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?
Well, u have to remember the times. Maybe he ment that only 10 percent were able to do big things worldwide. Now aday's, I don't believe in the talented 10th, talent and people capable of big things is everywhere u go
I'm glad you brought this up. I've done a lot of soul-searching and thought on this one.
Basically, DuBois' philosophy was that the most educated and privileged Black people should be the most active towards finding solutions to our problems.
In other words, those with resources and ability have a greater responsibility to use those towards a greater good. The reason for this is the fact that they have the potential to achieve the most for our community and thus should be in the forefront towards combating ignorance, poverty, poor health, crime, and similar plagues.
This philosophy behind the "Talented Tenth" has been applied widely, through activism, leadership programs, and even to some extent through Greek organizations; all of which have seen mixed results. The drawback is that the same characteristics which have the ability to make a great leader also have the ability to foster elitism, which blunts progress towards those goals. As a result, there are those who focus completely on their own comfort and satisfaction, or "give back" in ways that are more symbolic than practical.
At the same time, true leaders do tend to emerge. As quoted by DuBois, "this race, as with all others, will be saved by its extraordinary men."
I'm glad you brought this up. I've done a lot of soul-searching and thought on this one.
Basically, DuBois' philosophy was that the most educated and privileged Black people should be the most active towards finding solutions to our problems.
In other words, those with resources and ability have a greater responsibility to use those towards a greater good. The reason for this is the fact that they have the potential to achieve the most for our community and thus should be in the forefront towards combating ignorance, poverty, poor health, crime, and similar plagues.
This philosophy behind the "Talented Tenth" has been applied widely, through activism, leadership programs, and even to some extent through Greek organizations; all of which have seen mixed results. The drawback is that the same characteristics which have the ability to make a great leader also have the ability to foster elitism, which blunts progress towards those goals. As a result, there are those who focus completely on their own comfort and satisfaction, or "give back" in ways that are more symbolic than practical.
At the same time, true leaders do tend to emerge. As quoted by DuBois, "this race, as with all others, will be saved by its extraordinary men."
....once again Neo Soul, you have responded well.
You know....you pretty alright, being that you go to Hampton and all :roll:
check the siggy and respect it!
As a child I used to hate that a man whom I respected so much would be arrogant enough to suggest that only a tenth of our people are capable of being leaders. But as I have grown and seen more and more of the world I agree more and more with it.
You see it's not that only a tenth of our people are capable of being leaders but unfortuantly only a tenth of our people will step up and answer to the call. This has become very evident in todays society, many of our people just don't care and are sadly contempt with their lowly positions in society.
Just people the number of people who actually come to the education and concerns forum, the bulk of the post are spent on party and bullsh*t.
As a child I used to hate that a man whom I respected so much would be arrogant enough to suggest that only a tenth of our people are capable of being leaders. But as I have grown and seen more and more of the world I agree more and more with it.
You see it's not that only a tenth of our people are capable of being leaders but unfortuantly only a tenth of our people will step up and answer to the call. This has become very evident in todays society, many of our people just don't care and are sadly contempt with their lowly positions in society.
Just people the number of people who actually come to the education and concerns forum, the bulk of the post are spent on party and bullsh*t.
when i first came across his philosphy of the talented tenth i felt the same was as all of you but like most of you as i began to become more knowledgeable about Dubois and african american history i came to the conclusion that yes he was right because throughout the past century only a tenth of us actually had access to an education or chose to get an education
personally i feel Dubois' philosophy is just as relevent now as it was during his lifetime...yes there is more than ten percent of our people pursuing and achieving an education, but how many of us actually put it to use and improve our communities? not many....
Acutally Dubois was not the first African American to get a degree from harvard, but the first to get a doctorate degree from harvard.
And actually when you talk about Dubois you have to talk about the specific time period in his long life. He was a man who was constantly changing. Dubois denounced his Talented Tenth theory later in his life and promoted something called the Guiding Hundred. The Guiding Hundred was less elitist and encompassed more men and women that were capable of progressing the race no matter what their socio ecomomic status was.
I have mixed feelings about the "Talented 10th". I feel that is promotes an elitist attitude that many of our well to do brothers and sisters are taught.
Many of our black leaders today are for show; our "Talented 10th" have not answered the call set forth by DuBois. If we take stock on our Black leaders, you will find shalowness and greed. You will find that many of the upper level african americans are not in-tune wit the "struggle"; they are self absorbed clowns that jump at any grumbling from the powers that be. Today you will hardly find a black leader with a genuine intention.
My opinion of our black leadership or the modern day "Talented 10th" have not shown our race the way. In fact, they have helped contribute to our stagnet state by looking at self insead of our "community".
I have mixed feelings about the "Talented 10th". I feel that is promotes an elitist attitude that many of our well to do brothers and sisters are taught.
Many of our black leaders today are for show; our "Talented 10th" have not answered the call set forth by DuBois. If we take stock on our Black leaders, you will find shalowness and greed. You will find that many of the upper level african americans are not in-tune wit the "struggle"; they are self absorbed clowns that jump at any grumbling from the powers that be. Today you will hardly find a black leader with a genuine intention.
My opinion of our black leadership or the modern day "Talented 10th" have not shown our race the way. In fact, they have helped contribute to our stagnet state by looking at self insead of our "community".
I must say, I definitely disagree to an extent. The hypocrisy among black people can be deadly at times. We preach that we want to see our people do well and rise to the top of every field, and succeed in every endeavor, then we criticize and condemn them when they do not meet OUR requirements. The whole ideal of the "Talented Tenth" was to not only raise up but to promote the growth and succession of our race. We may not agree or follow the likes of many of our black leaders, but credit is still due. We may not be in agreement with some of Colin Powell's conservative policies, but credit the man for all the work and effort he has put into his career, having shown immense succession since his poverty-stricken childhood days. Some may consider Condoleeza Rice a sell-out for backing the likes of a man like Bush, but she has stood her ground, and defended herself on countless occassions against the same racist remarks and thoughts which plague us all as a nation on a day to day basis! Who are we to criticize!? As a young black man, I may not agree with everything that my predocessors act upon, but to criticize them is to subordinate all the work they have put forth to get to where they are. Many over the past couple weeks have criticized Bill Cosby for speaking what so many do, but what we say behind closed doors, he spoke publicly. We are the first one's to gossip behind one another's backs, but the last to air one another's dirty laundry publicly. Part of the problem with social reform in America is the fact that MANY are not willing and open to acknowledging the fact that educated Black males and females are not a multiplying breed, and that EVERY effort must be taken to see to it that these young black boys and girls have role models and icons to look up to, even if they are radicals like Louis Farrakhan, conservatives like Condoleeza Rice, or **** like Cornel West. Always re-evaluate the situation . . . Much love . . .
