http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-emdin/if-i-were-a-poor-black-kid_b_1159059.html?ref=education

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2011/12/12/if-i-was-a-poor-black-kid/

 

http://www.good.is/post/an-ode-to-a-poor-black-kid-i-never-knew-how-forbes-gets-it-wrong/

One of the comments from the 2nd article you posted.

 

Sir, as a white kid who grew up on welfare in a single-parent home and went on to graduate from Stanford, you might think that I would support you. Instead, I am so incredibly dissappointed in your ignorant “recipe” for success. I got into a magnet school that my mom found out about by sheer accident. I went to the library and read a lot because it was the only place with adequate heat and electricity. The problem? I got evicted more times than I can count. Our utilities got shut off so often. I did not, contrary to your “teacher friends’” assessment, have a computer at home. Had I known about any of these tools (likelihood is that I would not have and that my mother would have been even less likely to as a waitress working 15 hours a day 6 days a week), I still wouldn’t have been able to use them. What library system could accommodate all the poor kids (of any race) to help them to realize this goal? Where would I find the time to use these resources when I started to work at age 15? Where would I get my stamina to study “coding” when we didn’t have enough food to eat dinner that day? It is articles like these that perpetuate the systemic ignorance of the role class and race play on success and prevent us from real solutions. You clearly do not understand what it is like to be poor, and your blindness is a danger because this article will only reach those who are well enough to-do to have an impact on policies that directly affect your mythical “poor black kid.” And those policy makers will make terrible choices that entrench systemic racism and class division even further in our country. Shame on you.

Poor white kid versus poor black kid

 

Which one has the best opportunity of going to college?

Poor white kid versus poor black kid

 

Which one has the best opportunity of going to college?

Good question. I'm surprised I haven't seen any response to it as of yet.

Since colleges and universities have a limited amount of money to give out for scholarship aid, they reserve this money to lure those who can be counted in their enrollment statistics as diversity enhancing "racial minorities." Whites of equal economic disadvantage have no such "privilege".

You guys realize that Berea College's mission is to serve the poor of appalachia, don't you? You also realize that I (poor white kid from from Bell County) qualified as a minority student for Ivy League admissions. You also realize that Centre College gave me a huge grant because I was poor so that I would be able to afford to attend that fine College. Your "world view" simply does not jive with the facts. Let's look at a few more.

 

Black/Hispanic% at UK = 6%

Black/Hispanic% in Lexington = 18%

 

Black/Hispanic% at UL = 14%

Black/Hispanic% in Louisville = 18%

 

Black/Hispanic% at WKU? = 10%

Black/Hispanic% in Bowling Green = 16.8%

 

Black/Hispanic% at EKU = 9,4%

Black/Hispanic% in Richmond = 9.4%

 

Black/Hispanic% at NKU = 5/9%

Black/Hispanic% Highland Heights = 2.9%

 

So only two of our major state universities even reflect the diversity of the city in which they are located and in those cities the minority population is under 10%. So I have no idea where you are getting your "privilege" information, but it simply does not jive with the facts. BTW what has this to do with the topics? . . . Oh yeah, more of the stuff the "poor blacks" should take advantage of - gotcha.

You guys realize that Berea College's mission is to serve the poor of appalachia, don't you? You also realize that I (poor white kid from from Bell County) qualified as a minority student for Ivy League admissions. You also realize that Centre College gave me a huge grant because I was poor so that I would be able to afford to attend that fine College. Your "world view" simply does not jive with the facts. Let's look at a few more.

 

Black/Hispanic% at UK = 6%

Black/Hispanic% in Lexington = 18%

 

Black/Hispanic% at UL = 14%

Black/Hispanic% in Louisville = 18%

 

Black/Hispanic% at WKU? = 10%

Black/Hispanic% in Bowling Green = 16.8%

 

Black/Hispanic% at EKU = 9,4%

Black/Hispanic% in Richmond = 9.4%

 

Black/Hispanic% at NKU = 5/9%

Black/Hispanic% Highland Heights = 2.9%

 

So only two of our major state universities even reflect the diversity of the city in which they are located and in those cities the minority population is under 10%. So I have no idea where you are getting your "privilege" information, but it simply does not jive with the facts. BTW what has this to do with the topics? . . . Oh yeah, more of the stuff the "poor blacks" should take advantage of - gotcha.

So...are you telling me they don't take advantage or they aren't getting the advantage? Which is it?

 

BTW, in comparison, you're the exception and not the rule.

In comparison to what? I was the rule. Those were set asides and programs for poor kids.

 

What I am saying is that simply having a program doesn't mean that a kid chose not to take advantage of it. Sometimes there are circumstances that prevent it from happening.

In comparison to what? I was the rule. Those were set asides and programs for poor kids.

 

What I am saying is that simply having a program doesn't mean that a kid chose not to take advantage of it. Sometimes there are circumstances that prevent it from happening.

Disagree about you being the rule, racial and gender minorities will usually get the nod.

 

I agree that sometimes circumstances prevent it from happening. Poor parenting for one.

Disagree about you being the rule, racial and gender minorities will usually get the nod.

 

That does not bode true given the % of minorities in our colleges. It appears that the nod goes to white kids

 

I agree that sometimes circumstances prevent it from happening. Poor parenting for one.

I agree, so what do we do for that kid?

I agree, so what do we do for that kid?

I don't know, I really wish I had the answer. Sometimes, as harsh as this may sound, I think it may be best to take kids like these from their parents. And I mean permanently.

 

You have any ideas?

ace, I wasn't implying anything with my question but just trying to add/spark discussion. The stats you posted are interesting but do they really tell the whole story. What precentage of white kids apply to college? How about black/hispanic?

You guys realize that Berea College's mission is to serve the poor of appalachia, don't you? You also realize that I (poor white kid from from Bell County) qualified as a minority student for Ivy League admissions. You also realize that Centre College gave me a huge grant because I was poor so that I would be able to afford to attend that fine College. Your "world view" simply does not jive with the facts. Let's look at a few more.

 

Black/Hispanic% at UK = 6%

Black/Hispanic% in Lexington = 18%

 

Black/Hispanic% at UL = 14%

Black/Hispanic% in Louisville = 18%

 

Black/Hispanic% at WKU? = 10%

Black/Hispanic% in Bowling Green = 16.8%

 

Black/Hispanic% at EKU = 9,4%

Black/Hispanic% in Richmond = 9.4%

 

Black/Hispanic% at NKU = 5/9%

Black/Hispanic% Highland Heights = 2.9%

 

So only two of our major state universities even reflect the diversity of the city in which they are located and in those cities the minority population is under 10%. So I have no idea where you are getting your "privilege" information, but it simply does not jive with the facts. BTW what has this to do with the topics? . . . Oh yeah, more of the stuff the "poor blacks" should take advantage of - gotcha.

 

Your percentages are meaningless. They would only be relevant if ONLY residents of the particular city could attend that college and if the residents could not attend a college elsewhere.

Your percentages are meaningless. They would only be relevant if ONLY residents of the particular city could attend that college and if the residents could not attend a college elsewhere.

:thumb:

Your percentages are meaningless. They would only be relevant if ONLY residents of the particular city could attend that college and if the residents could not attend a college elsewhere.

 

They were meant only for comparison and to point out the fact that it is really just as easy for a poor white to get in as it is for a poor black. Having never been a poor black kid (kinda the point of the articles) I cant really comment on the difficulty of applying and being accepted to college. The % would seem to say that even with programs aimed at attracting minorities, they are not enrolling at a significant rate.

 

RTS, you will be surprised to know that in many situations I do think it is best for a kid to get out of an unhealthy and even dangerous environment. Sometimes incarceration is even a good thing, but the state doesn't want to do that. We need more places that offer 24/7 supervision but also offers therapeutic and educational services. Even if it is just for a short time.

RTS, you will be surprised to know that in many situations I do think it is best for a kid to get out of an unhealthy and even dangerous environment. Sometimes incarceration is even a good thing, but the state doesn't want to do that. We need more places that offer 24/7 supervision but also offers therapeutic and educational services. Even if it is just for a short time.

Some think I'm cruel when I bring this up, but I think some kind of working institution for these kind of kids (kids of all race) where they get proper schooling and learn how to do all kinds of different jobs would be the best thing to give them a real chance in life. The biggest hurdle would be funding.