12 August 2007

Dictating Respect

Black Male Forum 'Made in Britain' Campaign: Campaigning to promote positive images of black boysThe Conservative's prospective parliamentary candidate for Hammersmith, Shaun Bailey, makes some good points in the Independent on Sunday about Thursday's Reach report, which proposed setting up a structured national role model programme for black boys:

The problems that affect our young people go way deeper than just providing positive role models, although this could be a helpful step. We need to relearn what the parental and family role should be, and not rely on an ever-growing state that has shown it cannot answer the problems affecting many families. If you know children who are doing well, I bet you see parents who are involved with them, set a good example and take a leading role in their lives.

I would hate it to be thought that these are problems facing the black community exclusively. They are rife in the white community, too. If you think I'm wrong, take a look at the rates of sexually transmitted infection among teenagers, or our growing teenage prison population, or the number of children leaving school unable to read. These things are a problem for us all, black or white.
Have a read and let us know what you think.

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