Institute of Positive Education

The Schools the Institute Sponsors

Safisha Madhubuti served for 16 years as principal and a teacher at New Concept before leaving the school to finish her doctoral degree at the University of Chicago. Today, she teaches in the School of Education at Northwestern University under the name of Carol Lee. She says, “Students who graduated from New Concept have grown to be lovers of black people and contributors to the world. They are well mannered, not into gangs, not into drugs.” The parents of New Concept's students have been doctors, lawyers, plumbers, secretaries, and welfare recipients. Some parents volunteered in lieu of paying the annual tuition. Most of the parents, however, have been public school teachers. Safisha Madhubuti provides insight into this, saying, “The average dropout rate in the Chicago public schools is around 50%. There are high schools in Chicago where the dropout rate is 75%. I personally cannot name a single child who attended New Concept for even a year who did not go on to graduate from high school. Not one.”

Mornings at New Concept and Betty Shabazz start with the “unity circle,” just before 9:00. The children and staff gather around a large white circle painted on the gymnasium floor. The children recite the “Black National Pledge” developed by the Council of Independent Black Institutions. Using call-and-response, the teacher begins by saying “We are African people.” The children respond with “We are African people. Struggling for national liberation. We are preparing leaders and workers to bring about a positive [Page 273]change for our people. We stress the development of our bodies, minds, souls, and consciousness. Our commitment is to self-determination, self-defense, and self respect for our race. We extend the right hand out for the fruition of Black power, for the triumph of Black nationhood. I pledge to my African nation to the building of a better people and a better world. My total devotion, my total resources, and my total power of my mortal life.”

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