[Mpls] " Shout Out To Supt. Thandiwe " !

[Dennis Plante]

Jeanne Harris Writes:
I am so excited that I can barely contain myself ! Why ? Well , I was 
reading a rather lengthy article published May 26, 2005 / INSIGHT News by D. 
Samuels; and he gives an accounting of how his family rose to prominence and 
gained "advantage / compared to the country folk they grew up with"; he goes 
on to say , that would think it was due to a certain innate family 
brilliance and resiliency, Not so , our advantage had everything to do with 
the fact that there were mulatto house slaves in our family.....indeed today 
you can see that complexion and class are close allies".

Interesting! I read on and he goes on at length, but the part I want you to 
consider is this- " Some would prefer that if I speak only of being African, 
that I pretend that my ancestors were all 'field' slaves..." ...." the 
lesson is this: people who have the advantage   to observe success will 
reproduce it more easily & frequently than those who don't ."

There!  Your    Problems of under-performing students solved! You can thank 
me later!!!!

( note ) wow- I wish I had this article when I was in college / I remember 
professors  wishing that  it was as simple as osmosis / wonder where Alan 
Counter is today; excuse me "Dr. Alan Counter"- I used to have my eyes glued 
on him!!!


Dennis Plante Responds:

Thanks for sharing this with us.  It's nice to know that having positive 
role models has no net effect on whether or not it significantly assists 
those that most need the assistance in getting a "leg-up" in life.

My interpretation of what CM Samuels is saying is that indeed, having 
"positive" role models in your life does in fact, have an affect on your 
life.  I tend to agree.

Not too terribly long ago, I took it upon myself to mentor a 15 year-old boy 
that was incarcerated in a halfway house in my neighborhood.  I received 
numerous phone calls by both his wards (at the home) and his extended family 
regarding the positive impact my interaction was having on this child.

It appears you are asserting this is not an important element.  I must 
confess.  I am becoming tired of hearing the rants and "pot-shots".  It is 
very easy to criticize, but I believe that one should be expected to 
offer-up an alternative if they choose to do so.

The 5th Ward elections AND the residents living in the 5th Ward, deserve a 
higher standard in the debate of the issues that will eventually determine 
the new ward Councilmember.

dennis plante
lind-bohanon