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."
