Even Odds response

August 28,2013

                                                                                    Even Odds

    When asked to constructively respond to the article Even Odds by Jill Tucker I was taken back and overcome with emotion.  As i read every sentence in each paragraph it became apparent to me that African American males living in Oakland ,California are less likely to obtain a high school diploma and even more likely to be six feet under ground or know someone who fell victim to the cycle of violence plaguing urban youth.  In a city where crime runs rampant, black males between the ages of 15 -34 are surpassing the homicide rates faster than graduating from school. These young men have witnessed things some adults would never witness in their lifetimes. Yet some have had to beat the odds or stereotypes that conflicted with whom they are and where they come from. As violence continues to be the root of despair young black males nationwide see their lives as unfulfilled. From absent father figures to single parent households black males have endured the brunt of society woes from both the educational system and economically.  The daily upheavals of violence in which causes going to and from school a burden instead of a tool of prosperity.

    Living in Oakland has not only stifled many of black youths opportunities to grow and become productive members of society it has also killed many dreams and aspiration of  leaving the city they call home.  Such as Olajuwon “ Tutu” Clayborn shot and killed on the front steps of his residence in Oakland. His mother can recall the times where she had numerous conversations about “Mama not suppose to bury you, you are suppose to bury mama”(2). Jill Tucker sheds light on the issue that is not to far from home, speaking in real-time about how ones daily encounters can encompass them into a pit not even they have the means to get out  perils that entrap them. Some people believe to be born in the so called “hood” means that an individual is prone to violence or have some sort of immunity, however that is not the case many people are in fact not immune to violence they are simply unresponsive to the urgency of it all. Children that have yet to reach their fullest potential even when having the aspirations of leaving Oakland are plagued by violence and impacted daily when walking home from school and to their homes.  Castlemont High School has served as a safe haven, refuge from the streets. An institution whose foundation consists of teaching and learning should be a constant.

The issues of school safety play a huge role in how society reaches these children and if they ultimately fail in providing a decent education for students who are not gaining the tools needed to enrich their lives. “African American boys in Oakland are more likely to miss school, be suspended, not graduate on time or be incarcerated than any other students”(2). The troubling fact is that they are being failed throughout every institution in life. whether it be educationally, economically and or  judicially, the disproportionate amount of inequality surpasses the bases in which African American males have the given the means of measurement to catapult themselves from the stereotypes they face when walking into a grocery store or walking down the street next to a woman who without a moments notice clutches her purse because she is afraid of what you are rather then who you are.

The cross dynamics of this is that some young minorities are catapulted by success other fall short. The believe that people do not like  because of the judgment castes upon him and the ill encounters he has had with people who are not of the same ethnic background.  We as a community should take accountability Goethe youth. We must interact with them showing students care and comfort. It takes a village to raise a child we can each single handedly give our time. Manhood Development program which is implemented in eleven Oakland schools. Programs such, as this and people like Tiago Robertson giving black males a different meaning of higher education and lifelong enriching tools of prosperity.The messages Black males receive from their counterparts who are not a part of the same ethnic group is challenging at best because they find themselves misconstrued and at times stereotyped by their skin tone. Young black males are judged on the content of their skin rather than the character.  Often he may revert because he stuck in middle of almost obtaining it all to having nothing at all.  However we must get ourselves informed about the issues that concern society. We must find better ways before a black male is dubbed the statistic and even worse made a statistic when his life is cut short at the hands of another.