Afro-centric schools and the return of segregation?

I'm sure every ones heard, with all this talk in the media for the past couple of years about Afro-centric schools being introduced in the TDSB. With such a sensitive, complicated subject such as race, especially involving segregation with emotions and anger so deeply rooted in north American history, it is inevitable that there would be apposing sides with very strong opinions and many valid points from both sides.

My personal opinion on the matter is that i feel that having Afro-centric schools is basically going backwards in terms of the progress that man has made as a race, and is suggesting that all the sacrifices and hardships that our ancestors in this country have suffered to get to the point that we are at today was in vain. Especially in Canada where we pride ourselves in our diversity as well the fare and equal treatment we guarantee all of our citizens that make our country so appealing to new immigrants.

One of the key points that were argued in support of Afro centric schools is that the school curriculum is specially designed for Afro-American students so that they feel that the content is more relevant to them, and that will effect their over-all achievement in school, and hopefully will reduce the percentage of drop outs in Afro-American students. I do agree that most of the curriculum in mainstream schools are irrelevant, but just generally. not only to Afro-American students. and with that being said i do wish that one of their representative will explain to me, what the difference is between "Afro-American curriculum" and "mainstream curriculum"? So John went to the store to buy milk for his mother, and Laquisha went to the store as well, but what did she have to buy? grape juice? or watermelons? The idea of "Afro-centric curriculum" is just such a ridiculous concept to me.

Of course the there are many other points that could be noted regarding this subject matter, but to get into detail on such a complicated subject would require a much larger, more personal type of medium. In conclusion, if there are any other points you may want to explore please visit:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080130/Black_schools_080130/20080130?hub=TopStories

or for updates on the current condition of this matter and the response from polititians please visit:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080130/Black_schools_080130/20080130?hub=TopStories

Families of the 50s : Conformity and the 50s

The 50's were a time of much change and social development, the war was finally over and the men returned home to be with their wives and to raise their children and revert back into main stream society. What was this "mainstream society"? In the 50s it was very very important to be the exact same as your peers and neighbors, or you will be branded a "communist". You must own a car if your neighbors own a car, you must have a dog if your neighbor has a dog, you must be the exact replica of your neighbors as your neighbors have to be the exact replica of their neighbors.

Families had a very simple structure. The obedient, submissive housewife, goes on with her daily chores at home, does the laundry, cleans the house and prepares for dinner as she waits for her children to come home from school and for her husband to return, before her husband arrives home, she must set the table for dinner and change into fancier clothing for it is a housewives duty to look presentable for her husband after a long days work.

Families had 2 children, a boy and a girl. The boy is the older brother, the brother aspires to be exactly like their father, he will attend school get good grades and meet a virgin and get married. One day in the future he will get a job at the place of his fathers employment and will work from the bottom to get to the position that his father is currently in, so he will be able to support his own family of his wife and two children.

The daughter is put together and obedient just like her mother, she not suppose to show any extreme emotions and must be cheery at all times. She must attend high school and get average grades for it doesn't take a degree to be a housewife and whats a girl to do with a brain anyway? She will learn all the skills of being a housewife like cooking and sewing which will be taught to her by her mother and she will perfect these skills by helping her mother with her daily chores. One day she will marry a hard working man just like her mother did and raise two beautiful children.

The father of the family is a hard working man, he wakes up at 8 every morning to go to work at a factory or an office, he will start from the bottom and work his way to an average but respectable position all to provide for his family of four. He teaches his children to be aware of communists and that the government is always right.

families of the 50's had a very simple cookie-cutter guideline to living and every individual member of the family had to fit into theses guidelines or the family will risk not fitting in, and therefore be accused of being a communist. The mothers and fathers can hope that one day their children will grow up to be just like them and become respectable members of the society and raise families of their own. Children can only aspire to become part of the system and live their lives just as their parents did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa952oQAiII&feature=related