It's taken me a while to admit, but I agree with Michael Atherton's post too.
Let me also say that I am getting a little sick of this 'racist' tag being thrown at some Blacks by Whites who don't agree with what that particular person within the Black community is saying or doing within that community. Yet, when Market BBQ was accused of it - gasp and shock!- it just couldn't be, but some feel comfortable enough to throw it the likes of Sharon Sayles Belton and Al Gallmon. It's politcal agenda BS. You don't have to speak for the community, they/we are capable of doing that themselves.
Gallmon is the pastor of a large mostly African American church. African American pastors are very active in their community beyond church service. Gallmon interacts daily with more African Americans than Mr Mann does in a month, I'm willing to bet. But, supposedly Doug Mann is speaking for them/us. Gallmon has been active in working with the African American community for a couple of decades, in a few urban areas. Doug Mann has been coming to Lucille's Kitchen for the Public Policy forum for about a year or so.
Maybe its subjective what Gallmon said, but being African American, living and interacting in the community, serving the community, leading the community and serving briefly on its school board certainly gives him credibility in what he percieves is a problem in our community. Certainly gives him more credit than someone who speaking from the outside.
Mann seems to gloss over parental involvment. Go to any teacher and ask about the students who parents are involved in their education, those students are more than likely to be doing better. Hear this, the system and its norms of race and class has lead to an un-even disturbution of resources. He's dead on there but, kids got to come to school ready to learn.
There are a couple of after-school program I know of that primarily serve African American kids. They both are very successful programs and they both require some kind of parental involvment. That was key in turning these at-risk students around, not buying much needed materials.
Gallmon simplied echoed what is being said and addressed in our community.
Eric Mitchell
St Paul
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