African American Associate Professor Ivory A Toldson - Coursework Example

Ivory A. Toldson C:\Documents and Settings\Администратор\Application Data\NwDocx\Pictures\IMAGE1.JPEG- Ivory A. Toldson Introduction Numerous researchers and renowned scholars of African American studies are from the 1900’s. They were also dedicated mostly to one field of African American studies: some focused only on slavery, some on their music and some on the African American political studies, among others (Toldson, 2008). However, today, we have Ivory A. Toldson, an African American associate professor at Hogwarts, who has taken the initiative to study African Americans. Ivory A. Toldson is also a senior research analyst working at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He is responsible for putting out numerous publications, with topics related to the suffering of African Americans (Toldson, 2008). This paper will carry out a research on Ivory A. Toldson. It will discuss the biological sketch of Toldson, a summary of his scholarly works and an analysis of Toldson. Finally, the paper will conclude with a summary of the key findings of this research. Biographical Sketch Dr. Ivory A. Toldson works as an associate professor and a senior research analyst at Howard University and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation respectively. Toldson has numerous publications that discuss the lives of African Americans (Toldson, 2009). These publications are, for instance, The Journal of Negro Education, Acting Black, and Cellblock vs. College among others. He has over 60 recognized writings, as well as research presentations in over 32 states, in America, Puerto Rico, Paris, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Scotland and Barcelona. Ivory A. Toldson has been featured on NPR News, C-SPAN2 Books, The Al Sharpton Show on WKYS 93.9 and XM Satellite. His research has been featured on BET.com, Essence.com, The Root and The Griot, as well as Ebony magazine (Toldson, 2012). Toldson gave professional remarks in three documentaries regarding Black male achievements and success. These documentaries were Beyond the Bricks, the Promise Trackers and Hoodwinked. Referred to as a myth buster, Ivory A. Toldson has published reports that challenge the merits of popular research news and reports, which present negative statistics regarding black people. Toldson based these reports on topics that were discussed academically and in the popular media (Linked In, 2012). Toldson is also a contributing educational editor for the Journal of Root and Empower. In 2005, Toldson was the winner of EboNetwork’s Changing Faces awards for portraying literary quality in his novel, Black Sheep (Linked In, 2012). Dr. Ivory A. Toldson is also the writer of The Breaking Barriers Series. The book discusses the academic success indicators from national surveys, which together gives voice to thousands of African American pupils all across America (Toldson, 2008). Toldson, through his consulting organization, CREATE, LLC, normally works with schools to develop their ability of promoting academic success among African American males. After finishing his coursework for a Ph.D. at Temple University in Counseling Psychology, Toldson became a forensic and correctional psychology resident at the U.S. Penitentiary. While at the penitentiary, Toldson completed his dissertation on African American men in the Criminal Justice System (Toldson, 2008). After completion, he joined the staff of Southern University and became the fourth receiver of the prestigious DuBois Fellowship from the Unites States Department of Justice. Toldson also worked as the clinical manager of the Manhood Training Village (Toldson, 2012). Toldson has received formal training and education in applied statistics from the University of Michigan. Finally, he is known for holding research talks and teachers appointments with topics about African American at Emory, Morehouse and Drexel School of Medicine. Summary of Scholarly Work Dr. Ivory A. Toldson has written numerous books and publications, which have had considerable receptions. Toldson writings mainly talk about African Americans with numerous topics, such as criminal justice and academic. Some of his publications are Black Sheep, Acting Black, Cellblock vs. College, Education Parity and Economic Disparities, Breaking Education Barriers, among others. Black Sheep is a book that seeks to give the lost generation of African American youths in society a voice, as well as the professionals, who are trying to save the African American youth (Toldson, 2012). In addition to giving insight and intellectual nourishment, Toldson’s book also gives African Americans hope. He invites the reader into a reality filled with social stigmas, ill fates and systematic challenges, which are the renowned stumbling blocks of the African American youth. Black Sheep, a haunting suspense novel, is narrated through the eyes of Duce, a prominent student, who becomes obsessed with his thesis (Toldson, 2012). Duce, in the mist of his self absorption, loses sight of reality and starts to live with his nightmares and fears. He soon finds out that his greatest fear will not appear in the form of a research paper, but in knowing how to confront his present fears and fighting the demons of his past. Toldson does a magnificent work of puzzling a reader’s current perspective on life through offering hard core comparisons, which help people understand the present state of the African American youth. A question normally echoed in popular discourse is whether African American children consider being smart as white children. Critics such as Stuart Buck and Bill Cosby have taken this debate to the mainstream media. This is what Dr. Ivory A. Toldson discusses in his article, Acting Black (Toldson, 2008). He talks about how not only African American children, but grownups as well, try to act as whites and forget their culture. According to Toldson, such individuals have fallen into the white supremacy belief. They consider whites to be superior to any other race in the world. According to Toldson, African Americans will also accuse their equivalents of acting white considering it as a way of acting against the interest of African Americans. Toldson, in his article, gives the reader insights of the significance of African Americans and why they should believe in themselves (Toldson, 2008). Even though, the whites seem superior, African Americans also have positive sides, which the whites wish they had. The third review of Ivory A. Toldson is his article, Cellblock vs. College, discusses the university life African Americans (Toldson, 2008). In the United States, African Americans are enrolled to various learning institutions, which also house numerous races. However, African Americans seem to suffer most when compared to other racial groups in these universities. They are mistreated by other students just because of their skin color. Cellblock vs. College, as the name suggests, talks about the jail life and college life of African Americans (Toldson, 2008). Toldson discusses the number of African American inmates in American jails which is higher than African American students in universities. This proves that criminal activities, with regards to African Americans, are extremely high. However, Toldson blames white people for this happening. They are responsible for undermining African Americans, which has caused them to divert to criminal activities in order to earn a living (Toldson, 2008). Further reading of this book is advised in order to get insight to the criminal life of African Americans. With the help of the American Community Survey to form Public-Use Microdata Samples, Toldson’s fourth article, Education Parity and Economic Disparities, discusses the educational and economic gap between African Americans and white people. According to Toldson, the hardships experienced by African Americans can be linked to the educational and economic gap between African Americans and white people (Toldson, 2008). According to the American Community Survey, whites receive a better education and are enrolled to better schools than African Americans. Also, when it comes to employment, the whites are considered more than the African Americans. The article, therefore, discusses the policy implications, which brings about these disparities among African Americans and whites. Notwithstanding numerous economic and social strides, which African Americans have attained over the last century, Toldson article suggests that African Americans socioeconomic wellbeing continues to lag behind the whites (Toldson, 2009). The author, therefore, goes on to explain how African Americans themselves can put in efforts to elevate themselves. Finally, with regards to Breaking the Barriers to Education, the educational hopes of African American students are certainly persuaded by the choices, which are available to them (Toldson, 2009). With more than a third of African American students living below the federal poverty line and a high school graduation rate of just 50% in some states, African American students, mainly males, experience numerous barriers to academic victory. Education policies ought to analyze the full extent of the experience of African American students if they ever hope to create significant changes in their education (Toldson, 2009). In order to develop the academic and life outcomes for African American students, Toldson believes that policy should center on the social, personal and emotional factors, which often influence school performance. In Breaking the Barriers to Education, Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, main findings point to the fact that personal, social, family, environmental and school factors play a leading role in the capability of young students to perform and fruitfully participate in an academic setting. Analysis Dr. Ivory A. Toldson books were very influential to me. Black Sheep is one of the greatest novels, which I have read in a long time. Even though, I am not Duce, I saw parts of me in him, which made me dig deep into myself. This book gives people a feeling that we are all haunted by Lucifer. However, not many of us are as fortunate as Duce as he finds and fights the demons that haunt him. The book ought to be given national attention. It should also be distributed in every substance abuse clinic, ghetto, juvenile center and prison, where African Americans struggle to find a reality. Dr. Ivory A. Toldson should be thanked for writing such a deep and devoted piece of work, which did, with no doubts, improve the intelligence of its readers as it highlighted the struggles that African Americans still face today. Currently, Dr. Ivory A. Toldson is widely regarded as one of the most significant scholars of this generation. He is young yet has influenced a lot of scholars and researchers. Toldson’s significant contributions to the African American study were fostered by his writings and at the places where he works, at Howard University and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. At these institutions, Toldson has researched and written numerous articles about African Americans. All his articles and books have received considerable receptions both by normal readers and educational institutions. They are extremely influential as they offer insight to both African Americans of the generation before the civil rights and after the era. Identified as a leader who can credibly navigate the path to the white house, Ivory A. Toldson, in line with the Howard University Quest Magazine, works more as a sought-after researcher and lecturer on a number of serious psychological and sociological issues, which have implications on African Americans. In accordance to Capstone Magazine, he spent a lot of time touring the whole of America talking to educators about misleading media statistics that invariably either connects Black males to crimes, as well as their ability to learn. The findings, in Dr. Ivory A. Toldson writings, remind and also, provide me with statistical facts for commonly held truisms in contemporary education and discrimination of African Americans (Linked In, 2012). Toldson holds that education is most valuable when it supports constructive school-related growth experiences, with a strong emphasis on child-teacher relationships, emotional support and didactic learning. Positive parent-child communication, comprising of parents expressing praise, assisting with homework, cooperative parenting arrangements and discussing the dangers of substance abuse, promotes academic success among African American students. Offering community resources, as well as academic assistance to children in low-income regions, which erect character by civic volunteerism, engagement and sports, can improve academic success (Linked In, 2012). Most importantly, Tolson articles persuade people to advocate for policies, which reduce racial differences and disparities in income. They also persuade people to increase inclusion and equity in education. Conclusion In conclusion, Dr. Ivory A. Toldson has been able to uncover the African American world of today, which differs significantly from the African Americans before the Civil Rights movement. His works mostly talk about how African Americans fall into the world of crime and how they miss out in the vital educational field. According to Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, African Americans are given little considerations when it comes to creating educational policies. These, however, should be changed and policies should cater to all races. Also, discrimination at the work place should be stopped in order to improve the lives of African Americans. References Linked In. (2012). Ivory A. Toldson Associate Professor at Howard University. Retrieved from http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ivory-toldson/26/658/719 Toldson, I. (2008). Editors in chief. Washington D.C.; Howard University Press. Toldson, I. (2008). Ivory A. Toldson: A Howard University quarterly review of issues incidents to the education of Black people. The Journal of Negro Education, 34(2), 3-6. Toldson, I. (2009). Breaking the education barriers. Carolina: Carolina Academic Press. Toldson, I. (2012). Black sheep. Retrieved from http://toldson.com/index2.htm Read More