Education Writers Association Conference

For a new education writer like me the conference was definitely a “Reality Check.” From the new media sessions at the Washington Post to opening remarks by Secretary Arne Duncan, to the incredible workshops, the exhibits and the wealth of information from the speakers and attendees it was well worth the time.

There’s a saying that the more you know, the more you know you don’t know. Well, I second that emotion. While I learned how much I didn’t know about the field of education (reality check) here’s some highlights of what I did learn.

Blogs allow readers to get involved with the story. “Let them in the reporting process,” said Emily Alpert of the Voice of San Diego, “Have a personal relationship with readers.”

Non-profit news outlets are successfully making their mark in the industry. Elizabeth Green of gothamschools.org explained that the site was developed by a philanthropist and it’s innovating new models on how to pay for journalism.

Facebook can be used for reporting. Pat Thornton, chief editor of beatblogging.org said, “The easier you make it for people to reach you, the more they will.” Twitter is also a good place for research. Lots of news is broken on Twitter. “

“It’s a great way to start a conversation, ask questions and get quotes,” said Mr. Thorton. “Put your blog entry on Twitter and Facebook. Use a tiny URL. Twitter and Facebook can be connected.”

Facebook is a news source he explained. It’s great for education writers because it was started for students. Be social. People get news from Facebook and they give news. Journalism is now a two-way conversation. People are willing to ask questions. Organize a weekly chat. The biggest thing is the interaction between people.

The research about high school dropouts goes all the way back to the 1870’s. Today 1.2 million youth drop out each year. Near 50 percent of Black, Latino and Native American students drop out. It’s called the “Million Dollar Mistake”.

Two thousand schools account for 66 percent of dropouts. By the third grade a student’s attendance, behavior and academic performance can predict whether or not they will drop out.

Denise Levano, 23, an immigrant who came to this country in 2006, spoke about why she dropped out of school and returned. She will graduate next month. “I left to work. I came back because I don’t want

 to be a waitress all my life. I want to do something different. I don’t have my dad encouraging me. It’s just me and my sister.” She’s going to college in the fall.

John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises spoke of the power of a caring adult in the life of a child. Ms. Levano’s counselor was instrumental in getting her back to school.

One size education doesn’t fit all. Some students need early morning classes, night school, and web based. Real life events can cause dropouts. So can boredom in the classroom. Young people start dropping out a year or two before they actually drop out.

The war of words between Marty Nemko, a college consultant and Kati Haycock, president of the Education Trust about alternative education versus college readiness programs was an eye opener. Is college for everyone? Ninety seven percent of Black parents think so. But too many Black students are dropping out. Give them another option before they give up, drop out or get pregnant explained Mr. Nemko.

Options are what education writing is all about, so many stories, so little time. That’s my reality check. Tell me yours. Email me at nisaislam@mac.com, tweet me @nisaislam or hit me up on Facebook. I’m being social.

Denise Levano speaks at the workshop Dropping Out: Why Kids Leave and What Brings Them Back. The workshop panel included Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises, and Danielle Mezer from the Mayor’s office in Nashville.

Understanding White Privilege

Across America in small cities and large white people are being educated about their privilege.  They are learning that just as their whiteness has led to oppression and institutional racism, the flip side is a set of benefits and privileges that only whites share.

“Understanding white privilege is another framework to combating racism.  It’s another tool in the struggle against white supremacy and racism,” explained Tim Wise, an author and lecturer on white privilege also called anti racist teachings to The Final Call.

“It started with the abolitionist struggle, then the anti segregation movement, then nationalism.  White privilege is a way for white to explore how race impacts our lives.  It’s a framework aimed at liberal and progressive white folks.  We have to get white folks to understand how racism affects us too.  Other than that the work we do to combat it is just charity or patronizing.”

He added, “We have to challenge white privilege, challenge white supremacy and what it does

to us as the dominant group.  It has negative affects and consequences for us as well.”

What is White Privilege?

Dr. W. E. B. Dubois is credited with being the first to identify and discuss White Privilege.  In 1935 he wrote of the “Psychological Wages of Whiteness” in his book Black Reconstruction in America.

“It must be remembered that the white group of laborers, while they received a low wage, were compensated in part by a sort of public and psychological wage. They were given public deference and titles of courtesy because they were white. They were admitted freely with all classes of white people to public functions, public parks, and the best schools. The police were drawn from their ranks, and the courts, dependent on their votes, treated them with such leniency as to encourage lawlessness,” he wrote.

“Their vote selected public officials, and while this had small effect upon the economic situation, it had great effect upon their personal treatment and the deference shown them. White schoolhouses were the best in the community, and conspicuously placed, and they cost anywhere from twice to ten times as much per capita as the colored schools. The newspapers specialized on news that flattered the poor whites and almost utterly ignored the Negro except in crime and ridicule.”

The White Privilege Conference

In the 1990’s a young, Black Eddie Moore Jr. was inspired.  “I was always interested in creating a space to have tough conversations like was Jesus Black, should we spank our children and what about burning the American flag.  I was working on my masters when I heard about white privilege.  I felt we needed a larger venue for the conversation,” he told The Final Call.

That larger venue started in 1999 with the first White Privilege Conference.

“It’s about building relationships with people interested in the topic.  I was living in Iowa at the time and white people started attending because of the relationships.  There were 150 at the first one and this year we had 925,” he said.

“The conference has gone beyond conversation to folks making a commitment to be action oriented and to be held accountable.  It’s strong and growing.  We’ve developed relations

hips nationally.  I believe you do the tougher work more effectively when you work with people you love.”

Nearly 1000 mostly white people from around the country gathered in Memphis, city of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination, April 1-4, to talk about the challenges of ending oppression and institutional racism at the 10^th Annual White Privilege Conference.

 “This conference is about giving people the skills and tools to make change in their lives and in America,” said Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., now director of diversity for Bush College in Seattle, Washington.

For four days adult and youth participants went to workshops such as Discovering White and Male Privilege: The Surprising Journey, The Joy of Unlearning Racism , We Oppose Racism and Unearned Privilege..So, Now What?, and listened to keynote speakers.

Dr. Frances Kendall, a diversity consultant, gave the opening keynote.  “I spoke to the audience about passing the mantle

and calling forth a new generation of change agents.  There is a great deal of work that needs to be done on changing white privilege and institutional racism,” 

she told The Final Call.

Organizers explain that the WPC examines the challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team-building strategies to work toward a more equitable world. 

 

Author Tim Wise shows his book White Like Me at the White Privilege Conference.

Youth attendees at the White Privilege Conference surround Dr. Tim Moore.

 

Saviour's Day in Photos

By now you I'm sure you've read lots about Saviour's Day. Here's a short slideshow of pictures to tell the story. Many thanks to Brothers Mikal, Jesse, and Askia for their photos.

Big Event Muslim

That term is an inside joke referring to Muslims you only see at big events. Well my blog may be just as guilty. The last time I posted was at the Democratic Presidential Convention in Denver last summer (a big event) and here I am posting again after Saviour's Day 2009, another big event. Please forgive the delay and I appreciate you reading my posts. I will do much better this time and you can bank on a post at least once a week if not more.

If you missed Saviour's Day you really missed something special. The Minister's address was profound. It needs to be printed and studied. It was a blue print for our success. There were so many new and exciting events this year from workshop titles to new presenters to Mother Tynnetta's Ta Ha Suite, a classical symphonic suite featuring classical ballet and musicians from around the world but in this post I want to tell you about the preshow. A preshow at Saviour's Day? Yes. Bro. Robert, student minister over the Southwest Region based in Houston, and I hosted a brief preshow before the Minister's address to highlight the different events at Saviour's Day. We interviewed Bro. Akbar who talked about international affairs and Sis. Ava who introduced the new Study Guide 21. It was a big hit. If you missed it, you really missed it.

Here's a clip of what you missed. Photos by Bro. Jesse Muhammad.

Every Round Goes Higher and Higher

When Fannie Lou Hamer spoke to the credentials committee at the 1964 Democratic Convention in Atlantic City she talked about the eviction, arrest and beatings she endured because she registered to vote. Her remarks are legendary and reflected the feeling of so many at the time.

“All my life I've been sick and tired,” she said. “Now I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

From those emotional and moving words in 1964 to the impactful words of Michelle Obama, Black women have carried a torchlight for America. The light was dim and dismal when Mrs. Hamer spoke but as the church hymn, We Are Climbing Jacobs Ladder, explains, “Every round goes higher and higher.”

“Who then will speak for the common good?,” asked Con. Barbara Jordan in 1976 at the Democratic convention.

She said, “We are a people in a quandary about the present. We are a people in search of our future. We are a people in search of a national community. We are a people trying not only to solve the problems of the present, unemployment, inflation, but we are attempting on a larger scale to fulfill the promise of America. We are attempting to fulfill our national purpose, to create and sustain a society in which all of us are equal.”

“This is the question which must be answered in 1976: Are we to be one people bound together by common spirit, sharing in a common endeavor; or will we become a divided nation? For all of its uncertainty, we cannot flee the future. We must not become the "New Puritans" and reject our society. We must address and master the future together. It can be done if we restore the belief that we share a sense of national community, that we share a common national endeavor. It can be done.”

Every round goes higher and higher.

Michelle Obama wowed the world with her words.

“All of us driven by the simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do. That we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be. That is the thread that connects our hearts,” she said.

“That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack’s journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.”

“And one day, they (her children), and your sons and daughters-will tell their own children about what we did together in this election. They’ll tell them how this time we listened to our hopes and not our fears. How this time, we decided to stop doubting and to start dreaming.”

“How this time, in this great country, where a girl from the south side of Chicago can go to college and law school and the son of a single mother from Hawaii can go all the way to the White House. We committed ourselves to building the world as it should be.”

Fannie Lou Hamer photo from Associated Press, Barbara Jordan photo from American Rhetoric, Michelle Obama photo from Kenneth Muhammad

Inayat Lalani, MD Speaks on the American Muslim Democratic Caucus

American Muslim Democratic Caucus Debuts

DENVER—Nearly 50 Muslim American Democratic Delegates from around the country gathered at the Democratic National Convention August 25, to debut their new caucus.

Inspired by the election of the first two Muslim Congressmen, Keith Ellison from Minnesota and Andre Carson from Indiana, the caucus plans to make the voices of Muslims heard.

“This is an historic day,” said Con. Ellison. “This is the first time Muslims have gathered together as a group at the Democratic National Convention. For the Muslim community in America who has so much to offer America, this moment is filled with promise and challenge.”

“The Muslim community is offering its many strengths to make America better. Today is a wonderful day.”

The American Muslim Democratic Caucus was launched with the theme, “Restoring America’s Promise”.

Part of that promise is being involved in politics.

“Polls indicate that this will be a tight race and will likely come down to the usual battleground states. Most of those battleground states have large and affluent Muslim communities which can make a difference in Congressional, Senate and the Presidential race(s),” explained Con. Ellison.

Anthony Muhammad is a Muslim delegate from Washington, DC.

“The value of this is that we are making history with Islam. I want to have influence over the things that are happening in my community. Islam gives me the focus, principles and standards that are universal,” he told The Final Call.

“The principals that are imbedded in Islam require you to move out in the larger community, make changes and better your community. That’s the work I’m involved in.”

That work is rarely publicized in the news and the story of this debut will be hard to find in mainstream media too.

This dismays Dr. Inayat Lalani, one of the major caucus organizers.

“You talk about the Latino vote and the of women’s vote. You analyze the under-30 vote and senior vote. You discuss to death the blue-collar vote and white-collar vote and Green color vote and purple color vote but you never mention the impact of the Muslim American vote. That is politics of exclusion and exclusion is Un-American.”

“Don’t forget, these delegates are here because they won the confidence of the rank and file Democrats and Americans to represent them,” he said.