Cos history and causality

Two additional thoughts worth noting on Jonathan's post below. First, Clarence Page refers to the reaction to Cosby's speech as BPC -- black political correctness. Page notes that it's nothing new for Cosby.

Cosby was saying the same thing backstage when I interviewed him during my college days. It was 1968, but he didn't want to talk about black power, Black Panthers or cultural revolutions. He wanted to complain about why so many young blacks of my generation were wasting the great opportunities that hard-won civil rights victories had brought us.

In those politically polarized times, I was disappointed by his traditionalist attitude. But I appreciate its wisdom today with new eyes, the eyes of a parent.

You can also see his essay on "Igno-Ebonics" during the debate in Oakland over teaching teachers how to use Ebonics to teach children.

Second, the gap between black and white academic achievement can be overcome, even in majority-black areas.

Schools in Norfolk, Virginia are closing the achievement gap between black and white students, reports the St. Pete Times. Overall, the district is two-thirds black; 60 percent of students come from low-income families.

In 1998, 67 percent of Norfolk's white third-graders passed the state English exam. Only 41 percent of the district's black third-graders met that standard.

Five years later, the passing rate for black students had jumped to 61 percent.

It's not all parenting, and it's not all teaching, but those must be the major part of it.