preview

Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson Essay

Better Essays

Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson In his book, The Miseducation of the Negro, Carter G. Woodson addresses many issues that have been and are still prevalent in the African American community. Woodson believed that in the midst of receiving education, blacks lost sight of their original reasons for becoming educated. He believed that many blacks became educated only to assimilate to white culture and attempt to become successful under white standards, instead of investing in their communities and applying their knowledge to help other blacks. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is a prime example of Woodson’s argument on “miseducated” blacks. Although Thomas benefitted from programs like affirmative action, once he …show more content…

Those who remain on the less privileged, less educated side of the black community resent their peers who have degrees and white collar jobs. They feel that these successful black men and women no longer have a connection to where they came from. This “class” rift is not only limited to black adults, but occurs in school age children and teenagers. Many small black children who dress well and have high grades in school are made fun of and picked on by their less fortunate peers. Black high school students who drive nice cars and live in upper-class neighborhoods are sometimes labeled as “bourgeois” by their peers who come from working or lower class families. The contempt that is held amongst blacks is not only based on class and education, but can be found related to color and/or skin tone. Division among light skinned and dark skinned blacks dates back to slavery. On plantations the master used these skin categories to divide the house slaves and the field slaves. Since position inside of the house were easier and more comfortable , the slaves with lighter skin were envied by their darker peers who were given difficult outside jobs in the field. After slavery ended if your skin was light it made it easier for you to mix into white society. Many parents encouraged their light skinned children, especially daughters, to attempt to pass for white. Lighter skin gave you opportunities at better jobs, slightly

Get Access