Carter G. Woodson- Mis-Education of the Negro- Chapter 5: The Failure to Learn to Make a Living pt 1

It’s Black History Month, so I am reprinting a series of posts regarding Shaw resident and Father of Black History, Carter G. Woodson and his book The Mis-Education of the Negro, published in 1933. This was originally two posts. I cannot merge this into one monster post, so it will be in two parts.

Once again, Woodson has bad things to say about Black college graduates and praise for Black business. The Chapter 5 posts are split into two posts because there are two themes in this chapter. The first theme is African American college graduates are somewhat useless to the Black race. The second is related, AfAm college graduates are a drain, if not a detriment, to Black business. Yes, surprising from the father of Black history, if you knew nothing else about him. He makes a fairly good point in his argument and his goal is ultimately the betterment of the Black/Negro race. However, you’re not going to get to a better place with false praise and excuses. Let’s get into this.

Let’s start with the question hated by many a college student when explaining themselves to their relatives, “what are you going to do with a X degree?” For me it was History. I’d dropped out of Business school because of math. What can you do with a BA in History? Teach, be a poor living history staff member, work at Wal-Mart as one History prof suggested.

Woodson, for the past couple of chapters have complained about the Black college graduate. Continue reading Carter G. Woodson- Mis-Education of the Negro- Chapter 5: The Failure to Learn to Make a Living pt 1