Ajigunwa Olagoke is one smart dude! I say this not only because he has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, a Master's degree in Educational Psychology with a emphasis in Human Development, a doctorate in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Gifted and Talented, and is a professor of Psychology at Clayton State University. Ajigunwa Olagoke is a smart dude because he gets it!
I had the great privilege of speaking with Ajigunwa Olagoke on an early Saturday evening. He's a self-acknowledged nerd, an acolyte of Dr. Amos Wilson, a vegan, and a yoga practitioner. Right away, I honed in on his specialty of dealing with gifted and talented students because I wanted to know what classifies a student as 'gifted or talented.'
Dr. Olagoke told me, "Gifted and talented is often political and not actually based on a student's ability. A white parent may have the influence to get his or her child placed in 'gifted and talented' classes. It doesn't necessarily indicate the child's ability. But the parent knows that having his or her child labeled 'gifted' increases the likelihood that the child will get into a very good college or university."
According to Dr. Olagoke, when black children are placed in gifted and talented classes, it's in an attempt to assimilate them into the larger society. In addition, there isn't a lot emotional support for Black children who are in gifted and talented programs. And, there is a great deal of social isolation of Black children in gifted and talented programs because, sadly, we are still dealing with the old trope that being 'smart' is 'acting white.'
"On the other hand, Black folks tend to have a nuanced view about who is 'gifted' as well as an acknowledgement of the difference between being smart and being gifted. 'Smart' usually has to do with academic prowess. 'Gifted' is different. Have you heard people talk about a child having an old soul? Having an 'old soul' meant that a child displays a level of emotional maturity not typical of their chronological age. That is a gift. Another example is when we 'play the dozens'. Doing well at playing the dozens demonstrates a quick wit and verbal acuity."
"Malcolm X was 'gifted' because he could take a lesson that Elijah Muhammad gave him and spin it another way, so that his audience could understand it."
"Generally, there's a dislike of intellectualism in the broader society, which includes Black folks. We don't appreciate the diversity of our people. We don't all have to behave, dress, or talk the same in order to be 'really Black,'" Dr. Olagoke says.
He continues, "We are not a monolithic people. What we don't realize is that we need all of us to work together. The skills and qualities that everyone has can be used for the betterment of our people including those of the nerds, bookworms and geeks."
"Look at it another way. During the Civil Rights Movement, when Black people were boycotting stores and so on, there was a contingent of people who made sure none of our people went into stores that were being boycotted. And all of them weren't of the Black middle class. Often, Black folks who were teachers, business owners, doctors, etc., supported the Movement but couldn't get their hands dirty, so to speak. But there were other Black people, street people, who didn't mind putting in work when needed to keep all of us in line with boycotts and other efforts."
I didn't know that. Now I do. It sure puts another spin on the 'village'.
Blackness has nothing to do with one's style of dress, one's ability to speak 'standard' English, or whether or not one lives in the 'hood.
"I measure one's Blackness by the level of commitment he or she shows to our people."
To that end, Ajigunwa Olagoke founded Tarafi Educational Policy Institute as a think tank and political analysis organization. "We need to understand policies, laws and politics and relay that information in a way that it is understandable to everyone.
"We have to educate our children on how to secure power. Dr. Olagoke says, "Our internalized hatred is a result of a lack of power."
What is power? As Dr. Amos Wilson said, "Power is the ability to define reality and make others believe it."
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