Mistaken Philosophy

Cynthia Tucker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist.  Long ago, I learned that I rarely agree with anything she writes.  However, her latest missive, Ben Carson, admirable man with a mistaken philosophy, caught my eye, so I read her article.  As it turns out, I still disagree with Ms. Tucker.  In this case, I believe she’s the one with a mistaken philosophy.

Ben Carson is the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Until a few weeks ago, I’d never heard of him, but his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in February attracted a lot of media attention.  In his speech, Carson commented on social and fiscal issues such as political correctness, education, and the national debt.  Some pundits argued that his speech, conservative in nature, was disrespectful to President Obama, who was in attendance.  Others have argued that his blunt, honest speech was exactly what the country needs to hear.

Dr. Carson and his brother were raised by single mother, who could barely read, but realized that education would give her sons greater opportunities. She limited their TV and required them to read.  In his speech, Dr. Carson talked about his mother and he talked about how reading led him to a different discovery.  He said, “I began to see that the person who has the most to do with you and what happens to you in life is you. You make decisions. You decide how much energy you want to put behind that decision. And I came to understand that I had control of my own destiny. And at that point I didn’t hate poverty anymore, because I knew it was only temporary. I knew I could change that. It was incredibly liberating for me, made all the difference.” Dr. Carson, it seems believes that hard work, education, and responsibility are the keys to success.

In her column, Ms. Tucker takes issue with Dr. Carson’s philosophy.  She states, “Yet, black Americans know better than to believe those traits are enough to guarantee success.”  She goes on to state that between 2000 and 2010, the number of black Americans living in poverty rose from 22.5% to 27.4%.  She then asks, “Was there a sudden outbreak of indolence among black folk over that period? Or were there outside forces that conspired to knock them back down the economic ladder?” I would suggest that the problem is, in large part, a lack of education and personal responsibility.

A report by the National Center for Education Statistics shows the high school graduation rate for the school year 2009-2010 for black students was 66.1%.  The same report shows a dropout rate of 8%. The Alliance for Excellent Education estimates that the average annual income of a high school dropout in 2009 was $19,540. By comparison, a high school graduate’s average income was $27,380 and people with associate’s and bachelor’s degrees made even more.  Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that high school dropouts have a higher unemployment rate during an economic recession than high school or college graduates.  So, education does play a part in earning potential.

A National Center for Health Statistics report indicates that 72% of the black births in 2011 were to unmarried women.  Numerous studies have shown that children in single parent homes are more likely to drop out of school.  The majority of single black mothers have no high school diploma and are limited to low or minimum wage jobs.  Because these jobs often don’t pay enough to cover the costs of child care, more than half of single black mothers are not in the work force, but receive public assistance to provide food and housing.

The Bureau of Judicial Statistics data indicates that blacks make up roughly 38% of the male prison population in this country.  Most of these men are in jail for drug-related offenses.  A Harvard study published in the American Sociological Review, indicates that the number of jobs available to ex-convicts is less and the average wages of those who do find employment is almost 25% less than the wages of those never incarcerated. 

While education, hard work, and personal responsibility don’t guarantee a person will become a famous neurosurgeon, a Pulitzer-prize winning author, or President of the United States, in this country, these attributes can raise a person out of a life destined for poverty.  And, without education and personal responsibility, a life of poverty is pretty much a guarantee. 

Set goals for yourself.  Be personally responsible for your own success and make choices that help you meet your goals.  Take advantage of the education opportunities offered by the local schools, trade schools, colleges, and universities and build a foundation for success.  Make education important and commit to graduating.  If you cannot afford formal training, get a library card and read books on subjects that interest you.  It’s never too late to learn something new. 

Ms. Tucker does point out a mistaken philosophy in her column, but it’s not Dr. Carson’s philosophy that is mistaken.  The mistaken philosophy is believing the media and its excuses about the unimportance of person responsibility in personal success.