Carter G. Woodson mural in Washington, D.C.
All pleasantries aside, this book blew me away. Honest and stark, The Mis-education of the Negro should be read by the ones who value education, societal progress and the intricacies of a well-fashioned sense of humanity.
This book review will take on a different tone. Divided into three parts, I want to provide snapshots of what exactly Woodson identifies as the Mis-education and his inspiring Quotes. I have included a number of Woodson’s applicable Takeaways that may be applied today and to all based on their universality. Finally, a comprehensive Glossary section that may be updated or expanded upon at later dates.
In other words, I am not going to tell you what I thought. I am going to show you what I read.
The Mis-education.
-
The results of an education of an individual aligns strongly with how he functions in society, and what he aspires to be and do. Woodson does not focus narrowly on grades and academic degrees, because he just as fervently dismisses many educated African-Americans as attaining these degrees and being the worst off from receiving them. If community uplift and outreach is not labored for, the education received by African-Americans has been earned in vain.
-
Educating freed slaves and their descendants after the Civil war was embedded in philanthropy, which focused on encouraging Black people to live a life in society that abolitionists hoped to make it, but not how it was. The later generations of Black men and women were not taught how to function in society nor were they convinced that their humanity could be recognized and valued. As a result, a back-to-Africa approach was adopted by many.
-
The overall mission was to transform Blacks, and not develop them. Condemnation and pity surfaced aplenty. Woodson sharply asserts, “…bear in mind that the Negro has never been educated.”
-
A warped slant was used to educate Blacks in the academic areas needed for their progress: i.e., from literature, the works of Africans were excluded, law students were taught they belonged to the most criminal segment of the country, in medicine, Blacks were informed of their inferiority when studied as germ carriers, in history, Blacks were only taught of their subjugation, etc.
-
Black students were not permitted to learn of the Declaration of Independence, nor the Constitution of the United States in schools.
-
African-Americans learned by way of their oppressors that there were certain professional spheres they would not be able to enter or thrive in. Some professional schools were then closed down in Black institutions. An immensely woeful action, Woodson calls this “a striking demonstration of the mis-education of the race.”
-
Paying careful attention to the centrality of the Black church, Woodson credits ministers as co-creators of the old educational system. He therefore maintains that the church, “in many cases…made it possible for Negro professional men to exist.” The antiquated Black church supplies the greatest illustration of the educated African-American becoming estranged from his community, and failing to carry out a program of progress for that community.
Quotes.
“But can you expect teachers to revolutionize the social order for the good of the community? Indeed we must expect this very thing. The educational system of a country is worthless unless it accomplishes this task.”
-Carter G. Woodson, excerpt from “The Mis-education of the Negro.”
-
“In the schools of business administration Negroes are trained exclusively in the psychology of economics of Wall Street and are, therefore, made to despise the opportunities to run ice wagons, push banana carts, and sell peanuts among their own people. Foreigners, who have not studied economics but have studied Negroes, take up this business and grow rich.”
-
“When a Negro has finished his education in our schools, then, he has been equipped to begin the life of an Americanized or Europeanized white man, but before he steps from the threshold of his alma mater he is told by his teachers that he must go back to his own people from whom he has been estranged…”
-
“The servant of the people is down among them, living as they live, doing what they do and enjoying what they enjoy. He may be a little better informed than some other members of the group; it may be that he has had some experience that they have not had, but in spite of this advantage he should have more humility than those whom he serves, for we are told that, ‘whosoever is greatest among you, let him be your servant.’”
-
“As to whether or not a white man should be leader of the Negroes may be dismissed as a silly question. What has the color to do with it? Such a worker may be white, brown, yellow, or red, if he is heart and soul with the people whom he would serve.”
-
“Every man has two educations: that which is given to him, and the other that which he gives himself. Of the two kinds the latter is by far the more desirable. Indeed all that is most worthy in man he must work out and conquer for himself. It is that which constitutes our real and best nourishment. What we are merely taught seldom nourishes the mind like that which we teach ourselves.”
Takeaways.
-
To become a purposeful educator, you must identify yourself as a connected part of the group you are serving.
-
A teaching style of memorizing facts and abandoning the understanding of humanity is disastrous.
-
Woodson strongly believes that religious schools must teach the people it serves “how to tolerate differences of opinion and to cooperate for the common good.”
-
Service rather than leadership. Focus on an individual approach to understanding the larger/mass problems form a smaller perspective.
-
Step away from duplication and toward partnership and merging.
-
Engagement in politics is vital.
-
Be innovators, not imitators. Black Americans must find the unique offerings they can contribute in the area of academics. There is a need of ‘new vision’ to African-American education, with a special need for more Black historians, economists, artists and philosophers.
Glossary.
-
Teuton: a native of Germany or a person of German origin.
-
Nonentity: a person or thing of no importance.
-
The Black Belt
-
Espouse
-
Peon
-
Vitiated
-
Grafter
-
Libertine
-
Apropos
-
Wardheeler: a minor politician who canvasses voters and does other chores for a political machine or party boss.
-
Polemic
-
Traducer
-
Puerile
-
Attrition
-
Despot
*From this book review and forward, I will strive to cut back a bit out of my book reviews for the purpose of brevity. But if you ever want my full notes on a book, please do not hesitate to email me and I will send you the original Word document (Adjoasutota@gmail.com).
Advertisement
Like this:
2 bloggers like this post.
This review is a wonderful snapshot of the things that Woodson has argued. His ideas were not embraced by all, but they point to many of the unspoken failures of Blacks being educated and the applications that should follow. While I followed many of the arguments that were had between Woodson and his opposing contemporaries, I have to say that this review has made me appreciate his view even more, and I thank you for sharing it. I will be sharing some of these same ideas in my courses and in my interactions with students.
John, I am so glad you enjoyed this review. What I like about Woodson’s approach, hands-down, is that he is above all, compassionate. He knows the art of true humanity: uplift, giving, educating.
I’m curious to know of the opposition from his contemporaries. Who were they? What they might find at fault of Woodson was his criticism of the Black church. Yet from the manner in which he writes, he does not condemn them; rather his approach to them is one of constructive criticism. He is solution-oriented, and I loved that element to his work.
Definitely recommend it for your students! They will learn a great deal of community engagement. After reading this book, one cannot deny now becoming fully aware of the importance of being fully engaged in education and society.
Truly a gem of book. Thanks for reading this John. Your comment is well-liked!