The Road Less Traveled in Social Impact: A ‘Retail Civics’ Guide to Tamp-Down the Miseducation in America

Doc Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
Sounding-Off Social

It’s back-to-school season! Many already begun taking notes and prepping for their first skills test in the classroom or on the field. Parents, teachers and admins might have fresh ways to make sure students are ready for the school year. There could even be a catchy phrase that’s kinda back-of-mind motivation, like one made popular this summer by a U.S. Track & Field athlete who said: “I’m not back, I’m better”! After some time off the radar due to a suspension, she has stormed back to live up to those words. That’s the energy of someone making their own personal discovery.

What if we approached the school year, sports season and life’s work calendar in a similar way? It might help by looking at where there’s room for improvement. For starters, according to the Nation’s Report Card, Eighth Grade U.S. History scores hit its lowest point since 1994. Furthermore, civics scores have declined as well. Interestingly, a polling company found that the idea of ‘a civics comeback’ in America has bipartisan support. Many of those polled think civics is more important now than it was five years ago.

From a social issues standpoint, we’ve already had horrific news in Jacksonville of hate driven by racist ideology. According to a previous Dept of Homeland Security assessment, the #1 threat facing our country is white nationalism and domestic terrorism. But what we sometimes overlook as a nation is the #1 challenge we face: the miseducation of ‘we the people’. We see it in some candidates for public office who offer slick talking-points that are high on buzzwords and low on substance. They’re using ‘retail politics’ to impress the public for their vote, not necessarily to advance the public good. Plus, symptoms of a deeper ‘sickness’ as a nation are in not preventing resentment/grievance from becoming unhinged.

History reveals where there’s miseducation it allows for hiding the cruelty of the past to then justify the cruelty/hypocrisy of the present. This connects with a segment of ‘we the people’ that’s often unprepared on how to handle grievance. Thus, miseducation is used as a strategy for mobilizing or monetizing around a victim mentality. Such a mindset leads to missed opportunities at best and madness at worst. We saw it with the civil war then and ongoing culture war battles now. It’s even playing out today where rallying a group of citizens to attack the tenets of democracy and institutions of a republic is naively viewed the same as protesting around social justice and getting arrested. Now, if you’ve been watching across the globe, a similar pattern exists in countries dealing with tribe/ethnic grievance and anti-democratic forces.

With those observations made, SAIC’s deep dive in American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks is focused on ‘Retail Civics’. Whether through the Civics and Community Forum series or other exciting civics-based programs, we’re taking the road less traveled in social impact to help tamp-down the miseducation in America. We see miseducation occurring through omission (distorting black history), intimidation (hate, bias, threats), disinformation (spreading false narratives) and exploitation (turning facts into foolery and foolery into ‘facts’). So SAIC’s efforts to forge synergy around democracy & public good, entrepreneurship & American dream are guided by our:

1. True Colors

There’s a whole setup process for streaming TV vs cable TV. Similarly, there’s a whole setup for how to ‘See America In Color’. You’ve gotta make the switch from a stream of ‘white light’ where the picture might be a grainy mix of black/white/gray, to three streams of colored light for a new & improved picture. With some social adjustments, you’ll have ‘true colors’ combining American history, the ‘Black to America’ story and #HometownStrong comebacks. By connecting the dots across history, civics and culture, you’ll have a crisper picture of the issues. SAIC’s ‘streaming model’ helps to show our true colors as a nation.

2. Engagement

Before getting married, couples often go through an engagement period. This signals their intentions on taking a big step in commitment. It can also be a time for working out the ‘kinks’ before tying the knot. With SAIC, we’ve been working out the kinks on our intentions for taking a big step of commitment to democracy & public good, entrepreneurship & American dream. Our Civic engagement is inspired by ‘vows’ in SAIC’s Declaration of Emergence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all are created equal, and are endowed with basic values, civic ideals and inner assets to live our best life”.

3. Mobilization

What would cause a bunch of folks to storm a store to ‘smash and grab?’ Is it a different kind of grievance, misplaced purpose or another example of miseducation? Moreover, what would cause someone you grew up with, to become a ‘lone wolf’ neo-Nazi killer of black people? What’s the mobilizing thrust behind these actions? It’s likely a matter of what’s feeding their minds. Well, those who’re willing to take the road less traveled will be mobilized around a common bond, shared identity and larger purpose. As a nation our mobilization can be one of choosing public good over ‘power play’ to see better days.

4. Story

America’s story is simple yet wrapped in struggle. Folks left European lands for a better life. They arrived in Jamestown or on Plymouth Rock after viewing it from afar as a shining ‘city on a hill’. Generations followed a similar path to freedom while others brought here forcefully had to fight for theirs. From these journeys are stories of grace, guts and glory. Even with isms & schisms that rear their ugly head, there’s often a silver lining or light at the end of the tunnel. SAIC’s intentions around democracy & public good, entrepreneurship & American dream will have its own story across the miles and down to the last mile.

Founding founder James Madison said, “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” In other words, knowledge is power, not ignorance. So America, wanna fix problems through civics, or exploit them through politics? We can’t look the other way of easier access to bullets and harder access to ballots or books. A civics comeback is showing our true colors, being mobilized by public good and turning grievance into a better story. Let’s squash miseducation and feel like a million-dollar success!

To find out more about ‘America from 0 to 250’ and the Civics & Community Forum Series or how you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life, checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Lil Durk Ft J. Cole – All My Life – https://youtu.be/8DP9T2piyJ8?si=A6HGzLN8ZYUvwEQm