The MAC Phoundation

So, what have others been saying about T&L?  Let's find out:

"I am so glad you and Mr. Marshall are publishing the thoughts so many other teachers (and parents like myself) agree with...Thank you, good luck and God bless you!!!!!"

"You have done both students and educators a huge service."

"I read the article written about you and Mr. Marshall.  I am so proud of you speaking out about the day-to-day experiences of some, if not most, educators.  Many at my school have not experienced the things that you speak of; however, all of us know someone who has/had these experiences.  Continue to do what God has called you to do.  Teachers who care about students will speak up about what's important no matter what.  We need more teachers like you and Marshall.  God Bless You!" 

"I've ordered the book knowing from the excerpts that you know the "real" world of teaching and wish you the very best."

"May God bless the work that you are doing! I read the article in today's paper and plan to buy the book, granted this "white soccer mom" might have some trouble deciphering the lingo. But, I am very interested in what you have to say...I fear that the leaders at CMS are not looking at the real problems. It all starts at home. There is only so much a teacher can do when there is no support structure!"

"One of my older teacher friends saw your article, she thinks ya'll will end up on OPRAH!"

"AMEN AND AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best front page I've seen in a long time!!!!!...long-overdue for those sentiments to be aired...keep on keeping on!!

"I read the article in the Charlotte Obs. Sat. about you and R. Marshall. I actually read the article four times. I admire you two and the courage to speak out. I am a math teacher of 22 years and it saddens me deeply to see what is happening in our public school system. You sir, have said what I have wanted to say for years. Yes, I wanted to keep my job, when I have vented in the presence of administrators, I have been punished. I have seen new teachers cry and not be able to make it through the year. I want to help, however, my professional suggestions, comments, and concerns are ignored. I may "rock the boat" or cause trouble, if I speak out. I applaud you and Ryan for your genuine love of children and concern. I find you two to be my "Teacher Heroes". If I can help you two do anything please email me. I have made numerous copies of the article and feel a sense of security that the world of academia has you to stand up for us. I think 60 min., and other news media programs need to have you speak. I am also going to email Oprah. My dream is to meet you two one day and shake your hands, I may even give you a hug."

And the coments go on and on and on! 

Since its publication in November 2007--the same Saturday U of M was pummeled by THEEEEEE Ohio State Buckeyes--Thoughts & Lamentations has produced comment after comment, conversation after conversation.  Much of the dialogue has been positive if not downright supportive--and why not?  The truth is its own best defense, and T&L is steeped in truth.

Still: we wanted to answer some of the most repeated questions about T&L in an open forum so as to foment deeper dialogue in the future.  Here goes:

Those are not our eyes on the front or rear covers.  They are, metaphorically, the eyes of a jaded Urban educator who has seen too much.

The "PH" in Phoundation emphasizes our teaching philosophy: it all starts from home.

The ghetto names represent the reality of trying to take attendance with the teacher usage of phonics against names ignoring quite a few of the laws of phonics.  Indeed, correction is often met with "dat's how my mama say it!"

Yes, the events captured in T&L actually happened.

No, we do not hate our kids--in fact, we love them.

No, that is not Uncle Phil from "The Fresh Prince."

Another Kwanzaa, another fruitless foray, seemingly, into an extended annual exercise in intellectual futility.

It's Kwanzaa time!

The principles of Kwanzaa, regardless of one's degree of affection for afro-centrism, are as laudable as they are universal, and they serve to remind and inspire the current generation of Blacks--if they so choose--to heed the sagacious thematic nature of inspirational terms.  Umoja, kugichagulia, ujima, ujamaa, nia, kuumba, and imani remain signposts in the side of roads not traveled by those who would most benefit from the practice of the Nguzo Saba.

We call that irony.

And many Blacks really need to practice these ideas in the classroom! 

Actually, if one were to spend time in an urban classroom, one would see the polar opposite of the Nguzo Saba--or they will see the fermented notions of what the Nguzo Saba are as practiced by the shortsighted charges fully wrapped in the throes of ghetto-centrism and conspicuous academic underachievement.

Consider the Nguzo Saba and their intended meanings:

• Umoja (Unity)
  To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
• Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
  To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
• Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
  To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
• Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
  To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
• Nia (Purpose)
  To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
• Kuumba (Creativity)
  To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
• Imani (Faith)
  To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Maulana Karenga

Now, what are these principles to our youth?  Indeed, many youth's grasp on these principles suggests a continuous situational irony, and examination renders an easy solution as to what the Nguzo Saba are not.  To wit:

Umoja is not dressing identically in overpriced garish clothes inappropriate outside of the realm of visual entertainment.  Umoja is not all boys in insta-locks and girls in stilettos.  Umoja is not deciding to skip school as a class.

Kujichagulia is not doing what is expected within the pail of academic and social orthodoxy.  It is not deciding against getting arrested; it is not deciding to tie your shoes or wear clothes that cover your tummy.

Ujima is not clique'n up in gangs.  It is not living in you mama's basement for free any age beyond 18.  It is not baby-sitting your child's three out of wedlock babbies while she attends an alt-ed school to graduate before she turns 20.

Ujamaa is not "five on it."  It is not saving up coins from begging at gas stations just to buy yet another forty of malt liquor.  It is not getting a home on Section 8 just so you could use your child support money to buy outfits for the strip club.

Nia is not making the hood worse.  It is not to live hard and stupid and die prematurely in a televised death.  It is not reality television through which you expand your special rendition of ghetto-specific mannerisms.

Kuumba is not spelling Andre "AuwnDreigh."  It is not adding a Q or a La or a Tra or a D' to tradition names with certified genealogies.  It is not a name based on alcoholic beverages.  It is not labia rings or ill-conceived tattoos.  It is not saggin' to the point of emergent homosexuality.

Imani is not the belief that everyone who righteously corrects you is a hater.  It is not the belief that ghetto is the new standard of public decorum.

So, a cursory glance throughout the Black communities and classrooms reveals derivatives of our youth's perception and acting definition of the Nguzo Saba.  And--which is worse--they choose to follow these distorted versions of Kwanzaa's principles year-round.  Why should they worry about the deeper meaning of kuumba when they express creativity through multi-colored over-priced patent leather shoes--when they express creativity by naming their second baby Destiny and their first baby Ecstasy--when kuumba is measured by the inches of rims supporting a pimped-out urban chariot?

And please: why discuss self-determination when many students refuse to bring pencils and pens to class?  Why discuss faith when all the vast majority believes in is the ghetto cliche "get rich or die trying?"  Why discuss purpose when life is a domino chain where one hedonistic experience is only meaningful until it collides with the next one?  Why discuss collective economics when Nike collects our economics while our utilities are cut off?  Why discuss unity when Black-on-Black crime is still the number one source of potetial doom for Black men?

In fact, why still celebrate Kwanzaa?  I suppose the celebration of Kwanzaa will continue as long as their is the hope that a few "get it," a few grab hold to the knowledge neither ascetic nor inapplicable, and use it in the future to better those who would give it audience.

Sigh.

Until then, pass the teachers the Pepcid AC, Tums, Tylenol and any over-the-counter depressant.  We still have a lot of teaching to do. 

We still have a long way to go.

References to Kwanzaa are made relative to www.TheOfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org.  Any misrepresentation of Kwanzaa and its meaning as a celebration is wholly unintentional.