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[royalan]

Did you even read my damn post? I not talking about other communities! The black community is fucked up, I don't give a fuck about other communities. You are using a Nirvana fallacy to argue some kind of point that I never made.

I specifically addressed that, but I'll repeat. Even though we're talking about the black community, you can't really frame child rearing in a single-parent environment as a "black problem" when it's increasingly effecting other groups. We can discuss the various factors that contribute to the black side of things, but it can't be looked at in a vacuum.

I have no idea what the fuck you are talking about now. It is like you only comprehended select parts of my post. In order to stop negative behavior there has to be disensentives. That bullshit you wrote about safe sex is the complete opposite of what I said!

And what disincentives do you propose? "Shaming" black woman into keeping their legs closed? And suppose that wasn't a completely ass-backwards way of dealing with the problem, how in the ever-living hell does that help the 67% that are being raised in single-parent households now?

 

[SSJ1Goku]

The underperformance of the black man should prove that unless we're saying that under performance isn't really happening to begin with. The reason aren't invisible and they are not just slavery.

This is the part that is so damn frustrating. There were people discussing for 10 pages how it was a problem and what it stemmed from. Now people are acting like it is not a problem or it does not exist at all.

 

[SSJ1Goku]

I specifically addressed that, but I'll repeat. Even though we're talking about the black community, you can't really frame child rearing in a single-parent environment as a "black problem" when it's increasingly effecting other groups. We can discuss the various factors that contribute to the black side of things, but it can't be looked at in a vacuum.




And what disincentives do you propose? "Shaming" black woman into keeping their legs closed? And suppose that wasn't a completely ass-backwards way of dealing with the problem, how in the ever-living hell does that help the 67% that are being raised in single-parent households now?

1. The problem has been going on in the black community for a far longer time. Mix that with the fact that black people are on the bottom of the socio-economic totem pole and all the cultural shifts that have happened in the black community and you get the what you see today.

2. The shaming has not even happened yet. For the past 40 years black women have been blaming the male, mainly the Ray Rays and Pookies they chose to get pregnant by. This is the most important part that you KEEP ignoring. You keep trying to deflect with the exceptions. The lack of shame in the black community is part of the problem. This is why you have so many black people who have no shame in embracing the bottom. And if you read my long post you would seen what I said about there being NO fix to the current situation that black women have created for themselves regarding kids out of wedlock. All they can do at this point is teach the next gen how not to fall into the same trap. No black man with his shit together is going to swoop in and play Cap Save a Hoe. I said the same thing regarding black males with felonies, there is no solution to that. Black people do not have the same type of cushions that other communities have, mainly the white community. This is what I mean by black women passing on the "Legacy of Struggle." They are the only ones in the household, therefore the responsibility of teaching the kids what not to do falls on her. They have not done that.

 

[royalan]

Technically, the context is that black families are still a couple of generation ahead of the trend, so that would have to be factored into it. We have no idea how the overall trend of everyone getting in the single parent mix will do yet, but it's a little unrealistic to suggest that single moms have nothing to do with the black community's plight or that they face the same issues other races face when rearing children.

Sorry, I realized that I missed an important part of my point when typing that out. I meant to add specifically "in the black community".

Visitation is better than no contact for sure. It's not the same thing as a kid seeing his parents express love and respect for each other. Child rearing is full time, and although being a part time dad is better than nothing, it's still not optimum which is what's needed for your kid to come out OK by long lasting societal norms.

This is what I'd like to discuss, seeing as I'm an "on-point" black male raised in a single-parent household with a deadbeat dad who played a very small role in my upbringing. I turned out fine in spite of that. And I don't mean that in the "so buck up!" kind of way.

I don't know if I believe that it's the simple absence of the "father" that creates these deficiencies when raising a child. What about the children who are raised in single father homes that don't turn out much better? What about the children raised in two-parent lesbian households that turn out great? I have a lesbian couple in my family with 6 adopted children (4 of whom are boys), and all of them are perfectly healthy, happy, and adjusted young people.

I think the more important asset that's missing in a single-parent household is just the second parent with whom to split the parenting duties. It's been mentioned before, but single mothers usually have to work several jobs and exorbitant hours to provide for their families alone. This takes away time for her to be a source of love, support, and authority in the home. This was the case for me as a child. And a major factor for me turning out alright was that I had an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who were invested in my upbringing and were there during the times when my mother couldn't be. It took a villiage with me. My father's presence wasn't wanted or needed.

Also, something I suspect is that a lot of single mothers don't realize is that they have to parent differently. They have to also take on that role of disciplinarian that is traditionally left to the father. That was something my mother understood.

 

[SSJ1Goku]

This is what I'd like to discuss, seeing as I'm an "on-point" black male raised in a single-parent household with a deadbeat dad who played a very small role in my upbringing. I turned out fine in despite of that. And I don't mean that in the "so buck up!" kind of way

And a major factor for me turning out alright was that I had an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who were invested in my upbringing and were there during the times when my mother couldn't be. It took a villiage with me. My father's presence wasn't wanted or needed.

That is the third time you have done that! The exceptions DON'T SWALLOW THE RULE! The majority of black kids that come from single parent homes with just mom FAIL!!!!!!!!!!! What part of that do you not get? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! If your situation was the norm then the black community would be a golden mecca.

And then you go on to say that other people in your family helped raise you. WTF! So basically you had a whole bunch of role models to look up to and they were able to keep you on the right path. Not to make light of your upbringing but you would not be saying you did not need your father if you did not have the other family in you life to back up your mom. Odds are you would have fallen off too just like the majority of black people do.

EDIT: It's funny when a black boy grows up in a sinlge parent home with just mom and becomes successful, it's because she did it by herself. But when they boy goes to jail it is because his father was not there.

EDIT2: Royalan what are you doing with your life? Building and networking I hope.

 

[akira28]

It's not the exception, it's the rule. Most people have a grandmother and auntie Jay, who isn't even a real aunt. Or they have someone. Everyone has extended family, and most people have extended family that helps support them. Of course this is also culturally under attack. But of course it's known, established that when you don't have that village that people suffer. Go ask Hillary Clinton about black single family homes, she'll send you a tape.

Are we talking about only people who don't have any extended family, only a single mother and bad living conditions?

 

[SSJ1Goku]

Are we talking about only people who don't have any extended family, only a single mother and bad living conditions?

Irrelevent. Even if the extended family is in the picture if they came from a fucked up upbringing nothing changes. If the grandmother is a bitter single mother, and the mother is a bitter single mother, and the aunt is a bitter single mother then that is not a healthy enviornment either. Remember the main complaint black women have is that Ray Ray and Pookie LEAVES.

If Royalan had an uncle that means that somewhere in his family tree a woman made the right choice in a man. Hell that situation kind of pisses me off too. I don't like this idea of a third party man having to come in and pick up the pieces so to speak. I don't like that shit at all.

 

[royalan]

That is the third time you have done that! The exceptions DON'T SWALLOW THE RULE! The majority of black kids that come from single parent homes with just mom FAIL!!!!!!!!!!! What part of that do you not get? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! If your situation was the norm then the black community would be a golden mecca.

I'm going to need you to actually read my posts before you respond to them, or don't respond at all.

I acknowledged that my upbringing is the exception "And I don't mean that in the "so buck up!" kind of way."

Nor did I in any way challenge the statistic. I merely provided my opinion on the statistic based on the reality of my own upbringing. I do believe the insight is valuable. If it's true that the majority of black kids from single parent households fail, then I think it's worthwhile to explore the minority of black kids from single parent households who succeed, see what the different factors are, and how that can be applied to the failing majority. We can't all be you and write the current generations off as a lost cause.

In my case, my father wasn't around but my extended family was. What that leads me to believe is that it isn't so much vital that the person who provided the sperm be around, but that a child be surrounded by role models and authority figures to look up to from a young age. Extended family, teachers, neighbors, mentors. It doesn't HAVE to be the father. This is something that can be used to help the kids being born fatherless today. Then we can move on to your suggestion of shaming single black mothers.

If Royalan had an uncle that means that somewhere in his family tree a woman made the right choice in a man. Hell that situation kind of pisses me off too. I don't like this idea of a third party man having to come in and pick up the pieces so to speak. I don't like that shit at all.

No one's asking you to "like it." Be there as a strong male role model for your own children. Those of us who weren't born as fortunate will appreciate those who wish to step up and be positive influences on a child's life.

But oh well, according to you I should have just grown up to be a wayward black man and blaming my mother for it.

 

[SSJ1Goku]

I'm going to need you to actually read my posts before you respond to them, or don't respond at all.

I acknowledged that my upbringing is the exception "And I don't mean that in the "so buck up!" kind of way."

Nor did I in any way challenge the statistic. I merely provided my opinion on the statistic based on the reality of my own upbringing. I do believe the insight is valuable. If it's true that the majority of black kids from single parent households fail, then I think it's worthwhile to explore the minority of black kids from single parent households who succeed, see what the different factors are, and how that can be applied to the failing majority. We can't all be you and write the current generations off as a lost cause.

In my case, my father wasn't around but my extended family was. What that leads me to believe is that it isn't so much vital that the person who provided the sperm be around, but that a child be surrounded by role models and authority figures to look up to from a young age. Extended family, teachers, neighbors, mentors. It doesn't HAVE to be the father. This is something that can be used to help the kids being born fatherless today. Then we can move on to your suggestion of shaming single black mothers.

I read your post and ignored the stuff that I thought did not need to be addressed. Your situation does not represnet the community. You left out a few vital pieces of information. Did you grow up in the suburbs or the ghetto? This makes a huge difference regarding positive reinforcement.

Also I already addressed mentorship and why it will not work in regards to fixing the black community. Also it is NOT the responsibility of anybody other than your parents to raise a child. Once again I am against giving positive reinforcement to negative behavior. It will fix NOTHING. Mainly when it comes to the fact that the most fucked up people in the black community are having the most kids.

I ignore any ideas of mentorship in the black community for another bigger reason. There has been a recent cultural shift in regards to the feelings of those black people that are outside of the black community. They majority are very vocal about being AGAINST anything that is seen as helping black women. This is a recent cultural shift that I have just found out about. The problems have been going on for so long that the on-point black men have adapted to the current situation. This is something I never even thought about happening until it had occurred.

But oh well, according to you I should have just grown up to be a wayward black man and blaming my mother for it.

I don't understand this logic. Your mom made a poor choice in your dad but you look over that fact because you came out alright thanks to your uncle? You think that is alright? Wow. Do you really think that this type of thinking has any chance of fixing the black community?

 

[royalan]

I read your post and ignored the stuff that I thought did not need to be addressed. Your situation does not represnet the community. You left out a few vital pieces of information. Did you grow up in the suburbs or the ghetto? This makes a huge difference regarding positive reinforcement.

I grew up in South Central Los Angeles. And, again, never did I say my situation represented the community. The fact that it doesn't is my point.

Also I already addressed mentorship and why it will not work in regards to fixing the black community. Also it is NOT the responsibility of anybody other than your parents to raise a child. Once again I am against giving positive reinforcement to negative behavior. It will fix NOTHING. Mainly when it comes to the fact that the most fucked up people in the black community are having the most kids.

Now it seems that you're the one arguing a Nirvana Fallacy here. Shaming people into abstinence isn't going to work, and it never has. I believe it's better to accept the fact that babies born out of wedlock are fact of life, and to educate young women to bring the numbers down while providing support to the children who, after all, had no hand in the circumstances that resulted in their birth. Yelling "YOU FAIL!" at the mother while turning a cold shoulder to both the mother and child helps nothing. In fact, I'd argue that that's what the black community has been doing all along.

I don't understand this logic. Your mom made a poor choice in your dad but you look over that fact because you came out alright thanks to your uncle? You think that is alright? Wow. Do you really think that this type of thinking has any chance of fixing the black community?

I came out alright thanks to my family. Not just an uncle. I had no "substitute fathers" in my upbringing. Just a family.

And why on earth would it make ANY sense to hate my mother? What would that accomplish? Because she made a human mistake in falling for my father and believing he'd be a better man than he ultimately turned out to be? She still worked her ass to the bone being not just the best mother, but the best parent that she could be.

I don't think it matters who raised me. The point is I was raised. I think your belief of not giving a fuck about anyone who's not the fruit of your own loins and branding the scarlet letter on black women doesn't stand a chance in hell at fixing the community.

 

[Dead Man]

Black males most consistently under-performing demographic. What can be done?

So... what CAN be done?

My opinion:

First want to start with the home, and communities. Men being there for boys in a positive way has to be broadcasted as socially cool, and important. Black men being fathers, black men being brothers, black men being teachers, black men being community leaders. In the end, black men carrying and handling responsibilities.

There needs to be a renaissance in black parenting. There's no one perfect way to be a parent, but there are folks who are becoming parents who either didn't want to, or have a bad foundation to start from. They need education, and there should be clear and relatively easy access to basic parenting materials, to help new parents get started. How to deal with stressful situations. How to prepare for the unknown, and how to plan out parenthood for the child.

Third, quality education is paramount. I still feel that elementary and high school teachers are criminally underpaid, and schools are understaffed. Whether that means school reform or not, is another set of politics, but young boys need to be able to be in relatively small classes so they can get focused attention from teachers if need be.

Fourth, and this sort of leads back to the first point: Inspiration. There needs to be a goal that young black kids want to aspire to. Know that while sports and music are fine, there's other careers in politics, science, and medical and business that they can excel and be successful in. Show the youth that there have already been black pioneers in those fields, so it IS possible for them to be leaders in those professions.

Damn fine post, thanks. I think that in terms of public policy, education in all its forms is so important. Good teachers, more resources, more learning opportunities, more rewards for learning. That would help all urban kids see a way through all the despair I think.

 

[JGS]

This is what I'd like to discuss, seeing as I'm an "on-point" black male raised in a single-parent household with a deadbeat dad who played a very small role in my upbringing. I turned out fine in spite of that. And I don't mean that in the "so buck up!" kind of way.

I don't know if I believe that it's the simple absence of the "father" that creates these deficiencies when raising a child. What about the children who are raised in single father homes that don't turn out much better? What about the children raised in two-parent lesbian households that turn out great? I have a lesbian couple in my family with 6 adopted children (4 of whom are boys), and all of them are perfectly healthy, happy, and adjusted young people.

I think the more important asset that's missing in a single-parent household is just the second parent with whom to split the parenting duties. It's been mentioned before, but single mothers usually have to work several jobs and exorbitant hours to provide for their families alone. This takes away time for her to be a source of love, support, and authority in the home. This was the case for me as a child. And a major factor for me turning out alright was that I had an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who were invested in my upbringing and were there during the times when my mother couldn't be. It took a villiage with me. My father's presence wasn't wanted or needed.

Also, something I suspect is that a lot of single mothers don't realize is that they have to parent differently. They have to also take on that role of disciplinarian that is traditionally left to the father. That was something my mother understood.

I agree with this overall. I don't think blame should be attributed to the woman as much (this includes ones who actually want thugs or want to have a kid out of wedlock). They are often still showing themselves to be as good a caregiver as possible. Further, the man may be scum.

I think you nailed it being a time management issue. Quality time and quantity time should go hand in hand and for a single parent who works, that's a tall order. Further, many don't know how to provide the quality time as their boys get older. however, the impact a good mother has while growing up is overall positive - barring the mother being an addict or irresponsible. Although I'll always think 2 is better than one, there's no question that good single moms have learned to adapt to the circumstances- something men have a hard time doing (that's another topic).

The disciplinarian part is difficult because I've seen that wmen are fine with boys becoming men at an earlier age since they oftentimes become the men in the family. A 16 year old may not be equipped for that kind of responsibility, but their so indeoendent and free thinking that I can only guess that it's a relief for a single mom when she doesn't have to literally babysit so much.

 

[dinazimmerman]

Then you'll have to take this position up with Heckman and the University of Chicago itself. Heckman not only discusses the "Chicago school" in precisely those terms, but suggests that Lucas' work has taken a "major blow." Specifically, Lucas' long term work and belief in rational expectation hypotheses.

http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0910/features/chicago_schooled.shtml
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2010/01/interview-with-james-heckman.html

I absolutely agree with Heckman that the Chicago School is not a uniform, rigidly defined block. There are differences of opinion and research. But labels are not only applied to groups with rigidly defined and absolutely identical belief systems; many religions, for example, have practitioners who vary widely in their interpretations of the religion, but who nevertheless can still be broadly referred to as "Christians," or "Hindus" in a single, unified block. Thus, I also agree with Heckman that we can generally discuss the central theses of the "Chicago School" with real meaning.

Labels can be used as divisive wedges to discredit or provoke, but they can also be applied as useful descriptors that allow succinct, easily understood discussion. I'm sure Krugman and others rely on the former use, but it's entirely possible to rely on the latter.

I concede your general point and apologize for the nasty tone of that "small aside." But note:

Well, Lucas is a very subtle person, and he is mainly concerned with theory. He doesn’t make a lot of empirical statements. I don’t think Bob got carried away, but some of his disciples did. It often happens. The further down the food chain you go, the more the zealots take over.

Heckman doesn't really think Lucas's theoretical contributions have been discredited at all. Maybe he'd just use Lucas's RBC models differently -- he wouldn't use them to explain the Great Depression for example. Remember though that Heckman's an empirical micro guy, while Lucas is a theoretical macro guy.

The Chicago School incorporates many different ideas. I think the part of the Chicago School that has been justified is the claim that people react to incentives, and that incentives are important. Nothing in what has happened invalidates that idea. People did react to incentives—clearly they did. It turned out that the incentives they were reacting to weren’t socially beneficial, but they definitely reacted to them.

But it's not only the Chicago School that emphasizes this? All of modern economists accept that incentives are important nowadays. I guess the term was useful in the past for distinguishing between people like Friedman and Stigler from Keynesians. But now that old school Keynesianism is no longer accepted by any research economist, the term is mostly meaningless, except in a historical context. Krugman likes using it because he still advocates old school Keynesianism despite the profession having abandoned it. And Krugman's notorious NYTimes article was probably what motivated these interviews, in which the term "Chicago school" was used nonchalantly in questions, basically forcing these economists to accept the validity of the term for the sake of discussion...

Anyway, big detour. Sorry for the off-topic discussion guys.

 

[Blackace]

I grew up between sisters so I listened to Britney, Christina and all the Boy bands you could think of. Later around 9-10 I was exposed more to rap and I loved it. Tupac, Biggie, even Cash Money, Ludacris, MTV etc. But I didn't once believe for me that it related to me on a personal level because it I didn't see those things that they rapped about. The reality is that people actually really go through those things and relate to it so it amplifies the effect of the music making the values believable. There is great diversity in rap, so there has to be a reason why a certain group is drawn to a certain type of rap.

I already said they related to it.. but rap imitates their lifestyle not the other way around..

 

[Blackace]

Measley just stop! It does not matter how much proof you post. They are not going to read it. The shit has to hit rock bottom, it all has to hit rock bottom. They are not getting it. One of the main problems in my work in the black community I have found is that black people are too damn emotional. They know it is fucked up, they will even ask for help, but when it comes to addressing why it is the way it is all you will get is a whole bunch of shaming tactics and justifications. Black people only want to look at the leaves on a tree, for some reason they never want to look at the root of the tree. If the tree is growing fucked up leaves then maybe the roots are fucked up.

What is the main problem, the black males are fall off. In order to figure out why the boys are falling off we have to go backwards towards the original source of the problems. Black males were once black boys so we need to look at how the boys are being raised. The majority of the boys are born into single parent homes with just mom. How are the mom raising the boys; poorly. How did we come to be in that situation? Where is the father? Lets do a background check on the father.

*terminate program*
It is at this point where the resistance from black women comes into play. Black women know that if they go back too far the blame will fall squarely on them. They made a poor choice in getting with a guy. That guy gets killed or locked because of the sub culture that he subscribes to. That boy now has no father in his life. Another issue is even if the Ray Ray and Pookie were present what would he have to offer his child? Ray Ray and Pookie grew up in a home with no male leadership. Ray Rays and Pookies begat more Ray Rays and Pookies.

The next problem is that the underclass in the black community is out producing the on-point people. This has been going on generationally. What we have now is an imbalance to where the fucked up part of our community poses a serious threat to the very foundation of the community. Ray Rays and Pookies are not the miniority in the community, they have now become the norm. When this happened it changed the core values of the community. Things like standards were lower across the board and shame dissipated. I believe Henry Louis Gates said it best, in order to fix the black community there would first have to be a behavioral revolution. If a black person lives in a community where everyone subscribes to the sub culture then it is easy to understand where they are getting all the positive re-enforcement of their negative behavior. Someone like myself can NOT bring in an outside standard to a community that thinks it is right simply because they are the majority. I would need a critical mass of like minded people to create a cultural shift of that size in order to make any kind of change. Because of this mentorship is NOT the answer. It will not work.

This is the main reason why I place so much blame on the black women. Black people do not control the media, so the promotion and glorification of bullshit is not going to change. Black people do not control businesses or have the networks to help get the majority of the community back on its feet. And even if we did we do not have the educated numbers who would be able to land those jobs. The ONLY thing that can stop or at the very least slow the destruction of the black community is black women picking better men and closing their legs or atleast using condums. The one thing in this world that black people own is their bodies. There is no point in bringing children into this world with no foundation whatsoever. Black women bringing more kids into this world is doing nothing more than keeping the commnity prepetually on the bottom.

And lastly, black women need to accept that bad black males exist. They need to stop trying to hold these guys to the same standard that on-point black men hold themselves to. Ray Rays and Pookies are irresponsible and unaccountable, they create havoc in the community, that is what they do. I will never understand this assumption that these guys are supposed to be good men; THEY ARE NOT THAT! Having a penis does not make a male worthy of leading, being a husband, having children, and being a proper father. The sooner black women realize this the better off they will be. If you got with deviant he is not coming back and chances are you would not even want that type of guy around your children. Being a single mom in the black commuity more times than not is PROOF that the black women made a poor choice in a partner. Simple as that.

EDIT: Let me add this. There is NO solution to the majority of the problems in the black community once it involves having a felony, having a child, or making a number of mistakes. Black people do not have the luxury of any type of cushions like those found in the white community. The ONLY solutions the black community can afford have to be preventative.

First of all, your fine speech offered no proof just opinion.. Now you are not entirely wrong but blaming the problem solely on sex and the black woman is surely simplifying a problem that has been going in America for centuries.

Education needs to play a bigger role.. that is the bottomline forget blaming the black woman. Education of where we came from.. how we got here, how much have done, and what needs to be done. Furthermore, Sexual Education.. Condoms. All of this is missing from the black community...

You cannot stop hormones, 18 year olds aren't in full control of their bodies.. they want to have sex. They do not know how to do it safely..or why they need to

 

[Devolution]

First of all, your fine speech offered no proof just opinion.. Now you are not entirely wrong but blaming the problem solely on sex and the black woman is surely simplifying a problem that has been going in America for centuries.

Education needs to play a bigger role.. that is the bottomline forget blaming the black woman. Education of where we came from.. how we got here, how much have done, and what needs to be done. Furthermore, Sexual Education.. Condoms. All of this is missing from the black community...

You cannot stop hormones, 18 year olds aren't in full control of their bodies.. they want to have sex. They do not know how to do it safely..or why they need to

I don't even know why you continually engage these two, I don't know why I did. Lost cause.

 

[Blackace]

I don't even know why you continually engage these two, I don't know why I did. Lost cause.

At least they are actively thinking of the issue... which is more than most of Ameica..

 

[Devolution]

At least they are actively thinking of the issue... which is more than most of Ameica..

I dunno how much I like "socio-economic issues of the past don't matter" or rationalizing one's own prejudices against black women but props to you for your patience.

 

[akira28]

To beat him is to break him. Probably not worth it.

 

[Tristam]

One of the sources you bolded was written by a black author, and the other article talks about all children, not just black ones.

In any case I gave you the sources, do your own homework.

Heritage Foundation? American Enterprise Institute? The same hyperconservative think-tank whose star fellow co-authored The Bell Curve, which (a.) uncritically accepted the validity of IQ as a measure of intelligence, and (b.) suggested that racial differences in IQ scores are in part based on genetics? (Obviously genes play a role in intelligence, but even if you foolishly accept that IQ is a valid measure of intelligence, heritability of intelligence does not automatically show that there is a genetic origin to group differences in IQ.) It's also notable that much of the work referenced in the book was funded by the Pioneer Fund.

Anyway, I would never, ever link to a study from either source and expect anyone to read up on it as 'homework.'

 

[filler]

It's the females dragging down the boys:

 

[Blackace]

It's the females dragging down the boys:

yeah, I have been fairly even handed for the sake of discussion but being an asshat won't fly in here..

 

[Zoramon089]

Fair enough. However, that isn't the case anymore. So what's stopping a black youth in 2011 to follow the example of a young black person who got an education.

Take this example. A young black kid is trying to learn something in school and is having trouble so he needs so extra help. The area he lives in has no tutors so that's not an option. The teachers simply do the bare minimum because they've lost their passion for teaching and do it just for the paycheck. His parents (usually parent, singular) can't help because they weren't properly educated...So what's he supposed to do?