John and Ken had talked about some “Professor” Named Evelyn Dandy, whom it appears, wrote a paper about the cultural difference one is excepted to see from young black males.  The reason I’m mentioning this today, is because they are suppose to actually have this educator on the air today.

 

The story is basically that a teacher named Scott Phelps had written an email about how misbehaving students were the reason for bad educations…and that at his school, the majority of these bad students were black.  Of course, this immediately became a cry of racist and the real story got buried.  But, we the people, realized that Scott was right and it looks like because of the large public outcry, Scott was able to get back on the job.  Now, Evelyn Dandy wrote a book about how to ‘understand’ cultural differences between people.  Cultural?  What the fuck?  We all live in the United States.  We are a culture.  Our neighborhood is not a culture.  That’s the real problem with this country.  We have divisions of people believing that they have a right to some arcane culture that followed them over from another country.  I’m not saying that you don’t have the right to do what ever you want…but you must decide NOW which is more important:  Being an US citizen, with all the responsibilities of being such a thing…or being a divisional culture of isolationist, who think that some how keeping to their own is what this country is really about.  I got news for you folks, we once called the US a melting pot…meaning that everything blended together.  If you don’t agree with the concept of fitting into the culture our forefathers established…then get back on your boats and go back to the country you came from.  Because it’s not my responsibility to understand you or your culture.  As a citizen of this country it is my responsibility to help others fit in, so that future generations have just as much of an equal shot at success as past generations.  Isolationist’s mentality would grant no future generations shots at anything…except for maybe revolutions and the subsequent death that would follow.  Because they would teach that there is a difference between you and I…and when we create that difference, it’s not that big of a step from going from you and I to us and them and ultimately the villianification of a potential enemy.  History is based on this very ideal.  And so called educators like Evelyn Dandy, and her liberal emptiness, ignore history, with a sense of selective myopia, seeing only the outcome and destruction, with out recognizing the causes.

 

Evelyn Dandy said that aggressive behavior in young black males is a natural thing.  Well, let’s kill the stereotype first.  Being aggressive has nothing to do with being black.  I know this from first hand experience. You see, I was in High School right at the time all of this social click building started turning into aggravated assault.  I was at the cusp of it.  I know for a fact that this behavior was not limited to black kids or Hispanic kids.  There were two very aggressive white boys in my particular group.   Their behavior was based on their family life.  The home life dictated how they saw and treated the world. 

 

Evelyn Dandy assumes that somehow being black means that this behavior is supposed to be allowed, and appreciated.  She uses an example of a teacher being stopped in the hall by a student who has blocked her way, with his hand against the wall.  She says, that the teacher should show that she understands what the student is doing, that is throwing up a front, or in barn yard talk, male posturing.  Male posturing, by the way, is the act a male animal (such as a rooster) does when he begins his courting process.  The Rooster starts by showing its size, it scratches at the dirt.  It peaks at its rival.  It’s all very cultured and refined…until the other rooster decides he’s had enough or is loosing…and the act degenerates into a fight.  What Evelyn Dandy does is take this basic animal routine and turn into a game…which it is not.  That is a life threatening mistake.   Once the student is allowed to feel superior to his teachers…what’s to stop him from taking advantage of that?  Especially if this posturing is at the urging of his so called friends?  The student blocks her way as a form of a simple posture, like our rooster scratching at the ground…what’s to stop him from taking it to the next level?  Nothing.   Also, I’d like to point out the obvious stereotype I’ve created by comparing a black man to an animal.  Being that I am white, I would instantly be labeled as a racist for even saying such a thing…but my example is only a reflection of what Evelyn Dandy is trying to explain in her book.  She is saying that this behavior is part of the character of the black male.  It is who he is and he can’t change.  Just like a rooster can’t change his nature…  Evelyn Dandy is the racist, not me, and she’s black, too boot.  What Evelyn Dandy, the college professor, doesn’t seem to understand is that social skills are taught to human beings.  We are not born with them…they are learnt from years of watching our parents or friends and our teachers.  They are learnt from television, both the fictitious side and the real world side.  To assume that an unruly child is ‘born’ unruly is absurd.  He can learn the difference between right and wrong and if at that point decides to do wrong, then he’s no longer a member of our society.  It’s that simple.  To encourage bad behavior is to encourage bad society.  And to think a so called teacher doesn’t see that.

 

How I would treat being soft threatened by a student (or anyone for that matter) when they block my way.

 

Student blocks my way as a form of fronting for his friends.  A way of showing he has strength, control, and courage.  I stop and look him in the eye and say in the best sarcastic voice I can muster, “Gee, you really showed me.  You blocked my way.   How wonderful of you.  How courageous of you.  But… don’t you realize that there are a million ways for me to get around you?  A millions ways for me to turn around and walk away?   You see, you think this means something.  But what it really does is make me dislike you.  Forces me to go out of my way to avoid you in the future.  That’s right, you can smile about it.  You win.  But realize that everyone is a bit like me.  If you stand in the way of the world, it will turn its back on you and find another route around you.  You’ll be trivialized.  You’ll be left isolated and meaningless.  And the only creatures that will befriend you will think the same of you, ready to stab you in the back, to destroy you, if it so suits their plans.  So go ahead, block my way.  As for me and the world, we’ll just turn around, walk down another hallway, and find an easier route.” Turning to leave I might add the following, "Oh, you might think I'm being dramatic, but I suggest that you've already begun to become a ghost... all it takes is a quick glance at your school records, right?" As you walk away, "Good luck to you, it's probably your only hope."

 

Evelyn Dandy is further proof that just because you spend years in the education system, you do not end up wiser. 

11.02.02 Update: J&K had this lady on and from what it sounds, she had no idea that we in the liberal west, were distorting her work to this end. That's funny, you'd think that someone that is suppose to understand culture so well would have a better understanding of how humans interact. How they learn. What we consider factual. But I guess it really isn't all that amazing. Most of us are much better at buring our heads in the sand that anything else.