HBCUs Question Equity of Research Partnerships: "In an effort to meet critical research goals, a familiar trend among historically Black colleges and universities is to link up with larger research-intensive institutions. However, some officials are concerned that a Virginia-based HBCU is getting the short end of a research agreement.
A grant project between a historically Black school, Virginia Union University (VUU), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was formally awarded in 2006, officials say. VUU and VCU are part of an affiliation referred to as the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance. The coalition involving the University of Nebraska Medical Center and local colleges is designed to encourage more minority students to enter the health care field.
During a recent Alliance meeting at VUU, some university representatives expressed frustration that VCU receives the vast majority of a research grant provided by the National Institutes of Health to study health care disparities. Of the $6.6 million grant, VUU received just $100,000 of it, officials say."
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Native Americans Proud of Bradford's Heisman
Native Americans Proud of Bradford's Heisman: "Since Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious individual honor in college football, earlier this month, Native Americans have been basking in the glow.
They see the talented quarterback, a registered Cherokee and finance major with a 3.95 GPA, as a significant role model for aspiring young athletes who share his heritage.
Bradford, who is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a sophomore quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and only the second sophomore ever to win the trophy that goes to the Most Outstanding College Football Player in the United States.
"Having an intelligent, well-spoken, poised Cherokee citizen play quarterback for the Sooners means a lot to Cherokee people all over the country, not just the ones here in Oklahoma," says Chad Smith, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. "It means that people see a different image of Cherokees than the ones they may have had before, but it's also a reflection to our community of the success we can achieve for ourselves and our families, our children and grandchildren."
They see the talented quarterback, a registered Cherokee and finance major with a 3.95 GPA, as a significant role model for aspiring young athletes who share his heritage.
Bradford, who is from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a sophomore quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and only the second sophomore ever to win the trophy that goes to the Most Outstanding College Football Player in the United States.
"Having an intelligent, well-spoken, poised Cherokee citizen play quarterback for the Sooners means a lot to Cherokee people all over the country, not just the ones here in Oklahoma," says Chad Smith, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. "It means that people see a different image of Cherokees than the ones they may have had before, but it's also a reflection to our community of the success we can achieve for ourselves and our families, our children and grandchildren."
Reading Skills, Language Nuances of Black Youth Among Issues Examined at MLA
Barack Obama's forthcoming ascent to the presidency will hopefully help improve access to African-American children's and young adult literature, a scholar said Tuesday.
Dr. Wendy Rountree, an assistant professor of English at North Carolina Central University, said Obama's well-known affinity for reading and education can help encourage Black youth to read as much as possible, especially stories portraying Blacks in a positive light. She noted TV news stories about Black boys describing themselves as "little Obamas" by working hard at school and planning to attend college.
Rountree grew up an avid reader with books by famous authors such as Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. But she would have appreciated an opportunity to also read Mildred Pitts Walker, Rosa Guy and authors whom she did not learn of until adulthood. The dissemination problem, Rountree said, may lie in social gaps. For instance, she grew up in a part of North Carolina that didn't desegregate until the mid-1970s, despite the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education court ruling.
"The possibilities become limitless in the world of a book," she said. "As scholars, we need to build the intellectual, social and psychological foundation for children through not only textbooks but also non-fiction and fiction.
Her remarks came during a session of the Modern Language Association's annual convention, which drew 8,544 scholars. The MLA's 800 sessions this week included several examining reading skills and language nuances of Black youth.
Dr. Wendy Rountree, an assistant professor of English at North Carolina Central University, said Obama's well-known affinity for reading and education can help encourage Black youth to read as much as possible, especially stories portraying Blacks in a positive light. She noted TV news stories about Black boys describing themselves as "little Obamas" by working hard at school and planning to attend college.
Rountree grew up an avid reader with books by famous authors such as Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. But she would have appreciated an opportunity to also read Mildred Pitts Walker, Rosa Guy and authors whom she did not learn of until adulthood. The dissemination problem, Rountree said, may lie in social gaps. For instance, she grew up in a part of North Carolina that didn't desegregate until the mid-1970s, despite the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education court ruling.
"The possibilities become limitless in the world of a book," she said. "As scholars, we need to build the intellectual, social and psychological foundation for children through not only textbooks but also non-fiction and fiction.
Her remarks came during a session of the Modern Language Association's annual convention, which drew 8,544 scholars. The MLA's 800 sessions this week included several examining reading skills and language nuances of Black youth.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Child Neglect Cases Multiply As Economic Woes Spread - washingtonpost.com
Child Neglect Cases Multiply As Economic Woes Spread - washingtonpost.com: As the economic downturn takes its toll on struggling families, child welfare workers across the region are seeing a marked rise in child abuse and neglect cases, with increases of more than 20 percent in some suburban counties.
Neglect investigations appear to have increased most, many resulting from families living without heat or electricity or failing to get children medical care. In Fairfax County, for example, such cases jumped 152 percent, from 44 to 111, comparing July through October with the same four-month period in 2007.
"It's very concerning and certainly is reflective of what's happening in the economic environment," said Kathy Froyd, director of the Children, Youth and Families Division of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services.
Overall, there was a 23 percent jump in abuse and neglect investigations in Fairfax. Similarly, cases in Montgomery County increased by 29 percent, and Arlington County, with smaller numbers, was up 38 percent.
In the District, there was an 18 percent increase in child neglect and abuse investigations, but officials said the case of Banita Jacks, the Southeast mother accused early this year of killing her four daughters, had a large effect on hotline calls.
The well-established nexus between poverty and child abuse is reason for many child experts to be concerned that the country might see more neglect and abuse as the recession deepens.
Neglect investigations appear to have increased most, many resulting from families living without heat or electricity or failing to get children medical care. In Fairfax County, for example, such cases jumped 152 percent, from 44 to 111, comparing July through October with the same four-month period in 2007.
"It's very concerning and certainly is reflective of what's happening in the economic environment," said Kathy Froyd, director of the Children, Youth and Families Division of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services.
Overall, there was a 23 percent jump in abuse and neglect investigations in Fairfax. Similarly, cases in Montgomery County increased by 29 percent, and Arlington County, with smaller numbers, was up 38 percent.
In the District, there was an 18 percent increase in child neglect and abuse investigations, but officials said the case of Banita Jacks, the Southeast mother accused early this year of killing her four daughters, had a large effect on hotline calls.
The well-established nexus between poverty and child abuse is reason for many child experts to be concerned that the country might see more neglect and abuse as the recession deepens.
Study: Murders Among Black Youths on Rise - washingtonpost.com
Study: Murders Among Black Youths on Rise - washingtonpost.com: WASHINGTON -- The number of young black men and teenagers who either killed or were killed in shootings has risen at an alarming rate since 2000, a new study shows.
The study, to be released Monday by criminologists at Northeastern University in Boston, comes as FBI data is showing that murders have leveled off nationwide.
Not so for black teens, the youngest of whom saw dramatic increases in shooting deaths, the Northeastern report concluded.
Last year, for example, 426 black males between the ages of 14 and 17 were killed in gun crimes, the study shows. That marked a 40 percent increase from 2000.
Similarly, an estimated 964 in the same age group committed fatal shootings in 2007 _ a 38 percent increase from seven years earlier. The number of offenders is estimated because not all crimes are reported, said Northeastern criminologist James Alan Fox, who co-authored the study.
"Although the overall rate of homicide in the United States remains relatively low, the landscape is quite different for countless Americans living, and some dying, in violence-infested neighborhoods," Fox said.
The study, to be released Monday by criminologists at Northeastern University in Boston, comes as FBI data is showing that murders have leveled off nationwide.
Not so for black teens, the youngest of whom saw dramatic increases in shooting deaths, the Northeastern report concluded.
Last year, for example, 426 black males between the ages of 14 and 17 were killed in gun crimes, the study shows. That marked a 40 percent increase from 2000.
Similarly, an estimated 964 in the same age group committed fatal shootings in 2007 _ a 38 percent increase from seven years earlier. The number of offenders is estimated because not all crimes are reported, said Northeastern criminologist James Alan Fox, who co-authored the study.
"Although the overall rate of homicide in the United States remains relatively low, the landscape is quite different for countless Americans living, and some dying, in violence-infested neighborhoods," Fox said.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Ohio schools keep cafeterias open for holidays - washingtonpost.com
Ohio schools keep cafeterias open for holidays - washingtonpost.com: CINCINNATI -- A school district in Ohio says the economy is so tight it has kept its cafeterias open during Christmas break to provide hot lunches for needy students.
It's the first time North College Hill School district outside Cincinnati has kept its lunch lines going through the holiday break.
Officials say two-thirds of the district's 1,600 students are economically disadvantaged, up from fewer than one in 10 a decade ago.
The national School Nutrition Association says almost 80 percent of the schools it surveyed are reporting an increase in the number of free lunches served this year.
It's the first time North College Hill School district outside Cincinnati has kept its lunch lines going through the holiday break.
Officials say two-thirds of the district's 1,600 students are economically disadvantaged, up from fewer than one in 10 a decade ago.
The national School Nutrition Association says almost 80 percent of the schools it surveyed are reporting an increase in the number of free lunches served this year.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Churches in USA more diverse, informal than a decade ago - USATODAY.com
Churches in USA more diverse, informal than a decade ago - USATODAY.com: Worship services may still be the USA's most segregated hour, but fewer congregations are now completely white, finds a study comparing churches, synagogues and mosques last year with a decade ago.
The National Congregations Study says 14% of primarily white congregations reported no minorities in their midst last year, compared with 20% in 1998.
Such steep change in a short period is noteworthy because 'religious traditions and organizations are widely considered to be remarkably resistant to change,' says sociology professor Mark Chaves of Duke University School of Divinity, the lead researcher. 'There's movement in the right direction.'
The study, in the journal Sociology of Religion, compared 1,505 congregations in 2006-07 with 1,234 in 1998. It was based on surveys by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. Margin of error was plus or minus 2.5 percentage points for the 2006-07 data and 3 percentage points for 1998 data.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Iowa Educators Address College Success for Latinos
Schools and colleges can make attending college and succeeding at it a realizable goal for Latino students, but educators and policy makers need to do more to help them, according to a collaborative report from Iowa scholars and a national group of Hispanic educators.
Iowa State University's educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS) program, has collaborated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on a policy brief that provides recommendations for schools and colleges, the university announced last week.
According to the Iowa Department of Education, the state has seen a 109.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment from the 1999-2000 to the 2007-08 school years.
'We've got the (Latino) demography and we've got the people coming in, but we now need to make sure that this population is well-educated,' said Laura Rendon, chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
'We do not want to have a new citizenry comprised of uneducated individuals who are not able to contribute to the American society -- those who are not able to be leaders,” she said. “We want to educate all of these individuals so they can participate fully in all that America has to offer. That means we have to start exposing Latino families to all the educational opportunities that are available.'"
Iowa State University's educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS) program, has collaborated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on a policy brief that provides recommendations for schools and colleges, the university announced last week.
According to the Iowa Department of Education, the state has seen a 109.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment from the 1999-2000 to the 2007-08 school years.
'We've got the (Latino) demography and we've got the people coming in, but we now need to make sure that this population is well-educated,' said Laura Rendon, chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
'We do not want to have a new citizenry comprised of uneducated individuals who are not able to contribute to the American society -- those who are not able to be leaders,” she said. “We want to educate all of these individuals so they can participate fully in all that America has to offer. That means we have to start exposing Latino families to all the educational opportunities that are available.'"
Advocates: Economic Stimulus Needed for Education Too
Advocates: Economic Stimulus Needed for Education Too: With the nation’s financial system in turmoil, many education leaders are calling for Congress and President- elect Barack Obama to earmark funding for schools and college students in a new economic stimulus package to help prop up the economy.
The Student Aid Alliance, an umbrella advocacy organization that includes historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions, is asking Congress for an immediate $500 increase in the maximum Pell Grant. Help for students and families paying for college should be “an integral part” of a new stimulus bill, the group says.
“History shows that during economic downturns and periods of job loss, Americans turn to postsecondary education,” according to a letter jointly written by alliance co-chairs Molly Corbett Broad, president of the American Council on Education, and Dr. David Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. A Pell Grant increase would provide a maximum grant of $5,300, or enough to cover 80 percent of average tuition and fees at a four-year public college or university.
The Student Aid Alliance, an umbrella advocacy organization that includes historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions, is asking Congress for an immediate $500 increase in the maximum Pell Grant. Help for students and families paying for college should be “an integral part” of a new stimulus bill, the group says.
“History shows that during economic downturns and periods of job loss, Americans turn to postsecondary education,” according to a letter jointly written by alliance co-chairs Molly Corbett Broad, president of the American Council on Education, and Dr. David Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. A Pell Grant increase would provide a maximum grant of $5,300, or enough to cover 80 percent of average tuition and fees at a four-year public college or university.
Asian Americans Make Progress in Fight for Bilingual Ballot
Asian Americans Make Progress in Fight for Bilingual Ballot: BOSTON - The struggle to make elections accessible to all residents of Boston, Massachusetts moved forward after the Boston City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to extend fully bilingual ballots to Asian American voters in the city.
The council approved a new home rule petition introduced by Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon. It must now be signed by the mayor and approved by the state legislature.
'The community has won the first round,' Councilor Yoon said. 'There is still more to do. The state legislature must act to ensure elderly Asian American citizens will be able to participate in our elections,' he said.
The measure approved Wednesday addresses objections raised by Secretary of State William Galvin to an earlier measure.
Earlier this year, Councilor Sam Yoon sponsored a similar home-rule petition to allow bilingual ballots in the City of Boston. After unanimous approval by the City Council and Mayor Menino, the petition stalled in the State House. The session ended before the legislature could act on it.
The council approved a new home rule petition introduced by Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon. It must now be signed by the mayor and approved by the state legislature.
'The community has won the first round,' Councilor Yoon said. 'There is still more to do. The state legislature must act to ensure elderly Asian American citizens will be able to participate in our elections,' he said.
The measure approved Wednesday addresses objections raised by Secretary of State William Galvin to an earlier measure.
Earlier this year, Councilor Sam Yoon sponsored a similar home-rule petition to allow bilingual ballots in the City of Boston. After unanimous approval by the City Council and Mayor Menino, the petition stalled in the State House. The session ended before the legislature could act on it.
Spel-Bounding: All-Female Spelman College Ranks No. 2 in Sending Black Graduates On to Ph.D.s in Science and Math
Spel-Bounding: All-Female Spelman College Ranks No. 2 in Sending Black Graduates On to Ph.D.s in Science and Math: Coming in second usually isn’t a big deal. But, when it is a tiny, historically Black women’s college placing No. 2 to a fellow HBCU with a student body just more than three times its size in a national science- and math-related survey, it seems that it is something to celebrate.
Atlanta’s Spelman College, an all-female liberal arts college with a student body of about 2,200, sent 150 Black students on to Ph.D. degrees in the traditionally male disciplines of science and engineering from 1997 to 2006, according to a survey released by the National Science Foundation. That’s more than any other undergraduate program in the country besides the considerably larger, coed Howard University. Howard, which has about 7,000 undergraduates, sent 224 on to advanced degrees.
Atlanta’s Spelman College, an all-female liberal arts college with a student body of about 2,200, sent 150 Black students on to Ph.D. degrees in the traditionally male disciplines of science and engineering from 1997 to 2006, according to a survey released by the National Science Foundation. That’s more than any other undergraduate program in the country besides the considerably larger, coed Howard University. Howard, which has about 7,000 undergraduates, sent 224 on to advanced degrees.
A SPACE OF THEIR OWN
Ethnic-themed dorms offer a supportive environment for minorities, but critics say they stunt personal growth by promoting self-segregation.
A SPACE OF THEIR OWN: "As soon as he learned of his Cornell University housing options, Darin Jones knew he wanted to live in the African-American-themed dorm. Having grown up in Black neighborhoods, he didn’t want to risk being the only Black student in a hall or entire floor elsewhere on campus.
Now a junior majoring in policy analysis and management, Jones is living in the same dorm for a third year. He credits its familylike atmosphere in helping him earn a 3.0 grade point average. “This dorm is Cornell’s best retention tool for Blacks. I couldn’t achieve as much academically if I wasn’t in a place where I felt so easily accepted.”
Jones is among a growing number of college students around the country flocking to residence halls dedicated to ethnic themes and historically marginalized populations. Ethnic-themed dorms offer minorities a safe space to discuss race, among other things, educators and students say. Activities there include performances and celebrations tied to cultural holidays as well as guest speakers and faculty mentors.
Cornell, for example, boasts a campus house celebrating Native American heritage, one of the first of its kind in the country when it opened in 1991. Amherst College, to name another, sets aside a specific floor of one of its dorms as an Asian culture wing, among other theme offerings."
A SPACE OF THEIR OWN: "As soon as he learned of his Cornell University housing options, Darin Jones knew he wanted to live in the African-American-themed dorm. Having grown up in Black neighborhoods, he didn’t want to risk being the only Black student in a hall or entire floor elsewhere on campus.
Now a junior majoring in policy analysis and management, Jones is living in the same dorm for a third year. He credits its familylike atmosphere in helping him earn a 3.0 grade point average. “This dorm is Cornell’s best retention tool for Blacks. I couldn’t achieve as much academically if I wasn’t in a place where I felt so easily accepted.”
Jones is among a growing number of college students around the country flocking to residence halls dedicated to ethnic themes and historically marginalized populations. Ethnic-themed dorms offer minorities a safe space to discuss race, among other things, educators and students say. Activities there include performances and celebrations tied to cultural holidays as well as guest speakers and faculty mentors.
Cornell, for example, boasts a campus house celebrating Native American heritage, one of the first of its kind in the country when it opened in 1991. Amherst College, to name another, sets aside a specific floor of one of its dorms as an Asian culture wing, among other theme offerings."
Women feed the jump in college enrollment - USATODAY.com
Women feed the jump in college enrollment - USATODAY.com: Colleges and universities these days are seeing a surge in enrollment — and it's increasingly driven by young women, according to U.S. Census data out today.
The numbers confirm years of enrollment data showing that women have not only closed the college enrollment gap — they have far surpassed men on campuses. For every four men enrolled in graduate school in 2006, there were nearly six women.
While the number of both male and female students rose between 2000 and 2006, the survey found, women outpaced men in both undergraduate and graduate programs. In that period, the nation's undergraduate enrollment swelled by nearly 2.7 million students, 18.7%, but the percentage who were male fell 1.2 points, to 44%. Women in 2006 made up 56% of undergrads, up from 54.8% in 2000.
The numbers confirm years of enrollment data showing that women have not only closed the college enrollment gap — they have far surpassed men on campuses. For every four men enrolled in graduate school in 2006, there were nearly six women.
While the number of both male and female students rose between 2000 and 2006, the survey found, women outpaced men in both undergraduate and graduate programs. In that period, the nation's undergraduate enrollment swelled by nearly 2.7 million students, 18.7%, but the percentage who were male fell 1.2 points, to 44%. Women in 2006 made up 56% of undergrads, up from 54.8% in 2000.
College degree vital, top educators say - USATODAY.com
College degree vital, top educators say - USATODAY.com: A group of college presidents and other top education officials says the USA's 'economic, democratic and social health' could worsen over the next several decades if more Americans don't earn a college degree. The group is pushing to increase the percentage of young people who earn a degree from 40% to 55% by 2025.
In a report issued Wednesday on Capitol Hill, the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education says a 'torrent' of talent entering the nation's schools in kindergarten is 'reduced to a trickle 16 years later' as many students drop out of high school or fail to earn a four-year college degree.
The group is sponsored by the College Board, the non-profit group that owns the SAT, Advanced Placement and other college-related programs.
Among its 10 recommendations, the group says the United States should provide universally available but voluntary preschool education to children from low-income families, because a good start can improve their chances of getting to college.
In a report issued Wednesday on Capitol Hill, the Commission on Access, Admissions and Success in Higher Education says a 'torrent' of talent entering the nation's schools in kindergarten is 'reduced to a trickle 16 years later' as many students drop out of high school or fail to earn a four-year college degree.
The group is sponsored by the College Board, the non-profit group that owns the SAT, Advanced Placement and other college-related programs.
Among its 10 recommendations, the group says the United States should provide universally available but voluntary preschool education to children from low-income families, because a good start can improve their chances of getting to college.
More low-income families need food aid - USATODAY.com
More low-income families need food aid - USATODAY.com: The economic downturn has left many low-income Americans struggling with hunger for the first time, a survey out Thursday by Feeding America shows.
The hunger relief group, formerly known as America's Second Harvest, found that 36% of low-income households say they ate less or skipped meals because they didn't have enough money for food, and 40% say they chose between food or paying for utilities in the past year.
'We've never seen anything like this,' says Vicki Escarra, the group's president. 'We're seeing more people come (to food banks) who've never come before.'
The group surveyed 450 low-income households. The findings are part of a growing body of research that suggest hunger is worsening in the USA:
• The number of people receiving food stamps jumped from 26.9 million in September 2007 to a record 31.6 million in September 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
The hunger relief group, formerly known as America's Second Harvest, found that 36% of low-income households say they ate less or skipped meals because they didn't have enough money for food, and 40% say they chose between food or paying for utilities in the past year.
'We've never seen anything like this,' says Vicki Escarra, the group's president. 'We're seeing more people come (to food banks) who've never come before.'
The group surveyed 450 low-income households. The findings are part of a growing body of research that suggest hunger is worsening in the USA:
• The number of people receiving food stamps jumped from 26.9 million in September 2007 to a record 31.6 million in September 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
• The U.S. Conference of Mayors said this month that each of the 21 cities it surveyed on emergency food aid saw an increase in people requesting help for the first time, particularly working families. Cities reported an average 18% increase in requests from 2007 to 2008.
• The USDA's annual report on food security found an increased number of households with children, 323,000 in 2007, who didn't have enough to eat, compared with 221,000 in 2006.
In tough times, ranks of homeless students rising - washingtonpost.com
In tough times, ranks of homeless students rising - washingtonpost.com: SAN FRANCISCO -- As foreclosures and layoffs force families out of their homes, school districts across the nation are struggling to deal with a dramatic influx of homeless children.
Some districts are seeing increases of 50 to 100 percent or more and are so understaffed that it is taking weeks to help the homeless students and families who need it, according to a new survey on homeless children. Educators say students without a stable home are at greater risk of becoming truants, developing behavioral problems and failing in school.
Some districts are seeing increases of 50 to 100 percent or more and are so understaffed that it is taking weeks to help the homeless students and families who need it, according to a new survey on homeless children. Educators say students without a stable home are at greater risk of becoming truants, developing behavioral problems and failing in school.
An estimated 2 million children are at risk of homelessness because of the foreclosure crisis and economic downturn, according to First Focus, a child advocacy organization that examined Census and economic data.
The number of homeless students in foreclosure-ridden Oakland, with 38,000 students, has doubled to 1,200 since last year, said Mathew Uretsky, the district's homeless coordinator. And he thinks the number of school-age homeless children is four times as high.
"We find children in shelters who are just sitting there," he said. "Sometimes we find kids who aren't in school right now because they don't have bus passes. A lot of children of day laborers are not going to school because their parents don't think they have a right to go."
Some families end up in shelters, or bunking with relatives or friends. Others stay in run-down motels, or their cars. In cities where rents are high, such as San Francisco, a family that loses its home may spend months, even years, trying to find another.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
DRASTIC MEASURES FOR DIFFICULT TIMES
DRASTIC MEASURES FOR DIFFICULT TIMES: Hit hard by the global financial crisis, colleges are cutting their budgets in ways that prompt fears about access and retention for minority students.
Call it the perfect storm for university funding. Just as economic downturns are squeezing state revenues for education, a financial meltdown on Wall Street is moving ahead with unprecedented size and speed. In mere weeks, college endowments have lost much of their value, interest on loans of all types has spiked and credit is much harder to acquire.
Call it the perfect storm for university funding. Just as economic downturns are squeezing state revenues for education, a financial meltdown on Wall Street is moving ahead with unprecedented size and speed. In mere weeks, college endowments have lost much of their value, interest on loans of all types has spiked and credit is much harder to acquire.
Already schools from Howard University to Harvard University are calling for emergency spending cuts. Schools are considering layoffs, unpaid furloughs for faculty and staff, hiring freezes and elimination of courses. Some are trying to generate resources — Clemson even asked its football team to kick in some of its earnings to help out. Financial aid is in for a big hit, which might make it impossible for many students to continue their education.
Minority-serving institutions, including historically Black schools that have long struggled financially, can expect to be especially hard hit. “I think there is a lag between this meltdown and the real outcome that will be produced,” says Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). “This is moving at warp speed, and we will see this play out much more forcefully in the spring semester.”
Monday, December 15, 2008
Charter Schools Make Gains On Tests - washingtonpost.com
Charter Schools Make Gains On Tests - washingtonpost.com: Students in the District's charter schools have opened a solid academic lead over those in its traditional public schools, adding momentum to a movement that is recasting public education in the city.
The gains show up on national standardized tests and the city's own tests in reading and math, according to an analysis by The Washington Post. Charters have been particularly successful with low-income children, who make up two-thirds of D.C. public school students.
A dozen years after it was created by Congress, the city's charter system has taken shape as a fast-growing network of schools, whose ability to tap into private donors, bankers and developers has made it possible to fund impressive facilities, expand programs and reduce class sizes.
With freedom to experiment, the independent, nonprofit charters have emphasized strategies known to help poor children learn -- longer school days, summer and Saturday classes, parent involvement and a cohesive, disciplined culture among staff members and students.
The emergence of a thriving charter system has altered the dynamics of education in a city struggling to repair its reputation as one of the country's most troubled school districts. Since taking control of the traditional public schools 18 months ago, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee have pushed for major reforms. But enrollment has continued to shrink, falling 42 percent since 1996. The growth of charters has accounted for almost all of that decline.
The city's charter system is now one of the largest in the country, fueled largely by word of mouth among parents looking for better public schools. Charters have grown to 60 schools on 92 campuses with 26,000 students, more than a third of the city's public school enrollment. In a few years, charters could become the dominant form of public education in the District.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
After-school cuts stir fears of kids home alone - USATODAY.com
After-school cuts stir fears of kids home alone - USATODAY.com: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Directors of after-school programs around the nation fear the deepening recession will force more children to spend afternoons home alone or on the street as cash-strapped governments slash funding and donations shrink.
Several Boys & Girls Clubs in South Carolina announced plans to close Friday and many of the group's 4,300 programs are trimming hours, consolidating locations and cutting field trips to get by, said Kirk Dominick, an executive vice president with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
'We'd be crazy to not project a decrease next year. We're trying to identify the most vulnerable clubs out there,' he said, adding he doesn't have precise numbers yet. 'Some organizations have been struggling for a while.'
After-school programs of all kinds are hurting nationwide, especially in rural areas, at a time when parents need affordable care more than ever, said Jodi Grant, executive director of Washington-based Afterschool Alliance, which is pushing for federal support.
'Parents are struggling to keep their jobs. They're taking on second and third jobs. They need a place after school that's a safe place to go,' Grant said. 'What I find most troubling is, programs are doing everything they can, cutting to the bone.'
'We've Completed Our Mission' - washingtonpost.com
'We've Completed Our Mission' - washingtonpost.com: In their youth, they helped build the road to freedom, through white mobs at a segregated high school in Little Rock and across the deadly skies above war-torn Europe.
Next month, the now-aging civil-rights pioneers of the Little Rock Nine and the Tuskegee Airmen will have the opportunity to stand at a high place on that road: the swearing-in of Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States and the country's first black commander in chief.
Officials said yesterday that invitations were being extended to the nine people who as teenagers desegregated Little Rock's Central High School in 1957. Invitations to the Tuskegee Airmen, the famed African American pilots and crews who fought during World War II, were announced earlier in the week.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Iowa Educators Address College Success for Latinos
Schools and colleges can make attending college and succeeding at it a realizable goal for Latino students, but educators and policy makers need to do more to help them, according to a collaborative report from Iowa scholars and a national group of Hispanic educators.
Iowa State University's educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS) program, has collaborated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on a policy brief that provides recommendations for schools and colleges, the university announced last week.
According to the Iowa Department of Education, the state has seen a 109.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment from the 1999-2000 to the 2007-08 school years.
'We've got the (Latino) demography and we've got the people coming in, but we now need to make sure that this population is well-educated,' said Laura Rendon, chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
Iowa State University's educational leadership and policy studies (ELPS) program, has collaborated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on a policy brief that provides recommendations for schools and colleges, the university announced last week.
According to the Iowa Department of Education, the state has seen a 109.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment from the 1999-2000 to the 2007-08 school years.
'We've got the (Latino) demography and we've got the people coming in, but we now need to make sure that this population is well-educated,' said Laura Rendon, chair of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond Changes Mind, Will Seek Another Term
NAACP Chairman Julian Bond Changes Mind, Will Seek Another Term: Just weeks after announcing he would not seek another term as chairman of the NAACP, longtime civil rights activist Julian Bond changed his mind.
“I will be a candidate for Chairman when the Board convenes in February,” said Bond in a written statement. “This decision was made by the flood of written, telephoned, mailed and e-mailed appeals I received asking me to reconsider. I am eternally grateful to all those who contacted me.”
Bond was elected as the Chairman of the Board of NAACP in 1998. An active member of the civil rights movement, Bond helped to found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a group responsible for organizing sit-ins, freedom rides and rallies during the 1960s. As SNCC’s communications director, Bond was active in protests and voter registration campaigns throughout the South.
“I will be a candidate for Chairman when the Board convenes in February,” said Bond in a written statement. “This decision was made by the flood of written, telephoned, mailed and e-mailed appeals I received asking me to reconsider. I am eternally grateful to all those who contacted me.”
Bond was elected as the Chairman of the Board of NAACP in 1998. An active member of the civil rights movement, Bond helped to found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a group responsible for organizing sit-ins, freedom rides and rallies during the 1960s. As SNCC’s communications director, Bond was active in protests and voter registration campaigns throughout the South.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Working Together to Combat Education Issues in Native Communities
Education equality is a birthright for all Native children, and their instruction should be consistent with their cultural, linguistic, family and tribal communities. It is an ideal that unfortunately is not being realized for every Native child. That is why thousands of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian educators gathered to discuss problems, possible solutions and best practices during the National Indian Education Association's Annual Convention in Honolulu.
NEA President Reg Weaver addressed the group during the Second General Assembly. 'Today, there is a deep divide in public education, and it threatens our nation. These children aren't just falling through the cracks. They are falling into a crater that threatens the future of their tribes, their communities and the future of our nation.'
Weaver pointed out disturbing dropout numbers. According to the Harvard Civil Rights Project, only 51 percent of Native American ninth-graders graduate on time with their classmates. Weaver was also troubled by the gradual extinction of Native languages.
NEA President Reg Weaver addressed the group during the Second General Assembly. 'Today, there is a deep divide in public education, and it threatens our nation. These children aren't just falling through the cracks. They are falling into a crater that threatens the future of their tribes, their communities and the future of our nation.'
Weaver pointed out disturbing dropout numbers. According to the Harvard Civil Rights Project, only 51 percent of Native American ninth-graders graduate on time with their classmates. Weaver was also troubled by the gradual extinction of Native languages.
Museum Shows Work of “Indian/Not Indian” Artist
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian will present a career retrospective of works by what it calls one of the most transformative American artists of the last half century, Fritz Scholder (1937-2005), officials announced.
More than 130 paintings, prints, drawings and bronze sculptures will be drawn from 40 public and private collections for the exhibition. The early works are from the late 1950s, when Scholder studied with American pop painter Wayne Thiebaud at Sacramento City College in California, and the mid 1960s, when he began to be influenced by portraits of Native Americans created by his students at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M., according to the Smithsonian.
In a National Museum of the American Indian first, two 'Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian' exhibitions open Nov. 1 at the museum's Washington and New York City sites.
In Washington, the National Mall museum said it would present a broad overview of Scholder's works, including many of the revolutionary paintings of Native Americans for which the artist is best known, through Aug. 16, 2009.
More than 130 paintings, prints, drawings and bronze sculptures will be drawn from 40 public and private collections for the exhibition. The early works are from the late 1950s, when Scholder studied with American pop painter Wayne Thiebaud at Sacramento City College in California, and the mid 1960s, when he began to be influenced by portraits of Native Americans created by his students at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M., according to the Smithsonian.
In a National Museum of the American Indian first, two 'Fritz Scholder: Indian/Not Indian' exhibitions open Nov. 1 at the museum's Washington and New York City sites.
In Washington, the National Mall museum said it would present a broad overview of Scholder's works, including many of the revolutionary paintings of Native Americans for which the artist is best known, through Aug. 16, 2009.
Report: Black Football Players Improve Grades But Still Trail White Counterparts
The study shows overall academic progress continues to climb, but the gap between White and African-American players when it comes to academic performance also continues to widen.
“So many of the African-American student-athletes come from public school systems that are bankrupt educationally,” said Dr. Richard Lapchick, director of TIDES and primary author of Keeping Score When It Counts: Assessing the 2008-09 Bowl-bound College Football Teams — Academic Performance Improves but Race Still Matters.
“They don’t have the technology that some of the suburban or rural schools have,” Lapchick added. “They don’t have the best teachers.”
Lapchick also noted there may also be cultural expectations, which hopefully will shift significantly when President-Elect Barack Obama takes office. “He emphasized academics and was successful,” he says.
There is a 76 percent graduation rate for White football student-athletes at the 120 FBS schools versus 59 percent for African-American football student-athletes. Although this is a significant increase from 50 percent in 2007, the gap between White and Black players has widened from 14 percent to 17 percent, the report shows.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Making Time for a Little Democracy - washingtonpost.com
Making Time for a Little Democracy - washingtonpost.com: A Guatemalan immigrant who arrived alone in Arlington County a few years ago, Ramiro Cortez longs for many things: a high school diploma, the ability to speak English with ease and the means to earn more money than his job as a waiter will ever pay.
For now, though, he will settle for one simple title: student council president.
As the nation's attention was tuned to a historic election, an unexpected display of democracy was playing out among an unlikely group of students at a Northern Virginia school. At the Arlington Mill High School Continuation Program, where many students are immigrants, there had never been a student council. But in the past few months, three students from different Latin American countries worked to change that.
On Tuesday, the student council met formally at the school for the first time.
About 85 percent of students at the school are Latino, and most are older than the average high school student; there is no upper age limit for enrollment. For many of the students, work shifts slam into class schedules, with little time to study and sleep, let alone participate in extracurricular activities."
U.S. Makes Modest Progress in College Affordability and Accessibility
U.S. Makes Modest Progress in College Affordability and Accessibility: College accessibility has improved modestly over the last decade as the proportion of 18 to 24 years enrolled in college has risen from 39 percent to 42 percent since 1997.
But despite tepid gains in college accessibility, significant disparities still exist in higher education performance by race, income and state, and these gaps pose serious threats to the nation’s global competitiveness, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education announced today in their biennial assessment, Measuring Up: the 2008 National Report Card.
The 2008 report card, like its four previous editions, evaluates the progress of all 50 states in providing citizens with education and training from high school through the baccalaureate degree. State performance is evaluated on six criteria: how well students are prepared for college, participation in terms of how many students have access to opportunities for higher education, affordability, completion, benefits and learning.
Disparities in college access are closely tied to race and income, said Patrick Callan, president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. While college attendance has increased for all groups over the past three decades, gaps in enrollment among racial groups have not diminished, he said.
But despite tepid gains in college accessibility, significant disparities still exist in higher education performance by race, income and state, and these gaps pose serious threats to the nation’s global competitiveness, the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education announced today in their biennial assessment, Measuring Up: the 2008 National Report Card.
The 2008 report card, like its four previous editions, evaluates the progress of all 50 states in providing citizens with education and training from high school through the baccalaureate degree. State performance is evaluated on six criteria: how well students are prepared for college, participation in terms of how many students have access to opportunities for higher education, affordability, completion, benefits and learning.
Disparities in college access are closely tied to race and income, said Patrick Callan, president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. While college attendance has increased for all groups over the past three decades, gaps in enrollment among racial groups have not diminished, he said.
Women of Color Emerge as New Face of Small Business
Women of color emerge as new face of small business: ... Today 26 percent of all women business owners are women of color, up from 20 percent just a few years ago, according to a new study released last week by the Center for Women’s Business Research.
Despite little institutional support, women of color entrepreneurs are still finding ways to run successful businesses. Firms owned by women of color are growing three times faster than all U.S. firms, the study found.
Minority women’s rapid business growth is part of a trend that started in the 1990s, says Gwen Martin, director of research at the Center for Women’s Business Research.
“There’s a couple of things going on. The demographic change in the country has had an impact,” according to Martin. “I think there are more opportunities available for women for starting their own businesses, which often provides them with things they can’t get in other environments. If you have your own business you have more control over how things are done and what it is that you do.”
Despite little institutional support, women of color entrepreneurs are still finding ways to run successful businesses. Firms owned by women of color are growing three times faster than all U.S. firms, the study found.
Minority women’s rapid business growth is part of a trend that started in the 1990s, says Gwen Martin, director of research at the Center for Women’s Business Research.
“There’s a couple of things going on. The demographic change in the country has had an impact,” according to Martin. “I think there are more opportunities available for women for starting their own businesses, which often provides them with things they can’t get in other environments. If you have your own business you have more control over how things are done and what it is that you do.”
Arizona Tribe’s Suit Over Research Revived
Arizona Tribe’s Suit Over Research Revived: An Arizona appeals court panel ruled that the Havasupai American Indian tribe can proceed with a lawsuit that claims university researchers misused blood samples taken from tribal members.
Overturning a judge’s 2007 dismissal of the case, a split Arizona Court of Appeals panel said last month that Havasupai Native Americans and other plaintiffs had provided enough information to go to trial or at least enough to go forward in trial court pending further proceedings.
The northern Arizona tribe, whose isolated village lies deep in a gorge off the Grand Canyon, claims Arizona State University and University of Arizona researchers misused blood samples taken from more than 200 tribal members for diabetes research in the 1990s by also using it for research into schizophrenia, inbreeding and ancient population migration.
Overturning a judge’s 2007 dismissal of the case, a split Arizona Court of Appeals panel said last month that Havasupai Native Americans and other plaintiffs had provided enough information to go to trial or at least enough to go forward in trial court pending further proceedings.
The northern Arizona tribe, whose isolated village lies deep in a gorge off the Grand Canyon, claims Arizona State University and University of Arizona researchers misused blood samples taken from more than 200 tribal members for diabetes research in the 1990s by also using it for research into schizophrenia, inbreeding and ancient population migration.
The tribe claims the additional research was conducted without its permission and constituted an invasion of privacy. As a result, the tribe says, some members now fear seeking medical attention.
Attorneys for the university system and individual researchers have argued that tribal members supplied the blood samples voluntarily and that there is legitimate public interest in data that can advance disease research.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Joe Davidson - Another Obstacle for Affirmative Action, And Congress Is Prepared to Fight - washingtonpost.com
Joe Davidson - Another Obstacle for Affirmative Action, And Congress Is Prepared to Fight - washingtonpost.com: On Nov. 4, amid all the excitement surrounding Barack Obama's election, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit struck down a Pentagon program that included a 5 percent set-aside for companies run by African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans.
The impact of the decision is unclear; the court's focus on an old Pentagon rule to decide the case created uncertainty about whether the set-aside remains. But if the panel's ruling stands, the implications for minority-owned companies that received almost $15 billion in fiscal year 2006 in Defense Department contracts could alter a long-standing program that allowed under-represented groups access to lucrative government contracts.
Last month, the panel ruled that the Defense Department erred when it failed to use a 'price evaluation adjustment' tool, which allowed the Pentagon to increase bids from white-owned companies by 10 percent before comparing them to firms owned by people of color.
U.S. Lags In Providing College Access, Study Finds - washingtonpost.com
U.S. Lags In Providing College Access, Study Finds - washingtonpost.com: Other countries are outpacing the United States in providing access to college, eroding an educational advantage the nation has enjoyed for decades, according to a study released today by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
The nonprofit research group contends that if left unaddressed, the development will harm U.S. competitiveness in the near future.
'I don't know what it's going to take to get our nation to wake up to what's happening with regard to the education deficit we're building,' said William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, who will present a similar study by the College Board on improving access to higher education next week.
'We're standing pat while the rest of the world is passing us by. If we continue on this path, our chances of being the leader in the knowledge economy in the decades to come are between slim and none.'
Odetta, 77; Sang the Soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement - washingtonpost.com
Afflicted for years with heart and lung ailments, she died at Lenox Hill Hospital, which she had entered at the end of October for treatment of kidney failure, according to her manager, Douglas Yeager.
Her hope to sing at the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama had helped keep her alive for weeks when medical experts had despaired of her prospects for survival, Yeager said.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
White community adapts to Obama reality | U.S. | Reuters
White community adapts to Obama reality | U.S. | Reuters
WESTMINSTER, Maryland (Reuters) - Worried by racial tensions churned up by the U.S. presidential election, teachers at one U.S. high school braced for the worst in their majority white community the morning after Barack Obama was elected the country's first black president.
To counter what she called "unsettling bigotry" in Maryland's Carroll County, Westminster High English teacher Laura Doolan wrote a 30-minute lesson for all students to give them a chance to discuss the election and correct misconceptions, such as the widespread rumor that Obama is Muslim.
"Several teachers came to me astounded by what they were hearing. They just didn't realize that students would be so openly racist, that students would ... say, 'I don't want a black president. I don't trust black people,'" Doolan said.
Courtney Case, a white 17-year-old at the school, was unnerved by racist text messages circulating before the November 4 election. "I was completely shocked because they were from friends of mine who I didn't even know had those feelings."
In the end, there were no racial incidents at Westminster High School after Democrat Obama beat Republican John McCain, but minor physical and verbal fights did occur at several other county schools.
Marine Archaeologists Find Remains of Slave Ship
Marine Archaeologists Find Remains of Slave Ship: Marine archaeologists have found the remains of a slave ship wrecked off the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1841, an accident that set free the ancestors of many current residents of those islands. Some 192 Africans survived the sinking of the Spanish ship Trouvadore off the British-ruled islands, where the slave trade was banned.
Over the years the ship had been forgotten, said researcher Don Keith, so when the discovery connected the ship to current residents the first response 'was a kind of shock, a lack of comprehension,' he explained in a briefing organized by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
But after word got out 'people really got on board with it,' he said, and the local museum has assisted the researchers. He said this is the only known wreck of a ship engaged in the illegal slave trade.
Adapting to the Era of Information
Adapting to the Era of Information: When professors at Northwest Indian College began giving more and more assignments requiring the use of the Internet for study and research, a harsh reality began to set in: More than a few students at the tribal college couldn’t make good use of this increasingly important electronic path to knowledge of the world.
Despite having wireless connectivity to the Internet on campus, the students could not afford a laptop computer of their own to access the Internet. Using the school’s three computer labs was also problematic, as many students were working parents who traveled long distances and had little time to stay on campus after classes to use school computers to go online. There was also the problem of not being able to afford increasingly expensive Internet access at home.
Rather than write the students off or risk seeing them lose interest in a college education for lack of the modern tools, the Bellingham, Wash.-based college that serves students throughout the state and in Idaho came up with a simple solution: use funds from a small federal grant to purchase 15 laptop computers and have a laptop loan program for students, one that runs much like borrowing a book from a library.
Despite having wireless connectivity to the Internet on campus, the students could not afford a laptop computer of their own to access the Internet. Using the school’s three computer labs was also problematic, as many students were working parents who traveled long distances and had little time to stay on campus after classes to use school computers to go online. There was also the problem of not being able to afford increasingly expensive Internet access at home.
Rather than write the students off or risk seeing them lose interest in a college education for lack of the modern tools, the Bellingham, Wash.-based college that serves students throughout the state and in Idaho came up with a simple solution: use funds from a small federal grant to purchase 15 laptop computers and have a laptop loan program for students, one that runs much like borrowing a book from a library.
Study: Minorities have higher rates of entrepreneurship than Whites
Study: Minorities have higher rates of entrepreneurship than Whites: With a first-time report on minority entrepreneurs, an influential research project on U.S. entrepreneurship detected declining activity among American entrepreneurs from 2005 to 2007, reflecting a likely sign of the U.S. economy’s broader decline in 2008.
Babson College and Baruch College just released the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2006-2007 National Entrepreneurial Assessment for the United States of America, and it reports that new entrepreneurs declined from 12.4 percent in 2005 to 9.6 percent in 2007 in the 18- to 64-year old U.S. age cohort.
From 2005 to 2006, new or early-stage entrepreneurs declined from 12.4 percent to 10 percent of 18- to 64-year olds in the U.S. “This means that an estimated 2.4 percent less of the U.S. population for that age group pursued entrepreneurial careers,” the report states.
It also means the economy had 550,000 fewer new business owners in 2006 than in 2005, the study shows.
Babson College and Baruch College just released the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2006-2007 National Entrepreneurial Assessment for the United States of America, and it reports that new entrepreneurs declined from 12.4 percent in 2005 to 9.6 percent in 2007 in the 18- to 64-year old U.S. age cohort.
From 2005 to 2006, new or early-stage entrepreneurs declined from 12.4 percent to 10 percent of 18- to 64-year olds in the U.S. “This means that an estimated 2.4 percent less of the U.S. population for that age group pursued entrepreneurial careers,” the report states.
It also means the economy had 550,000 fewer new business owners in 2006 than in 2005, the study shows.
Media Bombardment Is Linked To Ill Effects During Childhood
In a detailed look at nearly 30 years of research on how television, music, movies and other media affect the lives of children and adolescents, a new study released today found an array of negative health effects linked to greater use.
The report found strong connections between media exposure and problems of childhood obesity and tobacco use. Nearly as strong was the link to early sexual behavior.
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Yale University said they were surprised that so many studies pointed in the same direction. In all, 173 research efforts, going back to 1980, were analyzed, rated and brought together in what the researchers said was the first comprehensive view of the topic. About 80 percent of the studies showed a link between a negative health outcome and media hours or content.
"We need to factor that in as we consider our social policies and as parents think about how they raise their kids," said lead researcher Ezekiel J. Emanuel, director of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, which took on the project with the nonprofit organization Common Sense Media. "We tend not to think of this as a health issue, and it is a health issue."
The average modern child spends nearly 45 hours a week with television, movies, magazines, music, the Internet, cellphones and video games, the study reported. By comparison, children spend 17 hours a week with their parents on average and 30 hours a week in school, the study said.
Joe Davidson - Room at the Top for More Diversity - washingtonpost.com
Joe Davidson - Room at the Top for More Diversity - washingtonpost.com: Diversity within the group of men -- and still only men -- who have been president of the United States will change significantly when Barack Obama is sworn in next month.
But when he looks across the highest level of civil servants managing the government, he'll see a mixed bag when it comes to improving the diversity of the federal Senior Executive Service. A new report by the Government Accountability Office says representation of women and people of color in the senior corps grew overall between October 2000 and September 2007, but not at all agencies. Representation at the departments of Agriculture, Education, and Health and Human Services fell in certain categories, and sometimes those dives were steep.
At Education, for example, the percentage of African American men dropped sharply, from 13.3 percent to 4.5 percent. Hispanic men disappeared altogether, from a nearly invisible 1.7 percent in 2000 to zero last year. There were no Latinas among the executives at either point. Black women, however, did experience a significant increase, from 1.7 percent to 7.6 percent.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Denver Police Bring In UCLA Expert on Racism
The Denver Police Department is relying on a social psychologist associated with theories on “racism without racists” for advice on whether it is doing everything possible to rid itself of racial and gender bias.
The city’s police have been accused in the past of using excessive force against minority people, notably in the wake of a shooting death of a mentally disabled African American youth in 2003. The city agreed last month to pay $885,000 to a 16-year-old Latino youth who complained that a white officer repeatedly jumped on his back. An officer was suspended without pay after the incident and charged with a felony of first-degree assault causing serious bodily injury but has denied the allegations.
Police Chief Gerry Whitman commissioned the study by Phillip Goff, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, who is known as an expert in what some scholars are calling “racism without racists."
The city’s police have been accused in the past of using excessive force against minority people, notably in the wake of a shooting death of a mentally disabled African American youth in 2003. The city agreed last month to pay $885,000 to a 16-year-old Latino youth who complained that a white officer repeatedly jumped on his back. An officer was suspended without pay after the incident and charged with a felony of first-degree assault causing serious bodily injury but has denied the allegations.
Police Chief Gerry Whitman commissioned the study by Phillip Goff, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, who is known as an expert in what some scholars are calling “racism without racists."
Law School Admission Council Launches Diversity Campaign
Law School Admission Council Launches Diversity Campaign: The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) today announced that it is launching a $1.5 million integrated campaign designed to encourage racially and ethnically diverse first- and second-year college students to discover career opportunities in law and to choose a path in undergraduate school that helps them get there.
The campaign – DiscoverLaw.org – is the most recent addition to LSAC’s continuing effort to increase racial and ethnic diversity in law schools and the legal profession.
“Right now, the legal profession does not reflect the expanding diversity of our society,” said LSAC President Daniel O. Bernstine.
“Only 10 percent of the lawyers in America are African American, Latino, Asian American, or Native American. Considering that those same racial and ethnic groups comprise 33 percent of the US population, it is obvious that we need to do more to encourage diversity in the legal profession.”
The campaign – DiscoverLaw.org – is the most recent addition to LSAC’s continuing effort to increase racial and ethnic diversity in law schools and the legal profession.
“Right now, the legal profession does not reflect the expanding diversity of our society,” said LSAC President Daniel O. Bernstine.
“Only 10 percent of the lawyers in America are African American, Latino, Asian American, or Native American. Considering that those same racial and ethnic groups comprise 33 percent of the US population, it is obvious that we need to do more to encourage diversity in the legal profession.”
University Presidents Call for Lifting Educational Exchange Restrictions: AASCU Members Seek U.S. Policy Change to Cuba-Related Travel
University Presidents Call for Lifting Educational Exchange Restrictions: AASCU Members Seek U.S. Policy Change to Cuba-Related Travel: Members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) have called for lifting all restrictions on educational exchanges with foreign countries, including exchanges with Cuba that are currently limited by the U.S. Department of Treasury.
Members ratified this policy position today at the Association's Annual Meeting as they endorsed the Association's 2009 Public Policy Agenda, the document that spells out the policy principles and positions that guide AASCU's advocacy on current and developing issues at the federal and state levels.
'One of the best ways to overcome the ill will and mistrust built between Cuba and the United States over the past 40 years is to fully develop educational exchange programs; that is impossible with the current travel restrictions. During even the coldest days of the cold war years, we did not have the onerous restrictions on travel to the former Soviet Union as those which currently exist on travel to Cuba,' said Constantine W. Curris, president of AASCU.
Members ratified this policy position today at the Association's Annual Meeting as they endorsed the Association's 2009 Public Policy Agenda, the document that spells out the policy principles and positions that guide AASCU's advocacy on current and developing issues at the federal and state levels.
'One of the best ways to overcome the ill will and mistrust built between Cuba and the United States over the past 40 years is to fully develop educational exchange programs; that is impossible with the current travel restrictions. During even the coldest days of the cold war years, we did not have the onerous restrictions on travel to the former Soviet Union as those which currently exist on travel to Cuba,' said Constantine W. Curris, president of AASCU.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Female Immigrants Mistreated in Detention, Research Suggests
Some female immigrants in detention awaiting decisions on deportation have been mistreated or neglected, according to University of Arizona researchers.
Nina Rabin, J.D. of the Southwest Institute for Research on Women, presented the findings of a study, “Unseen Prisoners: A Report on Women in Immigration Detention Facilities in Arizona' at a lecture to students and faculty last week at the University of Arizona.
The Tucson Citizen reported that Rabin told the audience that researchers found evidence of negligence in medical care, severe conditions and an absence of programs for women in detention.
'Some women are deported quite quickly, but for those who want to exercise their legal rights, it could be a really long process, sometimes up to two years,' Rabin said.
For the study, students and researchers from the institute have conducted more than 50 interviews with current and former detainees, attorneys and social service providers in southern Arizona.
Nina Rabin, J.D. of the Southwest Institute for Research on Women, presented the findings of a study, “Unseen Prisoners: A Report on Women in Immigration Detention Facilities in Arizona' at a lecture to students and faculty last week at the University of Arizona.
The Tucson Citizen reported that Rabin told the audience that researchers found evidence of negligence in medical care, severe conditions and an absence of programs for women in detention.
'Some women are deported quite quickly, but for those who want to exercise their legal rights, it could be a really long process, sometimes up to two years,' Rabin said.
For the study, students and researchers from the institute have conducted more than 50 interviews with current and former detainees, attorneys and social service providers in southern Arizona.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Organ policy improves blacks' access to livers - Health care- msnbc.com
Organ policy improves blacks'access to livers - Health care- msnbc.com: "CHICAGO - Blacks waiting for a liver transplant used to be more likely to die compared to whites. Now they have the same chance of getting a life-saving organ under a nationwide system that puts the sickest patients first, a new study found.
Racial differences disappeared when the old system was scrapped in 2002, according to the federally funded study, the first assessment of how blacks fared after the change.
'By design, we tried to make it race blind. It looks like we did,' said Dr. Richard Freeman, a transplant surgeon at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, who helped create the new system and was not involved in the study.
Racial differences disappeared when the old system was scrapped in 2002, according to the federally funded study, the first assessment of how blacks fared after the change.
'By design, we tried to make it race blind. It looks like we did,' said Dr. Richard Freeman, a transplant surgeon at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, who helped create the new system and was not involved in the study.
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database Debuts at Emory: 'Voyages' sheds light on hidden history of 12.5 million slaves
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database Debuts at Emory: 'Voyages' sheds light on hidden history of 12.5 million slaves: A group of international scholars will gather at Emory University Dec. 5-6 to celebrate the debut of 'Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database' (http://www.slavevoyages.org) as it begins its own maiden expedition.
Two years in the making at Emory, the free and interactive Web-based resource documents the slave trade from Africa to the New World between the 16th and 19th centuries, says David Eltis, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of History and one of the scholars who originally published 'The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade' as a CD-ROM in 1999. He and Martin Halbert, director of digital innovations for Emory Libraries, directed the work that made the online 'Voyages' project expandable, interactive and publicly accessible.
''Voyages' provides searchable information on almost 35,000 trans-Atlantic voyages hauling human cargo, as well as maps, images and data on some individual Africans transported,' says Eltis.
The conference, which also marks the bicentennial of the end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1808, will feature presentations by Eltis' graduate students who have worked on the database, with leading scholars commenting on their papers.
Two years in the making at Emory, the free and interactive Web-based resource documents the slave trade from Africa to the New World between the 16th and 19th centuries, says David Eltis, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of History and one of the scholars who originally published 'The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade' as a CD-ROM in 1999. He and Martin Halbert, director of digital innovations for Emory Libraries, directed the work that made the online 'Voyages' project expandable, interactive and publicly accessible.
''Voyages' provides searchable information on almost 35,000 trans-Atlantic voyages hauling human cargo, as well as maps, images and data on some individual Africans transported,' says Eltis.
The conference, which also marks the bicentennial of the end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in 1808, will feature presentations by Eltis' graduate students who have worked on the database, with leading scholars commenting on their papers.
More Than Half Of Campus Hate Crimes Involve Race
More Than Half Of Campus Hate Crimes Involve Race: Reports of increased hate crimes nationwide – including incidents on college campuses after Barack Obama’s victory – are prompting calls for universities to step up hate crime reporting and for more federal action on the issue.
“Even as we celebrate the demonstration of diversity in this country by electing the first African American president, the vestiges of a tragic period in our history continues to rear its hideous head,” said Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP Washington bureau, at a conference Monday focusing attention on hate crimes nationwide.
Within higher education, four North Carolina State University students scribbled anti-Obama comments in a tunnel reserved for free speech expression. One comment said, “Let’s shoot that (N-word) in the head.” A University of Alabama professor said an Obama poster on her office door was replaced by a poster defaced with a death threat and a racial slur.
Hate speech on school buses and the beating of a New York teenager on election night by four white men shouting ‘Obama’ are among other recent youth-focused hate incidents.
“Schools and colleges are the third most frequent location for hate crimes,” said Michael Lieberman, Washington counsel for the Anti-Defamation League.
“Even as we celebrate the demonstration of diversity in this country by electing the first African American president, the vestiges of a tragic period in our history continues to rear its hideous head,” said Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP Washington bureau, at a conference Monday focusing attention on hate crimes nationwide.
Within higher education, four North Carolina State University students scribbled anti-Obama comments in a tunnel reserved for free speech expression. One comment said, “Let’s shoot that (N-word) in the head.” A University of Alabama professor said an Obama poster on her office door was replaced by a poster defaced with a death threat and a racial slur.
Hate speech on school buses and the beating of a New York teenager on election night by four white men shouting ‘Obama’ are among other recent youth-focused hate incidents.
“Schools and colleges are the third most frequent location for hate crimes,” said Michael Lieberman, Washington counsel for the Anti-Defamation League.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Some Students Take Jagged Path to Graduation
As the nation moves toward a common graduation rate formula based on the number of students who obtain a diploma in four years, students like Jefferson Lara will appear to have fallen by wayside.
Lara's education has not progressed on a neatly laid out timetable. A former gang member, he was expelled from ninth grade, spent time in Peru with his father and entered Arlington Mill High School Continuation program his junior year. He took a night job so his mother could quit one of hers. An hour and a half after his night shift ended at the grocery store, he is sitting in art class, sketching warriors strong and armored.
'I was raised to put family first,' the fifth-year senior says. 'Not a lot of people know what I have to go through every day. They think I'm just a regular kid.'
It mattered little to him that he wouldn't graduate in June with his peers, but he will not be counted as graduating on time. What should be taken into account, educators say, is that many students like Lara may not succeed on the traditional timeline, but they do eventually succeed. Many young Latino immigrants must juggle adult responsibilities with school, and they are creating alternative, stop-and-start paths toward a diploma.
'There are some where we probably failed them and they dropped out' and never finished school, Arlington County Superintendent Robert G. Smith said."
Lara's education has not progressed on a neatly laid out timetable. A former gang member, he was expelled from ninth grade, spent time in Peru with his father and entered Arlington Mill High School Continuation program his junior year. He took a night job so his mother could quit one of hers. An hour and a half after his night shift ended at the grocery store, he is sitting in art class, sketching warriors strong and armored.
'I was raised to put family first,' the fifth-year senior says. 'Not a lot of people know what I have to go through every day. They think I'm just a regular kid.'
It mattered little to him that he wouldn't graduate in June with his peers, but he will not be counted as graduating on time. What should be taken into account, educators say, is that many students like Lara may not succeed on the traditional timeline, but they do eventually succeed. Many young Latino immigrants must juggle adult responsibilities with school, and they are creating alternative, stop-and-start paths toward a diploma.
'There are some where we probably failed them and they dropped out' and never finished school, Arlington County Superintendent Robert G. Smith said."
Immunization Rates Lag in Older African-American and Hispanic Populations, AARP Report Shows
Immunization Rates Lag in Older African-American and Hispanic Populations, AARP Report Shows: More than half skip flu shots, missing opportunity for prevention
A new report by AARP's Public Policy Institute highlights the impact of low vaccination rates for influenza and pneumonia among older black and Hispanic populations. Rates for these groups lag significantly behind whites.
Together, influenza and pneumonia represent the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, despite the availability of annual flu shots and the one-time pneumococcal vaccination.
'It's tragic that America loses so many lives each year to preventable diseases,' said AARP Board Member Jacob Lozada.
'Even more alarming are the drastic ethnic and racial disparities that exist in immunization rates. With so much riding on our health, there is no excuse not to get vaccinated.' Lozada noted that both flu and pneumonia vaccination are available at no cost to people on Medicare.
The most recent data show two-thirds of white adults age 65 and older reported receiving the flu vaccine in 2006. In the same year, less than half of blacks (47%) and Hispanics (45%) received the flu vaccine. The disparity is even greater for pneumococcal vaccine, with 62 percent of older whites receiving the vaccine, compared to only 36 percent of blacks and 33 percent of Hispanics.
A new report by AARP's Public Policy Institute highlights the impact of low vaccination rates for influenza and pneumonia among older black and Hispanic populations. Rates for these groups lag significantly behind whites.
Together, influenza and pneumonia represent the eighth leading cause of death in the United States, despite the availability of annual flu shots and the one-time pneumococcal vaccination.
'It's tragic that America loses so many lives each year to preventable diseases,' said AARP Board Member Jacob Lozada.
'Even more alarming are the drastic ethnic and racial disparities that exist in immunization rates. With so much riding on our health, there is no excuse not to get vaccinated.' Lozada noted that both flu and pneumonia vaccination are available at no cost to people on Medicare.
The most recent data show two-thirds of white adults age 65 and older reported receiving the flu vaccine in 2006. In the same year, less than half of blacks (47%) and Hispanics (45%) received the flu vaccine. The disparity is even greater for pneumococcal vaccine, with 62 percent of older whites receiving the vaccine, compared to only 36 percent of blacks and 33 percent of Hispanics.
University of Maryland Becomes U.S. 'Minority-Serving Institution' for Asian Americans
University of Maryland Becomes U.S. Minority-Serving Institution for Asian Americans: The University of Maryland has been granted status as a 'minority-serving institution' for Asian Americans and related groups, a gateway to targeted federal support for scholarships and the growth of academic programs. It's the first 'minority-serving' designation for the University of Maryland.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education has granted Maryland $2.4 million over two years - one of only six schools nationwide, and the only major public research university, to be funded under this program.
Asian Americans now represent the largest minority group on the Maryland campus - more than 14 percent. To become an Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander Serving-Institution, at least one in ten students must fall into one of these groups.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education has granted Maryland $2.4 million over two years - one of only six schools nationwide, and the only major public research university, to be funded under this program.
Asian Americans now represent the largest minority group on the Maryland campus - more than 14 percent. To become an Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander Serving-Institution, at least one in ten students must fall into one of these groups.
Study Abroad Programs Show Growth, Increased Diversity
Study Abroad Programs Show Growth, Increased Diversity: The number of U.S. students studying overseas has reached a new record, part of an upward trend that also shows greater diversity both in the study abroad population and the foreign destinations selected for their studies.
More than 40,000 students of color studied abroad in 2006-07, nearly double the number from 2001, based on data from the Institute of International Education. Overall, African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Americans and multiracial students made up nearly one of every five study abroad students in 2007, says the institute’s annual Open Doors report.
Part of this increase is due to increased marketing at minority-serving institutions as well as greater utilization of scholarships, officials said. Students of color now represent about half of all recipients of Gilman Scholarships, a U.S. State Department initiative authorized by Congress in 2000 to improve study abroad participation by Pell Grant recipients.
More than 40,000 students of color studied abroad in 2006-07, nearly double the number from 2001, based on data from the Institute of International Education. Overall, African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Americans and multiracial students made up nearly one of every five study abroad students in 2007, says the institute’s annual Open Doors report.
Part of this increase is due to increased marketing at minority-serving institutions as well as greater utilization of scholarships, officials said. Students of color now represent about half of all recipients of Gilman Scholarships, a U.S. State Department initiative authorized by Congress in 2000 to improve study abroad participation by Pell Grant recipients.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Report: Black Students Among the Most Engaged at Community Colleges
Report: Black Students Among the Most Engaged at Community Colleges: Black community college students who are typically categorized high-risk are more engaged than students from other racial groups, a national survey released today by the Community College Survey of Student Engagement reports.
“High-risk students, including African-Americans, are more engaged than their low-risk counterparts” says Dr. Kay McClenney, who directed the survey. “It seems a bit counterintuitive, but the reality reflected in the data is that it is only the highly engaged, high-risk students who persist to the spring semester.”
Female and international students, students seeking credentials, nontraditional age students (over 24), students who work fewer than 30 hours per week and students who have participated in orientation are the most engaged students, meaning that they are more likely to graduate or complete their respective program of interest, the study shows.
The annual report entitled, “High Expectations and High Support,” offers data about the quality of community college students’ educational experiences and describes how a number of colleges across the country are responding to the challenges.
“High-risk students, including African-Americans, are more engaged than their low-risk counterparts” says Dr. Kay McClenney, who directed the survey. “It seems a bit counterintuitive, but the reality reflected in the data is that it is only the highly engaged, high-risk students who persist to the spring semester.”
Female and international students, students seeking credentials, nontraditional age students (over 24), students who work fewer than 30 hours per week and students who have participated in orientation are the most engaged students, meaning that they are more likely to graduate or complete their respective program of interest, the study shows.
The annual report entitled, “High Expectations and High Support,” offers data about the quality of community college students’ educational experiences and describes how a number of colleges across the country are responding to the challenges.
More American kids went hungry last year - Diet and nutrition- msnbc.com
More American kids went hungry last year - Diet and nutrition- msnbc.com: WASHINGTON - Some 691,000 children went hungry in America sometime in 2007, while close to one in eight Americans struggled to feed themselves adequately even before this year’s sharp economic downturn, the Agriculture Department reported Monday.
The department’s annual report on food security showed that during 2007 the number of children who suffered a substantial disruption in the amount of food they typically eat was more than double the 430,000 in 2006 and the largest figure since 716,000 in 1998.
Overall, the 36.2 million adults and children who struggled with hunger during the year was up slightly from 35.5 million in 2006. That was 12.2 percent of Americans who didn’t have the money or assistance to get enough food to maintain active, healthy lives.
The department’s annual report on food security showed that during 2007 the number of children who suffered a substantial disruption in the amount of food they typically eat was more than double the 430,000 in 2006 and the largest figure since 716,000 in 1998.
Overall, the 36.2 million adults and children who struggled with hunger during the year was up slightly from 35.5 million in 2006. That was 12.2 percent of Americans who didn’t have the money or assistance to get enough food to maintain active, healthy lives.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Leading Black Think Tank Launches Media and Technology Institute
Leading Black Think Tank Launches Media and Technology Institute: The leading U.S. think tank on African-American affairs is launching an institute to study the impact of media and new communication technologies on minority and socially disadvantaged communities. Along with notable communications and media leaders, officials from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies announced Thursday that the Washington-based think tank has established the Joint Center Media and Technology Institute.
Officials say the Media and Technology Institute is a “center for research on how minority Americans use media, how existing communications policies affect them and how emerging interactive forms of media can expand opportunity for them and their communities.” Michael K. Powell, a former Federal Communications Commission chairman and the son of retired General Colin Powell, will chair the institute’s national advisory committee.
“For many young people living in underserved communities, the stakes are enormously high. This Institute will examine these new trends and build the evidentiary record for the development of relevant policies, programs and initiatives,” says Ralph Everett, president and CEO of the Joint Center. “New communications technologies are having an enormous and immediate impact on the way we live, the way we work, the way we learn and the way we participate in the political process.”
Officials say the Media and Technology Institute is a “center for research on how minority Americans use media, how existing communications policies affect them and how emerging interactive forms of media can expand opportunity for them and their communities.” Michael K. Powell, a former Federal Communications Commission chairman and the son of retired General Colin Powell, will chair the institute’s national advisory committee.
“For many young people living in underserved communities, the stakes are enormously high. This Institute will examine these new trends and build the evidentiary record for the development of relevant policies, programs and initiatives,” says Ralph Everett, president and CEO of the Joint Center. “New communications technologies are having an enormous and immediate impact on the way we live, the way we work, the way we learn and the way we participate in the political process.”
Election spurs 'hundreds' of race threats, crimes - USATODAY.com
Election spurs 'hundreds' of race threats, crimes - USATODAY.com: Cross burnings. Schoolchildren chanting 'Assassinate Obama.' Black figures hung from nooses. Racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars.
Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Barack Obama are dampening the postelection glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America.
From California to Maine, police have documented a range of alleged crimes, from vandalism and vague threats to at least one physical attack. Insults and taunts have been delivered by adults, college students and second-graders.
There have been 'hundreds' of incidents since the election, many more than usual, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate crimes.
One was in Snellville, Ga., where Denene Millner said a boy on the school bus told her 9-year-old daughter the day after the election: 'I hope Obama gets assassinated.' That night, someone trashed her sister-in-law's front lawn, mangled the Obama lawn signs, and left two pizza boxes filled with human feces outside the front door, Millner said.
Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Barack Obama are dampening the postelection glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America.
From California to Maine, police have documented a range of alleged crimes, from vandalism and vague threats to at least one physical attack. Insults and taunts have been delivered by adults, college students and second-graders.
There have been 'hundreds' of incidents since the election, many more than usual, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate crimes.
One was in Snellville, Ga., where Denene Millner said a boy on the school bus told her 9-year-old daughter the day after the election: 'I hope Obama gets assassinated.' That night, someone trashed her sister-in-law's front lawn, mangled the Obama lawn signs, and left two pizza boxes filled with human feces outside the front door, Millner said.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Gettting to Know You: Diversity in Friendships Reduces Stress, UCB Study Finds
Making friends outside your own ethnic group or race in academic settings can reduce stress, researchers at University of California at Berkeley have found.
Researchers there who paired White and Latino students prone to bias in an accelerated “friendship” process found that members of both groups benefitted from getting to know one another.
According to the study published in the November issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers found that as the paired “cross-group” students in the study got to know one another better, their cortisol levels dropped significantly. Cortical is a hormone triggered by stress and anxiety.
In another set of US Berkeley findings published in an earlier issue of the journal Psychological Science, Latinos at that school and African Americans at Columbia University in New York who were concerned about being the targets of discrimination reported feeling a greater sense of belonging and satisfaction on campus after making a friend of another race or ethnicity.
'Regardless of students' majority or minority status, the friendship helped,' said Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, a UC Berkeley psychologist and co-author of the study, whose research examined the relationship between the acceptance of minorities at White-majority campuses and students' sense of well-being at college.
Researchers there who paired White and Latino students prone to bias in an accelerated “friendship” process found that members of both groups benefitted from getting to know one another.
According to the study published in the November issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers found that as the paired “cross-group” students in the study got to know one another better, their cortisol levels dropped significantly. Cortical is a hormone triggered by stress and anxiety.
In another set of US Berkeley findings published in an earlier issue of the journal Psychological Science, Latinos at that school and African Americans at Columbia University in New York who were concerned about being the targets of discrimination reported feeling a greater sense of belonging and satisfaction on campus after making a friend of another race or ethnicity.
'Regardless of students' majority or minority status, the friendship helped,' said Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, a UC Berkeley psychologist and co-author of the study, whose research examined the relationship between the acceptance of minorities at White-majority campuses and students' sense of well-being at college.
Online Bookseller Targets Spanish-Only Market
Its new consumer web site, http://www.librerialectorum.com/ will be the largest U.S. online bookstore operating exclusively in Spanish, Lectorum Publications announced.
Lectorum, a Scholastic subsidiary and the largest and oldest distributor of Spanish-language books in the United States, will celebrate the grand opening on Monday, November 17.
LibreriaLectorum.com, will offer thousands of adult and children's titles directly to the public, in addition to Lectorum’s sales of Spanish-language and bilingual books through libraries, schools, universities and retailers, the company said.
'Now Hispanics in every town, large and small, from coast to coast, will have access to quality books and can be part of a vibrant book-loving community,' said Teresa Mlawer, president of Lectorum Publications. 'It is truly a neighborhood bookstore online. As we add features every day, visitors will hear from Latino authors, get book and gift suggestions from staff, and join in the conversation about books and reading.
Lectorum, a Scholastic subsidiary and the largest and oldest distributor of Spanish-language books in the United States, will celebrate the grand opening on Monday, November 17.
LibreriaLectorum.com, will offer thousands of adult and children's titles directly to the public, in addition to Lectorum’s sales of Spanish-language and bilingual books through libraries, schools, universities and retailers, the company said.
'Now Hispanics in every town, large and small, from coast to coast, will have access to quality books and can be part of a vibrant book-loving community,' said Teresa Mlawer, president of Lectorum Publications. 'It is truly a neighborhood bookstore online. As we add features every day, visitors will hear from Latino authors, get book and gift suggestions from staff, and join in the conversation about books and reading.
Dr. Alvin Poussaint on The Obama Effect
Dr. Alvin Poussaint on The Obama Effect: The psychological boost on African-Americans generated by the election of the nation’s first Black president may be tempered by hard economic times ahead, says Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, director of the Media Center of the Judge Baker Children’s Center and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
... Do you see Black children looking to Obama children Sasha and Malia and looking up to President-elect Obama?
It will fill them with pride. There’s an enormous psychological effect. If you wake up in the morning, you’re a two-year-old kid, the president is on TV and the president is a Black man, it begins to shape their image of the world and the image inside of what they think they can accomplish, and increases there own feelings of worth. ‘I am somebody. The president, this man, is running the country. I can run something. I can be in charge. I can get good grades.’ That will be an ingredient of their psyche.
I think what is important, too, is how Obama’s presidency shapes the attitude of Whites and others. In other words, maybe we’ll be treated better, maybe there will be less racial profiling, less overt racial discrimination and even more empathy with the plight Blacks find themselves in. For instance, if Obama’s being elected president changes the expectations of White teachers for Black students, they’ll see this Black student, [whom] before they thought could be a convict, [and think] maybe he can be the president of the United States. We know the expectations teachers have of Black students count a lot, in term of their success. In so far he may reshape racial attitude, it will benefit Blacks indirectly and directly.
... Do you see Black children looking to Obama children Sasha and Malia and looking up to President-elect Obama?
It will fill them with pride. There’s an enormous psychological effect. If you wake up in the morning, you’re a two-year-old kid, the president is on TV and the president is a Black man, it begins to shape their image of the world and the image inside of what they think they can accomplish, and increases there own feelings of worth. ‘I am somebody. The president, this man, is running the country. I can run something. I can be in charge. I can get good grades.’ That will be an ingredient of their psyche.
I think what is important, too, is how Obama’s presidency shapes the attitude of Whites and others. In other words, maybe we’ll be treated better, maybe there will be less racial profiling, less overt racial discrimination and even more empathy with the plight Blacks find themselves in. For instance, if Obama’s being elected president changes the expectations of White teachers for Black students, they’ll see this Black student, [whom] before they thought could be a convict, [and think] maybe he can be the president of the United States. We know the expectations teachers have of Black students count a lot, in term of their success. In so far he may reshape racial attitude, it will benefit Blacks indirectly and directly.
Group Hires Lawyer To Address Dearth of Black College Football Coaches
Group Hires Lawyer To Address Dearth of Black College Football Coaches: The number of Black college football coaches is going in the wrong direction, according to the latest hiring report card issued Wednesday by the Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA).
Hiring committees are more diverse and coaches of color are being interviewed for football head coaching positions, but the number of hires is still dismal, the report card shows.
“Interviewing is not the measure of true success. Interviewing is not hiring. The true measure of progress and success will be when athletic directors stop merely interviewing candidates of color, and when athletic directors actually hire head football coaches of color,” said Charlotte Westerhaus, vice president of diversity and inclusion of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) .
For the 2007-08 season examined in the fifth BCA hiring report card, there were only four head football coaches of color hired to fill 31 job openings. The 2008 season in both the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Division, began with eight coaches of color, six of whom were African-American.
Hiring committees are more diverse and coaches of color are being interviewed for football head coaching positions, but the number of hires is still dismal, the report card shows.
“Interviewing is not the measure of true success. Interviewing is not hiring. The true measure of progress and success will be when athletic directors stop merely interviewing candidates of color, and when athletic directors actually hire head football coaches of color,” said Charlotte Westerhaus, vice president of diversity and inclusion of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) .
For the 2007-08 season examined in the fifth BCA hiring report card, there were only four head football coaches of color hired to fill 31 job openings. The 2008 season in both the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Division, began with eight coaches of color, six of whom were African-American.
Presidents of Maryland’s Black Colleges Testify About Disparities
Presidents of Maryland’s Black Colleges Testify About Disparities: No stranger to belt-tightening during tough economic times, presidents from two of Maryland’s historically black colleges attended a public hearing Wednesday to press their case for why the schools need more money.
The hearing came on the heels of a report outlining the financial and technological deficiencies that exist between Maryland's historically Black institutions and the state's predominately White institutions.
The report acknowledged that Maryland’s HBCUs have long been neglected by the state over past years and called for more state funding to bring the schools on par with the state’s traditionally White institutions. But the chair of the Maryland General Assembly’s Affordability Committee cautioned that any new funding for Maryland historically black institutions would be scarce given the state’s current budget woes.
The hearing came on the heels of a report outlining the financial and technological deficiencies that exist between Maryland's historically Black institutions and the state's predominately White institutions.
The report acknowledged that Maryland’s HBCUs have long been neglected by the state over past years and called for more state funding to bring the schools on par with the state’s traditionally White institutions. But the chair of the Maryland General Assembly’s Affordability Committee cautioned that any new funding for Maryland historically black institutions would be scarce given the state’s current budget woes.
Women Gain in Education but Not Power, Study Finds - NYTimes.com
Women Gain in Education but Not Power, Study Finds - NYTimes.com: GENEVA (Reuters) — Women still lag far behind men in top political and decision-making roles, though their access to education and health care is nearly equal, the World Economic Forum said Wednesday.
In its 2008 Global Gender Gap report, the forum, a Swiss research organization, ranked Norway, Finland and Sweden as the countries that have the most equality of the sexes, and Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen as having the least.
Using United Nations data, the report found that girls and women around the world had generally reached near-parity with their male peers in literacy, access to education and health and survival. But in terms of economics and politics, including relative access to executive government and corporate posts, the gap between the sexes remains large.
The United States ranked 27th, above Russia (42nd), China (57th), Brazil (73rd) and India (113th). But the United States was ranked below Germany (11th), Britain (13th), France (15th), Lesotho (16th), Trinidad and Tobago (19th), South Africa (22nd), Argentina (24th) and Cuba (25th).
In its 2008 Global Gender Gap report, the forum, a Swiss research organization, ranked Norway, Finland and Sweden as the countries that have the most equality of the sexes, and Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen as having the least.
Using United Nations data, the report found that girls and women around the world had generally reached near-parity with their male peers in literacy, access to education and health and survival. But in terms of economics and politics, including relative access to executive government and corporate posts, the gap between the sexes remains large.
The United States ranked 27th, above Russia (42nd), China (57th), Brazil (73rd) and India (113th). But the United States was ranked below Germany (11th), Britain (13th), France (15th), Lesotho (16th), Trinidad and Tobago (19th), South Africa (22nd), Argentina (24th) and Cuba (25th).
Katrina victims: Discrimination alleged in suit - USATODAY.com
Katrina victims: Discrimination alleged in suit - USATODAY.com: Two civil rights groups and five New Orleans homeowners sued Louisiana's hurricane rebuilding program Wednesday, saying it discriminates against more than 20,000 African Americans whose houses were damaged by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
The class-action suit, filed in federal court in Washington, alleges the Louisiana Road Home program awards smaller rebuilding grants to black homeowners than white homeowners. It says the state program's formula for calculating the grants — approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — is biased against homes in predominantly black neighborhoods.
'HUD and Louisiana have failed to honor the noble promise of this program,' says civil rights lawyer Joseph Sellers, who represents the homeowners.
The Louisiana Recovery Authority, which administers the $11 billion housing redevelopment program, bases grants on the pre-storm value of the house or the rebuilding cost, whichever is less. The authority had awarded $7.3 billion by Oct. 28, its weekly report says.
The lawsuit says home values in predominately black neighborhoods are lower than those of similar homes in white neighborhoods.
The class-action suit, filed in federal court in Washington, alleges the Louisiana Road Home program awards smaller rebuilding grants to black homeowners than white homeowners. It says the state program's formula for calculating the grants — approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — is biased against homes in predominantly black neighborhoods.
'HUD and Louisiana have failed to honor the noble promise of this program,' says civil rights lawyer Joseph Sellers, who represents the homeowners.
The Louisiana Recovery Authority, which administers the $11 billion housing redevelopment program, bases grants on the pre-storm value of the house or the rebuilding cost, whichever is less. The authority had awarded $7.3 billion by Oct. 28, its weekly report says.
The lawsuit says home values in predominately black neighborhoods are lower than those of similar homes in white neighborhoods.
Slavery of a different sort toils in Toni Morrison's 'A Mercy' - USATODAY.com
Slavery of a different sort toils in Toni Morrison's 'A Mercy'- USATODAY.com: "In both print and her public persona, Toni Morrison is an original thinker. She once famously called Bill Clinton our first black president. Now in the month in which the country elected Barack Obama president, the Nobel laureate has published a new novel, A Mercy, which examines slavery through the prism of power, not race.
Morrison achieves this by setting A Mercy in 1680s America, when slavery was a color-blind, equal-opportunity state of misery, not yet the rigid, peculiar institution it would become. This stands in sharp contrast to Beloved, Morrison's 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a black woman who kills her daughter rather than see her returned to slavery. In Beloved, skin color and slavery are inextricably linked.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Graduating ASAP, if Not on State Timeline - washingtonpost.com
Graduating ASAP, if Not on State Timeline - washingtonpost.com: ... Like Lara, many young Latino immigrants must juggle adult responsibilities with school, and they are creating alternative, stop-and-start paths toward a diploma.
'There are some where we probably failed them and they dropped out' and never finished school, Arlington County Superintendent Robert G. Smith said. But then there are those who come back at 20 or 21, he said. 'They would be counted among our dropouts, but sometimes they are our greatest success stories.'
As educators strive to close racial and ethnic achievement gaps, school systems are examining the educational experience of Latino students. Without knowing how many are succeeding under the radar, they can't know how many are lost altogether.
Sarita Brown of Excelencia in Education, a District-based nonprofit organization, said the number of Latino students who don't fit the four-year model is growing fast.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Poll: Racial divides persist after Obama’s historic win - Blogs from CNN.com
CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Poll: Racial divides persist after Obama’s historic win - Blogs from CNN.com: WASHINGTON (CNN) — A national poll released Tuesday suggests that for most African-Americans, the election of Barack Obama as president was a dream come true that they didn't think they would see in their lifetimes.
That's how 80 percent of African-Americans questioned in the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey responded; 20 percent disagreed. Among white Americans, only 28 percent called Obama's victory in the race for the White House a dream come true, with the vast majority, 70 percent, saying it was not.
The poll also suggests a racial divide among people who thought a black candidate would be elected president in their lifetimes, with 59 percent of white respondents saying yes, but only 29 percent of black respondents agreeing.
'Polls show that whites and blacks tend to have different views on the amount of racism in the U.S.' said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. 'So it's not surprising that they would have different views on the likelihood of an African-American president.'
That's how 80 percent of African-Americans questioned in the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey responded; 20 percent disagreed. Among white Americans, only 28 percent called Obama's victory in the race for the White House a dream come true, with the vast majority, 70 percent, saying it was not.
The poll also suggests a racial divide among people who thought a black candidate would be elected president in their lifetimes, with 59 percent of white respondents saying yes, but only 29 percent of black respondents agreeing.
'Polls show that whites and blacks tend to have different views on the amount of racism in the U.S.' said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. 'So it's not surprising that they would have different views on the likelihood of an African-American president.'
Rev. Abraham Woods Jr.; MLK-Era Rights Leader - washingtonpost.com
Rev. Abraham Woods Jr.; MLK-Era Rights Leader - washingtonpost.com: The Rev. Abraham Woods Jr., 80, a civil rights leader in Birmingham, Ala., who stood behind the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during his 1963 'I Have a Dream' speech at the Lincoln Memorial, died of complications from cancer Nov. 7 at Princeton Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham.
Rev. Woods, a founder and longtime president of the Birmingham chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, began his civil rights work in the mid-1950s, working with the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth as well as with King and the Rev. Ralph Abernathy. After Alabama outlawed the NAACP, Rev. Woods and his brother, the Rev. Calvin Woods, along with Shuttlesworth, founded the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights.
8,000 blacks die due to blood pressure gap - Health care- msnbc.com
8,000 blacks die due to blood pressure gap - Health care- msnbc.com: ATLANTA - The lives of nearly 8,000 black Americans could be saved each year if doctors could figure out a way to bring their average blood pressure down to the average level of whites, a surprising new study found.
The gap between the races in controlling blood pressure is well-known, but the resulting number of lives lost startled some scientists.
“We expected it to be big, but it was even larger than we anticipated,” said the lead author, Dr. Kevin Fiscella of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The study, released Monday in the Annals of Family Medicine, is being called the first to calculate the lives lost due to racial disparities in blood pressure control.
Fiscella said he believes steps can be taken to erase that gap. But a second article in the same journal found that racial differences in blood pressure treatment persisted in England despite a national health system that provides equal access to care.
Doctors may not be providing proper care, but some black patients may not be taking prescribed medicines or following medical advice, said Christopher Millett of the Imperial College of London.
However, another researcher said it is unfair to blame the patient.
“’Compliance’ to me is a hateful word. It says, ’I the great doctor and we the great health care service inform you what needs to be done and you don’t do it because you’re stupid, you’re incompetent’... I don’t accept that at all,” said Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, professor emeritus of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
The gap between the races in controlling blood pressure is well-known, but the resulting number of lives lost startled some scientists.
“We expected it to be big, but it was even larger than we anticipated,” said the lead author, Dr. Kevin Fiscella of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The study, released Monday in the Annals of Family Medicine, is being called the first to calculate the lives lost due to racial disparities in blood pressure control.
Fiscella said he believes steps can be taken to erase that gap. But a second article in the same journal found that racial differences in blood pressure treatment persisted in England despite a national health system that provides equal access to care.
Doctors may not be providing proper care, but some black patients may not be taking prescribed medicines or following medical advice, said Christopher Millett of the Imperial College of London.
However, another researcher said it is unfair to blame the patient.
“’Compliance’ to me is a hateful word. It says, ’I the great doctor and we the great health care service inform you what needs to be done and you don’t do it because you’re stupid, you’re incompetent’... I don’t accept that at all,” said Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, professor emeritus of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Tolerance Over Race Can Spread, Studies Find - NYTimes.com
Tolerance Over Race Can Spread, Studies Find - NYTimes.com: ...In some new studies, psychologists have been able to establish a close relationship between diverse pairs — black and white, Latino and Asian, black and Latino — in a matter of hours. That relationship immediately reduces conscious and unconscious bias in both people, and also significantly reduces prejudice toward the other group in each individual’s close friends.
This extended-contact effect, as it is called, travels like a benign virus through an entire peer group, counteracting subtle or not so subtle mistrust.
“It’s important to remember that implicit biases are out there, absolutely; but I think that that’s only half the story,” said Linda R. Tropp, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts. “With broader changes in the society at large, people can also become more willing to reach across racial boundaries, and that goes for both minorities and whites.”
This extended-contact effect, as it is called, travels like a benign virus through an entire peer group, counteracting subtle or not so subtle mistrust.
“It’s important to remember that implicit biases are out there, absolutely; but I think that that’s only half the story,” said Linda R. Tropp, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts. “With broader changes in the society at large, people can also become more willing to reach across racial boundaries, and that goes for both minorities and whites.”
Friday, November 07, 2008
Among Young Muslims, Mixed Emotions on Obama - NYTimes.com
Among Young Muslims, Mixed Emotions on Obama - NYTimes.com: It was easy for them to love the candidate. With the same passion, and for the same reasons that millions of other young people did, they loved Barack Obama’s call to activism, the promise of change, the sheer newness of the guy.
What was hard was feeling they could not show it because they were Muslims.
“I pretty much kept away, because I didn’t want to appear with an Obama button and have people look at me and say: ‘Oh, a Muslim girl supports him. Aha,’ ” said Sule Akoglu, a 17-year-old New York University freshman, who wears a head scarf.
Like just about all the Muslim students who gathered Wednesday night at the university’s Islamic Center on the day after the election, Miss Akoglu described a mixture of delight and frustration at the successful campaign of the nation’s first black president-elect.
He had run a great race, broken so many barriers, done so much right. Yet the persistent rumor that Mr. Obama was a Muslim had led his campaign to do things that the students found hurtful, they said. The campaign had dismissed a Muslim staff member for seemingly flimsy reasons. A campaign worker had shuttled two young Muslim women wearing head scarves out of the line of sight of TV cameras at a rally.
And the candidate known for his way with words had never said the words they waited for.
No Retreat on Affirmative Action Under Obama, Black Think Tank Predicts
No Retreat on Affirmative Action Under Obama, Black Think Tank Predicts: An administration under President-elect Barack Obama will protect race-based affirmative action in education and employment, political pundits said at a post-election analysis discussion convened Wednesday at the nation’s leading think tank on African-American affairs.
Responding to the idea floated by some observers that a post-racial Obama administration might lend support to class-based affirmative action over race-based affirmative action, a leading analyst on race in American politics said he does not expect the new president to abandon racially conscious affirmative action, which is widely accepted and legally permissible in higher education.
Obama has told news media interviewers over the past year that affirmative action would not be necessary for his two young daughters because of the privileged life he and his wife have provided for them. He has said that class-based affirmative action in higher education is appropriate for economically disadvantaged Whites as well as for non-Whites.
Responding to the idea floated by some observers that a post-racial Obama administration might lend support to class-based affirmative action over race-based affirmative action, a leading analyst on race in American politics said he does not expect the new president to abandon racially conscious affirmative action, which is widely accepted and legally permissible in higher education.
Obama has told news media interviewers over the past year that affirmative action would not be necessary for his two young daughters because of the privileged life he and his wife have provided for them. He has said that class-based affirmative action in higher education is appropriate for economically disadvantaged Whites as well as for non-Whites.
Not Lost in Translation
Language is no longer a barrier to getting informed on the best colleges across the country. The Spanish-language version of the college guide College is Yours in 600 Words or Less debuted this fall and will be distributed for free.
Each part of the book in under 600 words provides information on the college selection process. “The college decision must be all about the student’s interests, and the book helps students keep that goal in mind,” says author Patrick O’Connor.
O’Connor came up with the idea to translate College is Yours when he was considering developing counseling resources in Spanish. However, since he could not translate the book himself, he asked colleagues and professional translation services in Detroit for help. When they agreed to do it for free, O’Connor says, “It was then I realized the goal of the book was simply to get the information out there. No one is going to make any money on the book.”
Grace Printing in Chicago offered to print the book at a discount rate, and O’Connor, a school counselor, asked several Hispanic celebrities to sponsor it, including shipping costs. The writer has waived all royalties for La Universidad Es Tuya, and he is already taking orders via e-mail (collegeisyours@comcast.net) for the book’s next printing.
“High school counselors throughout the world have been notified about La Universidad Es Tuya,” says O’Connor.
Each part of the book in under 600 words provides information on the college selection process. “The college decision must be all about the student’s interests, and the book helps students keep that goal in mind,” says author Patrick O’Connor.
O’Connor came up with the idea to translate College is Yours when he was considering developing counseling resources in Spanish. However, since he could not translate the book himself, he asked colleagues and professional translation services in Detroit for help. When they agreed to do it for free, O’Connor says, “It was then I realized the goal of the book was simply to get the information out there. No one is going to make any money on the book.”
Grace Printing in Chicago offered to print the book at a discount rate, and O’Connor, a school counselor, asked several Hispanic celebrities to sponsor it, including shipping costs. The writer has waived all royalties for La Universidad Es Tuya, and he is already taking orders via e-mail (collegeisyours@comcast.net) for the book’s next printing.
“High school counselors throughout the world have been notified about La Universidad Es Tuya,” says O’Connor.
U.S. accepts Black President, struggles with other social advances
U.S. accepts Black President, struggles with other social advances: Americans made history this week by electing their first Black president while banning affirmative action and gay marriage at the same time.
In some cases, such as in California, Black and Hispanic voters who overwhelmingly supported President-elect Barack Obama, also helped lead the way in revoking laws that allowed gay couples to marry.
So does this mean Americans, including ethnic minorities, can accept a Black president but are still not ready for other progressive initiatives?
While the country is becoming more tolerant, some scholars suggest it is not completely ready to embrace some hot-button cultural policies, especially when it comes to homosexuality and pocket-book issues.
People voted for Obama because they felt he was the better candidate, says Toni-Michelle Travis, a political scientist who specializes in race issues at George Mason University. But when it comes to policies that impact voters financially, such as affirmative action, it is not surprising that many voters are less accepting, she adds.
When voting on economic issues people feel more threatened, Travis says, and they ask themselves, '‘can I get a job, or is the government going to favor ‘those people.’ When you get to issues that affect your family and personal well being, I think race takes on a different tone.'
In some cases, such as in California, Black and Hispanic voters who overwhelmingly supported President-elect Barack Obama, also helped lead the way in revoking laws that allowed gay couples to marry.
So does this mean Americans, including ethnic minorities, can accept a Black president but are still not ready for other progressive initiatives?
While the country is becoming more tolerant, some scholars suggest it is not completely ready to embrace some hot-button cultural policies, especially when it comes to homosexuality and pocket-book issues.
People voted for Obama because they felt he was the better candidate, says Toni-Michelle Travis, a political scientist who specializes in race issues at George Mason University. But when it comes to policies that impact voters financially, such as affirmative action, it is not surprising that many voters are less accepting, she adds.
When voting on economic issues people feel more threatened, Travis says, and they ask themselves, '‘can I get a job, or is the government going to favor ‘those people.’ When you get to issues that affect your family and personal well being, I think race takes on a different tone.'
Poll: Hopes are high for race relations - USATODAY.com
Poll: Hopes are high for race relations - USATODAY.com: WASHINGTON — Barack Obama's election has inspired a wave of optimism about the future of race relations in the United States, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken the day after the first African American won the White House.
Confidence that the nation will resolve its racial problems rose to a historic level. Two-thirds of Americans predict that relations between blacks and whites 'will eventually be worked out' in the United States, by far the highest number since Gallup first asked the question in the midst of the civil rights struggle in 1963.
Optimism jumped most among blacks. Five months ago, half of African Americans predicted the nation eventually would solve its racial problems. Now, two-thirds do.
"Barack didn't elect himself; we Americans elected him," says Roger Wilkins, a civil rights leader and professor of history and American culture at George Mason University in suburban Virginia. "And I think that there are lots and lots of people who say, 'Damn, we're not as racist as we thought we were,' so they're pleased."
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