Shot-callers', not 'shottas'
published: Wednesday | April 5, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

AS A university student abroad, I lament the state of education in the black diaspora. I was taken aback when I heard a black college student at a prestigious university ask a teacher the formula for the area of a rectangle. The problem with education in this generation is that it is not nearly as glamorised as the musicians like 50 Cent or Cash Money Millionaires, the clothing brands like Nike, or the many television shows and movies.

Many kids do not realise that the 'shot-callers' are lawyers like Stephen Vascianne, the businessmen like Michael Lee Chin or Wayne Chen, the doctors like Keith Black and Ben Carson, and the engineers like I hope to become.

We as a people need to place higher importance on our education and to teach our children about the greatness that comes with excelling in a field like the ones mentioned above, among others. We need to encourage our children to become 'shot-callers' and not 'shottas'. I ask that the 'shot-callers' mentor the 'shottas'. Finally, we need to 'shoot for the stars' and stop shooting each other.

I am, etc.,

ANDREW WILSON

andrewphilipw5@yahoo.com

Via Go-Jamaica