The Internet information highway has thrown American and the world into another industrial type revolution. From computer programming and technology, information management, and Internet business communication to personal PCs and online home access, the computer age could threaten the progress of Black advancement unless we stress computer careers to our youth.

History has proven that Black Americans have always lagged in social, economical and educational progress whenever there is a groundbreaking change in American society. We somehow end up - despite protest and government laws - receiving the last of the goods after all is dispersed.

Not that Blacks are purposefully targeted for exclusion, (though this consideration is not beyond any doubt) but mainly because the Black community receives access to resources much later than the majority and only after the white community has had a chance to consume the best of the best.

It begins in the schools and if the urban schools receive less funding and support than suburban schools, then of course Blacks will lag behind the nation. While the majority of suburban schools have computer and Internet access in all classes, in addition to more Internet and computer base course work, the majority of Blacks schools still crack the textbooks open in most classes.

And when Blacks lag in technology or school test scores because new testing standards are designed with high technology in mind, the media and experts attribute it to some laziness or deficiency of Black children. However, these stats change over time and Blacks do eventually catch on, but by that time the Black image is damaged and a new problem is created.

On the flip side of this scenario, there are many successful Blacks in technology, in the business field and in the knowledge of information systems. They realize that this new revolution is the future of the world and have leached onto its potential. More Blacks are becoming computer literate and Internet savvy in their personal lives.

Black Internet Stats

• More than 10 million Blacks are online, about 45% of the Black population
• 74% of online Blacks say the Internet has had a positive effect on their children
• Blacks account for roughly 8 percent of the online population, and the group will exceed U.S. Hispanics' Internet penetration by 2007
• Top three online activities Blacks are #1: check/send email, #2: access news/headlines and #3: play online games
• Blacks are active online consumers, purchasing more clothing/apparel online (48% vs. 41%) and more music/videos (44% vs. 39%) than the general online market
• Blacks listen to music online and watch videos more than the general online market

Schools, parents, and Black role models should put forth more effort in encouraging Black youth to go into the computing field as opposed to Medicine, Law, and especially sports and music. The Internet and the hardware that the Internet is based on is the future of the world and if Blacks do not realize this fact in time, it could have a negative effect on our future.

© 2004 by CR Hamilton