Why African American Homeschool Network?

Yesterday, I had an on-line conversation with one of my many virtual friends.  She asked me why an "African American Homeschool Network"?

So I was kind of taken back for a moment without words… and that disturbed me because I am seldomly free from thoughts or words.  I wish I had more moments like that.  Maybe I will really give mediation a try.  Anyhow less I digress anymore.  

The point that I was getting at is that I created a network for African American (bi-racial families and other ethnic minorities) because I couldn't find one.  I mean there are as many types of homeschool Networks as there are homeschool methods, styles, religions etc.  Why no network for this specific group to which I belong.  This is not to take away from the many on-line groups that I belong to because without the vast resources, advice and just encouragement that I get from them; I would not trade for the world.  

  I just wanted to know more about African-American Homeschooling families because as one myself, I have yet to meet a real life person in my area that homeschools and I live in a predominantly Black neighborhood.   I know that they are out there and I am on a mission to find them.  Maybe other African American families have had that same issues? I figure whenever one person is looking then how many more are also out there looking for the same thing.  No different than a Catholic support group, Jewish Support group, Eclectic support group, International support group etc.  

So now that I have thought it through here are some reasons that I feel that a African American Homeschool Support Group is needed especially those new to homeschooling.

Here’s a glimpse of some thoughts to ponder that I found on my little and short lived research project.  It ended because the information does not exist. 

These are a few snippets from articles that I have discover.  Please click on source to read more.

• “Nationwide, home-schooling grew from 1.7 percent of the school-age population in 1999 to 2.9 percent in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The total number of kids being home-schooled has more than doubled since 1999 to more than two million, according to estimates. Some 220,000 of those students are African-American, according to The National Home Education Research Institute.” (source)

• "Though only a rough estimate, there are reportedly about 2 million, or 4 percent, of American children that are home schooled, according to the National Home Education Research Institute. In some states, families do not have to register with the authorities that their child is being home schooled." (source)

• "Some African-American homeschoolers said they faced resistance from family and friends, who were skeptical of the decision to remove children from public or private schools." (source)

• "A new wave of pioneers is sweeping onto the home schooling trail. After decades of promises that the public school "system" holds the key to success, some African-American families are finding, like those of other ethnicities, that an increasingly centralized system and social decay are fast dissolving the bonds of their culture and families. And many have found a way to reconnect and restore those bonds by home schooling an educational path so old and overgrown that it's considered radical and cutting edge." (source)

• "Researchers and education specialists agree that there is very little data on African-American homeschooling. They contend that more research is needed to get a better understanding of its inner workings. Additionally, education experts want evidence for the claim that homeschooling is better than traditional schooling.But that’s just about all that they agree on." (source)

So as you can see this area is underdeveloped and is in dire need of some connections and networking. I currently have a Facebook Group and G+ Group for African American Families to get together and talk homeschool! Also we have a Pinterest Board So if you want to be a part of history in the making please join us.  I'm currently working on a more suitable platform but for now the chats, resources and sharing that we have been having for the last three months.  So I am glad that I came up with an answer that I can be proud of.  What do you look for when you join a support group?