4 ms·

Probably applies to all children, not just those with specific genetic attributes.

pm90 7y ago
True in principle, but the difference is that the children with certain genetic attributes tend to get this kind of support while others don't.
- humanrebar 7y ago
  There are plenty of boys stuck in intergenerational poverty and dysfunction all across the spectrum of genetic attributes. You can't tell a neglected boy that statistically he is well nurtured and has good role models.
  - pm90 7y ago
    > You can't tell a neglected boy that statistically he is well nurtured and has good role models. Nobody will. Literally nobody said that. When talking about assistance programs to the needy, we consider statistical data in order to target the most needy. So eg the result is providing funding for these programs in minority heavy schools.
    - humanrebar 7y ago
      The lowest income counties are generally rural: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lowest-income_counties_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lowest-income_counties... Though I don't know why it needs to be a competition. The content in the article is good for people to consider for the boys they care about in their lives. The biggest difference most people make isn't becoming convinced about policy positions but in how they engage with their loved ones and local communities.
bdcravens 7y ago
True, but I believe the author (who is a black male) is speaking to counteracting the trauma caused by the current state of affairs.
mlyle 7y ago
Being deliberately obtuse doesn't improve the quality of discourse.
zozbot234 7y ago
The author shares these kids' "specific genetic attributes" and feels that they're especially qualified to talk about what these kids need. They don't necessarily trust their own expertise beyond that.
jmull 7y ago
Of course that's true. In fact, it's obvious enough that we can be fairly sure the author knows this too. I could just tell you why I think this article is focused as it is, but I think it will be a lot more useful if I challenge you. So: why do you think this article is titled and focused as it is on black boys?
- Noumenon72 7y ago
  What it made me think of is how I see people being an extra level of harsh with black boys who run at the swimming pool or talk at the library. To me it seems like authority figures fear them getting out of control, think they only respond to discipline, or have had enough problems before that they crack down hard. I think I would respond more rebelliously to that approach myself. I'm not saying black boys would respond the same way whites do if they were accommodated the way whites are, but pure discipline doesn't seem helpful.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
clSTophEjUdRanu 7y ago
If only genetic attributes ended there. Genetic attributes cause people to be treated differently by society.
krapp 7y ago
Race as a social and political construct is what is being discussed here. Genetics is only relevant to the degree that it provides a visual heuristic in skin color by which the construct of race is applied and enforced.
goldcd 7y ago
That was my (white) read on the story. I think what's missing isn't so much simply mentorship - it's advocacy. The children suffering the most domestic instability are those least likely to get a parent helping them or helping their school to help them. My (widowed, middle-class, white) mother volunteered for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sure_Start https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sure_Start and as an assistant in schools. She guided immigrant families coming to the country through the hurdles and stories of upset "native" children being upset as Daddy's come home [from prison] and isn't being nice to Mummy. My takeaway feeling from hearing the stories (aside from pride) is that I, and I presume most of us here, were so so lucky. We got a pretty decent launch into the world and made of it what we wanted - we've got complaints, but mainly through our own actions.
thosakwe 7y ago
Are you seriously "All Lives Matter"-ing this? Not just that, but nothing you said adds value to the conversation.

pm90 7y ago

True in principle, but the difference is that the children with certain genetic attributes tend to get this kind of support while others don't.

humanrebar 7y ago
There are plenty of boys stuck in intergenerational poverty and dysfunction all across the spectrum of genetic attributes. You can't tell a neglected boy that statistically he is well nurtured and has good role models.
- pm90 7y ago
  > You can't tell a neglected boy that statistically he is well nurtured and has good role models. Nobody will. Literally nobody said that. When talking about assistance programs to the needy, we consider statistical data in order to target the most needy. So eg the result is providing funding for these programs in minority heavy schools.
  - humanrebar 7y ago
    The lowest income counties are generally rural: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lowest-income_counties_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lowest-income_counties... Though I don't know why it needs to be a competition. The content in the article is good for people to consider for the boys they care about in their lives. The biggest difference most people make isn't becoming convinced about policy positions but in how they engage with their loved ones and local communities.

bdcravens 7y ago

True, but I believe the author (who is a black male) is speaking to counteracting the trauma caused by the current state of affairs.

mlyle 7y ago

Being deliberately obtuse doesn't improve the quality of discourse.

zozbot234 7y ago

The author shares these kids' "specific genetic attributes" and feels that they're especially qualified to talk about what these kids need. They don't necessarily trust their own expertise beyond that.

jmull 7y ago

Of course that's true. In fact, it's obvious enough that we can be fairly sure the author knows this too. I could just tell you why I think this article is focused as it is, but I think it will be a lot more useful if I challenge you. So: why do you think this article is titled and focused as it is on black boys?

Noumenon72 7y ago
What it made me think of is how I see people being an extra level of harsh with black boys who run at the swimming pool or talk at the library. To me it seems like authority figures fear them getting out of control, think they only respond to discipline, or have had enough problems before that they crack down hard. I think I would respond more rebelliously to that approach myself. I'm not saying black boys would respond the same way whites do if they were accommodated the way whites are, but pure discipline doesn't seem helpful.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

clSTophEjUdRanu 7y ago

If only genetic attributes ended there. Genetic attributes cause people to be treated differently by society.

krapp 7y ago

Race as a social and political construct is what is being discussed here. Genetics is only relevant to the degree that it provides a visual heuristic in skin color by which the construct of race is applied and enforced.

goldcd 7y ago

That was my (white) read on the story. I think what's missing isn't so much simply mentorship - it's advocacy. The children suffering the most domestic instability are those least likely to get a parent helping them or helping their school to help them. My (widowed, middle-class, white) mother volunteered for https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sure_Start https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sure_Start and as an assistant in schools. She guided immigrant families coming to the country through the hurdles and stories of upset "native" children being upset as Daddy's come home [from prison] and isn't being nice to Mummy. My takeaway feeling from hearing the stories (aside from pride) is that I, and I presume most of us here, were so so lucky. We got a pretty decent launch into the world and made of it what we wanted - we've got complaints, but mainly through our own actions.

thosakwe 7y ago

Are you seriously "All Lives Matter"-ing this? Not just that, but nothing you said adds value to the conversation.