Freeze
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,343
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Post by Freeze on Jun 12, 2007 16:53:22 GMT -5
I'm just all about the solutions, man. Sometimes you have to kill the rhetoric and just roll up your sleeves and get it done. Lets figure this thing out and help our younger generation get back on track. LOL. What rhetoric are you referring too?? Bruh my sleeves have been rolled up for years. Hell I'm in the trenches right now. The question is...where are you? If you are really concerned, you better take a look in the mirror and stop waiting for someone to tell you what to do. In fact, I dont even know you but you SEEM like a self starter. It seems rather unbecoming of you to wait around until someone tells you what you should be doing to make an impact.
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Gator
Official BDF member
Posts: 3,556
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Post by Gator on Jun 12, 2007 17:15:41 GMT -5
After reading Hackley's comments, I assume he identified several problems within the first few months of his arrival. Now, what has he done besides be critical of everything and everybody?
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 12, 2007 21:36:11 GMT -5
Wait around until someone tells me what I should be doing?
Oh brother. Here we go again.
Freeze, if you haven't forgotten, you were the person who actually started this thread and brought this article to everyone's attention. This is an issue you claim to have experienced first hand in your years as an college educator. For everyone else, however, we are hearing this point of view for the first time.
I guess I'm the bad guy here because I asked someone who claims to be an expert on an issue ways in which they think we as concerned citizens can reverse a negative trend. If someone says they are a doctor I would ask them to show me a few ways I could be more healthy. If someone was a web design guru I would ask them to show me some cool tricks with flash. If someone is in the "trenches everyday" working to help black youth, then I will ask them what can I do to be a part of the solution.
Am I being lazy and unmotivated if I ask those type of questions from an expert in those respective fields?
What can be done to fix the problem?
Why does that question rile you up? We gave you a platform to address an issue that you see as a major problem but then when I take the next logical step and say "what can be done?", you basically tell us we have to decide that for ourselves and "be your own leader, don't look for me to give you the answer".
Huh?
You just took it upon yourself to bring the issue to our attention by posting this thread, but when it comes time to offer some tangible solutions to the same issue you decide to get defensive?
That doesn't make much sense.
Do you want people to do something about the problem or don't you? Is this a call to action or are you just trying to inform everyone on this board that the black community has yet another problem.
Freeze, I did not write a dissertation on this subject in grad school nor did I have a calling from God to pursue a career in education. My career is public relations. I work for a national non-profit organization which helps people with disabilities. Other than my family, my two passions in life are A&T football and the Blue Death Family. That's about it.
I will concede that you probably know more about the education system than I do. However, I think where we may differ is that I am a natural born leader (and thrilla) who walks the walk way more than I talk the talk. This very message board that you are reading right now is a testament to that.
You have brought this issue to my attention and now I want to follow through with it and come up with a battle plan. Hell, I can name you Education Czar of the BDF and you can spearhead an initiative that we can work to implement
The question is are you happy with just being Paul Revere, alerting everyone of our impending doom, or do you want to be George Washington?
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Post by Bigboy on Jun 13, 2007 8:48:01 GMT -5
BDF can help with this situation. I would suggest starting with elementary kids (boys and girls) by becoming lunch buddies, tutors and mentors. You will be surprise of the difference you can make just by sitting, talking, and listening to kids while they eat their lunch at school. I have worked with kids in their homes, communities and their schools and I have come to realize that alot of these kids, especially young men, are striving for guidance and encouragement from older successful brothers. Even the "want to be thugs" want to be successful and are in need of guidance. We are all aware there is a problem with our young people and we are all concern. What's the old saying? "Each One Reach One" or "Each One Teach One". We can all make a difference. We all started out as children and we all still remember the people and things that made a difference in our lives. Be a difference maker!! We have to reach these kids while they are very young before their mines are polluted by the streets.
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Post by Bigboy on Jun 13, 2007 8:51:35 GMT -5
I ment to say starving for guidance ( not striving even though they should be ).
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 13, 2007 8:57:45 GMT -5
Big Boy, if we were to launch a BDF initiative which age group do you think we should start with? Is high school too late?
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Post by DOOMS on Jun 13, 2007 9:33:26 GMT -5
After reading Hackley's comments, I assume he identified several problems within the first few months of his arrival. Now, what has he done besides be critical of everything and everybody? SPECIAL FOR THE AGGIE FAMILY: Hear top administrators give reassurances about the future of N.C. A&T. Chancellor Lloyd V. Hackley and Special Assistant to the Chancellor Shirley Frye discuss A&T's core of excellence, quality and strength on A&T Today, the Radio Edition. Click the link below or listen at 10 a.m., Friday, June 8, on WNAA 90.1 FM. Hackley and Frye talk about A&T's vision, mission, threats and actions to remedy recent audit report challenges. Hear how Aggies collectively can affect the University's future vitality. Check out A&T Today, the Radio Edition, a special one-hour public affairs program, produced by WNAA 90.1 FM and the Office of University Relations. drum.ncat.edu/dee/today6707.ram Feel free to send University questions, comments or suggestions to Chancellor Hackley's hotline at 1.866.518.6792 or email at askchanc@ncat.edu.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 13, 2007 9:52:31 GMT -5
That was last week. Does anyone know what he said?
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Post by Bigboy on Jun 13, 2007 10:10:55 GMT -5
It's never to late to reach anyone, but it is a little harder when they reach 16 and older. Elementary and middle school is the best time to try and reach school age kids. It will be a challenge trying to reach kids at any age but I have found the younger kids to be more amenable.
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Freeze
Official BDF member
Posts: 2,343
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Post by Freeze on Jun 13, 2007 10:25:26 GMT -5
We gave you a platform to address an issue that you see as a major problem You just took it upon yourself to bring the issue to our attention by posting this thread, but when it comes time to offer some tangible solutions to the same issue you decide to get defensive? Do you want people to do something about the problem or don't you? However, I think where we may differ is that I am a natural born leader (and thrilla) who walks the walk way more than I talk the talk. This very message board that you are reading right now is a testament to that. "WE gave you a platform???" The difference between me and you is that you are "A NATURAL BORN LEADER WHO WALKS THE WALK MORE THAN YOU TALK THE TALK???" LMBAO!!!! Like I've said before Thrilla, my world is not a message board in cyberspace (which probably explains my post count), but I understand that it is yours. Which also probably explains why you think "you gave me a platform." I should probably forward you my resume. In two weeks I will be delivering a lecture to 200 teachers from the Baltimore City School System on the history of Black education in the segregated south...but I apprecaite your "platform" too. I dont really consider YOUR board a platform for anything other than a sports board of which I've read and seen a plenty. Perhaps the greatest importance of this place for me is that it allows me to see what my fellow Aggies think about Aggie football. Other than Paul, I dont KNOW any of you and most of my Aggie connections come through real life contact, not typing keystrokes on my laptop. I applaud your efforts to make the BDF relevant in Aggie athletics which is difficult to do for an organization that never held a meeting, never elected officers, and most folks never even met each other. This is your world bruh and it is obviously an essential part of defining who you are. I posted this article because I thought others who care about HBCU's would be interested in knowing that youth culture is rapidly changing and the importance of education is not on their radar. I HATE TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE THE LAST TIME I ADDRESS IT....BUT HERE WE GO...When you asked me how YOU can make a difference I gave you options such as getting involved with several standing organizations (Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts) and even visiting your local community center or school to see where you can help. I promise you that if you go up to Dudley or Lincoln Middle School RIGHT NOW and tell the Principal that you are a concerend young Black man who wants to begin making a difference in the lives of youth he will give you a whole laundry list of volunteer opportunities that you can do. But I think I am seeing this for what it is now. You want the BDF to do something huh? Exactly who is the BDF again? Last I looked through the directory, most of your "members" lived in places ranging from Colorado to Baltimore to Charlotte to Eastern, NC. But yet you want the BDF to collectively do something together to spark change in our educational system? You better stick to athletic message boards bruh. Oh and by the way, thanks for trying to give me a title in YOUR organization...Education Czar huh?? Thats cute and I am honored. Maybe you should stop trying to be Born Thrilla or Alexander's Daddy and instead try to be Semaj Marsh. If you TRULY want to make a difference then dont come back here asking me what the BDF can do. Sign up for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Volunteer with afterschool programs that are looking for male mentors. I am sorry if that is not grandiose enough for you or not as extravagant as your Solid Gold idea or your Hamgate plot against Morgan, but it is a simple, effective, and immediate way that Semaj Marsh can make an impact. The bottom line is this. What are your real intentions? What are your real desires? If your real intention is to come back on here again and attempt to blast me for engaging in nothing but "rhetoric" then again you better check my resume or talk to some of my students. But if your REAL intentions are to find out how YOU...Semaj Marsh...NOT EL PRESIDENTE OF A MESSAGE BOARD...can start making a difference right now in the lives of our misguided youth, I've given you a few options and so have other posters on here. Hell maybe you can come up with some great ideas of things that YOU can do for yourself. Good luck in what ever your efforts may be.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 13, 2007 10:47:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the information about mentorship opportunities, Freeze. It took forever but I finally got a solid answer out of you.
Last night I was thinking about this subect at length and kind of figured that working within the parameters of a mentoring program would be a good place to start.
Hell, maybe the BDF can create its own mentorship initative. We can call it Operation: FREEZE T.A.G (Teen action group) or something. Our motto would be "Touching the lives of at-risk teenagers, one nucklehead at a time".
Since we all are united by our love for A&T athletics, maybe we can identify at-risk kids in our respective areas and take them to A&T sporting events. Bring them out to the pre-game tailgate, purchase game tickets and hotdogs for them. That way we can continue to do what we love doing and allow a group of teens to spend time with successful HBCU alums who are into having a good time.
We can do this for football, basketball and baseball season. We can invite former A&T greats like Mo Hicks and Elvin Bethea to come back and speak to the kids in our program.
Later, maybe we can set of a scholarship program for kids who have been in the Operation: FREEZE T.A.G program for a number of years and are about to graduate.
Right now my beautiful mind is already coming up with some more ideas. Stay tuned.
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Post by DOOMS on Jun 13, 2007 10:51:19 GMT -5
Freeze, maybe it's just me but I don't see why you're getting upset. It appears to me that thrilla's honestly trying to work with you on this and you're leaving no turn unstoned.
When I graduated from law school there was a "grassroots" cat that filmed it and put the graduation and my afterparty on local t.v. He interviewed me and asked me six different ways how I was going to use my degree to help the youth. After the sixth intonation I said "when the ufck did I ever say I was gonna help the ufcking youth? Quit asking me the same got dammed question or turn the camera off." If you ever get an uncut copy of that we can all laugh together at how quick my temper rose.
In any event maybe dude had a good goal in mind but badgering me wasn't going to get me to answer the question the way he desired. Likewise, badgering thrilla or anybody else on this thread won't get the answer you're looking for.
The thing that disturbs me is that after initially clowning a little, thrilla all but laid down on the ground and said "I see your point, I understand your pain, what can I do to help our situation?" and you're refusing to accept what is a sincere interest. If through this message board we were able to raise over two grand in a week for a sorry football team, what could we accomplish through the bdf for our youth?!? All the man has done is asked what can he do to help?
Me? I ain't doing isht. I got enough problems without trying to help some punk @ss kids.
Now then, which person's response do you prefer?
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 13, 2007 10:56:09 GMT -5
Don't fall for it Freeze.
Dooms is actually Paul Gerald who is actually Semaj Marsh's best friend in real life.
We are just playing good cop/bad cop against you right now. He is only agreeing with me because I made him my child's godfather.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Jun 13, 2007 11:07:05 GMT -5
BTW: How does this T-shirt idea for our program sound:
On the back it will read "You're It!" in big, bold letters. That will probably raise eyebrows and capture people's attention.
On the front it will have the words "Operation: Freeze T.A.G -touching the lives of at-risk teens, one knucklehead at a time". Our logo would be a black silhoutee of a young male, with a blue and gold hand coming down, resting on his shoulder.
I know ... I can't control this type of genius, I just have to let it flow through me sometimes....
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Post by DOOMS on Jun 13, 2007 11:08:35 GMT -5
You wanna give out my freaking ssn while you're at it. Why not tell the fans about my nine inch sledgehammer?
Anyways my two best friends on this board are thrilla and freeze. I've actually known freeze longer than anybody on here. Freeze and I had a class together with a girl that couldn't read aloud.
Remember that chic Freeze?
Anyways taking that class and hearing that girl was the first time I realized something was really wrong. I was pretty much unaware that anybody could get into college unable to read aloud. I had tutored some kids at Dudley prior to that and they just got on my nerves because they didn't even want to learn. That's when I realized teaching wasn't in my future.
Now I'm at a crossroads because 1. I think a lot of hbcus have outlived their usefulness as colleges and 2. I'm a product of one. I'm of the opinion that you don't need an A&T and a UNCG taking up the state's money and duplicating programs almost on the same street in the same city. I don't think you need all these private hbcus that struggle to keep their doors open for kids that can't read to fail out after a semester. I think a lot of these private hbcus would better serve the community by becoming high schools targeted to help these needy kids.
As for me in reality, I'm busy trying to help raise my next-door neighbor's kids, at least until the Mrs. and I have our own. I figure if I have to start somewhere (and I do) then I'd best start with the kids that will either break into my house or thank me as they cross the stage at A&T's graduation.
In one of my classes at A&T we debated the legacy of Booker T. Washington. Everybody in the class was pretty much calling him an Uncle Tom and a sellout. I tookt he opposite view. Mr. Washington was a champion of teaching the newly emancipated slaves the very basics; how to use a fork, how to wash properly, etc. I basically feel that there's no point in educating somebody in physics if they can't tie their shoes or speak worth a d@mn. Learn that a 40 mph wind is strong before you come out telling me about how fast you ran into it.
Likewise I feel, hear, read and see that a lot of kids, but especially our kids, are wholly unprepared for anything past fifth grade. We have colleges that are trying to teach kids stuff they should've learned in elementary school.
We are coming into a society that has rapidly become inclusive. Black people are the only people that are resistant to diversity. We scream for it and champion it, but let somebody find out their hbcu is recruiting white folks. We have to change the way we do business and quickly or it will be changed for us.
I've read threads on here where people are upset because "white" bands play "black" music. Meanwhile that "white" band is getting better and the "black" music is getting worse just to spite the white band. That's stupid.
Morris Brown could've kept stealing people's money or it could've been a private training ground for poor kids in Georgia or affiliated with the church to get dormitory-style elite private school training. People decided to hold on to tradition and who has it helped? What an absolute waste of a resource.
What to do with dear old A&T? I don't want to say what logically should have been done. But now it can't be done because the loss of A&T would cripple East Greensboro, which in turn would cripple the whole city, then the triad, then the state. What do you do? I'd do my damndest to make it the Georgia Tech of North Carolina. White, black, whoever, come on in. It will ALWAYS be an hbcu. But again times are changing. More and more people are championing diversity and the ones that do not are the ones that will be left by the wayside. I for one am sick of my people being left by the wayside.
Black people are very close to being a permanent underclass in this country. Think about the native american. You don't hear much about them except for casinos. That's where we are headed and you'd best believe we won't get no damn casinos. We should take a bunch of these hbcus and make them private schools. Most of them started as high schools and technical schools in the first place. We've got to do something HUGE to help our future generations. Or we can have more schools end up like Mo Brown and more kids end up like bums.
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