Questions linger in NAACP-school chiefs matter
M. Rick Turner, president of the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Two local school superintendents failed to show up to speak at an NAACP forum because they had been told the event had been canceled, according to Charlottesville Superintendent Rosa S. Atkins.
But M. Rick Turner, president of the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, rejects that claim. “I never canceled the meeting,” he said, adding that about 25 people attended.
“They had been notified almost a year ago,” Turner said. “You don’t say you’re coming to the meeting and don’t show up.”
Turner says the superintendents skipped Monday’s forum after he told a TV news reporter that he’d like to know what progress has been made to lower Charlottesville’s dropout rate among black students.
“If you are afraid [to talk about race], you need to get another job,” he said. “You need to go to Walmart, where people aren’t asking you questions.”
Atkins, however, said: “The very person who called us to schedule us to attend canceled. … I did not attend the meeting because I was notified that it was canceled.”
Atkins declined to answer other questions, including precisely who told her the NAACP forum was canceled. Atkins said she and Albemarle Superintendent Pamela Moran are willing to talk with the NAACP about the dropout rate among black students, as well as other school matters.
Initially Atkins said she would be willing to talk about the black dropout rate with anyone and offered to discuss the issue with The Daily Progress. But she later called back and retracted the offer. Schools officials are interested in the welfare of all students, she said. She reaffirmed her willingness to meet with the NAACP and then hung up.
Albemarle’s school communications coordinator, Maury Brown, has said Moran didn’t show because of a “miscommunication” and that Moran is declining to talk to the media about the matter.
The black dropout rate in Charlottesville is 15.4 percent, compared with 6.1 percent in Albemarle and 12.6 percent statewide, according to the most recent Virginia Department of Education figures. The statewide dropout rate for all students is 8.7 percent.
The state Department of Education plans to release school divisions’ on-time graduate rates Tuesday.
Turner said the black community is partially to blame for the high dropout rate among Charlottesville’s black students.
“The white community would never allow that. The Jewish community would never allow that. The Asian community wouldn’t allow that. The only community that would allow that is the black community, because the black community doesn’t care … as much,” Turner said. “If we did care as much, we wouldn’t be in this position of being last in the area of education.”
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Reader Reactions
The NAACP and Mr. Turner are racist organization. If you want to know why the percentage of blacks drop out of school get to the matter. Ask the parents. The schools are there to come and learn not to force you to go. The parents I would hope have control over their children not the schools.
You are an organization like many you can ask people to do things but not force them as you think you can. If people don’t think you’re organization is racist following them you’ll see.
This is my opinion everyone has one.
Don’t blame the school system for what the parents ought to be doing. And I don’t think Walmart has hired that many jobs. Unreal
Please correct me if I am wrong but, I detect some problems here:
1. Mr. Turner feels that if you do not ask quesitons you should get a job at Walmart. So if I understand Mr. Turner correctly, all those people who work at Walmart, including the African Americans, are stupid or what???? I do not work at Walmart but in my opinion all those who do are trying to earn an honest living, from African American and White to Latino and Asian—whether they are at the top or at the bottom of Walmart. Do I detect discrimination here????
2. Why did Mr. Turner several years ago unexpectedly and suddenly retire as Dean of African American affairs? Because his actions with an African American student were not above board.
3. Mr. Turner’s daughter was married at an upscale plantation several years ago (according to the announcement in The Daily Progress). Does Mr. Turner and his family know what a plantation used to be? Was that a ‘“slap in the face of all African Americans or what??????
Ricky T,
An honest look at American history reveals that the “historic” wealth in this country was earned by the best that the world had to offer. Those who came here (with the exception of Aficans through slavery) were the entrepreneurs of the human race. People the world over who believed that with the opportunity that America had to offer, they could make a better life for themsevles and their families. America was pioneered and founded by the cream of the human race.
The risk takers, the self starters. So yes, in this light, the black race that was forced (altough a certain percentage of any group has an entrepreneurial spirit) to come to this country as slaves were at a disadvantage to begin with. That is just what it is…history. There are, to this day, imigrants comming here with nothing, and with the opportunities America has to offer, are creating wealth and a better life for themselves. To blame a lack of ability to gain prosperity in America today on historical events years in the past, is nothing but a false pretense. There are poor people of every race in America just as there are wealthy people of every race in America. There are many wealthy people of Afican decent in our country, who worked hard, educated themselves, and became successuful. I would venture to guess that your argument of systematical inequality does not hold water with them. These ideas I’ve stated may not fall into the parameters of what you consider to be “politically correct”, but your denial that they are true could be the root of your systematic inequality.
When the day comes that you start looking forward instead of back, you will see a brighter future.
An honest look at America’s history clearly reveals the systematic inequality of opportunity that is a primary reason and root cause of today’s inequities. Historic wealth inequity between blacks and whites help explain almost every subsequent inequality including academic performance.
Well, he is head of the NAACP, I could take a wild guess of who he thinks is partially to blame.
“Turner said the black community is partially to blame for the high dropout rate among Charlottesville’s black students.“
Finally Mr Turner agrees that the black community should accept responsibility for the high dropout rate for blacks. But I’m curious, who else does he think is at fault if the black community is only “partially” to blame?
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