Bumblebees Can Fly! (ePub)

Despite its heavy and large body, the bumblebee is able to fly - defying

the law of aerodynamics. The bumblebee flies because its inherent power

is greater than its challenges, aerodynamics included. Like the bumblebee,

all young men of color - and all individuals - have the inherent power to

overcome challenges and do the seemingly impossible.

In Bumblebees Can Fly: Empowering Young Men of Color, Dr. Dowdell-

Underwood uses natural and social science research to explain the relationship

between marginalization, perceptions of mattering, and achievement

among young men of color. He then proffers person-centric strategies of

engaging personal Inherent Power for the poor, and young men of color in

order to overcome the effects of marginalization and maximize their human

potential; thereby, preventing the societal loss that results when brilliant

young men of color fail to constructively employ their inherent power, that

is, their skill, ability, talent, will, and intellect to fulfill their burden of hope.

Strategies for parents, educators, government, policymakers, community

leaders, and nonprofit organizations are also discussed.

In 1998, Dr. Dowdell-Underwood testified before the United States

Congressional Committee on Small Businesses regarding his education

strategies for maximizing achievement among all youth, including the poor

and young men and women of color. Dr. Dowdell-Underwood challenges all

vestiges of society and particularly education to maximize not only scholastic

achievement of young men of color, but also personal empowerment by

engaging their inherent power and their need and desire to achieve in

education and to succeed in life.

He is also politically active - challenging educational policies that

marginalize students, particularly poor and minority students. He believes

that all children deserve the dignity of being recognized as the "Agents of

Learning" and not the objects of it. His unyielding commitment to education

and human development has made an unparalleled positive impact on

the numerous students who affectionately refer to him as "Doc" or as "the

educator who changed my life."