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Note: Fiscal year of AAM is October 1 - September 30.
*** Subscriptions for 2006/07 Membership are now due!!!!

Join African Association of Madison, Inc. for $25 per year

Mail check to: AAM, PO Box 1016, Madison, WI 53701
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Muhammad, Adrienne 
> Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 11:55 AM
> To: 'African Association of Madison'
> Subject: RE: The Myth of "Acting White"
> 
> I'm really sick of this "acting white" stuff.  As a parent of a son of
> African descent, born in this country and raised in Madison this
> analysis has always bothered me.  I have always emphasized academic
> achievement for him, and this is from a legacy of being raised by
> African American parents and a community where this was always
> important--and still is, despite the propaganda.
> 
> I am truly concerned about what is happening with our children in
> Madison, especially in high schools, many are not faring well.  High
> school was a difficult time for my son because I have always taught him
> to be proud of his African/American heritage so he was conflicted about
> "fitting in" with other African American kids and doing well
> academically.  Fortunately, he chose the latter, and had many conflicts
> with other kids but no one ever accused him of "acting white."  
> 
> He is now attending an HBCU (Morehouse) where academic achievement, not
> baggy pants and other such things, make one popular.  (His pants are a
> little less baggy but we still fight over this--but he's excelling
> academically).
> 
> But I feel for our kids, almost every day on my way to work I pass a
> young African American boy standing outside of West high school by
> himself, at a time when I know he should be in class.  He is very dark
> skinned and is overweight and looks sad.  I imagine what his life is
> like and how he might be stigmatized. I wonder why he's not in class. 
> I
> don't know what to do--but it's been really bothering me...
> 
> Adrienne Rakina Muhammad
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: African Association of Madison [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of VERA R CROWELL
> Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 10:33 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: The Myth of "Acting White"
> 
> *****************************************************************
> 
> Note: Fiscal year of AAM is October 1 - September 30.
> *** Subscriptions for 2006/07 Membership are now due!!!!
> 
> Join African Association of Madison, Inc. for $25 per year
> 
> Mail check to: AAM, PO Box 1016, Madison, WI 53701
> Phone: 608-258-0261 -- Email: [log in to unmask]
> Web: www.AfricanAssociation.org
> 
> *****************************************************************
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Please read these. Our children are depending on us and we need to stop
> buying into the "acting white" mythology that serves to absolve the
> majority culture educational administration from making a real effort 
> to
> educate our children. It's easier on them if they can blame the kids for
> not educating themselves.
> 
> http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12ACTING.html?ex=1260594000&e
> n=37bb3e44882a21bc&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland
> 
> http://www.kent.edu/Magazine/Spring2007/ActingWhite.cfm
> 
> 
> 
> ******************************
> "In the days before volcanoes were invented, lava had to be hand carried
> down from the mountains and poured on the sleeping villagers.
> This took a great deal of time." 
> 
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