In these hard economic times, we are all having to make major financial decisions. Nowhere is this being felt more than the areas of charities. Donations to the Salvation Army as well as major food banks across the nation have taken a major hit. African Americans have been notoriously known to be the least “giving” when it comes to charitable donations, but welcome recipients. Nothing has brought this point home to me more than my personal attempts to reach out and help some children in a low-income neighborhood in Chicago this past week. I am a substitute teacher in an economically challenged school on the West Side of Chicago. I see everyday the plight of our youth whose parents are no longer parents. They have succumb to drug usage, prison life, and most of all, lack of self-esteem exacerbated by lack of education. The children of these “parents” come to school hungry, unkempt and with a general disregard for human life – their own in particular. I recently posted an ad on Craigslist, Facebook, and Myspace asking for small donations (not monetary, mind you) for three children in particular. Here is how the ad read:
Hi! I am a substitute teacher looking to help three kids in our school that REALLY need help! They are a 7th grade boy, 5th grade girl and 1st grade girl (who is extremely tall for her age). They are lacking basic necessities such as soap, hair products, and especially CLOTHES that FIT! The boy is kinda tall but should be about 32" in the waist, the 5th grader is about a size 14 in girls or a 0-1 in juniors, and the 1st grader is about a size 8-10 in girls just because of her height. They are siblings and the mother is doing just enough to not have her children removed by DCFS. These kids are being mocked at school by other children and it is effecting their academic performance (they are all extremely bright). PLEASE, if you have any gently used closed or find it in your heart to purchase something, it would be greatly appreciated. For the 5th grade girl, donations of "girly" items such as lip gloss, nail polish, body wash, any of those things that help during the first stages of puberty would really help. Also for the boy, AXE body wash, little cologne samples or any items like that would be appreciated as well. I will come and pick up any items that you have to donate. THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!!!!!
Let me tell you, the response was somewhat overwhelming seeing that I am one person who was doing this on my own. I received replies from so many people, and I have to say that one particular person who I went to high school with jumped into action immediately and mobilized people in her place of work as well as called on personal friends. I can't thank those individuals enough. The donations we simply toiletry items, books, a few clothing items, and even a Target gift certificate.
NOT ONE DONOR WAS AFRICAN AMERICAN! No, I retract that statement, ONE DONOR WAS AFRICAN AMERICAN! You can imagine my dismay as I received email after email, and talking to individuals on the telephone, then making pick ups - I had one African American donor. I sat there thinking, “You have to be fucking kidding me!” I had to check my email accounts again to be sure that I didn't forget anyone or that I had no overlooked anyone, and no, I hadn't. I couldn't believe that all these people whom I had attended school with, who bragged on their “baller” status, and their commitments to community service, could not take the time out to just look in their bathrooms for things that they didn't need nor use and donate. NO MONEY WAS REQUESTED AT ANY TIME!
This could have been you growing up and for many of us, it may have very well have been. As much as we talk about taking care of our own, who came to these children's rescue - my Caucasian and Asian brothers and sisters. This was a reality check for me. As African Americans, we talk the talk, but how many of us are really walking the walk?
People, our children are hurting. We are not investing in our future, yet we will have plenty to say in 10 years when we receive our ROI (Return On Investment). Wake up and get to work – OUR CHILDREN ARE COUNTING ON YOU!
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