Black man wanting (to) work

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Black man wanting (to) work
9
Sun, 02-01-2004 - 2:11pm
A certain young black man fills all the squares. College educated to the hilt (double-major in liberal arts subjects, dean’s list more than once), he’s brilliant and accomplished. He’s a member of Mensa. He interned with a US senator. He was a Rhodes Scholar candidate. Here’s a man who could have nearly any career desired, likely with many benefits, monetary and otherwise. But what does he want to do? He wants to give something back, give a hand up to young men (and women) who may be inspired by him: he applies to become a teacher in the metro Atlanta counties (large black population).

Surely, the school district officials there would be appreciative of their good fortune at this exceptionally qualified teacher falling into their laps. Not. This young man, Marquis Harris, received this missive through email:

"Though your qualifications are quite impressive, I regret to inform you that we have selected another candidate. It was felt that your demeanor and therefore presence in the classroom would serve as an unrealistic expectation as to what high school students could strive to achieve or become. However, it is highly recommended that you seek employment at the collegiate level; there your intellectual comportment would be greatly appreciated. Good luck."

How about that? Marquis Harris is a freak of nature, or so says the principal that refused him employment. Oh, not in so many words, of course, but the implication is clear: it’s not realistic for young black students to achieve through his/her merits alone; they usually aren’t capable of it. So, to have a living, breathing example of achievement before them day in and day out would only serve to...discourage them.

http://baldilocks.typepad.com/baldilocks/2004/01/bmw.html

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/0104/23teacher.html

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 12:10pm

Are you sure this person is a male?


My Photo

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2003
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 1:01pm

Miffy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 1:39pm

Just look at the pictures! The person appears to have breasts. I fully comprehended what was stated in

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2003
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 2:48pm
perhaps the person was born with both sex organs, the parents had to

Miffy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 3:18pm

>"Just speculation."<


Same here, but when I see breasts & feminine features......... I think there's more to this story than being rejected because of being an overachiever &/or black.


I think Oprah already did that show. Winky 2

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2003
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 4:12pm

<>


She did do a show like that, that is why I made that remark.

Miffy

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 5:01pm
Hold on there, Charlie!

Baldielocks is not the young man who was deemed unfit to teach. She was commenting on the case of Marquis Harris who wrote, in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, about a rejection message he received.

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 7:16pm
My apologies. Maybe it would have

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Mon, 02-02-2004 - 9:55pm
I wanted to include Baldilock's comments, but my post should have been clearer.

Renee