South African bliss for Oprah's U.S. dis


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Oprah is to be commended for helping those kids in Africa. Today's youth in America just don't take advantage of the opportunities they are given. Now the inner city part she could have kept. She was wrong for that statement. She could have used a better choice of words. Don't knock the kids who are trying because not all inner city kids want to be stuck in the ghetto forever. It all goes back to it's not what you say, but how you say it.
 



CriTAUcal said:
Instead of critiquing of how she should've told this story, just give the kudos to what she's doing it and leave it alone. Because in actuality, some of us haven't given a 10th percent of what she has done and is doing for our people. But yet, we find a reason to complain, criticize and find fault.

Truth is: She has explained WHY on more than one of occasion (on her show or other talk shows), but one would have to had kept up with what she's doing on this particular project. And since MOST of the ones who hate on Oprah (speaking in general) don't KNOW what all she does and why, they like to automatically ASSume and hate (which seems to be embedded in OUR people!) on her.
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This is true! She does and has helped children in the states. :tup:
 
I'm not hating on Oprah...I just get digusted when these millionaires throw money in to Africa when there are kids right here who need it, and the sad thing is most of them became rich off of us.

For her to say inner city kids would not appreciate it really got under my skin. How about give them something to appreciate.

Kids today are unappreciative because everything is considered a rush job. Meaning they see the cats hustling got rims..a benz and their like that's cool....a video vixen's 10 minutes of fame.....or they want to be the next Labron....Jay Z....yet they fail to realize how hard these people work...including...sadly...the hustlers.

I mean damn....
 
Dr. Sweet NUPE said:
I'm not hating on Oprah...I just get digusted when these millionaires throw money in to Africa when there are kids right here who need it, and the sad thing is most of them became rich off of us.

For her to say inner city kids would not appreciate it really got under my skin. How about give them something to appreciate.

Kids today are unappreciative because everything is considered a rush job. Meaning they see the cats hustling got rims..a benz and their like that's cool....a video vixen's 10 minutes of fame.....or they want to be the next Labron....Jay Z....yet they fail to realize how hard these people work...including...sadly...the hustlers.

I mean damn....
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Mane, WHAT DOES OFRAH OWE ANY child that she didn't birth?
Just like you, since you don't have children, anything you do for someone's child is a BLESSING (should you choose to bestow it.) You are under NO bond or obligation relative to them.
 
Dr. Sweet NUPE said:
For her to say inner city kids would not appreciate it really got under my skin. How about give them something to appreciate.
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I agree totally on that part. I applaud and commend her for what she's doing for these African girls. They will get a chance to get a good education. This is the chance of a lifetime for them. However, I think she was wrong for generalizing and stereotyping inner city kids like that. There are plenty of inner city kids that would love an opportunity like this. I'm not saying that Oprah has the be the one that gives them this opportunity because one person can only do so much, but I know there are many inner city kids that want to strive to be the the best they can be, but can't because of the environment they are in. How do you think these same kids, who actually have this dream and goal in life, would react if they heard someone with Oprah's stature making these types of generalizations and stereotypes?
 
Dr. Sweet NUPE said:
I'm not hating on Oprah...I just get digusted when these millionaires throw money in to Africa when there are kids right here who need it, and the sad thing is most of them became rich off of us.

For her to say inner city kids would not appreciate it really got under my skin. How about give them something to appreciate.

Kids today are unappreciative because everything is considered a rush job. Meaning they see the cats hustling got rims..a benz and their like that's cool....a video vixen's 10 minutes of fame.....or they want to be the next Labron....Jay Z....yet they fail to realize how hard these people work...including...sadly...the hustlers.

I mean damn....
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Mark, you would complain REGARDLESS! So let it go!

:smh:
 
Did ya'll hear Oprah last night. She said, "Critics, be dayumed!" :lol:

She was hot! :mad:

But she did say she should have worded it differently.
 
ToPdOg said:
I agree totally on that part. I applaud and commend her for what she's doing for these African girls. They will get a chance to get a good education. This is the chance of a lifetime for them. However, I think she was wrong for generalizing and stereotyping inner city kids like that. There are plenty of inner city kids that would love an opportunity like this. I'm not saying that Oprah has the be the one that gives them this opportunity because one person can only do so much, but I know there are many inner city kids that want to strive to be the the best they can be, but can't because of the environment they are in. How do you think these same kids, who actually have this dream and goal in life, would react if they heard someone with Oprah's stature making these types of generalizations and stereotypes?
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...and that's all I'm saying.
 
I hate I missed this thread before it took off but......

I'm glad to see Oprah doing good things for someone.

I hate to see this Bill Cosby Syndrome still running rampant. We have began to accept any negative generalization made about blacks by almost any non-white person as the truth. That is doing a disservice to those in the black community that ARE striving. Once again more attention is payed to those that are lazy while the true hard workers go unnoticed.
 
BLAQUE PRINCE said:
I hate I missed this thread before it took off but......

I'm glad to see Oprah doing good things for someone.

I hate to see this Bill Cosby Syndrome still running rampant. We have began to accept any negative generalization made about blacks by almost any non-white person as the truth. That is doing a disservice to those in the black community that ARE striving. Once again more attention is payed to those that are lazy while the true hard workers go unnoticed.
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Most of you guys and gals know that a large percentage of Black children, primarily boys, think it's not "cool" to be smart.
Many would rather look and act dumb (baggy pants with underwear showing, mouth full of gold teeth, etc) and act out in school rather than portray an intelligent person simply because they'll be called a nerd or frowned upon by other boys.
To me, this is sickening and pathetic and it seems to be getting worser by the year.
So, I understand completely why Oprah said what she said.
 
mighty hornet said:
:smh::smh:

yeah, the only thing all the kids from "inner city schools" want is an IPOD and a new watch.
just like the only thing all the kids in South Africa want is the opportunity for an education.

:smh::smh:

FACT, you can take the same top kids from inner city schools and find some of the same goals and aspirations that yall find in these South African kids.

just like you can find South African kids who want "an IPOD and a new watch"
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It's not about an ipod or a new watch. Most of the kids in this country have access to schools, but for whatever reason (environtmental, social, mental, emotional, spiritual), unfortunately a large percentage of Black males don't appreciate a quality education.
Look at the female to male ratio at most HBCU's. Some schools have a 9 to 1 ratio. This is unbelievably unbelievable.
But on the "corner", you have a 9 to 1 ratio of males to females hangin out smokin and drinkin, and some of these corners are less than one block away from a college where these same men have access to a free education to better themselves, but many if not most, choose to hang out on that corner.:no:
 
JayRob said:
Most of you guys and gals know that a large percentage of Black children, primarily boys, think it's not "cool" to be smart.
Many would rather look and act dumb (baggy pants with underwear showing, mouth full of gold teeth, etc) and act out in school rather than portray an intelligent person simply because they'll be called a nerd or frowned upon by other boys.
To me, this is sickening and pathetic and it seems to be getting worser by the year.
So, I understand completely why Oprah said what she said.
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I think some of us don't want to face reality. There are some good kids out there, and there are some bad ones. And anytime we show what's negative, we don't want to own up to it and will pull the "generalization" card.
We'll never get far, if we continue to cover things up and not get to the root of our problems.
Truth is: More often than not, we see our people in a negative light. And we can't even put the whole fault on the "media," because most of the time, they are only portraying what we're putting out. And then the other half of the time, it's us who's putting it out there. Until we can get our homes back in order, I don't see anything changing on the outside (what America sees).
 
SLT said:
Did ya'll hear Oprah last night. She said, "Critics, be dayumed!" :lol:

She was hot! :mad:

But she did say she should have worded it differently.
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She told their asses right...I believe she used the right words, too. :tup:
 



Like I've said before, it's a good thing that Oprah did for those girls in Africa, but her generalization of inner city kids is just dead wrong, particularly the way she worded it. Look at this.


School District of Philadelphia and Microsoft Open School of the Future
Through public-private partnership, model for future schools incorporates new technology, curriculum and building design on a traditional school budget.


PHILADELPHIA ? Sept. 7, 2006 ? At 8 a.m. today the bell will ring to open one of the most advanced high schools ever conceived. The School of the Future is the result of a unique collaboration between the School District of Philadelphia, Microsoft Corp. and the community of West Philadelphia that will deliver a new approach to curriculum and school design and the infusion of technology into the daily lives of educators and learners. The school is a state-of-the-art working example of this public-private partnership, featuring a progressive and research-based curriculum, integrated technology, and environmentally advanced architecture. What?s more, the entire project was completed within the strict confines of a standard urban public-school budget.

?What we have proven through this project is that the ?School of the Future? is not too futuristic or out of reach,? said Paul Vallas, CEO of the School District of Philadelphia. ?This is how schools of today can and should be designed and developed to adequately prepare students for life and work. I hope the school leaders who come and see what we?ve accomplished here in Philadelphia walk away saying, ?We can do that, too, and we can start now.??

For the 170 freshman students who will make up the first School of the Future graduating class of 2010, today?s opening signifies new hope and opportunity through an experience that will involve the whole community in the educational environment and encourage college attendance. The opening class selection was based on an open lottery and pulls from area neighborhoods, making this a truly local school. The class has a nearly 99 percent minority population, and approximately 85 percent of the students come from low income families.

Link to full article


You didn't see them giving up on these inner city kids and making those generalizations and stereotypes that Oprah made. They saw the the potential in these kids. I'm pretty sure that there are plenty of those kids over in Africa that have some of the same mentalities as those inner city kids that Oprah was stereotyping. There are only 152 girls enrolled in that school. I'm sure that there are at least 152 good inner city kids that don't fit the stereotype that Oprah has put on them.
 
Good for them.

What this have to do with Oprah and starved, raped, kids that dont have clean water in Africa.

Stop comparing. All of them are trying to help needy kids. So what if Oprah went to Africa to help.

Man if Oprah would have done this in the US then mofo's be screaming she dont do enough for the World Community.
:smh:
 
JayRob said:
It's not about an ipod or a new watch. Most of the kids in this country have access to schools, but for whatever reason (environtmental, social, mental, emotional, spiritual), unfortunately a large percentage of Black males don't appreciate a quality education.
Look at the female to male ratio at most HBCU's. Some schools have a 9 to 1 ratio. This is unbelievably unbelievable.
But on the "corner", you have a 9 to 1 ratio of males to females hangin out smokin and drinkin, and some of these corners are less than one block away from a college where these same men have access to a free education to better themselves, but many if not most, choose to hang out on that corner.:no:
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AMEN!!!

I will say this again - no family values for education. The kids in the usa have the opportunity for an education, but there is no expectation for education in the family.
 
SONNY said:
Good for them.

What this have to do with Oprah and starved, raped, kids that dont have clean water in Africa.

Stop comparing. All of them are trying to help needy kids. So what if Oprah went to Africa to help.

Man if Oprah would have done this in the US then mofo's be screaming she dont do enough for the World Community.
:smh:
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AMEN - Oprah knows what I know - you cant please everybody.
 
I think what most of you are missing is that not too many people are mad at Oprah for building the school in Africa. That would be crazy. Those Africans need help and someone has to step up to help them. Why not the people who have the most connections to them such as black Americans. Its what she said about the inner city schools that was messed up. If you read post 109 by SLT she said Oprah admitted she should have worded it differently. By saying that even Oprah realizes that her statement was wrong. It's not what you say, but how you say it. The time and place just was not right.
 
JayRob said:
It's not about an ipod or a new watch. Most of the kids in this country have access to schools, but for whatever reason (environtmental, social, mental, emotional, spiritual), unfortunately a large percentage of Black males don't appreciate a quality education.
Look at the female to male ratio at most HBCU's. Some schools have a 9 to 1 ratio. This is unbelievably unbelievable.
But on the "corner", you have a 9 to 1 ratio of males to females hangin out smokin and drinkin, and some of these corners are less than one block away from a college where these same men have access to a free education to better themselves, but many if not most, choose to hang out on that corner.:no:
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Where do you get your ratios? and What are you doing to change it?
 
CEE DOG said:
I think what most of you are missing is that not too many people are mad at Oprah for building the school in Africa. That would be crazy. Those Africans need help and someone has to step up to help them. Why not the people who have the most connections to them such as black Americans. Its what she said about the inner city schools that was messed up. If you read post 109 by SLT she said Oprah admitted she should have worded it differently. By saying that even Oprah realizes that her statement was wrong. It's not what you say, but how you say it. The time and place just was not right.
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COSIGN!!
 
Dr. Sweet NUPE said:
I'm not hating on Oprah...I just get digusted when these millionaires throw money in to Africa when there are kids right here who need it, and the sad thing is most of them became rich off of us.

For her to say inner city kids would not appreciate it really got under my skin. How about give them something to appreciate.

Kids today are unappreciative because everything is considered a rush job. Meaning they see the cats hustling got rims..a benz and their like that's cool....a video vixen's 10 minutes of fame.....or they want to be the next Labron....Jay Z....yet they fail to realize how hard these people work...including...sadly...the hustlers.

I mean damn....
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Let me go back and read the article again.
"I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn't there," the TV talk-show maven says in the current issue of Newsweek.

"If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don't ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school."
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I listened to her on XM 156 again this morning and what I heard her say was that she chose "Africa because it was NOT like the US and she had African roots. Africa in the parts she chose is not like the US because the US children ALREADY have the opportunity for education because we have an education system---sometimes it works and sometimes it does not, but these little girls are just like me..."

She did not just THROW money. She spent $40 million dollars to build an educational academy--boarding school. Complete with dorm rooms and the best educators available. She wanted to build it with her own money without asking anyone to show what ONE person can do because she knows there are many people and corporations WHO CAN do way better than her and perhaps it would inspire them...
 
CEE DOG said:
I think what most of you are missing is that not too many people are mad at Oprah for building the school in Africa. That would be crazy. Those Africans need help and someone has to step up to help them. Why not the people who have the most connections to them such as black Americans. Its what she said about the inner city schools that was messed up. If you read post 109 by SLT she said Oprah admitted she should have worded it differently. By saying that even Oprah realizes that her statement was wrong. It's not what you say, but how you say it. The time and place just was not right.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone is missing that. I think her comments are not understood. You have to realize she is speaking in the context in which SHE KNOWS about. Read exactly what she said. All of it. SHE, meaning her, became so frustrated with the inner city schools that she stopped going. That to me does not STATE ALL INNER CITY SCHOOLS. It indicates the ones she visited did not show her the "it" factor that she evidently sees in South African girls and later she will open another for boys and girls in a different place.

I think people are keying in on one sentence and not exactly looking at it from all angles. But whatever the case, I am glad she did it.

She did not ask anyone for a dime but she said as she was finishing people began donating to the cause. Someone in her neighborhood was having dinner with her and she was discussing the school and the person asked her "how much do you want"....She told the person that she is not asking for money. He said, "Well I will give you 5 million"....
 
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