Oppression and Privilege

Imagine what the growing number of children in poverty would say to President Obama and members of Congress — Ole Saint Nick and the Elves — about what they want for Christmas and the New Year.

This is the season of giving. Grown-ups search the caverns of their minds to find those unique and special gifts for family members and loved ones. Kids are often equally challenged as they try to prioritize what gifts or gadgets they want most from jolly old Saint Nick.

A federal study released last week on the achievement gap between black and white students in the nation’s major urban school systems paints a dismal picture. According to the statistics from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, considered the nation’s report card, in most major urban areas there has been little or no progress in closing the gap.