This brings me to an another article written by NSENGA BURTON where she writes "i think that teachers are often scapegoated for poor student performance, when in fact, many students across race, class and gender lines, do not want to perform...., many want to be well-dressed and well-coiffed, but not challenged" she goes on to state "Others cannot be bothered with the minutia of school, like homework, class assignments, and extra-curricular activities. Their disinterest in school reflects our society's disinterest in education. We go back and forth over vouchers and diversity issues, which are important, but the real problem is that many of us do not truly value education."

I mean think about it, there is a disastrous stereotype ruining the Afro-American race which claims that a little black boy w/ a book is trying to act white. I know some of you have heard or said that someone who talks proper talks white. By saying this you give in that being black is some how improper. I don't understand why a lot of blacks salute ignorance, and "ghettoness" as a favorable trait. I try to tell every young person that the hood mentality gets no play when they get older. At least from a woman or man who is worth being involved w/ on a relationship level.

But, yet my heart feels as if this stereotype is a double edge sword b/c it's these qualities which makes the black urban race unique and special. The use of the N-word, and transforming the ER into an A does hold a special sort a swagger which can be found in the coolest of folks. In a perfect world all blacks would be able to turn this feature on and off w/ ease. I know we all saw Michael Vick struggle to sound proper during his press conference, is it the fault of the teachers for not reaching our youth? Or is it the fault of the likes of BET, VH1 & MTV for the mass promotion of Ignorant black folks digitally enhanced into our living rooms every day? Or maybe, JUST MAYBE its our own fault for fueling the flames of this dreadful image, this cancerous stereotype eating away at all of the progress MLK, Malcolm X and W.E.B. Du Bois made in their efforts of Black Equality. But at the same time lets not forget that in their day, the day of our greatest leaders , they had doubters, and ignorant black folks who were poisoned by the oppression of OUR GOVERNMENT against its own people, who they classified as second class citizens. Lets prove them wrong!!!