So I watched the "indepth" one minute segment that kicks off NBC News week long series on African American women. While I won't be commenting on each segment I will on some. Tonight, as you will see in the article below that basically relays the segment, the reporter discussed how black women are outachieving black men in education and business. Hmm, okay but for some reason, I'm thinking this is an issue that is affecting all races (which the article mentions but the tv segment does not). There are more women period in college! And the segment does not paint this issue of black women going to college more than black males as a positive response to the greater independence we as black women are forced to face but as a problem in the community. Sure it is an issue that more males aren't going to college but in a one minute special on black women why are you focusing so much on that issue? Further, the quick rationals they gave to this growing disparity was that the schools are giving up on black males and more black males basically want to be like 50 cents and school therefore is not cool. Such a simplistic and arrogant explanation kind of pissed me off. Are T.I., Jay-Z and 50 the reasons more black males are dropping out? It couldn't possibly be the long lasting effects of slavery and oppressions breakdown of the black family unit and the economic injustice that is still being felt from years of oppression nor the slaying of black male leaders who kept the focus on education and economic empowerment as a way to real long lasting freedom? Or very simply the lack of focus given to males to gain an education so that they can be independent and strong upstanding citizens like what is pushed into the minds of black females who see too many single black women in difficult situations. No, no, blame it on Jay Z
African American women: where they stand Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 12:50 PM by Barbara Raab
By Rehema Ellis, NBC News correspondent
Editor's note: Rehema's report airs on tonight's broadcast, in Part One of our series, African American Women: Where They Stand
For years, Black women have told their daughters they may have to take care of themselves without a husband so it's imperative that young women develop skills.
It is happening.
The numbers of Black women earning college degrees and taking leadership roles in the workplace are impressive.
And the huge achievement gap between African-American women and men is astounding. Black women are making gains in record numbers. It may suggest to some that Black women have gotten the empowerment message and have met all accomplishment goals. That would be only half right. According to research, there is still a lot of work to do.
Black women, like all female business owners, still lack business parity with men in some key areas.
Most of the companies owned by Black women are part-time ventures, often run from home at night and as a way to boost daytime pay as women care for children and/or aging parents. And according to the Center for Women's Business Research, as of 2006 just 5 percent of companies owned by Black women had employees, versus 10 percent for Black men. Annual revenue averaged $29,000 compared to $77,000 for Black men.
Still, Black women are moving ahead "... driving trends in the market place, and there are advertisers that are seriously starting to pay attention to her," says Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in- chief of Essence Magazine.
"I think this is the best time in our history to be a Black woman in America. By most conceivable measures we are excelling."
But she and others caution that as there is excitement about the advancements made by Black women, society should be equally concerned about how Black men are falling behind academically and economically. Plus, some caution against viewing those disappointments as affecting only African-Americans.
"I don't think that what you are seeing right now should be viewed in isolation. Researchers will tell you that the trends you see in the African-American community really are the precursor to what is going to happen in the general population," says Burt-Murray.
All the more reason to pay attention to what's happening to Black women and men and to understand that their story is not just an African-American story. Far from it.
This is an American story deserving everyone's concern
African American women: where they stand Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 12:50 PM by Barbara Raab
By Rehema Ellis, NBC News correspondent
Editor's note: Rehema's report airs on tonight's broadcast, in Part One of our series, African American Women: Where They Stand
For years, Black women have told their daughters they may have to take care of themselves without a husband so it's imperative that young women develop skills.
It is happening.
The numbers of Black women earning college degrees and taking leadership roles in the workplace are impressive.
And the huge achievement gap between African-American women and men is astounding. Black women are making gains in record numbers. It may suggest to some that Black women have gotten the empowerment message and have met all accomplishment goals. That would be only half right. According to research, there is still a lot of work to do.
Black women, like all female business owners, still lack business parity with men in some key areas.
Most of the companies owned by Black women are part-time ventures, often run from home at night and as a way to boost daytime pay as women care for children and/or aging parents. And according to the Center for Women's Business Research, as of 2006 just 5 percent of companies owned by Black women had employees, versus 10 percent for Black men. Annual revenue averaged $29,000 compared to $77,000 for Black men.
Still, Black women are moving ahead "... driving trends in the market place, and there are advertisers that are seriously starting to pay attention to her," says Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in- chief of Essence Magazine.
"I think this is the best time in our history to be a Black woman in America. By most conceivable measures we are excelling."
But she and others caution that as there is excitement about the advancements made by Black women, society should be equally concerned about how Black men are falling behind academically and economically. Plus, some caution against viewing those disappointments as affecting only African-Americans.
"I don't think that what you are seeing right now should be viewed in isolation. Researchers will tell you that the trends you see in the African-American community really are the precursor to what is going to happen in the general population," says Burt-Murray.
All the more reason to pay attention to what's happening to Black women and men and to understand that their story is not just an African-American story. Far from it.
This is an American story deserving everyone's concern
1 comment:
I saw the serious. I just feel the topics need to be discussed on a larger scale in our own community. I dont think all the real underlying issues were discussed since it was coming from the white point of view and they didnt want to come off as being racist so they strictly stuck with the statistics rather than giving solutions to the problems that we have. That probably can only come from a forum in the same right but in our own community
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