History Decided for US

As I am writing this blog, the world is in an uproar because of the death of George Floyd, I personally am on an emotional roller coaster, and COVID-19 is still spreading. Oh and let’s not forget we lost Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the other passengers in January…2020 has been a lot. Even with all of the things that are happening, hate rooted in racism continues to haunt America. As a black woman, the trauma of being and living in my own skin is constantly being triggered. There is also the constant rising in unemployment numbers and the disparities of health, economic status, and much more reminding of the urgency felt in this season.

The passion and love I have for people to excel and become true navigators of their stories is being pulled on so much during this time. So I decided to highlight the history of the black community and career and technical education (CTE). We know that America’s roots are cemented in racism. Therefore, this systemic and systematic racism continues to haunt how, specifically the black community, perceives career and technical education (CTE). This perception is keeping us in debt and contributing to the economic divide.

To level set here…I am specifically speaking to and about the black community in this blog. But our brothers and sisters from other communities are needed to assist in leveling the field (equity).

As a community, sometimes it feels like we value a degree…any degree over a postsecondary education that truly adds value or gives us a salary we can live and thrive off. Here’s what I mean…we advise our young people to go to college without really telling them not all degrees are created equal. If a student shares that they are attending the community college versus the four year college/university, we may think negatively about their decision or try to convince them otherwise. We tend to view the trade industry as less than and discourage our young people from pursuing those career paths.

However, in our defense the trauma of slavery, Jim Crow, and other historic events (laws, policies, etc.) have perpetuated this thinking. For years, we have been kept out and denied certain privileges that other racial groups have been allowed access. We did not have access to proper education and were not allowed to attend colleges or universities. The history behind our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is because we were kept out of these institutions.

It is evident that the history of America, continues to impact the black community in enormous ways, and some of the impact is seen in how we perceive career and technical education (CTE). Dr. Howard Gordon wrote in his book, The History and Growth of Career and Technical Education in America, “Members of minority groups tend to view CTE training as inferior to academic education. For those from the minority middle class, CTE continues to be something for someone else’s children” (p. 35).

So…what do we do? What can we do?

It is important that we embrace all types of education including CTE. I am not saying that CTE is the answer to all things that pertain to how America treats the black community nor that it will fix everything that has contributed to the economic and skill divide. I am saying that CTE, with proper guidance and strong programming, can increase economic mobility, social capital, and minimize the skills gap; I believe it is part of the solution.

Students that take advantage of CTE experience many benefits (see blog entitled Benefits of Career and Technical Education). They also find and understand the job market differently than other students, whether they are attending the community college or the four year institution. I encourage everyone to challenge their thinking towards CTE and give it a chance to be a part of your educational journey.

Until Next Time.