A look into the generational & psychological effects of slavery and misguided education in the African American community and the systemic injustices that still linger. Originally written in the 1930s, the tone and subjects of the book sadly remain relevant today. People are legally free persons, but can be economically enslaved. They can also be taught to despise their own people; the fear themselves. This creates another type of mental and environmental imprisonment that will lead to actual imprisonment when desperate situations lead to desperate actions or the whims of justice's mood.
The primary focus of the book is education and the core point is that the mere imparting of information is not education. In certain circumstances, the successful were the one's who had no formal education; they did not fall prey to the miseducation. "When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions."
I feel sadness, and then anger at slight times with the level of effort it can take to survive in an environment, where one believes they are worth less than another human. I also felt great hope for the strong individuals who never doubt themselves and become true mentors and leaders for those around them. This is a fight that has gone on for generations and I can pay my respects by continuing to learn about the people brave enough to help progress the people and not to allow hate to continue forward, but to share love and knowledge.
Motivations to Read
Escaping poverty wasn't just a geographical, financial battle for me it has also been a mental journey. I found this book high recommended and was curious to read to explore my own frustrations with the culture and attitudes I was exposed to as well as the guilt I felt from having to hide my intelligence to fit in and not shamed for acting white, just because I liked to learn.
3 Reasons to Read
- How the education system shapes self-perception.
- A critique against the black professional class.
- How education leads to economic empowerment.
Notable Quotes
“If you can control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his action. When you determine what a man shall think you do not have to concern yourself about what he will do. If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one.”
“Real education means to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin with life as they find it and make it better”
The mere imparting of information is not education. Above all things, the effort must result in making a man think and do for himself just as the Jews have done in spite of universal persecution.
“History shows that it does not matter who is in power or what revolutionary forces take over the government, those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end than they had in the beginning.”
“Philosophers have long conceded, however, that every man has two educators: 'that which is given to him, and the other that which he gives himself. Of the two kinds the latter is by far the more desirable. Indeed all that is most worthy in man he must work out and conquer for himself. It is that which constitutes our real and best nourishment. What we are merely taught seldom nourishes the mind like that which we teach ourselves.”
“As another has well said, to handicap a student by teaching him that his black face is a curse and that his struggle to change his condition is hopeless is the worst sort of lynching.”
“If you teach the Negro that he has accomplished as much good as any other race he will aspire to equality and justice without regard to race. Such an effort would upset the program of the oppressor in Africa and America. Play up before the Negro, then, his crimes and shortcomings. Let him learn to admire the Hebrew, the Greek, the Latin and the Teuton. Lead the Negro to detest the man of African blood--to hate himself.”
Notes for this book are still being transcribed.
