What do you think?
Rate this book
Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys #1
Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys, Vol. 1
Offering suggestions to correct the dehumanization of African American children, this book explains how to ensure that African American boys grow up to be strong, committed, and responsible men.
38 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 1985
12 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 1, 2023
Super interesting book written in 80s America about how black kids are essentially written off at school and how grade 4 in particular is the most pivotal point where they go from lovely energized kids to glazed eyes children who are neglected by their white teachers. It says that education or the lack of it and the lack of engagement they receive is one of the key reasons why black American society is in the state that it currently is.
Best bits below:
Was it an accident that all the men that constituted the "Tuskegee Experiment" were African American and they possessed syphilis and went untreated by the U.S. Center for Disease Control for 40 years? Is it ironic that only two White persons ever received the death penalty for killing an African American?
Cecíl Rhodes )in his article "Confession of Faith" provides the historical blueprint: I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race. Just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens 49 of human beings. What an alteration there would be if they brought under Anglo-Saxon influence. Look again at the extra employment a new country added to our dominion gives. Why should we not form a secret society with but one object, the furtherance of the British Empire and the bringing of the whole uncivilized world under British rule? Poverty is better under our flag than wealth under a foreign one. Africa is still lying ready for us, it is our duty to seize every opportunity to acquire more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best of the most human, most honorable race this world possesses.!
I am reminded of the stories of the good old days when a four-foot-one mother who was 70-years-old could tell her seven-foot 30-year-old son, *I brought you in this world and I'lI take you out.
Children learn best when they are given feedback and reinforcement. Studies indicate that low-achieving Black boys are given very few clues and little feedback when answering questions incorrectly. Research indicates that they receive approximately three minutes to correct the wrong answer.? I believe that low-achieving African American boys can also answer questions correctly with this kind of prodding, nurturance and attention.
Goldberg, in his book Hazards of Being Male, writes that a man is an independent strong achiever who can be counted on to be always in control. His success in the working world is predicated on the repression of self and the display of controlled, deliberate, calculated, manipulative responsiveness. The man who "feels becomes inefficient because he gets emotionally involved and this inevitably slows him down and distracts him. His more dehumanized competition will then surely pass him by.
In private academic circles, the notion exists that Europeans, and specifically men, are more left-brain oriented, and people of color, specifically women, are more right-brain oriented.
I believe manhood may be best expressed by telling your wife, "I" appreciate you," by bringing your son to your chest, and by telling your brothers when you are hurting and need their help.
Ultimately, we rust show youth that life is about more than making money. It's about finding something that you enjoy so much that you are willing to do it for free, but because you do it so well, you get paid for it.
I Am A Black Man
The evidence of anthropology now suggests that I, the Black man, am the original man, the first man to walk this vast imponderable earth. I, the Black man, am an African, the exotic single quintessence of a universal blackness. I have lost, by force, my land, my language, in essence, my life. I will seize it back so help me. Toward that end, if necessary, I will crush the corners of the earth, and this world will surely tremble. Until I, the Black man, the first and original man can arm in arm with my woman, erect among the peoples of the universe a new society, humane to its cultural core, out of which at long last will emerge, as night moves into day, the first truly human being that the world has ever known.
Parents are quick to say, "Television is destroying the minds of our children, and I can't keep up with the boy when he goes outside." My response is: as powerful as ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CABLE are, they cannot force you to turn your television set on. If television is a problem, it is because you are not controlling your household. If the streets are a problem, it is because you are not controlling your child's schedule. Children cannot raise themselves, and parents should not allow television or the streets to try. Conscientious parents create activities to replace television viewing.
Spirituality
One of the major reasons for the rehabilitation of Malcolm X was his coming to grips with his relationship with God. I am a Christian and I am very proud of my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This book is not being used as a vehicle to argue about God, to encourage males to submit themselves to God. I have read numerous articles on this topic; submission in any form is difficult for males. I believe that this is also the major reason for males having a much higher suicide rate than females the lack of desire to submit and share their problems with God. In this area, males should be taught the necessity of submission and then should learn how to pray and read Scriptures.
Time
Many people work eight hours per day, commute two hours, eat three meals and sleep eight hours. This schedule allows only three hours left in a day. If they choose to spend that time watching television, talking on the telephone, listening to music, playing golf, bowling, working out in the health club and on other recreational and entertainment activities, there may not be time to stop the conspiracy. I suggest everyone chart their twenty-four hours and strive toward giving more hours back to the community.
Best bits below:
Was it an accident that all the men that constituted the "Tuskegee Experiment" were African American and they possessed syphilis and went untreated by the U.S. Center for Disease Control for 40 years? Is it ironic that only two White persons ever received the death penalty for killing an African American?
Cecíl Rhodes )in his article "Confession of Faith" provides the historical blueprint: I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race. Just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens 49 of human beings. What an alteration there would be if they brought under Anglo-Saxon influence. Look again at the extra employment a new country added to our dominion gives. Why should we not form a secret society with but one object, the furtherance of the British Empire and the bringing of the whole uncivilized world under British rule? Poverty is better under our flag than wealth under a foreign one. Africa is still lying ready for us, it is our duty to seize every opportunity to acquire more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best of the most human, most honorable race this world possesses.!
I am reminded of the stories of the good old days when a four-foot-one mother who was 70-years-old could tell her seven-foot 30-year-old son, *I brought you in this world and I'lI take you out.
Children learn best when they are given feedback and reinforcement. Studies indicate that low-achieving Black boys are given very few clues and little feedback when answering questions incorrectly. Research indicates that they receive approximately three minutes to correct the wrong answer.? I believe that low-achieving African American boys can also answer questions correctly with this kind of prodding, nurturance and attention.
Goldberg, in his book Hazards of Being Male, writes that a man is an independent strong achiever who can be counted on to be always in control. His success in the working world is predicated on the repression of self and the display of controlled, deliberate, calculated, manipulative responsiveness. The man who "feels becomes inefficient because he gets emotionally involved and this inevitably slows him down and distracts him. His more dehumanized competition will then surely pass him by.
In private academic circles, the notion exists that Europeans, and specifically men, are more left-brain oriented, and people of color, specifically women, are more right-brain oriented.
I believe manhood may be best expressed by telling your wife, "I" appreciate you," by bringing your son to your chest, and by telling your brothers when you are hurting and need their help.
Ultimately, we rust show youth that life is about more than making money. It's about finding something that you enjoy so much that you are willing to do it for free, but because you do it so well, you get paid for it.
I Am A Black Man
The evidence of anthropology now suggests that I, the Black man, am the original man, the first man to walk this vast imponderable earth. I, the Black man, am an African, the exotic single quintessence of a universal blackness. I have lost, by force, my land, my language, in essence, my life. I will seize it back so help me. Toward that end, if necessary, I will crush the corners of the earth, and this world will surely tremble. Until I, the Black man, the first and original man can arm in arm with my woman, erect among the peoples of the universe a new society, humane to its cultural core, out of which at long last will emerge, as night moves into day, the first truly human being that the world has ever known.
Parents are quick to say, "Television is destroying the minds of our children, and I can't keep up with the boy when he goes outside." My response is: as powerful as ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CABLE are, they cannot force you to turn your television set on. If television is a problem, it is because you are not controlling your household. If the streets are a problem, it is because you are not controlling your child's schedule. Children cannot raise themselves, and parents should not allow television or the streets to try. Conscientious parents create activities to replace television viewing.
Spirituality
One of the major reasons for the rehabilitation of Malcolm X was his coming to grips with his relationship with God. I am a Christian and I am very proud of my relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This book is not being used as a vehicle to argue about God, to encourage males to submit themselves to God. I have read numerous articles on this topic; submission in any form is difficult for males. I believe that this is also the major reason for males having a much higher suicide rate than females the lack of desire to submit and share their problems with God. In this area, males should be taught the necessity of submission and then should learn how to pray and read Scriptures.
Time
Many people work eight hours per day, commute two hours, eat three meals and sleep eight hours. This schedule allows only three hours left in a day. If they choose to spend that time watching television, talking on the telephone, listening to music, playing golf, bowling, working out in the health club and on other recreational and entertainment activities, there may not be time to stop the conspiracy. I suggest everyone chart their twenty-four hours and strive toward giving more hours back to the community.
Read
March 13, 2018Love Kunjufu’s heart and passion. I would love to meet him some day. Reminds me of the passion and compassion that seem to be so evident in John Perkins.
June 28, 2021
At 30 pages of dense type, this is more a tract than a book. The ideas presented here will need subsequent volumes to be properly developed and evaluated.
January 11, 2009
An important, powerful book that I highly recommend. This is a thought-provoking work that courageously addresses real-world challenges in a way that most books simply do not. This effort suffers from one critical flaw however in that the author not only largely assumes the conspiracy (not entirely, but to a great degree), and also assumes that his audiences also assumes this same idea. ... and a great many of us do ... but the book would have been much more powerful if the conspiracy had been more carefully investigated and documented, not only for the sake of the authors argument, but also for the relevance of his remedies. Still an important, powerful book that I highly recommend.
February 3, 2008
man i thought after this book i am glad i read it
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews