What is the mentality that does in fact infect Omar? I have no problem believing that he is not infected with the doctrine of the Church of the Awoken. But that doctrine does seem to enable whatever does infect him, largely by funneling enormous amounts of resources that are supposed to be directed toward helping him toward political ambitions that do nothing for him and that make it more difficult for people who actually do want to help him reach him.
But that is perhaps largely irrelevant. In John’s book he talks about some things that could help many black people, particularly a shift in how literacy is taught. One thing I think that he misses is that the way we can help a lot of black people, including people like Omar, is not to rely on politics or the government to do so. These “youthbuild” programs seem interesting — and perhaps what people like you and John and others who are interested in uplifting and changing the culture of many black people should possibly invest more in is building and evangelizing for non government organizations that provide education, child care, and community to people who live in the world of Omar.
I think Bob Woodson is an example of someone who has been on the right track for what needs to be done, but there needs to be a lot more Bob Woodsons and more particularly a lot more wealthier Bob Woodsons. If the same amount of money went toward promoting cultural development and practical black achievement, in the vein of Booker T Washington, as toward BLM and promoting cultural decay, I imagine we would see meaningful results. We just need the right people leading it. People with integrity. And people with influence. And some money.
We need more innovative and effective private schools and after school programs that black youth can attend for free to them more than we need University of Texas at Austins. I’ll put down money for that, but relatively, I don’t have much. And for how dysfunctional some communities are, it’s going to require a lot.
I come from the inner city and I grew up around many Omars. The best that can be done is provide them with the guidance from a good mentor. Meaning that a good positive leader in their life can make a difference. But Omar has to be willing to accept that guidance. I saw many of them turn away regardless of the many sacrifices that were being made for them.
It comes down to what they're willing to value. And if choosing a right path means relinquishing old friendships, then so be it. I knew Omars who were not willing to pay that price because the cost was too high. Tragedy ensued afterwards.
There's another layer to this problem. The Omars can be concerned with their black identity being questioned by others because of Omar's new path. Then Omar can become extremely frightened by the criticism. That is part of the price that can become too high. Because to many people, being black is not what you are, it's what you do.
Thank you for sharing this email, which was illuminating.
For those in your audience who are interested, another leader who is trying to help “Omar,” in this case on the south side of Chicago, is Pastor Corey Brooks, via his ministry and work with Project H.O.O.D. (www.projecthood.org).
The combination of Omar’s desire to do right, people like the email writer and Pastor Brooks, and people like John McWhorter and you speaking about these issues gives me hope that we kind work our way to a better place for Omar and the communities in which he finds himself, and I will continue to look for ways to contribute to those efforts.
It’s interesting to hear on the ground perspectives like this, it’s something I wish some of the other podcasters would do. While there’s a lot I could b*tch about when it comes to charter schools, I can at least respect that the author seems genuine in their effort to help at risk youth.
The Omar’s I see at the skatepark have the ability to say “good job” when they see someone doing something they can’t do. The fragile egos of creatives and academics that I know rarely have this ability. I have one of those egos, looking past it is a constant challenge. I gotta hand it to Omar, good job. Skating is one of those things that’s considered a criminal activity, and nothing but trouble in some circles. Skateparks were built by people who were sick of getting tickets for their hobby. Omar built the skate park in a manner of speaking. Now skating is an Olympic sport. Wasn’t always that way, and it’s easy to shrug and say it was all Tony Hawk because he’s the guy with a sponsorship. Tony Hawk would be the first to say he’s overrated in this way. The reason why I like hanging out here is I don’t have to argue that Tony Hawk being overrated isn’t white supremacy or some grand conspiracy of white washing of history. I can celebrate the Tony Hawk’s of the world for the part they play, without diminishing the role Omar has played in the culture. If Omar is someone who is lower class, doesn’t have a day job, and has an arrest record; then he is actually probably older than one would think, and at least as far as the skatepark goes can be either white or black. I’ve met more white guys at the skatepark that fit this description than black. If Omar is just a young black guy, I’m actually very optimistic. The young ones seem as opposed to drugs as my generation was for them. I don’t like their politics, but their authoritarianism is probably a reaction to millennial nihilism. My generation is the one that mocked Al Gore for talking about the existential threat of Climate Change. I’m thinking of South Park’s Manbearpig. Compared with that, the kids are alright. This is just the skatepark, and just my experience.
Wonderful. Any chance of having this person on to talk about their experiences with yourself and/or Prof. McWhorter? Alternatively, any change the person's organization might be disclosed? Sounds like the perfect grass-roots organization for hopeful people with a Loury-ian vision to volunteer with, give to, or otherwise help.
An inspiring letter which raises the question on how to expand these programs in the face of Democrat opposition. Considering the potential shift in the electorate if the underclass were to become motivated voters on vouchers/charter schools, I am struck by the lack of vocal support for expanding these programs among righty/MAGA politicians. I think political campaigns need to motivate the base leads to a focus on the red meat issues that Glenn has talked about, to the detriment of the bigger picture of addressing the cause of our societal dysfunction.
Considering Glenn and John's importance to the CRT debate, perhaps engaging these politicians on these issues will be to their benefit and thus interest them, and would open them to a discussion on the importance of vouchers/charter schools to address the root causes of underclass hopelessness (and how they are not doing squat, now).
Excellent post and letter. More programs, like the Charter Schools in the case of the letter writer, can help more Omars break the vicious cycle. Thomas Sowell documents this in his latest book "The War on Charter Schools". What we need to support is a war on the forces that are actively trying to suppress the movement to expand these opportunities for Omar. We know what these forces are. The Biden Administration and their Teachers Union enablers are at the top of the list.
Educational funding dollars should follow the student. This would make public and private schools constantly compete, hopefully by curriculum and testaments of graduates. Failing that, charter schools should adopt uniform dress codes and use a "firm" disciplinary code. Access to PoC who have become Marines or SEAL's would be helpful; real role models would be valuable! It is almost impossible to teach self-discipline about personal behavior, ethics, and meaningful education without the assistance of a very structured environment. Since a more "structured" and holistic approach is unlikely, it might be that the best hope is a stint in the armed forces.
Thankyou for sharing this Glenn. I subscribe to many heterodox thinkers, like yourself, and often worry that the on the ground perspectives are being missed (maybe because they’re boring and don’t lead to subscriptions). I greatly appreciate this educators perspective. Katherine
I agree with this reader, Glenn and John may just be as out of touch with the realities of "Omar" as the woke left
Hope? Really? I think not. https://twitter.com/MattWalshBlog/status/1471531785917972486?s=20
What is the mentality that does in fact infect Omar? I have no problem believing that he is not infected with the doctrine of the Church of the Awoken. But that doctrine does seem to enable whatever does infect him, largely by funneling enormous amounts of resources that are supposed to be directed toward helping him toward political ambitions that do nothing for him and that make it more difficult for people who actually do want to help him reach him.
But that is perhaps largely irrelevant. In John’s book he talks about some things that could help many black people, particularly a shift in how literacy is taught. One thing I think that he misses is that the way we can help a lot of black people, including people like Omar, is not to rely on politics or the government to do so. These “youthbuild” programs seem interesting — and perhaps what people like you and John and others who are interested in uplifting and changing the culture of many black people should possibly invest more in is building and evangelizing for non government organizations that provide education, child care, and community to people who live in the world of Omar.
I think Bob Woodson is an example of someone who has been on the right track for what needs to be done, but there needs to be a lot more Bob Woodsons and more particularly a lot more wealthier Bob Woodsons. If the same amount of money went toward promoting cultural development and practical black achievement, in the vein of Booker T Washington, as toward BLM and promoting cultural decay, I imagine we would see meaningful results. We just need the right people leading it. People with integrity. And people with influence. And some money.
We need more innovative and effective private schools and after school programs that black youth can attend for free to them more than we need University of Texas at Austins. I’ll put down money for that, but relatively, I don’t have much. And for how dysfunctional some communities are, it’s going to require a lot.
I come from the inner city and I grew up around many Omars. The best that can be done is provide them with the guidance from a good mentor. Meaning that a good positive leader in their life can make a difference. But Omar has to be willing to accept that guidance. I saw many of them turn away regardless of the many sacrifices that were being made for them.
It comes down to what they're willing to value. And if choosing a right path means relinquishing old friendships, then so be it. I knew Omars who were not willing to pay that price because the cost was too high. Tragedy ensued afterwards.
There's another layer to this problem. The Omars can be concerned with their black identity being questioned by others because of Omar's new path. Then Omar can become extremely frightened by the criticism. That is part of the price that can become too high. Because to many people, being black is not what you are, it's what you do.
Thank you for sharing this email, which was illuminating.
For those in your audience who are interested, another leader who is trying to help “Omar,” in this case on the south side of Chicago, is Pastor Corey Brooks, via his ministry and work with Project H.O.O.D. (www.projecthood.org).
The combination of Omar’s desire to do right, people like the email writer and Pastor Brooks, and people like John McWhorter and you speaking about these issues gives me hope that we kind work our way to a better place for Omar and the communities in which he finds himself, and I will continue to look for ways to contribute to those efforts.
It’s interesting to hear on the ground perspectives like this, it’s something I wish some of the other podcasters would do. While there’s a lot I could b*tch about when it comes to charter schools, I can at least respect that the author seems genuine in their effort to help at risk youth.
The Omar’s I see at the skatepark have the ability to say “good job” when they see someone doing something they can’t do. The fragile egos of creatives and academics that I know rarely have this ability. I have one of those egos, looking past it is a constant challenge. I gotta hand it to Omar, good job. Skating is one of those things that’s considered a criminal activity, and nothing but trouble in some circles. Skateparks were built by people who were sick of getting tickets for their hobby. Omar built the skate park in a manner of speaking. Now skating is an Olympic sport. Wasn’t always that way, and it’s easy to shrug and say it was all Tony Hawk because he’s the guy with a sponsorship. Tony Hawk would be the first to say he’s overrated in this way. The reason why I like hanging out here is I don’t have to argue that Tony Hawk being overrated isn’t white supremacy or some grand conspiracy of white washing of history. I can celebrate the Tony Hawk’s of the world for the part they play, without diminishing the role Omar has played in the culture. If Omar is someone who is lower class, doesn’t have a day job, and has an arrest record; then he is actually probably older than one would think, and at least as far as the skatepark goes can be either white or black. I’ve met more white guys at the skatepark that fit this description than black. If Omar is just a young black guy, I’m actually very optimistic. The young ones seem as opposed to drugs as my generation was for them. I don’t like their politics, but their authoritarianism is probably a reaction to millennial nihilism. My generation is the one that mocked Al Gore for talking about the existential threat of Climate Change. I’m thinking of South Park’s Manbearpig. Compared with that, the kids are alright. This is just the skatepark, and just my experience.
Wonderful. Any chance of having this person on to talk about their experiences with yourself and/or Prof. McWhorter? Alternatively, any change the person's organization might be disclosed? Sounds like the perfect grass-roots organization for hopeful people with a Loury-ian vision to volunteer with, give to, or otherwise help.
An inspiring letter which raises the question on how to expand these programs in the face of Democrat opposition. Considering the potential shift in the electorate if the underclass were to become motivated voters on vouchers/charter schools, I am struck by the lack of vocal support for expanding these programs among righty/MAGA politicians. I think political campaigns need to motivate the base leads to a focus on the red meat issues that Glenn has talked about, to the detriment of the bigger picture of addressing the cause of our societal dysfunction.
Considering Glenn and John's importance to the CRT debate, perhaps engaging these politicians on these issues will be to their benefit and thus interest them, and would open them to a discussion on the importance of vouchers/charter schools to address the root causes of underclass hopelessness (and how they are not doing squat, now).
Excellent post and letter. More programs, like the Charter Schools in the case of the letter writer, can help more Omars break the vicious cycle. Thomas Sowell documents this in his latest book "The War on Charter Schools". What we need to support is a war on the forces that are actively trying to suppress the movement to expand these opportunities for Omar. We know what these forces are. The Biden Administration and their Teachers Union enablers are at the top of the list.
Educational funding dollars should follow the student. This would make public and private schools constantly compete, hopefully by curriculum and testaments of graduates. Failing that, charter schools should adopt uniform dress codes and use a "firm" disciplinary code. Access to PoC who have become Marines or SEAL's would be helpful; real role models would be valuable! It is almost impossible to teach self-discipline about personal behavior, ethics, and meaningful education without the assistance of a very structured environment. Since a more "structured" and holistic approach is unlikely, it might be that the best hope is a stint in the armed forces.
Thankyou for sharing this Glenn. I subscribe to many heterodox thinkers, like yourself, and often worry that the on the ground perspectives are being missed (maybe because they’re boring and don’t lead to subscriptions). I greatly appreciate this educators perspective. Katherine