Why are people saying African-Americans are the dumbest race living in the United States?

Question

I don't understand. Today at school our teachers showed us a chart on TASK scores by race, from 10years ago to last year. They made this graph of the ethnicy chart, and every graph I seen. Us African-Americans were at the bottom, meaning our test scores were very low. Our History teacher even talked to us about how low the African-American scores were. I just hate it! Anyway why are people still looking at race? This sad, what am I sapposed to do? Our history teacher gave us a little pep talk, and I look around and their still were some African-American kids laughing and smiling like it was funny, that our race had the lowest test scores.

Answer 1

Test scores and stereotypes don't make a person, it's the other way around. There is someone in every race that isn't as intelligent as their counterpart, it is up to the person to want to learn and rise above the typical stereotype and ratio. In every test, on every graph,poll, and survey there is going to be a race that is above others whether good or bad. Did you know that there are more Caucasians on welfare than African-Americans? Hmmmm, something to think about when you see ignorant people with ignorant comments like the ones above about other races. Don't worry about a graph, do you, if you are smart then excel in whatever you do that way when you look back after landing a $100,000 a year job, you'll be glad that you didn't let some graph dictate your future.

Answer 2

People are looking at race because they want to change things. They want to see all the races doing equally well. We know there are problems in our country and the test scores is one sign of the problem. That guy is right when he says part of the problem is that on average, the African Americans are poorer and poorer children get worse grades. But there's more to it than that. There's a cultural aspect too. A lot of African American families don't teach their children that education is important. Different cultures have different values. But anyway, the thing to understand is - It has nothing to do with intelligence. They are not trying to single out blacks or make you feel bad. We are just trying to understand why things are this way and make them better. What you should do is be proud that you are a serious student. If you are feeling brave you could speak up and talk about how you feel. Maybe then the other kids would realize that it's not funny and you could help change their attitude. And maybe the teachers would understand how it makes you feel. I'm sorry it made you uncomfortable. I can understand how that is upsetting.

Answer 3

I don know why dey be saying all things like gat and stuff.
Just joking! Look, to fully understand the reason why African Americans have lower standardized scholastic test scores is to delve into racial socio-economic policies for the the last century. Much has to do with the fact that many A.A.s hold the view that no matter how much they strive to better themselves white America as a whole will still be extremely critical of them, which is true. So, many don't even bother to try that hard to prove themselves. Some figure that as long as I can do the job its OK. This goes with that old saying, "The proof is in the pudding". Besides many of those tests are biased against inner city youths. Test scores do not necessarily say this person is smart and this person is dumb. Who made the test? What race does it reach the most? I have known some very intelligent A.A's though you couldn't tell by just looking at them or giving them a scholastic test. Many a A.A. inventor had little or no education, but when given the chance excelled.

Answer 4

I'm sort of sorry that you had to be embarrassed by those statistics in your classroom, but wisdom conquers ignorance. There are "dumb" people in every racial group, but blacks do tend to have low test scores, as do some English as a second language students. What are you supposed to do? Study, study, and then study some more. You can't be responsible for your entire race, but you can start with yourself by changing the way you approach the educational process. Long ago it seems, black families held education of their children as one of the highest priorities right along with attending Sunday school and respecting your elders. Somewhere along the line however, blacks that showed an interest in scholarly pursuits or who spoke proper English were shunned and considered "sellouts" or "Oreo's." Until that mentality turns around, a lot of black children are going to continue to be comfortable with low scores, bad grades and a high drop-out rate. Those kids that you saw laughing and smiling might not laugh and smile later on when it comes time to enter the job market and job applications look like they're printed in a foreign language.

Answer 5

I think that African-Americans are just like any other race. They get what they earn. Just because the scores were low doesn't mean that you don't know anything, it only means that they picked some of the lowest scoring people to take it. I have two biracial grandsons and I was told that they couldn't test their IQ because they were black.They both need to have IEP's because their mother used drugs and alcohol while she was pregnant with them. Now if that isn't a stupid thing to say I don't know what is. You seem to be a very intelligent girl and if you keep up the work that you are doing you can be anything that you want to be. Not all black people have to sell dope on the street corner.

Answer 6

Those blacks that were laughing is a poor portrait of why so many of the blacks have low scores. Your history teacher was wrong for focusing on the very sensitive, and negative portion of the test. Instead, he/she should have encouraged after school study, or left it alone while in class. I'm sure it was embarassing for those of you actually paying attention. We black folks, as teachers, sisters, brothers, and members of the church community need to address this problem. I am in the education field because I would like to help really solve this problem. Now, there are blacks that are very high achievers, but that is rarely publicized.

Answer 7

I can sense and understand your disappointment, both in the results your teacher shared and the reaction of your classmates. I wouldn't be surprised if they were embarrassed. People often laugh or smile when they don't know how to deal with an uncomfortable situation.

I'm not familiar with the TASK test that you mentioned, but all test scores need to be examined carefully before broad statements are made. How good a test is the TASK? Is it culturally-relevant to African Americans (many tests are biased and groups without exposure to the language and content of the tests will do poorly because the tests are unfair and don't give them a chance to show what they know). In a perfect world, those results are published to show society where it needs to make a change and serve people better, but data's often misused and misinterpreted. Exactly what kind of a "pep talk" did your teacher give you, and was it designed to make you feel better or to mask his or her own discomfort with sharing this discouraging information with you? What were the lessons that the teacher wanted your class to learn by sharing that information with you? These might be questions worth asking next class.

In these days of so-called "high stakes" testing, where student performance on tests is tied to the funding that schools get, principals and teachers are motivated to make sure that all of their students perform well, but this wasn't always the case (and the system's not perfect today!). Historically, African American students have not had access to the same quality of education (quality of teaching, school quality/facilities, learning opportunities, well-trained teachers) as some other ethnic groups. Schools performing worst on standardized tests tend to be in poor communities with poor resources. Some young people see little value in staying in school when they do not have the support within school or outside of it to persevere. There's the influence of school factors and there's the influence of home factors too: parent education and literacy, neighbourhood safety, children's opportunities for learning, family income, parent involvement in school - these are important factors to consider too. I think that the results that you learned about should be more of an embarrassment to the school systems and governments in those communities that failed to invest in the education of children adequately than to the individuals who did poorly. The decisions of those at the top have the potential to affect those at the "bottom" for their whole lives.

There is a role for people in the African American community who have had opportunities for a good education to fight for the same for others, to get so angry about the inequalities that they speak up and make an effort to make a change! Perhaps you can take some of the feelings that you have now and direct them toward making a difference in your own studies, classroom, school,and community. Maybe other students don't really understand how serious this problem is, and how it can be changed. Maybe you can start by asking your teacher to have a follow-up discussion about the TASK scores. Share the way the presentation made you feel. You might be surprised to hear why your classmates (African American and otherwise) believe the scores are low and what, if anything, they feel can be done. It could be a step toward changing the way they see themselves and their potential as well as other members of their community.

I think that you've stumbled on something important, and I hope that you will keep trying to be a source of positive change wherever you are and whatever you do. Make a pledge to yourself that you are going to give school your best shot and do the best you can with what you've been given. There's much to be proud of when we look at ourselves as individuals, as part of an ethnic group, and so on. African Americans and their ancestors have made tremendous contributions to the lives of people everywhere through their hard work, courage, creativity, INTELLIGENCE, and faith despite tremendous odds. There are examples everywhere you look, and you are part of that amazing legacy. Hold your head up high, and be part of what's right and good about your heritage.

Answer 8

I don't think anyone would say African Americans are the "dumbest" ethnicity in the United States, that is too broad and too interpretive. But to show that they have overall the lowest test scores is perfectly fine.

In theory, by looking at the information in terms of race, socio-economic factors, and such, you will be able to see patterns that will help to target certain groups that need extra encouragment to succeed. The categorization is done with the full intention of helping people, not putting them down.

Answer 9

Before you buy into the biased test arguement consider 2+2 will always equal 4 and that the rules of our language don't change because someone is of a different color. Consider this instead, because their parents(as a whole) don't want to teach them and the students(as a whole) don't want to learn. The culture of African Americans is a bizarre one. If a black person speaks well and studies to succeed in life legitimately, then they are ostracized as a race traitor or acting white. However remaining in the good graces of a whole culture means a life of ignorance and (poverty isn't the right word)..i am looking for the antonym of prosperity. Once again as a whole the race doesn't care to learn the ways other successful races got to be that way it seems as if they are content to "stay black" and be ignorant rather than adopt the proven route to success through education and work. Personally I find it offensive that such great men as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the rights to get blacks educated, defied dogs, stonings and just plain racism, and the generation of today has turned their noses up at it. I bet if he saw the state the black race was in today he would be pi$$ed at blacks and not whites, this is not what he fought for. My advice to you is learn all you can and break the mold. It is no longer acceptable to blame "being held down" for your lack of success. Plain and simply blacks as a race have the tools, but few seem to use them.



And in response to truly com's remark. Yes there are more white people on welfare, there are more of us. Why dont you look at the percentage of whites and blacks receiving puclic assistance? I guess that would make too much common sense.

Answer 10

Bessie
Don't let your teacher or the charts bother you....These test scores are not accurate and do not truly reflect what is going on in our country. You are a very smart girl who will do great things....be proud of who you are and everything your race has accomplished.

There are many areas of the country where white children (and other races) do not receive education or go to school, they live in rural areas, their parents are illiterate and they will grow up to be illiterate also. I have seen this for myself...otherwise I would not believe it....these families are not a part of the test scores and statistics.