Got Good Grades? OMG, u cn txt ur bff if u do!

I read an article on Advertising Age about a new program on the horizon for New York City public schools. The program would use interactive cell phones as incentives for kids to perform well in school. I put myself in a teenager’s place and tried to think of what I could be bribed with to do well in school. I’d have said “score!” on the cell phone. But the article prompted me to think further about the use of incentives as performance motivators.

Old-school thought says that children should not be given rewards for doing what they’re supposed to do in the first place: go to school and get good grades. Others believe that incentives are strong driving forces in general, so why not use them to garner positive results?

My nephew in middle school is one smart cookie. But he works harder when the fruits of his labor are tangible. Surprisingly (or not), he doesn’t yet hold value in education alone. But he can add, so if he’s promised an amount of money for each A earned, guess what he’s working towards?

I believe that the truly accomplished among us have natural driving forces within that exist beyond the realm of external incentives. But a little extra motivation doesn’t hurt. And sometimes, it takes something extra to awaken that internal drive. This sentiment also goes beyond the scope of school-age kids.

When thinking in terms of employee engagement in the workplace, sometimes an incentive is all it takes to get workers involved, motivated and maintaining optimistic thoughts about their workplace. Most of us don’t have the luxury of being in love with our jobs, so the promise of a reward for good work can help to keep us going.

The proposed cell phone program has to contend with more than just opposition to incentives. It’s the technology itself that has some worried. Cell phones are already banned in most schools across the country, so use during school hours may not be permitted. That means that giving them to kids for the sake of academia could pose more than a slight problem. It’s almost like giving a kid some chocolate in the morning, but telling them they can’t have it until after dinner. It’ll be interesting to see how they contend with the challenges in this program, and if it will be seen to fruition.

Crack Cocaine Offenses – Sentence Reductions on the Horizon?

Since I first studied the introduction and rise of crack cocaine in America, I have been acutely aware of the disparity among races with this particular drug. In those days, whenever a “crack head” was mentioned, I got a mental image of a poor, dirty, black man or woman who would do anything for a hit. It did not dawn on me that I associated race with this image until I examined the issue academically. I later learned that this mental picture was no accident.

The debate about this particular drug has long been brewing, and one of the major issues involved is race.  Crack is a cheap derivative of powder cocaine, but is more potent and potentially more addictive. This spelled disaster among already struggling populations. Because of this, accusations that crack was intentionally planted in black communities was born.

Intentional infiltration or not, the reality is that poor black communities are hit hardest by crack cocaine. Not only that, but the attack is on two fronts: the negative effects from using the drug directly, and the sentences that are handed down in courts for offenses involving crack.  An independent panel is now considering reducing crack cocaine sentences at the federal level. There’s talk of making the change retroactive, which would mean that thousands of offenders would be released immediately. And going forward, the sentencing for crack cocaine offenses would more closely match those of powder cocaine.  

Naturally, there is an element of fear associated with the idea of freeing a large number of criminals. But I don’t think this fear should override the desire for equitable treatment in the judicial system. It is widely known that blacks make up a disproportionate amount of the incarcerated. This step would be the beginning of righting that wrong. What I would like to know, however, is whether the message will be misconstrued. In keeping with Whitney Houston, crack is still wack. But I can’t help but think some offender might see this as a relief as opposed to what it is: a deterrent that’s been made fairer in terms of the law.

When We’re Ready For Truth…

Talking about ‘Dog’ Chapman Sorry for Using N-Word

I have had enough. And it’s not what you think. I’m not angry about all these prominent people getting caught using the word “n*gger.” That is simply putting on display what I’ve always know to be true behind closed doors. I am tired of these lame attempts at damage control. They insult my intelligence. The excuses, the half-hearted attempts to make amends, the sloppy clarifications and the meetings with black religious “leaders” are all thinly veiled attempts to hold onto a career. They aren’t quests for self-discovery, sociological enlightenment or atonement. It seems like everyone is using the same formula, and no one has sent the memo that it’s ridiculous. Um, MEMO!

Duane “Dog” Chapman was caught on tape using the word “n*gger” like water running from a tap. Yes, I was offended. Especially since he seemed to understand that the word is hurtful and wrong. But instead of making a decision not to use it, he tells his own son that he can’t date a black woman because he doesn’t want her to hear them using the word and get the wrong idea. Right… Chapman puts more foot in his mouth when he later says his stance on his son’s relationship was not about her race or the possibility of her happening upon a racial slur, but her character. Funny, he never mentioned ONE WORD about her character during his recorded tirade. The whole clip was about his freedom to use the word n*gger without the threat of losing his career.

We will never resolve the issues of racism, bigotry, hatred and prejudice if we can’t even have an honest dialogue about it. That man isn’t sorry he said those things; he’s sorry he was caught. The story is the same every time, and it isn’t just the black/white issue. I’m strong enough to handle the idea that people like this exist, so I’m strong enough to explain to them why it hurts. Likewise, I’m strong enough to hear why they think it’s okay to believe or act the way they do. I only wish we all had the strength to deal with this in a real way, not just putting a bow on an empty box.