I’m not an Oprah Winfrey fan. I used to watch her show years ago, but after I became a Christian, her “godforce” talk became unpalatable. Being an unbeliever, she tends to get caught up in “various and strange doctrines” and fads.
I watched her show about a year ago to live-blog her dressing-down of James Frey, the Oprah Book Club darling who told big lies about his life in his disgraced memoir, A Million Little Pieces.
Oprah is in the news again. She recently built a girl’s school in South Africa, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, to the tune of $40 million. Part vanity project, part personal therapy, part charity, the school will educate impoverished young African girls for free. (Newsweek)
The school is downright luxurious compared to what the girls are used to: 22 acres, a beauty salon, high-quality sheets, spacious rooms and closets, china. Understandably, some natives think the school is a bit too opulent, especially for girls who come from extreme poverty. People love to tell other people how to spend their money. Sure, Oprah could have built a very nice school for a fraction of the price, but she wanted the girls to have lavish surroundings because “beauty does inspire.”
“I wanted this to be a place of honor for them because these girls have never been treated with kindness. They’ve never been told they are pretty or have wonderful dimples. I wanted to hear those things as a child,” Oprah said. (This is the “part therapy” I mentioned earlier.)
Some may wonder why Oprah didn’t build such a school right here in the U.S. and why she hasn’t taken a similar hands-on approach. Although she’s given money to inner city schools, she said she stopped visiting them. American children — or should we say poor American children, inner city American children? — don’t value education the way kids in other countries do. Oprah said (emphasis added):
“Say what you will about the American educational system—it does work,” she says. “If you are a child in the United States, you can get an education.” And she doesn’t think that American students—who, unlike Africans, go to school free of charge—appreciate what they have. “I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn’t there,” she says. “If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don’t ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school.”
And parents bear a large portion of the blame for these attitudes. Love of learning, in my humble opinion, begins in the home, not in a government school classroom.
One reason I get so angry when black Americans whine about racism and blame it for all sorts of things, from the academic achievement gap to illegitimacy to black incarceration rates, is that many blacks across the rest of the planet would give anything to come to the U.S. and live like the poorest black Americans (who have air conditioning and cable TV!).
We Americans, black and white, are so spoiled. We take for granted things like free government education, proper sanitation, an economic system under which we can make a decent living if we actually work, private ownership rights, access to safe, plentiful, and relatively cheap food — the ingratitude is sickening.
[A commenter “corrects” me. Government schools are not free; they are supported by taxpayers, as I am aware every time I fork over large portions of my income to the government as a member of the self-employed cabal. 
Pardon the imprecise expression.]
The main impediments to success in America are entrenched generational pathologies, like broken families, that must be overcome, and the failure to take advantage of America’s rich opportunities. If you’re willing to work, you can get a job. It may be low-paying or “beneath” you, but it’s a start. As you acquire skills and develop good work habits (and not just show up), you can move up. You can go to school part time and learn a trade, or become an apprentice for someone willing to help. I tend to be hard on people because my tolerance for sloth and excuse-making is quite low. If you haven’t done all that’s in your power to improve your life, don’t blame anyone else for your pitiful circumstances. I have little sympathy for you.
Well, I’m just about done. Read Clarence Page’s column about Oprah’s school, “Oprah’s Truth Does Not Hurt.” He agrees with her comments about inner city children but says her “poke” at materialism of poor black students “delighted conservative commentators.”
I take issue with his generalization of “conservative commentators” (and by implication, conservatives in general). They may be “delighted” that a black person as high-profile as Oprah said publicly what they discuss only in private lest they be branded racists. The so-called delight lies in the hope that inner city blacks will take Oprah’s remarks to heart and learn to value a good education.
But Page is a liberal, and what else can you expect from one of them?
Oh…sorry about the generalization, Mr. Page. 
Addendum: Just to clarify, I think Oprah has done a good thing, opulence and all. I don’t know if I made that clear in the post.
Related posts:
“If you haven’t done all that’s in your power to improve your life, don’t blame anyone else for your pitiful circumstances.”
AMEN!
Comment by DragonLady — 01.09.07 @ 8:46 am
As I recall stories on this subject, Oprah interviewed every candidate for this school. She made the decision on who could attend. She didn’t accept everyone, only those she believed in. She has made a commitment that she will provide for each child all the way through their university educations.
In my opinion, Oprah is operating this whole venture as if she was starting a new company that she intends to be a success. Any new business that wants to be successful will hire the best candidates and will provide the benefits to keep them, while expecting that these new candidates will be top performers and thus ensure the success of the business.
If I would put myself in her shoes, I would hope the big payoff would be that the students all become successful and that each of them goes on to keep the flame of success burning not only in their souls but that each one lights a new torch of success for someone else and so on and so on.
Her model of success is dependent on her total control of the project. I don’t think that could have happened here in the U.S.
Comment by dianne — 01.09.07 @ 9:13 am
I can’t say that Oprah and I have similar views on how the world works. But I’m going to defend her anyway. First of all, it’s her money. Unlike many in the entertainment business, Oprah isn’t hanging around Washington lobbying for you and me to pay for her pet programs. She isn’t even doing Oprah-thons asking us to send in checks.
Oprah made her few billions on her own and she runs her own philanthropy program. It’s her money, and it’s her business how she chooses to give it away. It’s also clear, as her defenders already have pointed out, that Oprah has given tons of money away in her own backyard. And, frankly, it’s hard to question the fundamental instincts of a self-made billionaire when it comes to investment decisions.
In an interview in USA Today, Oprah says when she has tried to help kids in this country, “I have failed.” This is not to say that Oprah has a clue about what will work to help these kids. But she sure has a feel for what doesn’t. And that is simply going into America’s inner cities and giving out money.
Black leaders around the country who relentlessly defend a failing status quo despite reams of evidence that we need to do something different? If we’re really looking to be critical about how money is spent, how about a little more attention to those who spend other people’s money rather than on those who spend their own.
Who knows how Oprah’s school in South Africa will fare?
Our education establishment has little interest in anything other than asking for more money to do more of the same. They may pay lip service to improvement. But, as we know, actions are the measure, not words. When those in control refuse to be open to all options to strive for the best, it’s clear that the best is not the goal.
Vouchers and school choice are the disruptive technology that we need in education. Oprah picked up her marbles and left when she was unhappy. Why shouldn’t kids and parents be able to do the same thing?
Comment by Kwaku Minta — 01.09.07 @ 9:24 am
Oprah doesn’t put her votes where her mouth is.
She is a Democrat, no doubt.
But it’s the Democrats who oppose the very thing Oprah is doing - freeing these young girls from Government schools.
Oprah could not select students even for a private school in the USA - she wouod be accused of being “racist” for rejecting “slugs”.
Comment by Frank Zavisca — 01.09.07 @ 9:43 am
Another vote for Oprah’s activities, but I don’t care for her or watch her show. The only problem with her school is what will become of it once she cannot put 100% into it herself?
Will she leave it to others? Considering it’s South Africa, will the government try to take it over? Will it become something she doesn’t want, and if so, will she shut it down?
At least the school’s not in Zimbabwe, Mugabe would take it over and probably make it a brothel.
Comment by ScottG — 01.09.07 @ 9:50 am
I would like to point out that American schools are not in fact free. What I have paid to Frederick county Maryland in property taxes exceeds what I would have paid to send both my children to private schools. I do not object to having paid all those taxes over the years because our schools are good schools. If I lived in Baltimore, where I grew up, I would be livid. Last year they “lost” 75 million dollars they could not account for. What Oprah did was right and generous and should be applauded.
Comment by Ed Greenlee — 01.09.07 @ 10:05 am
For someone who’s so big on personal responsibility, you’d think Oprah would vote Republican, wouldn’t you?!
I’m not a fan of Oprah’s TV persona - I hate chat shows with a passion - but I am a huge fan of her attitude, and her drive and determination. She’s worked very hard to get where she is today and she deserves every penny of her fortune. Whenever people ask me who I admire, she’s near the top of my list every time.
I wish more celebrities (Bono and Paul McCartney immediately spring to mind) would invest such time and effort - not to mention their own money - on Africa rather than simply exhorting the rest of us to give our money to charities that, sad to say, don’t seem to have very much effect.
Comment by Lizzie — 01.09.07 @ 10:16 am
(Forgot to say - as per usual, another excellent, thoughtful post, La Shawn!)
Comment by Lizzie — 01.09.07 @ 10:17 am
I’m not a huge fan of Oprah either, but I say God bless her for what she has done. I’m sick and tired of the moaning and groaning and class envy in this country. Americans don’t know what poor is anymore. We have so few pockets of real poverty that most Americans think poverty means not having a TV and a dishwasher. I wish more people could travel to third world countries and get a look at what real poverty looks like. I prefer to send my money to places like Africa. A woman at my church has started an organization to build preschools in Ghana because she saw so many children raising children when she went on a mission trip there. It is called Ghanaian Mothers’ Hope, Inc. Their mission is to care for and educate preschoolers in Ghana, West Africa, by empowering villages and changing lives forever. I know and trust Debi and she has a great love for the people of Ghana so I feel very good about giving money to her organization. http://www.ghanaianmothershope.org. Email: debi.gmhope@gmail.com
Comment by Sharon — 01.09.07 @ 10:44 am
There’s something terribly sad in Oprah’s correct assessment (IMO) that after years of effort, she has become so frustrated with lack of progress in inner city blacks in school despite ample resources - that she will instead focus on blacks overseas that have the right attitude, and desire to learn.
I don’t know much about her. Not like some fans do. I know she has a bit of a New Age goofy spin on life heavy with pop psychology…but she seems smart, genuinely nice, and without the arrogance that seems to hit so many celebrities with small fractions of her fame and fortune.
Her S African news no doubt caused paroxisms of hate and angst among the educrats and poverty pimps and teacher lobbies in America - Now probably eager to “instruct” Oprah how wrong she is about inner city schools, not being an educational professional or licensed social worker who knows these matters best.
But intuitively, people grasp Oprah Winfrey, guys like Cosby and Chris Rock are right.
I just wish they all would finally get to the end point. Public schools have failed and the only hope is to separate out the students at failing schools who want to learn from those who don’t and send them to schools that work. And that comes down to vouchers. The controversy over vouchers - religion & separation of church-state is a false one. Vouchers should be about simply sending the students who do want to learn and will accept discipline and hard work regardless of religion - away from the feckless and socially bankrupt kids out to drag the good students down to their dysfunctional level - and off to schools where they can succeed with all the tools and resources the motivated student needs.
I know that sort of student exists. Maybe Oprah should advocate vouchers be tried to see if the vouchers can salvage good black students in America. And partially allieviate her frustration here..
Comment by Chris Ford — 01.09.07 @ 11:03 am
I can’t help but wonder why Oprah ended up choosing South Africa. Nelson Mandela has been the Che Guevara for a lot of blacks in the United States and I suspect that Oprah admires his few good points.
The fact is, Oprah could have started the exact same school in Chicago. There really are very few rules for private academies. She could have searched the area for a cadre of girls who do have the ambition for education.
The problem is that she would have put her credibility on the line. If she had established the school in Chicago, it would have operated on a business model where success is measured by…well….success. I am certain her school would succeed. But it would not be a socialist model. It would be a capitalist model and that flies in the face of all Democrat Party demagoguery.
South Africa is the better place. She can be the fairy godmother in a highly socialist country at a time when the corruption of government has just about brought the place to an economic standstill. She flies in on her cloud of fame and good fortune and taps a lucky few to rise above their humble place in life.
When they graduate and get all college educated (and Oprah will be old and gray) will they go forth and create a new and better South Africa or will they immigrate to places where the forces of capitalism pay for quality?
Of course, it is her money and her dream. I just can’t wait to see the movie.
Comment by Heliotrope — 01.09.07 @ 11:10 am
Love Oprah. I think I admire her because I see the hand of God moving in her life despite what we do or don’t agree about her. I also like her because she has not bowed down to the moanings of liberal blacks looking for free hand-outs from her. I heard she’s going to be building another school for boys and girls in South Africa. May God continue to bless this nation’s greatest black philanthropist ($300-million).
Comment by hramsey — 01.09.07 @ 11:30 am
Hmmm.
1. I hope she’s really in it for the long term. I cannot think of anything more devastating than having your future, for these girls, ripped apart because somebody got bored.
2. I was born in South Korea and came to America at age 7 unable to speak, read or write English. And I’ve long since become successful in the computer industry with almost 30 years of experience now.
I **know** for a fact that success will come to those that are willing to put in the effort. I know this because that’s the life I’ve lived. It’s partly why I love America. And it’s also why I feel derisive to anyone who would blame anybody but themselves for failure.
Comment by ed — 01.09.07 @ 11:31 am
Certainly what Oprah has done is a wonderful thing for those young ladies in Africa. I concur with you, La Shawn, on Oprah’s being a harbinger of some seriously heretical notions and some just downright bizarre thinking. See here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2004-08-31
Comment by Jonathan — 01.09.07 @ 12:04 pm
If history repeats itself as in neighboring Zimbabwe, South Africans will resent these Oprah Educated “future leaders” because their ambitions will clash with the authoritarian leaders.
In fact, some Black Zimbabwe residents who went to UK to learn modern farming were kicked off their farms by Mugabe’s thugs.
I am afraid Oprah’s students’ future will be limited by the corruption of their country.
Comment by Frank Zavisca — 01.09.07 @ 1:01 pm
I am a huge Oprah fan. I love most of what she has to say. I love the idea of her creating a school for the girls of South Africa(SA). My only problem with that is: What about the boys? Oprah may not understand it, but she is quite possibly creating a vaccuum of intellect in one gender. I asked myself when she first spoke of the shcool, what will happen to the boys? Who will the girls marry? All of the girls will not leave SA. Those poor girls may end up like their American sisters who are highly educated, well adjusted and law abiding only to sully their reputations shacking up with undereducated thugs. It will happen.
I believe Oprah is taking the anachronistic view that women are not treated as the equal to men. It is a possibility that in SA they are not, but with her American sensibilities the only thing her school will do is overcorrect for an imbalance that will be created by her.
As for Ms. O not going to American schools I totally understand her. Why waste money on an overbloated sinking ship? The money will only go into the administrators’ pockets with a few token items bought to show how they’ve spent the money.
Comment by Veronica — 01.09.07 @ 1:44 pm
(Ms. Barber, this is not directed at you, as I realize that you mentioned nothing specifically about public school teachers):)
As I have said before, all public school teachers are not liberal hounds waiting to get your children. In Baltimore where I teach everything is so standardized that teachers really can’t say too much or go off topic without someone in administration knowing because it is all about passing “the” test.
I agree with Oprah. It MAIN problem starts from home where, in the inner city, education is not valued and I am tired of people making excuses for these parents. Yes, unions and other groups have separate agendas. However, at the end of the day teachers (EVEN in public school) work hard for the kids. Very often that means spending money from our own pockets to get the things that their parents can’t or won’t get.
I hope they do start a voucher program so that all of you can see how these children do in private school. Unless you get them new parents or threaten to kick them out if they don’t improve, you will see the same behaviors and problems that arise in public schools.
People who send their kids to private schools and most middle class families invest in education one way or another. THAT IS WHY THEIR KIDS SUCCEED. You could have brand new teachers, new books, new technology and these folks in the “hood” would fare no better because value comes from within. You don’t know how many teachers have to spend time teaching good behavior and socialization skills just to get the kids to the point of being ready for basic academic skills.
Yes, you are entitled to your opinion about this but please know what you are talking about. Spend sometime in some public inner city schools and see what we deal with on a regular basis. If you have a real beef, it should be with the system wide administrations, their jobs are so political and bureaucratic that THEY lose sight of doing whatever it takes for the students.
My son is two and can already rote count to 10, say his ABC’s, recognizes his shapes and most colors. In the school where I teach, many of the pre-k kids don’t recognize half of the things that he does. Is that their teacher and all of the subsequent teachers’ faults?
Think about it, why are almost all public schools failing only in inner cities or extremely poor rural areas all over the country? It can’t be that all the teachers that teach in these areas are just so incapable that they can’t impart knowledge in these children. Yet centuries and decades ago you could have 12 grades in one school house and the children got the skills they needed. Yet now, the kids can hardly read or do math, forget more complex skills. It has to start somewhere. The majority of kids don’t come to school smart or “on level” then the lack of adequate instruction causes them to fall below. If that were the case, I would agree, close all the public schools. The fact is that most of them come to us without the prerequisite skills and then what they learn is not reinforced at home.
Everyone wants to blame the teachers for failing students when most of them (in the inner city) come to us behind already.
Comment by Heather in MD — 01.09.07 @ 1:50 pm
i agree with what #16 said in the first paragraph; education for the boys is important as well.
Comment by thomas — 01.09.07 @ 2:20 pm
I’m pretty fed up with Oprah and her imperial behavior. To start a school like this for such a small student body at such an exhorbitant cost is arrogance personified. Don’t get me wrong, to create a fine school is a wonderful thing. But $40 million for as small a student body as she has? For that amount of money she could have extablished a school for 3-4 times the student body and it still would have been really, really comfortable for students and teachers alike.
Are these girls going to now go home to their far less resplendant homes at holidays/vacations and condescend to their far-less-affluent-than-Oprah parents and siblings? When they encounter a real world that does not house and clothe them as lavishly as Ms. Winfrey is now doing, will they become angry or resentful? Is she not creating unrealistic expectations?
Ms. Winfrey is feeding her ego (and her dream), but at what expense to these girls?
Sometimes celebrities really do not think things through and I think this is a case where that has happened. I applaud the intention absolutely, it’s the execution that I question. A lot!
Comment by Gayle Miller — 01.09.07 @ 2:46 pm
Chris Rock (I believe) said something that has always stuck with me…(paraphrase) If students are failing in school it is the parents fault. Either they are not taking the time to invest in their kids education or they are leaving them in schools where education does not seem to be happening. Either way, it is the parents responsibility to see that their children’s academic needs are met.
Comment by Heather in MD — 01.09.07 @ 2:47 pm
At the risk of being a wet blanket, I do not view Oprah Winfrey’s latest act of philanthropy with the exaltation many have been conferring on to her. Miss La Shawn Barber opined, “I think Oprah has done a good thing, opulence and all.”
Pingback by The Thomas Chronicles — 01.09.07 @ 3:28 pm
Oprah is misguided and arrogant in her intentions. She has the money to lavish her wealth where she wants, but to say that American children don’t have the desire to learn is just plain stupid. She was once a girl who dreamed too, I wonder how she would feel if someone came up to her and said that she has no potential for success. This is the worst kind of pandering, and I refuse to watch or listen to anything she has to say because she lacks relevance anymore.
Comment by Robert Tatum — 01.09.07 @ 3:47 pm
I liked what you said about how education starts in the home. I was very fortunate to have parent’s who cultivated a love of learning in our house. I may not be the smartest person around, but I do enjoy learning and understanding. Learning is work, but the rewards reaped from that work a worth the effort.
Comment by Writing's of an Exceptional Being — 01.09.07 @ 4:50 pm
Heather, re: “The fact is that most of them come to us without the prerequisite skills and then what they learn is not reinforced at home.
“Everyone wants to blame the teachers for failing students when most of them (in the inner city) come to us behind already.”
I pretty much agree with your entire statement, and can also present it from the opposite POV. If you look at Asians and Jews, they are people who routinely do well wherever they go… the Jews particularly, who have developed a reputation among the ignorant as “greedy”.
The fact is that both ethnic groups come from families and a social atmosphere that generally reveres hard work and scholarship… to the point where most Jews actually speak three languages by the age of 13 (Hebrew, Yiddish, and the local language). This is the TRUE source of their success, and as such, indicates that this kind of reverence for scholarship needs to be inculcated into our poor communities (and our more educationally slack middle class communities) post haste.
The problem is HOW to do it. Attitudes toward learning DO tend to come from the family. I developed my own reverence for learning by copying what my folks were doing, and they always had their noses stuck in a book or were sharing what they’d read. I’d hate to think how life would have turned out for me if it had been otherwise. But how to you get a mother who had three children by the time she dropped out of high school to instill a reverence for learning into her children?
It’s a sticky problem. We can’t take the children away from the parent(s), and our schools are already being accused of practicing too much social engineering at the expense of academic topics.
It would appear to me that some sort of community intervention might be called for. Perhaps something like an “after school” center where the kids can go to do their homework and have library resources and tutors available to answer questions they get stuck on. Retired teachers might be just the people to work with this.
I don’t have a solid plan in mind, but I think things like this have been tried before in various inner-city communities… and that they failed for various reasons. But I still think it’s an answer (possibly one of many) to a troubling problem. It might be incumbant upon us to look into the past programs and find out WHY they failed… and take action to correct the problems encountered. If it requires, for instance, hiring (serious) armed guards (not just some fat retired dude called a “security guard”) to keep street gangs out, then do it. That sort of thing.
This is a really sticky problem that goes to what the kids learn at home. And it would be unreasonable to take the kids away from a mother who is simply uneducated herself.
I also wonder if it would help to start with educating the parents?
Comment by mamapajamas — 01.09.07 @ 4:56 pm
Heather, it’s very interesting that you, as a Baltimore teacher, answered just as I was about to bring up the TV show The Wire.
If you don’t watch it, this season the show is focused on an ex-cop who now teaches in Baltimore’s inner city. It’s a great show, and I’m hooked, but sometimes its attitudes seem hopelessly limousine liberal. It’s bothered me in particular this season. The teachers on the show go on and on about how the system won’t let them succeed with their students, but the show never comes close to placing any blame on the parents. The government, in other words, is supposed to find a way to reach students who have been neglected by their parents physically, mentally, and emotionally since early childhood. It’s an astonishingly naive attitude, in my opinion.
Comment by AK — 01.09.07 @ 5:12 pm
Is Oprah right?
La Shawn Barber opines on the Oprah Winfrey “controversy” surrounding her recent opening of a school in South Africa, and her comments about American education: “Say what you will about the American educational system—it does work,” she says. “If …
Trackback by The COLOSSUS OF RHODEY — 01.09.07 @ 5:50 pm
When Bill OReilly was on Oprah recently he commented about how far middle class people ‘like us’ can get. Oprah interrupted him, she was not middle class. “No one could get as far as I have anywhere else but in this country” It’s true enough that she had a different attitude about bettering herself.
Comment by John — 01.09.07 @ 7:13 pm
Eugene Robinson writes this about Oprah Winfrey’s comments:
Comment by DarkStar — 01.09.07 @ 9:58 pm
Oh, Eugene Robinson’s article is here.
Comment by DarkStar — 01.09.07 @ 9:59 pm
U.S. strikes in hunt for embassy bombers / 3 men, also suspected in plots against Israelis, believed on the run in Somalia
Under cover of the Ethiopian move into Somalia, U.S. officials launched an intensive effort to captu
Trackback by Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator — 01.10.07 @ 12:17 am
i can honestly say i know very little about south africa so please forgive me if i appear ‘out of the loop.’
i’ve noticed in the pictures that all of the students are black. i’m assuming that if there are whites in s.a., they are better off?
Comment by thomas — 01.10.07 @ 1:37 am
Thank you #29 for the link to Eugene’s article. Let me get something straight, it is Oprah’s money she can do whatever she wants with it–but I do agree with #19 and 22, her ego has gotten in the way of her theory. I am the product of inner city schools but I did manage to “make it” (PhD economics) because someone gave me a chance.
However, I can’t help but shake this nagging feeling that influential African Americans DON’T want to help out other less fortunate African Americans because they secretly fear loosing their most favored negro status to those less fortunate ones who have drive. If Oprah was to start the same school here in America, she would perhaps produce direct competition. Perhaps the first African American President or the First African American Nobel Prize Winner in Physics or Economics, the African American who finds a cure for cancer or aids. More African American Billionaires with a story similar to hers. These individuals would be able to call her out.
Oprah is overrated. Although her generosity is on a large scale, if you add it all up, it is proportinally the same as my the amount I tithe. She is an entertainer who has made her fortune off of making us all happy, greedy, needy, horrified, and ignorant.
She has the nerve to complain about inner city youths’ love for ipods and sneakers but I watch her favorite things episode and see zombie adults falling over on each other for cookie batter, dell mp3s, and ultra soft shirts.
As a product of the inner city, I grew tired of being typecast and am tired of inner city youth being raked over the hot coals. Yes, there are many rotten apples in the bunch, but there are some damn fine ones who just need a CHANCE. They take three buses to the local library to do their homework because they have no electricity at home, they save half of their free lunch at school for later because they don’t want to go to bed hungry. They don’t need a yoga studio or a hair salon just someone to believe in them.
Comment by edub — 01.10.07 @ 2:14 am
Weds. Morning
After this post, I am going to lie low today with my DayQuil. With this cold, I am irritable, achy, and marginally functional.The 15 nations of the UK, described. Handy list. Asst. Village Idiot. Why "multiculturalism" is baloney. The Nazanin
Trackback by Maggie's Farm — 01.10.07 @ 7:06 am
Someone said above “It would appear to me that some sort of community intervention might be called for.” That’s where the “so-called” black leaders should come in. Rather than blaming every white person-and every black person that doesn’t fit their criteria-for the failures in our black communities, they should preach the need for individual accomplishments. Those so-called black leaders keep fighting for affirmative action and welfare-type programs, but if the kids aren’t in a place to give themselves an advantage, what good does affirmative action do?
For nearly the last year, I have worked as a substitute teacher in an urban school district outside of Detroit. Education is not important to these students. That’s not to suggest that all of them dream of being NFL or NBA stars either. I think a large majority of them simply don’t understand the need to develop good habits now, before they get to the work world. There are so many images that have to be overcome in the minds of our students. BET videos doesn’t help matters. I, a professional black man, was once rejected by a high school student because I wasn’t a “hood-nigga…” In other words, because I didn’t wear big, baggy clothes, my pants around my ankles, have my ears pierced and such, I had nothing to offer him. Being black has become an “ideal” or ideology, rather than a color or culture.
Unfortunately, one of the planks in that platform of black ideology is that education is not necessary.
Comment by tyendor — 01.10.07 @ 8:46 am
I haven’t taught in any type of school setting since 2000 because of not just the students’ attitudes but the administrations that perpetuate such ignorance. I’m about to teach in a school, and have so far been pleasantly surprised that the “blame whitey/anglo/English speaker” etc attitude isn’t there from the administration. I’m glad Oprah said that–after living abroad and knowing immigrants here, I’ve seen the same thing. But that sort of comment coming from me doesn’t carry the same weight as coming from her. If anyone is wondering what she’s talking about, talk to African immigrants to see what they think.
Comment by mj — 01.10.07 @ 8:54 am
I grew up poor. We did have clean clothes and food to eat, but little else. I finished high school with good grades because I was inspired to do so by my mother and father, both of whom had 8th grade educations. I attended a year of college, but couldn’t afford the transportation to get there or the tuition to go further and I have to admit, at that time (late 60’s) getting married was one of the primary goals of women. I started out my career as a secretary. When I retired 4 years ago I was Director of Regulatory Affairs for a large animal drug company. How can that happen you say? Well, I proved myself as I worked myself up the ladder and I had some bosses and co-workers who believed in me. I was as scared as a rabbit when the Director opportunity was offered to me. Everyone around me was formally educated. In the end, I had to have faith in myself and I had to accept the responsibility for what was expected of me. I did. It worked. It’s not easy, but it’s possible to come from nothing and become something.
I was fortunate to have my own “Oprah’s” along the way. The Oprah’s in our lives do matter. They’re the ones who give somebody an opportunity who demonstrates that they are worthy of it. Many of us have the ability to be an “Oprah” to somebody and God bless those who do.
Comment by dianne — 01.10.07 @ 9:33 am
Oprah is trying to do a good thing; she is trying to make education important as a way to get ahead and succeed.
I live in Maryland, not far from PG county mentioned in another post. Schools in Maryland, even in the “good” sections, are failing because they have been dumbed down.
The biggest problem is American children do not matter in school.
When you have so many other ethnic groups, speaking various languages, this is where the time is devoted. Just getting these children to speak and understand english ‘OK’. This leaves little time for the struggling black or white student who needs a little extra help to understand long division.
My children’s school is very diverse, or “multicultural” as the principal says with a big smile on her face. But it is not ‘delightful’ when your child receives no speech therapy because little Muhammad needs it more. No extra help understanding math because there is no time because Ali needs a private lesson. A parent must be responsible in teaching their own children, no longer can we rely on the schools.
Ramadan was a week long topic around the holidays. And different songs of other cultures were sung for the entire month. When you devote so much time to culture this limits the amount of time to teach the facts and only the facts. What ever happened to reading, writing, and math? Why lower the Sat’s when schools can simply devote more time to teaching the basics in elementary school to better prepare kids for life.
I believe black and white American kids have given up since it is repeatedly demonstrated in the schools that they do not matter. Who do you see working in the Waffle House, Wal Marts, and retail in general? White and black women. So American kids are being trained from an early age to accept less than their parents. It seems public education loathes this nation so much it wants to make Americans the new underclass. Keeping blacks and whites at each others throats instead of bringing us together as Americans to get things under control. They are preaching keepin’ it real multiculturalism that has failed in Europe instead of teaching children to be “American.”
Oprah is correct that American kids do not want to work hard at learning, they are only interested in IPods and sneakers. But isn’t Oprah part of the problem? She is always pushing material items on her show. She has lists devoted to goods that are her favorites. Her website is a shrine to consumerism. She has helped create the problem, and now she is complaining about it. I hope she teaches her girls to be better leaders than she has become.
The positive I hope comes of this is, American kids see how other parts of the world live. No indoor plumbing, not central heat or cooling, refrigeration, etc. We have a very nice life style in America and do not appreciate it like we should. I hope we are willing to fight to keep it soon.
Comment by Dana — 01.10.07 @ 9:42 am
Great entry, and interesting comments too. I agree that Oprah can do what she wants with her money, but it does seem like she could have made more informed choices as some commenters have pointed out here. A less opulent school would have been more appropriate, and starting a boy’s school would make sense too. Neglecting to do these two things may lead to a group of over-educated (for their community), very disgruntled, angry young women who have no one to marry and feel very alienated from their homes of origin. She should have thought more about future ramifications and preparing these girls for a lifetime of happiness and success.
I totally understand her frustration with American students and why she chose not to start a school here. Even though some commenters point out that she could have made a private school here and selected students carefully with little resistance from the government, I think it’s actually a good move to send a message to the American public/students that they missed out on a great opportunity because of their bad attitude, and that they continue to miss out on the opportunities they do have.
The other thing we need to remember is this: Oprah is not the ONLY filthy rich celebrity. There are MANY, and many who are black. Maybe someone will get an idea from Oprah’s project and follow her example by doing something similar here in America for “disadvantaged” children. And by disadvantaged, I really mean those whose parents don’t give a darn about education and who don’t even attend to their children’s basic needs. Education should begin at home and love of learning must first be nurtured there.
Our country has so many problems –oy! It can be so discouraging.
Thanks again LaShawn for a wonderful essay.
Comment by batyah — 01.10.07 @ 10:21 am
Great post, La Shawn.
Comment by Doug — 01.10.07 @ 11:04 am
I think Oprah did a great job with her school, though she might have gone a little overboard. With all the money she spent on that one school she might have been able to build other schools in poorer parts of Africa. Personally, I have friends from South Africa, and my former pastor in Belgium was born and raised there. I think Oprah could have chosen a better part of Africa. Many white people inhabit South Africa and places such as Rwanda and Burundi could have used her help. But, it is her money, it is her decision, and I think she did it with a good heart. I’m grateful for people such as Oprah who are willing to use their money for others.
Of course Americans should be grateful for the education they receive and there are many others who put hard work and money into the poorer students of this country. It all doesn’t have to come from Oprah. College on the other hand is ridiculously expensive, maybe they could do something about that… but I doubt that will ever happen (especially for non-citizens it is extremely hard to obtain scholarships trust me, I know). I believe that Oprah can do whatever she pleases and I hope these students in Africa will still value and cherish their education and don’t turn into us, materialistic generation of teenagers.
Comment by Eveline — 01.10.07 @ 12:00 pm
I agree with you that education begins in the home, as well as a desire to succeed and a love for learning. The problem with so many people today is they don’t want to “start at the bottom”, don’t want to earn respect, but expect it immediately; without giving it…There are many motivated students in this country, but sad to say, many, many students that seem to care less about education, working; or anything else remotely productive. I’m glad that Oprah is helping some motivated students in South Africa, and wish she would do the same in this country.
Bizimama
http://www.bizimama.com
http://www.lordsart.com
Comment by Bizimama — 01.10.07 @ 12:08 pm
Why South Africa? Why no boys? Probably because it is one of the few African nations with property rights, an English rule of law legal system, and a stable government. Its a mans world in Africa, equality isn’t the norm.
In many parts of Africa buildings and land can be confiscated by the current government in charge. There are no titles and deeds to land or property.
Some nations are ruled by religious figures, warlords, or a monarchy. Can you imagine the red tape in those Nations? The stability is not there and is not advantageous to doing business. Especially not when you have $40 mill in capital invested, that could easily be taken away.
No boys allowed? It’s a mans world in Africa. Parts of Africa treat women worse than steak. Women and children are brutalized and raped by warring factions or other neighboring groups. Men are able to marry many women, not just one. Women have no rights, none.
Teaching a group of girls their worth without boys around, priceless. Feminists in America have lost their way and should be ashamed to call themselves women. We must focus on the basics of life for all women, all over the world. Not just access to birth control and abortion rights here in America.
Besides, women are the social workers, teachers, and nurses in society. Women are more involved in the helping professions. Women have a different outlook in this regard. If she educates the boys, they will just move on to greener and more lucrative professions. The will be looking for the $210 million payout for stupidity (HD CEO).
Oprah spent her money wisely. Exposing children to beauty will inspire them to greatness. These surroundings will hopefully kindle their hunger and burning desire to succeed and help others. My hope is these girls stay in Africa and help a part of the world that is in desperate need of grass roots activism by women.
Comment by Dana — 01.10.07 @ 12:35 pm
Many, understandably so, question why Oprah did not choose any boys, thus limiting a future choice for the girls.
Maybe, from Oprah’s own perspective, a husband in a girl’s future is not necessarily considered a requirement for success. Just a thought.
Comment by Dave in AZ — 01.10.07 @ 1:08 pm
I love your blog, La Shawn. I LOVE your comment “doing everything in your power to improve your life”. All of us need to be reminded of this from time to time. We have the power to change our lives with a some more effort and better habits. Thanks for reminding me! There are some things I want to change about my life and I am going to do it! By the way, I am a 40 year old, educated white woman.
I wanted to add something else to this blog. I always thought that yoga philosophy (ie Yogananda) be an excellent way to instill character and positive principals of living for inner city youth. The eight limbs of yoga emphasize ethical living much in agreement with Christianity and the basic principals of all major religions. It teaches the gamut from being kind to others, not envying, not harming any living being and going for business and personal success and also enriching others lives at the same time. I think the problem with the inner city culture, as well as the larger culture is not just a lack academic or career success…but the lack of spiritual development. More honesty, more integrity, more respect, more compassion, recognizing everyone (of every race) is your “brother” and treating EVERYONE (not just members of your own race) as such. Understanding the true purpose of life. I often think that these people have never come across such teachings that emphasize positive things like not being a slave to addictions, meditation, thinking about what God wants for your life and community, being kind to animals, ideal diet that facilitates spiritual and mental success, how to build character. Come to think of it, many of our corporate leaders should embrace this philosophy, too!
Comment by Kristina C. — 01.10.07 @ 1:44 pm
Loved the related post “The Mission: Middle Class vs. Lower Class Families.” With the quote by Hymowitz: “…It was the answer to a problem newly introduced by modern life: how do you shape children into citizens in a democratic polity and self-disciplined, self-reliant, skilled workers in a complex economy?” This is what my wife and I realized when when we started raising our children. It is our responsibility to raise our children, not the school district, not the Government. But now it seems many people breeding children want to abdicate their responsibilities. It is a sort of a child raising “abortion”. Have the children, but then refuse to take responsibility for their proper raising. Too many on the left (and even in the center) are all too willing to encourage this thinking. It is powerful stuff for politicians to foster dependency. The person who holds a people dependent gains great power. And all too many are lazy enough to think being dependent on government and school systems is a good thing. For more on this in a different light, read Steve Saint’s “End of the Spear” and his fight against fostering dependency in an entire Amazon tribe for more insight.
Comment by Grillsgt47 — 01.10.07 @ 3:14 pm
Check out what La Shawn has to say: Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
Pingback by African American (Black) Political Pundit — 01.10.07 @ 4:11 pm
>>Many, understandably so, question why Oprah did not choose any boys, thus limiting a future choice for the girls.
Maybe, from Oprah’s own perspective, a husband in a girl’s future is not necessarily considered a requirement for success. Just a thought. >>
I’m one of those who question the choice. My rational is that whether these young women mary or not is irrelevant - they still are likely to have very little influence in a country that doesn’t value women. Better to have educated young men to value women - and perhaps become influential enough to better the situation of women in the future. Better still not to give them too much…a little hunger is a good thing.
Personally, I’d have preferred the large amount of money to have been spent on more, less lavish schools, for both boys and girls - but it’s her money, her choice. C’est la vie.
Comment by suek — 01.10.07 @ 5:53 pm
Oops. “rationale” and “marry”. That’s what happens when you comment while trying to do other things!
Comment by suek — 01.10.07 @ 6:03 pm
I don’t think it is irrelevent whether or not the girls marry. It is a very relevent thing for people to do. These young women are going to need men who are similiar to them in education, morals, background etc. We know this to be true by looking at the Black community. (Please note I am not saying we are the same. I am only pointing out what has happened and the parallel we may both share). The women are by and large more educated, law abiding etc than the men.
For you to think marriage is irrelevent is to say I don’t care how many out of wedlock births there are.
Comment by Veronica — 01.10.07 @ 7:01 pm
Oprah dropping dough in South Africa is hardly going to put a ripple in a small pond.
She baked the cake and she troweled on plenty of icing. Why South Africa? Why girls and not boys? Why this and why that?
The point is, she does not have the Moxie to take on her own neighborhood. Again, that is her choice. But if we peons are to take any meaning from the glow of her charity………what would it be?
Maybe next time around she will give everyone in her audience an educated black South African girl to take home as a pet.
Comment by Heliotrope — 01.10.07 @ 8:25 pm
>>For you to think marriage is irrelevent is to say I don’t care how many out of wedlock births there are.>>
It’s irrelevant because of the society in which they marry - education won’t make the difference, their families will. They don’t live in a country where a person is self-made, they live in a tribal country, where their family will make their marriage. What well-born family is going to marry one of their sons to the daughter of a nobody, no matter how well educated? They will be married to whomever their family dictates, and they will be thereafter barefoot and pregnant. On the other hand, they _might_ have an influence on their sons, but very few will give up the power they possess out of consideration for the uniqueness of another, even if they feel a certain amount of guilt for the oppression.
>> These young women are going to need men who are similiar to them in education, morals, background etc.>>
And where will they find them? There are no young men being educated to _want_ a woman similiar to them in education, morals, background etc.
Look at the role of women in the USA 75 years or so ago - and you’re trying to tell me that South Africa is going to be a better place for women than the USA was then? I don’t _think_ so!!!
Comment by suek — 01.10.07 @ 8:36 pm
I also asked myself that question as well. I wanted to know if there was a great distinction between the boys and the girls in Africa…and I have not seen it. Why empower the girls with education and not the boys.
Have we not learned a lesson to see how the black community here in the U.S. has been torn to pieces based on this concept? Where are the mature people with money…lol…
Why is it always naive people who have all the money to make things happen?
Comment by tawanabrawley — 01.11.07 @ 12:25 am
It’s my money and I spend how I want to, spend how I want to. You would spend to, if it happened to you.
La Shawn’s site inspired me so much, I wanted my own. She is so Oprah.
Comment by absolutefem — 01.11.07 @ 4:31 am
It’s my money and I’ll spend how I want to, spend how I want to. You would spend to if it happened to you.
La Shawns site was such an inspiration, I had to make my own. Isn’t she so Oprah.
Comment by absolutefem — 01.11.07 @ 11:22 am
Horray for Oprah! Whether or not she is liberal, conservative, democrat or republican is far from the issue for me because none of those concepts are God ordained.
What is the issue is to see a woman who clearly knows who God is from her upbringing, but is a bit confused with all the new age stuff that floats around in her neck of the woods..HOLLYWOOD, working at making this world a better place; and we who know (or rather should know), a bit more about God’s wisdom, power and purpose sit back, watch, talk about her and her money and do nothing. I see children of God fighting over who’s democrat or who’s republican, who does this or who does that.
It is sickening to see people such as Oprah accomplishing such feats and we can’t even get along within the church because we are concerned with stuff that really does not even matter.
Comment by LaTara — 01.11.07 @ 12:01 pm
It’s her money. But I’m also entitled to my opinion. I’m wondering why she didn’t use her great negotiating and PR skills to bring the South African Politicians to at least show their support of their children of South Africa, by doing a matching grant. And if the South African government or corporate machine didn’t want to be apart of this then she should have filmed a town hall meeting to discuss why. I don’t think her school is going to the heart of the issue: Why aren’t the children receiving a quality education and is the current form of government in South Africa supportive of the need for children to excel? Does Apartheid in education exist? and if so why? and for the parents who die of AIDS what is the south african gov’t doing? obviously nothing. So why not a town hall meeting worldwide to point out what south africa is not doing? Why do we let crooks off? Another opinion: who is going to start the school for young black men???( or will all the future leaders be young girls..something to think about)
Comment by sandy — 01.13.07 @ 2:12 pm
Another good blog, La Shawn. I’m not a big Oprah fan, but her heart is in the right place. Plus, in this case, her brain is as well. Bravo.
Comment by RepJ — 01.13.07 @ 11:46 pm
Hey i suppose they would be upset if someone read LITTLE BLACK SAMBO after all the kid was black but brave in the presents of all those tigers
Comment by BIRDZILLA — 01.14.07 @ 6:03 pm
I applaud what Oprah Winfrey in doing. There are so many people with more money or equal that do not make philanthropic efforts like she is. Many nawsyaers have no idea of the vast difference between the educational system in America versus other parts of the world. Going to school in the U.S. is a cake walk if you are not self motivated the chance of becoming so is slim. I am a 21 yr old who has been on the dean’s list all 5 semesters of my collegiate life. I owe my educational discipline not just to my upbringing but to Guyana, South America where I spent half of my life. At 14 I carried a course load of 14 subjects as did all my peers. Even if you failed at my school, it took effort to make that F.
I understand Oprah’s frustration with donating to the innercity. Black Americans are living under a cloud if they believe education is valued more here and that Oprah’s 40 million would have been better spent here. This is the land of opportunity, foregin people die every day to come to America for a chance at a better life.If you work hard here, your country will not deny you!
This school will not fail. Academics is extolled in foreign countries. Everybit of money spent will be made back ten fold in the successful lives of the girls she’s hand picked.
I love America for all its given me. But the credit for educational discipline goes hands down to Guyana.
Comment by Ashley Hopkinson — 01.15.07 @ 11:15 pm
Obviously alot of us are unsure of what we are speaking of. First of all, females in South Africa are not given equal educational opportunities as males, so if a school is built as an effort to help an alleviate the double standard that are faced by females, why not? Who gives us the right to try and dictate what Oprah does with her money? What I realize in my everyday life is people who critical and negative. She has done so much for the American educational system, given money time and time again but no one seems to have had a problem then. But now she chooses to venture and help others, foreigners might I add, there is a widespread “riot” of her doing the right thing. I thought giving and helping others regardless of their “at home or abroad” is an act of admiration. My second address goes to statement of the young females not appreciate their poor upbringing. With this, as i will state is my opinion…as a young women born and raised in KINGSTON, JAMAICA, a third world country, the value of eductaion is much more valued as compared to Americans. I started high school at the age of 10, I had to work hard just to maintain and stay in school. When I came to the USA for college, my effort level was no where near what i put out for high school. I said all that to say this, those females growing up in Africa knows what it is not to have an opportunity like this given to them, so when one arises they will appreciate it and make the best of it they possibly can. I praise Oprah for what she is doing. She worked hard to be where she is now, nothing was given to her…so what she choose to do with her money thats her business. The question that should be asked is what is the American government, the richest country in the world, doing for their children and educational system..mind you when the budget was cut education was decreased tremendously….
But I hope we all just see the good that others are trying to doing whether it affects you directly or indirectly…
Comment by Anna from JA — 01.16.07 @ 12:10 am