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"I
want my children to be better than me;
Positioning: A Concept whose Time is Now
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My father frequently said, "I want my children to be better than me; to exceed me...." Not only did my father teach this, but most Black parents taught their children it also, even if they did nothing to further their children toward that mark. This is the concept of positioning in its simplest form. This simple form, however, is not a form that may produce any results worthy of attention. It is the more thorough form that I am concerned about, which will assist Black people to counter much of the racism and discrimination that seems perpetual in this society. As a recent survey has shown---and many other surveys on the subject have shown the same results--Black people will have to experience racism and its outer manifestation, discrimination, for a long time to come. The tragic fact of America is that racism and discrimination do not seem to wane; they survive, secretly festering and growing in the minds and hearts of many white Americans and are transmitted to many new immigrants. Samuel Johnson has a noted statement about patriotism that can be paraphased as follows: racism is the last refuge for the incompetent and fearful. Moreover, since the incompetent and fearful will remain at large, so will racism and discrimination. Repeated surveys, studies, and reports conducted year after year consistently point to the same continuing pattern--racism and hatred will not go away in America. Nor will they subside significantly; although racism may change its focus, White American racism is simply a staple of the unspoken philosophical value system of many in this nation. How do we position our children to cope with and excel, in spite of this malady's continuity? How do we position our children to exceed us, to excel us, and then to overcome and virtually master this American system in spite of its pathology? The Talented Tenth debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois was about positioning Blacks immediately after slavery to gain acceptance in this society. (see article) But the debate still remains about how to position Blacks to exceed and to excel beyond their present station in life. The debate still remains on how to gain acceptance in this society--an acceptance that is fair and that does not demand a heavier load for Blacks than for others. No success is without opposition, regardless of the opposition's source. That is the first principle to be considered. Opposition to progress is a lesson of nature--gravity pulls down and inertia holds still; those who would go up, forward, or move at all must overcome these opposing forces. Whereas this is a lesson for all, it is one that all Black children should be as fluent with as their names, and it is one that parents should teach them and not leave this important lesson to another. Education
is crucial to one's survival, stability, and progress in life
is the second principle
of positioning taught by my father. This was reinforced by all parental
authorities in our house. We were taught constantly that education,
education, education was the value and coin of the realm in the American
society, and we were mandated to go to school and challenge the process
as vigorously as the conditions demanded. My grandmother used to tell
me as a young boy that if I
could read, I could never get lost. It was a favorite saying of
hers.
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