so, I was gazing through a post and I saw this brought up, and it brought back a lot of feelings I felt when I was first introduced to this concept. For those of you who don't know, this concept was brought up by W.E.B DuBois....first black to graduate from Harvard, migrated to Ghana, Souls of Black Folk, etc. etc. Anyways, he felt that it was up to the "talented tenth" of black folk to basically carry the rest of them that are lagging.
When I thought about it, I said to myself "Is he saying that only a tenth of the total black population is talented??" But now I am starting to think that perhaps he didn't mean to say that only a tenth were talented, but out of all the talented black people, the tenth are the ones who should take responsibility for the rest.
I would really appreciate it if someone cleared this up for me. We didn't really go over it much in my history class.
And also, how do you feel about the "talented tenth" scenario?? do you think it is right, or wrong?
The talented tenth is a concept that is more vast than just the African American community. Sometimes, the untarnished truth can appear condescending.
If you look across America and the world, the concept of percentage domination is evident. Look at the percentage of people in the US who vote. Even the percentage of people who answer polls which supposedly indicate the political climate.
There will always be the people who slouch away from responsibility. And there will always be that "tenth" or so of people who pick up the slack of the slouchers. Du Bois was just calling out to that tenth. He was just assigning the duty of consciousness to those who will take it.
Some people would be more at ease with the Talented Fifth, simply because it includes more people, doesn't seem as elitist. My personal opinion of Du Bois' concept is not elitism, though..
I don't think that he meant that only ten percent of African Americans were talented. I think he is describing the ones who, with their respective talents, will carry the race on their backs to new heights.
And don't worry, all of you who answered this post, and those who even took the time to read the responses, can be categorized within that tenth. Not just because you read, but because the topic of the upward motion of the Black people is of interest to you. This is, I believe, the consciousness that Du Bois spoke of.
very very very much so!!!!
It baffles me why the most powerful man of all time in the sports industy, Michael G. Jordan, would not want combat the issues that plagued the community he came from??
The talented tenth is a concept that is more vast than just the African American community. Sometimes, the untarnished truth can appear condescending.
If you look across America and the world, the concept of percentage domination is evident. Look at the percentage of people in the US who vote. Even the percentage of people who answer polls which supposedly indicate the political climate.
There will always be the people who slouch away from responsibility. And there will always be that "tenth" or so of people who pick up the slack of the slouchers. Du Bois was just calling out to that tenth. He was just assigning the duty of consciousness to those who will take it.
Some people would be more at ease with the Talented Fifth, simply because it includes more people, doesn't seem as elitist. My personal opinion of Du Bois' concept is not elitism, though..
I don't think that he meant that only ten percent of African Americans were talented. I think he is describing the ones who, with their respective talents, will carry the race on their backs to new heights.
And don't worry, all of you who answered this post, and those who even took the time to read the responses, can be categorized within that tenth. Not just because you read, but because the topic of the upward motion of the Black people is of interest to you. This is, I believe, the consciousness that Du Bois spoke of.
very very very much so!!!!
It baffles me why the most powerful man of all time in the sports industy, Michael G. Jordan, would not want combat the issues that plagued the community he came from??
exactly. everyone can agree that jordan is talented, but he use his talent for personal gains (championships, coaching positions), or will he put back to the community which produced him. Jordan can learn a few things from magic johnson.
i love magic because he bounced back from his disease. he didn't take it as a death sentence. he took it as his opportunity to do as much for the black community as he can while he's still alive.
as a "floss" angeles native, I YOU know I would have to step in on this one. Ok, Magic Johnson is a brilliant businessman, and for that reason one may call him an American Hero.....for America is all about capitalistic gains.
But as far as him being a man of the people....I would sadly have to disagree. The truth of the matter is this.....he is nothing more than a puppet....a face. White people use his face to get black people involved. I would even go so far as to say that he not even the TURE owner of a majority of the things people think he owns. He has the Starbucks, Fatburgers, and even his his sights on Downton L.A. I mean but does the hood really need Starbucks? Not really. Build a library....start a SAT Prep class at innercity schools.....Instead we got a second rate Bally's ....I mean dayum....we ain't even got a pool. I think its the only Bally's without a pool. And don't even get me started on his theatres......"we can do it in our own community" Yea the fukk right. He came by maybe once or twice.....that's it. I am sure if he showed his face around there more it wouldn't be as rundown as it is. Now, the mexicans have taken it over and I for one say let the have it.
Steve Harvery, I would give more respect to him because he actually donates things to schools and fights to give innercity schools books. However, I doubt many of you have heard of endeavors.
Magic Johnson....just like Micheal Jordan....is out to get paid! The only difference is Magic does it in Real Estate. I am sorry, but putting up a restaurant and building a gym ain't really "helping" the black community.
There are only three fundamental ways to help the black community. These consist of:
1) They ask for help
2) They help themselves
3) A combination of 1 and 2
If the desire to elevate is not present there's nothing ANYBODY can do. After the "want" is present the action follows.
Nothing external can be done to change reality. The reality we see outside is a reflection of inner turmoil or peace. Nobody can save the black community. Each one that needs this "salvation" will need to seek inside to find the source of the problem that has been ignored, correct this imbalance and watch as life corrects itself.
As far as I'm concerned the black community is not the only ones that need "saving". The majoriy of our country is at war within themselves, and Iraq is a reflection of that. This is the result of a country built off cruelty and empty values. How did we even get this land?
So Americans have no values altogether (empty inside). It's just sad that it is soo much more obvious within the black community. Hip Hop furthers this emptiness.
Did you see the look on D. Glovers face at the BET awards (I'm mildly ashamed to admit that I saw the last hour). That is what happens when it's time to address the problems at home. Everyone has a blank face feeling gloomy, "ohh ohh ohh, let's hurry homeboy of stage!!" We ignored the problem.
End of transmission
^^^^ very much so! The white man will not save the black community and the blacks who can start a movement , just further hurt the community!
remember :arrow: ....GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES!!
to revolutionary sistah:
why start a SAT prep course or build a library if no one comes??
There are only three fundamental ways to help the black community. These consist of:
1) They ask for help
2) They help themselves
3) A combination of 1 and 2
If the desire to elevate is not present there's nothing ANYBODY can do. After the "want" is present the action follows...
^^^Concuring...
One must possess inward desire to better themselves, which leads to seeking out answers resulting in rising above disparity.
why start a SAT prep course or build a library if no one comes??
well thats where the parents need to get involved and make their kids go. I think we as a people don't stress the SAT's importance as much as other parents of other ethnicities and cultures do. Sure it isn't a good measure of knowledge, but regardless, it helps you get into a good school. For example, in a Korean neighborhood, you will see at least two or three buildings that hold SAT Prep classes. do the kids generally want to go?? NO!! Their parents make them go!!
and uhm...I on't know how they do things in the sowthwest, but I've NEVER seen a library that kids didn't go to, whether it was in the hood or not.
"fe-fi-fo-figga, i hate a ni99a!"
---Chris Rock
You damn right we don't stress SAT's, because we want rims instead.
I think that "successful" black parents will definitely stress the importance of going to college to their children. Look at us! We recognize the benefits of getting high SAT scores. Black doctors don't tell their kids to get the latest gears, they stress education.
You are right, parents do need to make their children go. However, it is still up to the child because he/she can sleep through the class or test!
But I see what you're saying.
