick Adamson, 9.8.17

© 2017 Rick Adamson

Race relations in the country are not good and the reasons for that are complex because they involve economic as well as cultural issues. There has been much written about the status of race relations but not as much about solutions.

The gap between the sides is so large that it is not apparent that a solution is achievable.  For example, many Whites say the problems result from the high violent crime rate which results from a break down in the Black family (fatherless children who are not taught right from wrong and respect for authority), etc. Many Blacks say the problem is racism which results in an unfair criminal justice system, abusive police behavior, poverty and unemployment. Typically they do not mention anything about families or crime), etc.

Looking more closely at the arguments you will see that the two sides seem to be describing different problems altogether. It is a classic chicken or the egg dilemma. Which comes first? Does racism result in a dysfunctional community or is it the other way around?

If people can’t agree on what a problem is they certainly cannot agree on a solution!

Let us explore a few facts:

1. It is a fact that racism, bias, prejudices and unfounded opinions exists in America-and the World-on all sides. Perfection is elusive and rarely achievable. But can one say that racism prohibits one from succeeding in America?
2. It is a fact the there are instances of police abuse in America. But can one say that police brutality prohibits one from succeeding in America?
3. It is a fact that many in the African American community feel that law enforcement does not treat them equally, that the justice system is unfair to them, that they are poor because of white supremacy and that there is rampant racist in American society. But can one say that these problems are so rampant that folks cannot succeed in America.
4. It is also a fact that many African American communities are riddled with drugs and crime.
5. It is also a fact that 71% of black children are born out of wedlock, and that 75% do not live with both parents. (Some argue that this is not a problem and just reflects folks’ preferences for not getting married which, of course, is OK if folks can afford to raise those kids.  But if public support is needed for having irresponsible sex it’s not OK.
6. It is a fact that the current civic leaders of the African American community fail to address the cultural problems in their communities and prefer to preach victimization and the need for more economic assistance (welfare).  They shy away from the importance of personal responsibility, the necessity of reducing crime and the benefits of the intact family.
7. It is a fact that society, as a whole (including the police), are scared to death of the violent predatory behavior of many young black men and, in an effort to avoid confrontation, many people simply ignore the community which can be interpreted as racism.
8. It is a fact that whites, out of guilt, have (for at least the past 50 years) been trying to correct earlier unfair treatment of people of color by the implementation of social programs and the war on poverty. More recently, whites elected a black president who appointed a black attorney general and a black female as head of national security. Despite these efforts race relations have not improved.

Since folks can not agree upon the problem, its cause or its solution; we will take another approach. Let’s assume that this problem will not be solved by the current adult population but that it might be by future generations. So, let’s focus on children and the things that are most likely to allow them to be successful and get along.

For example, children do better in school when:

1. their family is intact (father and mother are present) where right and wrong and the importance of personal responsibly is taught
2. they are not poor or surrounded by violence
3. their mother is over 30
4. their parents are educated and they emphasize the importance of education
5. their parents have higher socioeconomic status
6. their parents speak English at home
7. their parents are involved in PTA
8. they have many books at home to read

With respect to item 2 (poverty), we know, from scientific research done by William Galston that one can (without regard to race) avoid poverty by doing three things:

1. graduate from high school
2. wait until age 20 to have children
3. wait until getting married to have children

Galston found that only 8 percent of people who do those three things are poor. Put another way, young people who follow these three simple rules have a 92 percent chance of staying above the poverty line. By contrast, a young person who breaks just one of these rules has a 79 percent chance of ending up below the poverty line.

Upon reflecting on the above lists it becomes apparent that the overriding determinant of probable success and assimilation is education (including formal schooling but also the teaching of family values, morals and personal responsibility). In order for our children to get an education they need a stable, reasonably mature family environment and parental participation. Educated parents tend to assimilate, attain a higher socioeconomic status, emphasize the importance of education to their children and believe in personal responsibility.

Following is a list of things we can do to help our children:

1. introduce courses into schools, churches and the national media which emphasize Mr. Galston’s three key principles, among others, and reward participants for their successful completion. Reintroduce stigma for having children out of wedlock and for not completing one's’ education/skill development.
2. require parents to insure their children attend school and finish high school (reward them if they do –with vouchers and tax credits and punish them if they do not-with fines and no tax credits, vouchers or welfare).
3. offer free of charge 2 years of college or technical training.
4. create a no crime zone around all K-12 schools so that children do not feel threatened as they attempt to learn.
5. require all young people to serve our country either in the military or in another capacity. They would receive training in American civics, the Constitution and other topics that promote patriotism.
6. require all recipients of public support to enroll in a State run system that would provide them with a counselor whose job would be to assist the recipient to set and attain goals which are important to them. The State’s goal would be to help the individual get off of public assistance while the individual’s goals might be to finish high school, get a GED or to get off drugs and get a job.  The counselor would insure the person receives the State and Federal support required for the individual to attain his or her goals within a reasonable period of time.  Such support could be cash payments, housing assistance, child care, among other things.
7. stop discouraging the breakup of families. (Revise or eliminate all government assistance programs that discriminate against intact families i.e., those which offer rewards for being a single parent.)
8. revise drug crimes and punishment.
9. eliminate ghettos; they should either be cleaned up, in short order, by residents or closed down. Residents would be relocated to other communities.
10. eliminate violent predatory crime (violent crimes committed using deadly weapons) from our society.  Make it clear that there is no place in our society for these horrendous violent crimes and that they are not welcome here. Revise the criminal justice system to make incarceration a very undesirable place to be and increase the apprehension rate for violent predators by hiring more law enforcement personnel.
11. require all citizens to vote
12. work, no free rides. Everyone must work.

We need to make it very clear to parents that the children they produce are their responsibility and that they must provide for them; that they are expected to work and strive to attain success and happiness limited only by their abilities.  And to children, of a certain age, that their future is their responsibility and their poor decisions will not be subsidized by the state; that their poor decisions about skill and education will result in low pay and long hours.

There are no free rides. Everyone must work. Whether it be as a doctor or janitor matters not but work and civic participation is to be expected of all citizens.