The Mis-Education of the Negro Paperback – July 3, 2011

A true hero

The second African American (after W.E.B. Dubois) to gain a PhD at Harvard, Woodson had a multifaceted career as an "American historian, author, journalist, and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History". ["He was one of the first scholars to study the history of the African diaspora, including African-American history. A founder of The Journal of Negro History in 1916, Woodson has been called the "father of black history" - cited from the Wikipedia biographical article].On the one hand, Carter criticized the preference of White leaders for industrial-vocational training of blacks, because this would continue subservient status for Blacks in American society. Liberal arts education provided the background in history, science, culture and politics needed for Blacks to communIcate and exercise their citizen rights in society. But he also decried exaggerated tendencies toward cultural eclecticism on the part of some Black leaders. Carter ascribed to the professional principles of historians that stressed breadth and accuracy.In tracing the history of the Journal of Negro History (now Journal of African American History), I find that it emphasized solid and meaningful scholarship and chronicling of Black life in America up through the later 1960s, but in more recent time published articles have tended to move toward more eclectic and specialized themes. This is partly understandable because until the Brown vs. Board of Education and subsequent advances in civil rights Black writers and editors probably felt a need to concentrate on critical issues. However, given the turmoil over Black issues in recent years, there certainly is a need for the kind of work that Carter's own publications exemplified.

Where was this book when I was going to school from 1950-62? I could not put it down once I began to read it, because it reminded me of so much of what I needed in my growth and developement was not made available to me as a young person of color growing up in a segregated society, and many of those who think that we have arrived at a color-blind point in America need to read this book, and then compare it to what is happening with us today. The author was relevent then in his revelations and in his effort to open eyes and minds to the lack of knowledge of self, and is more relevent now, because, too many educated people of color find it even harder to succeed in today's job market and the available employment opportunities. We still allow others to control almost every aspect of our lives, including what we are to learn, think, and accept from the world in which we live and the institutions which influences the minds of our children. Morover, we continue to consume more of what others produce for us than what we produce for ourselves. It is time we become producers and traders of goods and services in this nation and in our communities, and we should insist that our children be taught skills that will help them to become self-sufficient and self-reliant. A college education means nothing if you cannot do more than just make a living, and if what you have studied is not marketable for more than teaching the same to someone else. Help someone to learn to produce something or provide a service that is needed by others in a world that is forever changing.

I'm a retired educator and never heard of this book, even in the early 70's when I was in my second year of college. I wish I had read it back then when I was doing my practicum in a mixed race school district. About the book itself, the introduction is as potent as the book. My husband borrowed the book to take to work, but when I get it back I will quote the passage that revealed how important this book is to understand the recent revelations to many whites that Negros, in their segregated schools (even in the Northern and Western states!), were deliberately taught to mispronounce words that they might use in everyday conversation or when speaking with white school district authorities, making it difficult to make effective objections or mount cohesive arguments for better education.

I purchased this book for class and the product itself came in great condition. This perspective is very useful and is highly worth a read even almost a century later.

I purchased several copies of this text for the students I tutor. I have also used this text in book clubs that I've hosted and students are always so shocked at the relevance. They think it's a book about current events until I show them the original publication date. They must know that if they don't know or understand history, they are doomed to repeat it. This also gives them insight into the plight of AAs in this country so they know their situations are not unique. Highly recommend reading this if you haven't already done so. You can easily find or create a discussion guide for it as well as have history/biography lessons about the time period and author.

This book was incredible. It discusses so many topics which are still relevant today. I am quite surprised this was not required reading in school, especially in my classes which focused on Black History, Sociology and Literature.If you are Black you NEED TO READ THIS BOOK! It's not only well written, but thought provoking and eye opening.Even though I have this on my Kindle I am purchasing a physical copy because I need to have this in my possession.

This is a wonderful book to help educate an individual. It is not only for blacks but for whites as well. It is important to understand the educational foundation that we are growing through. This book helps me move forward and be the best individual that I can be. It is very important that I use my Curious mind to get my answers. Sometimes I must go deeper than what is given to me on the surface. This is a wonderful book to look at how blacks have been miseducated. And if you happen to be non-melanated you can get much Pearls of Wisdom for yourself for the white community and if you are working with the black community.

What an amazing piece of literature. You are transported back in time as this narrative describes the present fate of the 'negro', the conditions in which he finds himself and how the social discourse and geo-political climate merely serve to further subjugate. The reader is immediately gripped by the almost polemical style of writing as Woodson caricatures the 'negro' in his discussion of mis - education. This caricature is necessary though to convey the way that the 'negro' is disenfranchised within the education system. Woodson manages it beautifully in this rhetorical masterpiece.It is striking that all the issues that Carter discusses are the issues of today. His writing comes across as patronising but this is not the intention. His message is clear. A must read for all those concerned with social justice. I could not put it down.

Received this book a while back have finished reading. Thank you a great read

Well written from an excellent understanding of the American racial reality vis a vie the melanated male

I'M STILL READING, BUT I CAN SAY FOR SURE, THAT IT'S A VERY WONDERFUL BOOK, ALL THAT'S WRITTEN IS SO VERY TRUE , UNFORTUNATELY. I LOVED THIS EDITION, IT'S SIZE AND LETTERS ARE REALLY GOOD.

Livro forte. O pessimismo de um negro sobre o seu povo ha mais de 70 anos mostra que devemos ser otimistas hj. Muito mudou, mas ha muito a se conquistar. Ele vivo hj, vibraria pelo BLM, mas tb festejaria a quantidade maior de pretos fazendo a diferença no mundo.