DCPS is embarrassing but this ain’t the issue

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal/teacher looked ridiculous.

Bezos means nothing to those kids and why should he. He has done nothing to help them or their community and has in fact had a detrimental effect on working people in the US and other countries. Good for these kids for not giving him and his PR people the photo op they were looking for.

So this is the culture? They only know people giving out handouts?

It isn't handouts -- it's cultural relevance, which he doesn't have. If they wanted it to be a more engaging visit, they wouldn't have made it a surprise, had students learn about Bezos -- good and bad -- and ask questions. He went looking to be applauded; maybe he should have gone to learn.

White kids know black celebraties and historical figures

Do they know the founder of BET? Do they know Robert F. Smith? Would they recognize either by sight if they showed up randomly at their school?

Most people would know Jeff Bezos in context. However, that's not the same thing as being able to recognize him by sight without any introduction. He's not a celebrity or public figure in that way- someone who we know by sight because we see their image in movies, tv shows, ads, etc.

There are about 600 billionaires in the US. I would guess that overwhelming majority of people would not be identify any of them by sight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal/teacher looked ridiculous.

Bezos means nothing to those kids and why should he. He has done nothing to help them or their community and has in fact had a detrimental effect on working people in the US and other countries. Good for these kids for not giving him and his PR people the photo op they were looking for.

So this is the culture? They only know people giving out handouts?

It isn't handouts -- it's cultural relevance, which he doesn't have. If they wanted it to be a more engaging visit, they wouldn't have made it a surprise, had students learn about Bezos -- good and bad -- and ask questions. He went looking to be applauded; maybe he should have gone to learn.

White kids know black celebraties and historical figures

Celebrities are interesting and entertaining. Historical figures are taught in school.

I would guess that most students wouldn't recognize Warren Buffett either -- and he has more ties to DC having graduated from Wilson.

For those who followed Gawker back in the day, you will recall when their Harvard-educated white "media reporter" was covering an event in Sag Harbor and made a joking reference to "Mutton Chop Man". Turned out Mutton Chop Man was Earl Graves, the iconic and highly visible publisher of Black Enterprise magazine, a New York fixture, and at that time the most visible black man in media save for maybe Bryant Gumbel. And this was the media reporter. We all need to do better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal/teacher looked ridiculous.

Bezos means nothing to those kids and why should he. He has done nothing to help them or their community and has in fact had a detrimental effect on working people in the US and other countries. Good for these kids for not giving him and his PR people the photo op they were looking for.

So this is the culture? They only know people giving out handouts?

It isn't handouts -- it's cultural relevance, which he doesn't have. If they wanted it to be a more engaging visit, they wouldn't have made it a surprise, had students learn about Bezos -- good and bad -- and ask questions. He went looking to be applauded; maybe he should have gone to learn.

White kids know black celebraties and historical figures

White kids know MLK and Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass, and whatever 2 hour window most curricula gives them all together. And Obama. Step out of that box and no they do not, Not their fault, but I teach and that's the truth until teacher goes out of the way.

Anonymous wrote:I think you don't quite understand the degree to which anyone outside of a teen's generation does not register. They don't read, they don't watch live TV. They know what is pushed to them via Instagram and Twitter and Snapchat. This is the world we live in.

Exactly. Maybe if Jeff Bezos were dating Cardi B. Or if they did a video together.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're not talking about Bill Gates here. I would not expect a random group of teens to know who he is without a thoughtful introduction.

Bezos is richest

That’s a rather new phenomenon. It’s ridiculous to think teens should know who Jeff Bezos is. Same with Jim Walton, Larry ellison, Michael Bloomberg, Koch, Soros. I’m sure he knows Zuckerberg, but I don’t expect them to know him. This is just a silly and petty thread.

Anonymous wrote:We're not talking about Bill Gates here. I would not expect a random group of teens to know who he is without a thoughtful introduction.

Bezos is richest

We're not talking about Bill Gates here. I would not expect a random group of teens to know who he is without a thoughtful introduction.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone knows Alexa. He is Alexa's dad.

Isn’t Alexa his mistress?

Anonymous wrote:Rich guy who cheats and doesn't treat employees well. Who cares?

It depends on the company. A lot of Amazon employees are well treated. The issue is the lower paid jobs and traditionally those folks are not treated well at any company, not just Amazon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal/teacher looked ridiculous.

Bezos means nothing to those kids and why should he. He has done nothing to help them or their community and has in fact had a detrimental effect on working people in the US and other countries. Good for these kids for not giving him and his PR people the photo op they were looking for.

So this is the culture? They only know people giving out handouts?

It isn't handouts -- it's cultural relevance, which he doesn't have. If they wanted it to be a more engaging visit, they wouldn't have made it a surprise, had students learn about Bezos -- good and bad -- and ask questions. He went looking to be applauded; maybe he should have gone to learn.

White kids know black celebraties and historical figures

So any white kid in Arlington will know who this is right? Otherwise we get to call them ignorant on an anonymous website.

I totally own my own ignorance--who is this??

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/robert-smith-morehouse-college-billionaire-vista-equity-partners-wealth/

Rich guy who cheats and doesn't treat employees well. Who cares?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal/teacher looked ridiculous.

Bezos means nothing to those kids and why should he. He has done nothing to help them or their community and has in fact had a detrimental effect on working people in the US and other countries. Good for these kids for not giving him and his PR people the photo op they were looking for.

So this is the culture? They only know people giving out handouts?

It isn't handouts -- it's cultural relevance, which he doesn't have. If they wanted it to be a more engaging visit, they wouldn't have made it a surprise, had students learn about Bezos -- good and bad -- and ask questions. He went looking to be applauded; maybe he should have gone to learn.

White kids know black celebraties and historical figures

So any white kid in Arlington will know who this is right? Otherwise we get to call them ignorant on an anonymous website.

I totally own my own ignorance--who is this??

Anonymous wrote:Whole Foods just cut health insurance for part time workers.

If he wanted to help these kids and their families he could offer better benefits at his companies from his own pocket and still be a billionaire. Not do a self serving drop by that was unplanned that benefits him and not the kids.

He is only interested at this point in his space and media programs.