Chitlin Testing

I had a conversation a while back with That Girl Boo about the cultural bias of aptitude tests like the SAT, and how folks use the results of such tests to disparage our people as a whole. If the situation were reversed and the questions asked of students were based on the Black experience, history, and events, I'm sure that we would be writing a whole lot of articles about why White (and other) kids aren't as smart as their black counterparts. Then I saw this today:

As soon as she heard her classmates giggle and utter the word "Negro," 17-year-old Kayla Thomas started thumbing ahead in the test that had been handed out to her psychology class.

Thomas, a student at Klein Collins High School in the Klein district, says she was stunned to find that her Advanced Placement class had been given a copy of the so-called "Chitling Intelligence Test."

The multiple-choice exam, which includes references to "handkerchief heads," welfare mothers and how long chitlings should be cooked, was written almost 40 years ago to illustrate how intelligence tests could be culturally biased.

I've got to be truthful here y'all, I didn't know this test even existed, but apparently it's been around for 40 years. And apparently it has proven over the years that aptitude tests ARE biased. But my question is what other tests are still used in the exact same form they were originally written, without updates, for 40 years? I mean, I don't think most of us could answer these questions nowadays, although I'm not sure if that link is to a real example of the so-called Chitlin Test, particularly due to the title (Black Intelligence Test for Cultural Homogeneity), but you get the point. Ms. Taylor was understandably upset:

...Thomas says the materials, developed after the 1960s race riots in Los Angeles, aren't appropriate for a modern-day high school class. In addition to an apology from the teacher, she wants the Klein district to remove the material from its curriculum.

"It's not right," the senior said. "It's not acceptable. This is the 21st century."

The district says it's all a big mistake and everything would be fine if the regular teacher would have been there to prepare students for the materials they were about to see. What do y'all think? Are these tests still relevant?

Are African Americans Still Mis-Educated?

HISTORY shows, then, that as a result of these unusual forces in the education of the Negro he easily learns to follow the line of least resistance rather than battle against odds for what real history has shown to be the right course. A mind that remains in the present atmosphere never undergoes sufficient development to experience what is commonly known as thinking. No Negro thus submerged in the ghetto, then, will have a clear conception of the present status of the race or sufficient foresight to plan for the future; and he drifts so far toward compromise that he loses moral courage. The education of the Negro, then, becomes a perfect device for control from without. Those who purposely promote it have every reason to rejoice, and Negroes themselves exultingly champion the cause of the oppressor.

...[T]he lack of confidence of the Negro in himself and in his possibilities is what has kept him down. His mis-education has been a perfect success in this respect.

The Mis-Education of the Negro
Chapter 10: The Loss of Vision
Carter G. Woodson

Since my introductory post I have been anguishing over what topic I should delve into first. Although DP has given me the privilege to talk about anything, I am fixated on techno-social issues. So over the past few weeks I was trying to sort through a deluge of topics that seemed important but I was feeling like Michael Jackson trying to follow up “Thriller”… good material but not good enough to be a follow up.

So over the past month I have just been basically functioning in this daze – which if you ask some people is somewhat my normal state – because DP is telling me all the stuff I need to put in writing. During this time I happened upon three events that were not the least bit unusual. In fact, I would even consider them to be rather commonplace occurrences. Then late the other night I thought about these three events collectively for the first time and all I could hear was Denzel (Malcolm X) “we’ve been bamboozled… hoodwinked… led astray!”

The first event was the guy selling CDs and DVDs at the corner store. I live in the hood so there is always someone at the corner store selling their wares, especially on Friday and the first of the month. What made this event unique was not his entrepreneurial talents – which were rather good if I do say so myself – but the praise for his product. My neighbor came over looking for my wife to tell her that “The DVD Man” (this is the moniker he goes by) was at the store. “The DVD Man” is purported to have the best quality movies to ever grace “the hood”!

**NOTE**: Let me go on record here and say that we do not own any bootleg movies in my house.

The second event occurred at a technology forum that I attended last week. The topic was broadband access and the concern that the current network infrastructure is going to soon be overtaxed because of the emergence of new multimedia delivery options, the bundling of television, voice and data packages, High Definition television, and an ever growing user community. One of the keynote speakers, Larry Irving, talked about the “EXAFLOOD”. During his presentation he introduced the audience to several products that had the potential of revolutionizing our lives. Among these were the Slingbox – this device allows you to view and control your cable/satellite, TiVO, and DVD Player from your laptop and/or mobile phone via an internet connection; the Amazon Kindle and iTunes. Mr. Irving spoke briefly about an innovative feature of iTunes called iTunes-U, more about this later.

As I spanned the crowd of attendees I couldn’t help but count the number of African Americans in attendance. Although I already knew that the number would be small, I always like to pick a number and then see how close my prediction was… for the record the number was 9. My number was 15... boy was I wrong!!

The third and final event was when I viewed my credit card account. I have a pre-paid credit card that my children and I use for online purchases. I encourage them to put some of their allowance in the account, although they rarely do. I monitor the account on a regular basis but for the first time I decided to view the account with a little more detail. To my surprise my kids and I had purchased over $150 worth of music and videos from iTunes over the past month. When I asked them why were they downloading so much music they told me that some of the music was being used for ringtones on their cell phones and other music was being mixed and burned to CD for trading with (and selling to) their friends.

As I thought about these events the other night I thought about the above text from Carter G. Woodson’s book, The Mis-Education of the Negro.

Is it just me or are we taking the path of least resistance to become a part of the information technology community? It appears that the message is one of African Americans being relegated to a role of spectator, and to make matters worse it appears that African-Americans only want to be entertained!

Are we telling our children that we have taken them as far as we can while refusing to acknowledge that we have neglected to equip them with the intangible tools to sufficiently develop their ability to think beyond the here and now?

The cost for attending a college or university is rising to the point that getting a degree is luxury afforded to the wealthy or the gifted and talented. Added to the fact that many African American parents have failed to save or to establish a college fund for their children causes me to really wonder how our children will survive in this new global workforce.

While a degree may be expensive, an education is available for those seeking to learn. As I mentioned earlier iTunes has a program called ITunes-U. According to Apple’s website:

“[iTunes U] is designed to be completely intuitive, iTunes U is based on the iTunes Store, where millions of people already get their music, movies, and TV shows. Now there’s an area of the iTunes Store devoted entirely to education, where it’s easy to search thousands of audio and video files from schools across the country.”

The site goes on to say:

“Just like the iTunes Store, the popularity of iTunes U has exploded. Already, more than half of the nation’s top 500 schools use it to distribute their digital content to students — or to the world. Any school can open all or part of its site to the public, from alumni to parents to anyone with a love of learning. iTunes U is transforming the way people learn on campus, off campus, and where there’s no campus at all.”

With society in general and the internet in particular offering people so many things to dull their senses it’s imperative that we provide our children with tools that have meaningful, positive and lasting results in their lives.

Now it might sound like I'm shilling for iTunes but trust me I'm not. But if your middle or high school student is having trouble with algebra, isn't it good to know that in addition to the latest Pimp C tribute jam, he/she can also download a course from a leading mathematics professor, or learn physics/chemistry from a professor at MIT?

Can you get with me? `Cuz I'm There... Already!!

@p.buzz

Musical Interlude - Living Colour: Pride

Black rockers Living Colour performing Pride, from the 1990 Times Up album. Just as relevant today as it was then. Listen and watch or sing along if you like, the lyrics are below.



When I speak out loud
You say I'm crazy
When I'm feeling proud
You say I'm lazy
I look around and see the true reality

You like our hair
You love our music
Our culture's large, so you abuse it
Take time to understand, I'm an equal man

Chorus:
History's a lie that they teach you in school
A fraudulent view called the golden rule
A peaceful land that was born civilized
Was robbed of its riches, its freedom, its pride

When I'm at work you say I'm great
You watch and ponder, but can you relate?
Inviting eyes hands drop, when the music stops

Don't ask me why I play this music
It's my culture, so naturally I use it
I state my claim to say, it's here for all to play

Chorus

It's time for a change
Concepts rearrange
Can't you feel my rage...

It's up to you to seek the truth
To know your history, the difference between me and you
Relate to me as me, not what you see on TV

Chorus

Homegrown Terrorism?

Ahh, Freedom of Speech! As long as you don't say what we don't want you to say. The Homegrown Terrorism Bill is making the rounds through the House and Senate:

Both the House and Senate have introduced legislation entitled the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007". Positions on the bill range from calling it a "thought crimes" bill, to labeling it a redundant government program, to seeing it as an important tactic for preventing terrorism at home. The bill defines "homegrown terrorism" as

* the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

Hmmm. Lots of room for interpretation there. What do you think? Will this bill help increase our security, or is it an infringement on free speech and freedom of thought? You can probably guess how I feel about it, but you can enter your opinion of this proposed legislation direct to your congressional representatives by using the links below.

Helps keep us safe
Violation of free speech

And It's So Nice In The Summer Too!

From the "Ok, I Guess We'll Take It" category, the Houston Chronicle is pushing this Brookings Institute survey that ranks Houston 21st among 30 major metropolitan areas according to the number of "walkable urban places" relative to the area's population.

The only question I have for the pollsters is "Have you ever been to Houston?"

Other than the lack of sidewalks almost everywhere, 12" wide "bike paths," and maniacal drivers actively aiming for pedestrians and cyclists on every street, it's a great city for walking around in.

And did I mention the heat.

Because there are a couple of master planned suburban Town Centers designed for pedestrians does not make the other 635 square miles of this city "walkable" by any stretch of the imagination.

I understand accentuating the positive, but damn.

Intelligent (Or Not) Design

It's going to take a lot more than faith to get our education system on track, especially with partisan nonsense like this occuring:

After 27 years as a science teacher and 9 years as the Texas Education Agency’s director of science, Christine Castillo Comer said she did not think she had to remain “neutral” about teaching the theory of evolution.

“It’s not just a good idea; it’s the law,” said Ms. Comer, citing the state’s science curriculum.

But now Ms. Comer, 56, of Austin, is out of a job, after forwarding an e-mail message on a talk about evolution and creationism — “a subject on which the agency must remain neutral,” according to a dismissal letter last month that accused her of various instances of “misconduct and insubordination” and of siding against creationism and the doctrine that life is the product of “intelligent design.”

Her departure, which has stirred dismay among science professionals since it became public last week, is a prelude to an expected battle early next year over rewriting the state’s science education standards, which include the teaching of evolution.

Look, I don't have an issue if some folks want to hang their hat on intelligent design as our reason for being here, but to teach it as science is ridiculous. It is theology.

Why?

For one it hasn't been subjected to the Scientific Method. Remember that? Basically it states that if you have a theory regarding why something is, like intelligent design, you're forced to test it against various hypothesis until it is proven or disproved. For a step by step guide, refer to the diagram above or go here.

How exactly can you do that with intelligent design? It's either you believe or you don't.

Which means it's not science.

Which means it shouldn't be taught as science.

Which means science teachers with 27 years of classroom and 9 years of administrative experience, shouldn't be getting fired for forwarding...

...to a local online community an e-mail message from the National Center for Science Education, a pro-evolution group, about a talk in Austin on Nov. 2 by Barbara Forrest, a professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University, a co-author of “Inside Creationism’s Trojan Horse” and an expert witness in the landmark 2005 case that ruled against the teaching of intelligent design in the Dover, Pa., schools.

With faith-based foolishness like this going on, we have the nerve to wonder why our students aren't competing with everyone else in science and technology.

Do You Know Her?

Her name was Sara Baartman.

It Keeps Going, and Going...

Interesting news on the alternative fuel/vehicle front from today's Houston Chronicle:

Exxon Mobil Corp. believes it has found an answer to a problem that has bedeviled the auto industry in recent years: using rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, like those found in cell phones and laptops, to power cars and trucks.

This weekend, at a conference in Anaheim, Calif., Exxon Mobil will unveil a super-thin plastic sheeting the company says can improve the power, safety and reliability of lithium-ion batteries for use in automobiles.

Exxon Mobil considers the film a breakthrough because it allows battery makers to build smaller and cheaper battery systems — removing key obstacles that have kept automakers from building hybrid and electric vehicles on a wide scale.

The theory thus follows that if you can make smaller, more efficient batteries, then the automakers can produce a wider range of affordable hybrid vehicles for the market, lessening our dependence on fossil fuels and reducing the impact of gas-powered vehicles on the environment.

But we all know the real question for us is: How will these new vehicles look with some 20" rims?

And are the trunks spacious enough for a booming system?

Because just getting great gas mileage can't be the issue, can it? If it is, why do I still see so many gas guzzling SUV's all over the road, especially in the hood?

Just a question y'all.

R.I.P. Sean Taylor

I was thinking of doing a post on the Sean Taylor murder but have decided that's a needless duplication of effort when other Afrosphere Bloggers have it covered much better than I would do. So just go here, or here.

Our condolences to the families of this and other senseless tragedies going on in our communities.

$270,000,000?

From The Insite:

Leader of the “Black Mafia Family” (BMF) pleaded guilty today to running a large scale drug organization and money laundering...

Demetrius Flenory, 39, originally of Detroit... ...admitted that from 1990 through 2005, he was the leader of a criminal enterprise involving the large scale distribution of controlled substances, mainly cocaine. Further, Flenory admitted to obtaining millions of dollars in cash from the sale of cocaine. He used the illegal proceeds of his drug trafficking to purchase real estate, vehicles and jewelry.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Flenory faces a sentence of 30 years to life in prison. In addition, Flenory agreed to a money judgment in the amount of $270,000,000. A sentencing hearing was not set by Judge Cohn.

If I were him and making that kind of money, I'm pretty sure I would have left the business long before now.

But on another level, my man obviously had to have some business sense to amass that type of fortune, and it just makes me wonder what might have been if these talents had been put to use in a legitimate enterprise.

Or maybe the rules are a little bit different in his type of business enterprise and the skills are not transferable.

Your thoughts?

Jackson Five Reuniting

They're gonna make a (another) fortune.

Jermaine Jackson says he and his brothers are plotting a reunion tour, with brother Michael set to play a part. The bass guitarist and singer told BBC 6 Music that "sometime in 2008," fans can expect a full scale reunion of the group that scored big in the 1970's with "ABC," "I Want You Back" and "Never Can Say Goodbye.

I guess I'll start saving my money because my daughter loves their music just as much today as I did when I was a kid. So, will you be there?

What In the Hay is Food Irradiation?

It's me ya girl Boo, and today my topic of discussion will be

"Food Irradiation"

Have you ever heard of this term before? Most likely not, but it's weird because it's a common thing that happens to a small part of our food supply, such as herbs and spices. So let me stop rambling and just tell you what it is.

Food irradiation is the process of exposing foods to ionizing radiation; gamma rays, electron beams, or X-rays; to kill bacteria, parasites, insects, or fungi that can cause spoilage.
Well that sounds good, but the major question here is can this in any way be harmful to humans. In my opinion: Yes

Irradiated foods have caused a host of health problems in laboratory animals (and even people in a few studies), such as chromosomal damage, immune and reproductive problems, kidney damage, tumors, internal bleeding, low birth weight, and nutritional muscular dystrophy.

This process can also kill beneficial microorganisms such as the yeast & mold that help keep botulism at bay, as well as spawn mutant forms of E. coli, Salmonella, and other harmful bacteria, making them more difficult to kill.

Irradiation can destroy vitamins, nutrients and essential fatty acids, as well as corrupt the flavor, texture and other physical properties of some foods that create the aromas that tell us when food has good bad (like that certain fast food hamburger that never smells bad even when left out for a week, you know which one I'm talking about).

So if you're thinking about the perfect holiday gift, please first consider spending your dollars within the community.

Next I would say purchase your loved one a few bottles of their favorite
non-irradiated seasoning. The flavors are so good, you'll never cook with the old stuff again, and of course, or course, or course they are safe! The only problem I've ever seen is

1. They are a bit pricey, and
2. They are generally only sold in stores such as Whole Foods or other expensive specialty stores.

But for my Holiday gift from me to you, I will purchase these spices for you at wholesale prices, just the way I purchase them through my co-op.

I'm not making any money off of this, I just want to expose & give my community a healthy choice. If your interested, plz let me know, and I'll give you the link to pick your own spices.

The order deadline will be in a couple of weeks.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!

Six Or A Half-Dozen?

Alright y'all, newsflash. I'm tired of the national political campaign.

Already.

Yep, a year ahead of the elections, I'm already sick and tired of the campaign and the campaigners.

Why you ask?

Well, mainly because the issues that are important to me just don't seem to be the positions being carved out by the candidates of both major political parties. The war in Iraq dominates the discourse, and it is a major issue. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. The issues that most affect us like voting rights, healthcare, persistent poverty, unequal justice, racism, gun violence, etc., etc., are basically absent from the platforms of both major parties and I don't expect that to change.

There is one constant however in American politics. With the electorate so closely divided, national elections pretty much hinge upon one side turning out the Black vote, and the other side suppressing it. To our disadvantage, we've seen this process play out in myriad fashion over the past few cycles with every trick in the book used to accomplish both goals.

But it's nothing new.

Now instead of counting as 3/5 of a person who's votes are cast by the slave master, we have voting machines that seemingly only count Republican votes. Instead of poll taxes we have broad-brushed disqualifications, a la Florida 2000. Instead of night riders intimidating voters to not show up at the polls, we have voter intimidation at the polls themselves. And instead of a "Southern Strategy" to convince racists to switch party affiliations, opposing candidates concede while voters are still standing in line, obviating the need for such subtle tactics.

I'm a registered Independent but my votes pretty much lean Democrat, and I'm really beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, the Democrats and Republicans are two sides of the same coin that have the exact same political goals in mind, but disagree on who controls the process (aka, the money)? Needless to say, listening to the debates, and watching this political show play out once again has me rolling my eyes in disgust at the supposed "issues" being debated. In other words, the more things change the more they stay the same.

That said, I will take the time to go vote for whatever stuffed suit or (skirt) the Democrats put forth, despite their lousy track record of actually acknowledging the issues and concerns of our community.

Why?

Well, it's like your cell phone service. All of the companies make big promises to get you to sign up, and the service is good for a few months, but then you start to realize that all of the reasons you switched from your last carrier are happening again with the new company. The only thing you can do is wait out the contract, and switch again. Same principal applies, and in this case the alternative is four more years like the past 8.

And like my prior cell phone provider, I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

Get A (Second) Life

The real and cyber worlds collide.

Dutch police are claiming a first - the first real-life arrest for a virtual burglary.

...Dutch police have arrested a teenager for stealing 4,000 euros worth of virtual furniture from an online, virtual-world hotel...

Habbo Hotel is, like the better-known Second Life, an online fantasy world. Once a hangout for uber-cool web designers, it's now inhabited by a mostly young teenage clientele, who socialise and play games in the lobbies, lounges and pools, and spend real money on virtual furniture, which they use to furnish their Habbo Hotel rooms.

Habbo currency can be bought via a credit card or premium telephone services, and furniture can cost up to $5 an item. Individually it's not much, but 90 per cent of the hotel's $60m annual revenue is earned by the sale of virtual goods.

$60 million in annual revenue? You've got to be kidding, right? I'm definitely in the wrong business. But apparently it's not just burglary.

...in China, virtual property theft led to extreme, offline violence after gamer Qiu Chengwei lent a friend a valuable virtual weapon. The sword - a powerful 'dragon sabre' - is much prized in the geeky fantasy game Legends of Mir 3. When Chengwei discovered the man had sold it on eBay for £460, he found and slayed the thief using a real sword. Chengwei is currently serving a real life sentence.

I wonder if this is a harbinger of things to come. Are there any Second Lifer's (or other virtual reality gamers) out there in the Afrosphere? I'd really like to hear more about their appeal, and it would be interesting to know how many cyberworld inhabitants are adults rather than teenagers.

Yeah. Why AREN"T The Studios Promoting This Movie?

Gina over at What About Our Daughters is "SURPRISE" leading the way once again:

"Apparently Hollywood can only find money to promote a Denzel movie when he plays a violent heroin trafficker. Everybody who saw "American Gangster" had better go see "The Great Debaters" TWICE! If for no other reason than the Black folks in the movie are in college."




Enough said, we'll be there on Christmas night and you should be too. And don't forget to tell your friends about it.