Reactions to Biden’s “Build Back Better Plan” & its Role in Black Education
Currently, the Biden administration is putting the final touches on their “Build Back Better” Plan. I’ll obviously be focusing on the parts of the plan discussing education. The education portion of the bill is a reported $761 Billion. You can read the full AP article here. Here are some of the good things coming from it:
Pros
- The article states the goal of the Build Back Better plan is to “remove barriers to education that for decades have resulted in wage and learning disparities based on race and income.”
- Promising Americans two free years of both Pre-K and Community Colleges
- Expanded childcare benefits
Cons
- Funding for historically Black colleges and universities, for example, has been slashed from Biden’s earlier plans. As lawmakers eye other possible cost-saving moves, money to repair aging school buildings could lose out.
My thoughts
I am a democrat. I voted for Joe Biden. I didn’t necessarily do it with a huge smile on my face but I’m rarely enamored with any politician so take that as you will. I understand what it is. However, reading this was disturbing and I will tell you why. Biden rode in on rhetoric that he was going to help Black people. Instead, Black people got parades while other groups got legislation.
So when Biden began discussing policy that would do a better job of supporting HBCUs and addressing educational policy that would positively impact Black people, I was skeptical. Then this article came and the first thing mentioned on the chopping block is his support for HBCUs. I’m not surprised. Listen, we have a job to push these politicians to actually serve us. I never feel like that happens which is a large reason why I go so hard pushing the concept of Agency. These people work for us, so make em work for us.
I want to see Biden be successful. I also want my people t o understand we deserve better in the way of policy. No more moral victories, stop accepting the party when there isn’t anything to celebrate. Other groups getting their legislation, it is high time we get ours. Regardless of who sits in that seat as president, whether I like them or loathe them, I believe we have a duty to ensure our people get what they need. We can’t afford to sit out. In the meantime, the beforetime, and the future-time, we are on our own.
We’ll be discussing this on Common Grounds for Self-Determination. Hit the link to either watch live or catch the recording. Here are some questions for you to ponder as a reader:
What should Black and Brown people do to actually get quality education in this country?
What would the reaction to cutting HBCU support from the bill if this happened under Trump?
Dr. Charles Cole, III is an educator focused on the advancement of youth, but more specifically Black males. His experience helped lead to the publication of his first book, Beyond Grit and Resilience. As founder of Energy Convertors, Charles comes from the community and has shared many of the students’ experiences. Charles is currently a board member of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, and co-host of the 8 Black Hands Podcast.
Charles’ life goal is to better the communities he grew up in, which include Chicago, Paducah (KY), and Oakland.
