That's What I Said
Lee Says Educated Blacks Should Be Icons
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - Spike Lee says the value of education is being overshadowed by the images that gangsta rap glorifies.
"Young black kids didn't grow up wanting to be a pimp or a stripper like they do now," Lee said of his youth in Brooklyn.
He drew two standing ovations Wednesday night as a featured speaker at a conference on cultural diversity at Middle Tennessee State University.
The 48-year-old filmmaker, who is working on a documentary on Hurricane Katrina, urged students to find a way to make being educated cool again.
"Back then, we were not called sellouts for using our brains. And being intelligent was not frowned upon," Lee said.
He likened the images from some rap videos to the distorted view minstrel shows of the 19th century gave most of the world about American blacks.
Lee said he has tried through his films, which include "School Daze", "Do the Right Thing", "Jungle Fever" and "Malcolm X", to show the diversity of the black experience.
While it may especially apply to blacks, education is the key to lifting yourself out of whatever "class" you might be in, to a higher class. Sure, there have been more than a few blacks who managed to get away from their poor backgrounds and reach millionaire status through music, acting, or sports. And I applaud the fact that they "made" it. But the vast majority of us don't have those talents, and those that may have it, won't get the breaks, for whatever reason, that are needed.
And you know what? The ones who make it without an education will be hiring those who do have the education to look after them in some fashion. Either as lawyers, accountants, financial planners, or agents. I won't pretend that getting an education is easy, especially if you aspire to Yale, Harvard, MIT, or any other major league university. And having a degree doesn't guarantee a job. But, someone with a degree has a much better chance of getting a job that doesn't involve asking, "you want fries with that?".
I'm not putting down working in a burger joint, but it's basically a dead-end job that doesn't pay much. It's great for teens getting a first job. It's great for a senior citizen who needs to supplement retirement funds. It's great for that "I need a job for now while I look for a better one." It's great for the person who says, "It's a great job to start off while I learn what I need to know to someday own a string of these shops." It might be great for a mom or dad who needs a part-time job to help pay for braces, Christmas gifts, medical bills, or whatever. It's even a great job for someone who just wants a paycheck with little or no responsibility. But for a career that will give you enough money to live on, to raise a family? Not so much.
When my grandparents were young, it wasn't unusual to drop out of school before getting a high school diploma. Hard work, talent or skills, the willingness to work, and putting forth a whole lot of effort could get you places. When my parents were young, there were still drop-outs who succeeded, but the one with a high school diploma got the jobs first. When I started out in the work force, a high school diploma was expected, and at least a junior college AA degree was preferred. Now, not only must you have a college education, post college degrees are preferred, and depending on the job requirements, necessary.
Not too many years ago, to be hired as a police officer, a high school diplomas was sufficent. Today, don't even bother to apply if you don't have a high school diploma. You have a better chance with a Batchelor's degree in criminal justice, and if you have Masters, you'll beat out those with "just" a Batchelor's.
Unfortunately, just because you have the sheepskin, doesn't mean you can do the job. That's what you have to prove after you get the job. But if you want the job, you have to have the paper that proves the education first.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - Spike Lee says the value of education is being overshadowed by the images that gangsta rap glorifies.
"Young black kids didn't grow up wanting to be a pimp or a stripper like they do now," Lee said of his youth in Brooklyn.
He drew two standing ovations Wednesday night as a featured speaker at a conference on cultural diversity at Middle Tennessee State University.
The 48-year-old filmmaker, who is working on a documentary on Hurricane Katrina, urged students to find a way to make being educated cool again.
"Back then, we were not called sellouts for using our brains. And being intelligent was not frowned upon," Lee said.
He likened the images from some rap videos to the distorted view minstrel shows of the 19th century gave most of the world about American blacks.
Lee said he has tried through his films, which include "School Daze", "Do the Right Thing", "Jungle Fever" and "Malcolm X", to show the diversity of the black experience.
While it may especially apply to blacks, education is the key to lifting yourself out of whatever "class" you might be in, to a higher class. Sure, there have been more than a few blacks who managed to get away from their poor backgrounds and reach millionaire status through music, acting, or sports. And I applaud the fact that they "made" it. But the vast majority of us don't have those talents, and those that may have it, won't get the breaks, for whatever reason, that are needed.
And you know what? The ones who make it without an education will be hiring those who do have the education to look after them in some fashion. Either as lawyers, accountants, financial planners, or agents. I won't pretend that getting an education is easy, especially if you aspire to Yale, Harvard, MIT, or any other major league university. And having a degree doesn't guarantee a job. But, someone with a degree has a much better chance of getting a job that doesn't involve asking, "you want fries with that?".
I'm not putting down working in a burger joint, but it's basically a dead-end job that doesn't pay much. It's great for teens getting a first job. It's great for a senior citizen who needs to supplement retirement funds. It's great for that "I need a job for now while I look for a better one." It's great for the person who says, "It's a great job to start off while I learn what I need to know to someday own a string of these shops." It might be great for a mom or dad who needs a part-time job to help pay for braces, Christmas gifts, medical bills, or whatever. It's even a great job for someone who just wants a paycheck with little or no responsibility. But for a career that will give you enough money to live on, to raise a family? Not so much.
When my grandparents were young, it wasn't unusual to drop out of school before getting a high school diploma. Hard work, talent or skills, the willingness to work, and putting forth a whole lot of effort could get you places. When my parents were young, there were still drop-outs who succeeded, but the one with a high school diploma got the jobs first. When I started out in the work force, a high school diploma was expected, and at least a junior college AA degree was preferred. Now, not only must you have a college education, post college degrees are preferred, and depending on the job requirements, necessary.
Not too many years ago, to be hired as a police officer, a high school diplomas was sufficent. Today, don't even bother to apply if you don't have a high school diploma. You have a better chance with a Batchelor's degree in criminal justice, and if you have Masters, you'll beat out those with "just" a Batchelor's.
Unfortunately, just because you have the sheepskin, doesn't mean you can do the job. That's what you have to prove after you get the job. But if you want the job, you have to have the paper that proves the education first.
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