Here's a nice story about academic achievement from today's Chronicle.Super-student twins offered $3.58 million in scholarships
...the brothers received a combined $3.58 million in scholarship offers, in addition to $67,000 in outside scholarships.
"I'm happy for them, that the hard work they've put into their education — I'm happy to see them get results," said their mother, Lana Dawson, an auditor for the city of Birmingham who raised her twin sons as a single mom.
She watched Thursday as her only children walked across the stage as honor graduates of the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School. Logan and Ryan, with respective 4.6 and 4.5 GPAs and 33 and 32 ACT scores, were ranked in the top 20 of their class. They both are National Achievement, Coca-Cola and Elks scholars.
While the natural focus is on the boys themselves for putting in the hard work to be academically successful, I think the spotlight really needs to shine on their mother and grandparents, who laid the foundation for their success, and made them stick to it. It takes a village.The article didn't mention the status of their father, and I hope he's not of the deadbeat variety. His omission doesn't give you much hope on that front though. Imagine how many more success stories of this type we'd have if Dad was in the picture?
Finally, as usual when you read the Houston Chronicle, the comments beneath the story tell a whole different story. There do seem to be an awful lot people out there who slam every story of African-American achievement as racist against White folks; evidence that prejudice and discrimination don't exist; is an example of affirmative action; or just plan not worthy of the news. We can't win for losing in other words.
Talk about bitter and clinging to stuff.
6 comments:
Amen! It does take a village, community, family, and church to raise children.
Congratulations to all who have had a part in these two young men's lives. I wish them success and blessings.
Wow It's so great to hear these stories just like the joy you feel when attending a graduation at an HSBCU!
Believer 1964 - They sound like well grounded young men and that's a credit to their families, communities, and church. I wish all of our young people had that level of support, but unfortunately, they don't and we see the results every day.
just_wondering - It's good to see you again, and don't be a stranger! I'm going to make more of an effort to publicize the success stories. We hear way too much negative. Here's another we did a little while back.
http://www.therealready.blogspot.com/2007/06/lift-him-up.html
This is a great story DP. And you were right about some of the comments over there, sounds like some of those people had a big fat bowl of bile for breakfast this morning. Especially this guy:
"For a country that Michelle Obama was not proud of until early this year, it seems that we're doing pretty good on the racial front...some may argue too good."
"Too good"? What the hell does that mean? We've made a lot of progress in the last 40+ years, but we still have a long way to go.
Big Tex - Exactly. The comments are always like that on the Chronicle.
We've got a ways to go for sure, and it's up to folks like us to keep pushing further down the path. This country will truly be something to see when it lives up to its full potential.
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