It might seem like a big surprise, but believe it or not, there are plans by Philadelphia to close up to twenty-three schools and built a $400 million dollar prison instead.

If indeed this their future plan for the young people , then the black people may as well consider the prospect of coming together and find against this.

Recently, the Pennsylvania’s commission for school reform voted to approve the shutting of the schools, despite the pleas from students and parents, who are all against it.

Due to this, twenty-three schools will be closed up, which equates to close to ten percent of those found in the city.

It is heartening to hear that a stunning eighty-one percent of those schools to be closed are going to affect the black students, even though they only represent fifty-eight percent of the student community.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, learners will have to return to class without new learning materials, in an attempt to help cover the cities debts.

It is worth noting that the impact of this is going to be felt mostly by the communities that are poor. Up to three thousand people are going to lose their jobs.

Additionally, sports programs, music, and art are all going to be cut.

On the other hand, RT reported that the cuts endured by the students are also not going to be adequate in filling the budget gap, bearing in mind that the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, approved a tax break for companies and corporations.

This tax break is likely to cost the state close to $600 to $800 million annually. Things are even made more difficult, bearing in mind that the state is going to build a $400 two state correctional facilities.

The prisons that are to be expanded have, in the past, been subject to lawsuit claims of physical and sexual abuse of inmates.

According to a journalist by the name Khalek Rhania, racial differences in the school and prison populations in Philadelphia will create a literal prison-to-school that will in turn destroy the futures of black children.

In Philadelphia, black students account for eighty-one percent of the students to be affected by the closings, despite accounting for only fifty-eight percent of the total population of the students,’she says.

In contrast, only four percent of the affected students are whites, who only make up fourteen percent of the total students. Ninety-three percent of the affected kids are from low-income families,’ she narrates.

Source: