As the nation prepares to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I personally can’t help but think and ponder what would have happened if Dr. King had not been assassinated in 1968, but instead lived to see today.
The sarcastic side of my nature immediately takes me to an episode of the “Boondocks,” however the more serious side of my nature forces me to believe that Dr. King’s fight today would include doing battle with the opponents of Indiana’s education reform.
It would not take a lot of effort to point to statistics about the plight of Black males and education, particularly those in urban environments. Just take a step into a typical Indianapolis Public School classroom and look at the educational malpractice that takes place. The graduation rate amongst Black males is almost criminal. Black students are being turned into a permanent underclass. And the education establishment and their allies in the Indiana General Assembly are more concerned about political contributions than children.
If Dr. King were alive and walked into a typical urban classroom he would be furious. He would agree that who needs Jim Crow laws, dogs and water hoses, and whips and chains to keep a segment of society in bondage when all you really need to do is give them a poor education and no means to escape and you can keep them intellectually enslaved all you want. The opponents of choice, accountability and reform are the real educational bigots here. If they were serious about the education of Black youth they would embrace change and open the flood gates so reform could sweep through this state and cleanse the educational landscape of the weeds and thickets of mediocrity, complacency and low standards.
What is it about school choice and accountability that frightens these individuals? What is so wrong about giving parents the ability to choose an accredited institution of learning that works best for them?
Luckily, Indiana still has a reform-minded governor and a Legislature willing to unshackle the educationally oppressed, even though it elected a Superintendent of Public Instruction who wants to audit poor Black parents to make sure they are not “stealing” vouchers. I’m happy that Indianapolis Public Schools now has a reform-oriented board.
I realize the words I’ve written today may seem harsh, but the truth hurts. Deal with it. But you cannot tell me that if Dr. King was alive today, that he would be satisfied with the status quo. I doubt seriously that he would be pleased with educational homicide that Black students face while being forced to stay in failing urban schools.
If Dr. King were alive today, he would still lead a chorus of “We Shall Overcome” however, he would be singing about education.
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz is an attorney, political commentator and publisher of IndyPolitics.org. You can email comments to him at abdul@indypolitics.org.
