So, before I begin my rant I would just like to say that I am currently taking Anthropology and Education at the Master's level as a Doctoral student, which you would know if you read my previous post. I am the only Doctoral student in the course. So, maybe I was being a little naive when I assumed that everyone in my course would be just as overly excited as I was. Well, I was wrong! I have turned in all of my assignments on time and had the material read for Saturday...yesterday, but as I look around in my inbox and talk to others in the course they are totally not feeling it, which affects my grade since I have to respond to the things that they share. As I look back, I see a pattern that started during third or fourth grade...I used to stay up tossing and turning all night out of the anticipation of going back to school for the Fall, seeing my friends, learning new things, only to find that all of my other classmates were angry about coming back. This affected my mood. School immediately became uncool!
I feel this same pattern emerging. The only problem is that in order to be in a doctoral program school has to be cool with a capital C. It has to be more than a means to an end, but instead each moment has to be cherished because ANYONE can be nonchalant and angry, but not EVERYONE is given this chance (I was barely given this chance). To be complacent and apathetic is a crime! I realize today that if I allow this attitude to seep into my thinking, I will definitely fail, and failure is NOT an option.
This brings to mind the issue of why there are so few people of color in doctoral programs or master programs for that matter. Why don't we enjoy learning inside or outside of the academy? Why has the academy become inaccessible, and why is there separatism between the traditional disciplines and new and up and coming areas of study? Why is school uncool? How can each one teach one, if no one is willing to listen, contemplate, and transform? Today, I woke up! It doesn't take fifteen letter words or a ivy league education (or a Big Ten education for that matter) to be a learned individual. I learned to listen to ancestors who already knew what life would have in store for me. So, this journey is in recognition and dedication to all of my kin-teachers who believed in me....my mother Betty Phyllis, my grandmother Annie Dee, and my father who always knew that I would be a Master Teacher...
In the words of Erykah Badu..."What if there were no Niggas only Master teachers...I stay woke!"
The Future Dr. Carter
Great post Nicole! I experience this nonchalant attitude in my Master's program. For me, I've had to surround myself with activist scholars!
ReplyDeleteYou raised a very important point, "This brings to mind the issue of why there are so few people of color in doctoral programs or master programs for that matter. Why don't we enjoy learning inside or outside of the academy?" I had an amazing opportunity to guest lecture for one of our Intro AAS classes. Topic: Socially Conscious Hip-Hop Lyricism. Students were extremely excited to see their culture valued and to know that their experiences make them experts at SOMETHING. And this is in an Intro class LOL. Additionally, I've had the same experience during presentations about high school student activism. I say all of this to answer your question. I firmly believe that students from communities of color may enjoy the learning environment more if they saw their experiences as valued and if they could make the connection between what they learn and the empowerment they will gain, the latter being a tool to help them help change their communities.
From a possibly overly optimistic sista!
Dara
I totally agree with both of you. School is not cool anymore. I remember I was called a "nerd" from a friend of mine because I was doing my work in college. When I graduated from undergrad, I found myself getting bored from just working everyday. So, I filled the void by enrolling into the African-American studies program. Not only was this relevant to my social work degree, it also pertained to my life experience. I really enjoyed school because it was fun to learn for me particularly something of the African-American experience. I think this lies the problem of many students not wanting to learn or thinking it is cool to go to school. Either the work or education is not interesting because it does not pertain to them. I believe all schools should have African-American Studies curriculum or programs in their schools. Maybe, if they understand their vaule of life and what their ancestors have done for them and society/civilization since the beginning of Africa. They will be alot more interested in higher education. Good point.
ReplyDeleteYour Fellow Intellectual,
Laurence