I just finished listening to Ms Martin's "Tell Me More" segment with William Raspberry. It's been a long time since I've heard Mr. Raspberry, and this was a pleasure. I appreciated most, I believe, the comments Mr. Raspberry made about the relationship between efforts at desegregation in our schools and the attitudes and skills children bring to schools.
My question for this blog is the following: Some people say that our schools should de-emphasize race when trying to deal with the difficulties students of color may have in schools. The recent Supreme Court decisions on school desegregation seems to fit in here. In addition, some say (and I believe Mr. Raspberry would agree with them) that we should start to emphasize the skills that children from lower social and/or economic class bring to school, and how we could help children learn those middle class skills that would help them be successful, and de-emphasize race.
Would someone please explain to me the different sides of this race vs. social economic class issue that relates to segregation and student success?

Sent by Corry Larson | 10:23 AM ET | 07-11-2007

I have given up on the NAACP's ability to speak for me and the issues that concern me. The actions of the so-called leadership within the organization seem more self-serving and devoted to shoring up their control of things, rather than advancing any real civil rights and equality issues.

By the way, if they want to go about burying anything, why not bury that "Colored People" part of the name. I now that the N-word in no way describes me, but how am I supposed to defend THAT name on an organization that supposedly represents my people?

Sent by Trent W. | 12:29 PM ET | 07-11-2007

Nice interview with Bill Raspberry. I wasnt aware of his essay about his early days in the business. But, when he talked about segregation and attempts to integrate, it reminded me of a conversation I had with my two older brothers when I was visiting them in my hometown, Portsmouth, Va. last month. My oldest brother and I ate breakfast at a restaurant in our neighborhood, which would not allow blacks to sit down and eat when they were growing up(although they could get carryout at a door in the back of the restaurant. The place always had good food,which continues today. Anyhow, my oldest brother thought nothing of taking me there for breakfast. But, when I told my other brother where we had eaten, he said he has never been inside that restaurant since he and my oldest brother were teenagers. Apparently during the mid-1950s, the two of them rode their bikes to the restaurant, went inside and sat down at the counter to try to be served. No one bothered them. They just ignored them and the wait staff never came to take their order. After about 30 minutes of being ignored, they got up and left. Because of that incident, he wont go inside the place despite how welcoming it is to blacks today. It???s interesting how folks respond to past slights. One brother is in stuck in the past, while the other lets bygones be bygones and moves ahead. Two different views from two men who lived all over the world when they were in the military.

Sent by Athelia | 8:46 AM ET | 07-12-2007

Michel would you please consider the remote idea that African Americans have yet to really reclaim an 'agenda' of their own in this country. It's like we're sitting on the bench thinking 'put me in coach, put me in.' What I mean by this is we are no longer really needed as an economic appendage by white America and very few of us can even imagine that we deserve and indeed need for survival our own agenda. There are African Americans that are returning to traditional African religions by the thousands. Not just for spiritual reasons, but because it is the foundation of our humanity and the social systems humans need to maintain to live.

Sent by Bill Lowman | 3:00 PM ET | 07-12-2007

I don't really understand why the NAACP is so focused on issues that don't really affect the daily lives of African Americans. I can't believe that in my hometown of Detroit, the NAACP had the nerve to focus on a word when the murder, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, foreclosure, infant mortality, high school drop out, and illiteracy rates are alarmingly high. It seems to me that they focus to much on past victories and tactics, and not enough on the present and future. When it comes to the NAACP, I can???t help but ask "What have you done for me lately".

Sent by Brandon Whitney | 5:57 PM ET | 07-12-2007