Why are we talking about police brutality when there is so much black-on-black crime? Black-on-Black crime is the real issue? Black people are killing each other, why aren’t they angry about that? Is there something about black culture that makes them more susceptible to violence? How are they the victims if they are the ones filling up our jails and prisons?
These false narratives and misconceptions birthed Black on Black Education, they gave me the idea to turn the association with “black on black” into something positive that has been defined for us by us. The idea that “black-on-black crime” is a phenomenon exclusive to the black community is false. It is most likely that you will be victimized by someone you know well, someone who lives close to you and/or someone who looks like you. Understanding this does not deny the need to address the crimes committed in inner-cities by people of color, but the narrative is rooted in the ideology that black people are inherently criminals, and this must be debunked. Through storytelling and unity, Black on Black Education intends to do just that.
Knowing the negative stereotypes associated with “black on black,” you may be wondering, why choose the name Black on Black Education? Well, we found it essential to highlight that the black community is strong, persistent, and when we come together, we have the power to be unstoppable.
I knew some would question Black on Black education, for its name and its exclusivity, missing the main point. Black on Black Education stands to give black students something they have historically been marginalized from. A thorough education about possibilities become endless.
We have politicians who believe this country has surpassed the problem of race. Some people agree we now live in a post-racial society, making the issues highly prevalent within black communities, attributed solely to them, rather than considering the influence of the institutions that have historically impacted poor people and people of color.
The current public education system is a perfect example of this. Black students more frequently lack access to the educational resources they deserve, they don’t have teachers that look like them, and they are criminalized within the school system. The research tells us this, and yet too many of our politicians aren’t talking about it. In an education system that doesn’t work well for many, often, the black students get it the worst.
Black on Black education seeks to fill a void within the way our communities internalize education. We want to make it a priority in the lives of all members of our communities, and we want to increase access to it. Education is one of the worlds most precious gifts, and too often, we take it for granted.
Today marks the start of a transformational experience. You, me, and the rest of our community members are together going to change the world! Follow the organization here.