FreeMan sent me this article;http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/01/us/01race.html?_r=2
The story outlines the fact that even with an advanced education, many blacks are still passed over for employment.
But the story also cites another article that points out the importance of friendships, connections and networking.
http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/sp.2009.56.3.385?journalCode=sp
And DV's (Blogger DenmarkVesey) take on the importance of a college education is that it can all be replaced by creating online universities that cost less than traditional brick and mortar schools.
But what DV (and many who grew up around only Blacks, went to all Black schools, and attended HBCU's) fails to understand is that the high fees associated with traditional schools are not necessarily paying for a better education.
What is being paid for is better connections.
A better (more broad) pool of resources from which to draw in future endeavors.
An environment that promotes better enculturation/acculturation.
The benefits of a traditional college are more intangible.
What is learned is the culture of Corporate America.
If one wishes to find employment within this culture - knowledge of it's norms are a prerequisite.
Oh and Ed at DreamandHustle.com forwarded me the article so I didn't want to cite jack his stuff...
ReplyDeleteWell to me you are talking about the benefits of home schooling. The social element is removed and that is a problem. I think brick and mortar schooling is the same as someone who online dates. Yes we can pick and choose who we like but you remove the randomness and on the fly skills picked up by trying to convince someone.
If you really want to create access in the way this country is set up you have to remove the ability of cliques of people to pick. Right now they have gone as far as to say we publish the job but it doesn't mean that once you're there we won't deny you. It's almost like we have to farm out the process to a Temp Agency for all interviews based off of merit. That will insure a color blind staff.
But, since that won't happen and we see these BS statistics year after year then it's better to not play and go and build your own. We can spend another century trying to make people fair or we can build our own and compete against them.
It depends on what you're seeking.
ReplyDeleteIf it is job in Corporate America - a majority white institution seems to be the way to.
If it's to create your own - having your own would be the way to go.
BTW - You should check out SeeNew's spot.
ReplyDeleteHe recently had some posts about virtual textbooks that can be updated in realtime that could use something as simple as a kid's smart phone.
Talk about access...
If what you're seeking is a job and statistics lean towards you being denied then what else does it lead to? In order for their to be a choice someone has to create the choice.
ReplyDeleteSometimes exclusion builds but as long as it is seen as a hurdle based off of perceived ignorance or exposure to your group then these kind of statistics will continue. I know people think it's hard but if the masses choose another way nothing can really stop it from coming into being. For now we keep the kumbaya belief of pointing it out year after year and saying things are getting better.
this post goes to the real value of an ivy school. They arent smarter, but heaven's yes are they more connected.
ReplyDeleteNot what but who you know.
I disagree with you about the HBCU part. Just because you attend an HBCU doesn't mean that you aren't willing to reach outside of that network of people and expand your contact and network. it all depends on the person, their family background and how motivated they are. At least that's what I have noticed;and I attend an HBCU. However, I will say that yes there are far too many students who attend HBCU's are willing to only stay within their comfort zones and not branch out and expand their network. But I believe that has to do with the way they were raised.
ReplyDelete@ 1990 - Yeah... I know.
ReplyDeleteBut the goal should be to take advantage of every good opportunity - not just the Black ones.
If one's entire life is spent in sub par surroundings (the hood, bad public schools, a bad HBI, and then a life in an all Black environment (except in Africa)), how can one expect to have the connections needed to expand their spheres of influence?
Throughout history, fortunes (and empires) were built on the free exchange of ideas and concepts. (Okay, not really free - but free to the dominant culture)
Isolation led to cultures being left behind and unprepared to compete on a global market.