Inner City Students Need a Chance to Be Brilliant – by Martin Davis

Young people in the inner city public school system face peer pressure daily, pressure just for speaking proper English, asking questions in class, turning in homework, carrying books to and from school, and studying for tests. When I heard African American students talk about these challenges, I knew right then and there that something had to change in our schools. That’s why I created the Be Brilliant project. A change in our children’s mindset was in order.

When being ignorant and illiterate was considered “Cool”, and getting good grades, studying, and speaking proper English was “Acting White” there was a definite disconnect that had to be addressed. Had our young people become that brainwashed by society when doing time in prison got you more accolades than receiving your college degree? Were we at the point were speaking properly was criticized and talking in slang and Ebonics was “Keeping it Real” or “Being Down”? Had our children been conditioned over the past 2 decades that only white people should be well educated and speak proper English? Were we conditioned to believe that we were only meant to be rappers, drug dealers, singers or athletes in order to become wealthy?

It’s hard to believe it happens, but carrying books to and from school to do your homework can cause you to be the object of teasing, bullying, threats and criticism. The African American community has dropped the ball on our children. We need a national campaign to encourage and support our children who want to excel in school.

Be Brilliant is here to pick up the ball and run with it. Our initiative was created to make it “Cool” again to want to be the smartest kid in class. The campaign lets our kids know to never be ashamed of being brilliant, speaking intelligently, excelling in academics, and creating a future through education. Our campaign informs our young people that they will have options and opportunities in a competitive job market when they obtain a good education.

This web site will enlighten young people that there are 2 paths that people take when growing up, the easy way out which consist of cutting class, not doing homework, never studying, and expecting when you grow up, that someone will hand you a six figure job. But of course the easy way out doesn’t end well for many of our brothers and sisters. In many cases, the easy way out leads you down the road of destruction, to prison, homelessness, minimum wage earnings, and death on the streets.

The Be Brilliant path consists of Hard Work and Dedication. Our path isn’t easy and will require, ambition, focus, drive, and determination. The Be Brilliant path consist of attending classes on time and every day, being engaged while in class, doing your homework, studying for exams, and conducting yourself as a honor student focused on your future.

You have to make a decision my brothers and sisters between the 2 paths. It’s just that simple. We see the 2 different paths come to fruition every day. We see those students who excel in high school and enroll in colleges and universities across the country, and we see those “Cool” students, who drop out of school, get locked up, become homeless, unemployed, or killed on the streets. One path provides options and opportunities to success, the other path normally leads to a dead end literally.

Don’t allow your family, friends or peers to steer you down the wrong path. Be Brilliant!

Martin Davis
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