Reflection:
Once I watched both videos on Tim Wise, I came to the conclusion that racism is still around. The conversations that he has with the interviewer seem to make is point very clear, "Evidence of racism and discrimination against average everyday folks of color is still very much in evidence." I myself use to work for a retail company that would very clearly profile people of color who came into the store to shop. If someone was walking around tables and not really looking to purchase anything, the managers would always come around and repeatdly ask them questions and if they needed help. It was all in hopes that if they were stealing, they would get nervous and leave. The quote and my old job made me think about the difficulty that people of color or of a different race have to face every day. Difficulty comes in the form of gaining respect, getting trust, or even getting a job. Everyone should have a fair shot.
After Wise's video, came the article by Bob Herbert. As soon as I finished reading his articles, two quotes stuck out to me..."If you really want to improve the education of poor children, you have to get them away from learning enviornments that are smothered by poverty." After I read that quote, nothing else in the article mattered. It was the only thing I kept thinking about. By doing my SL project in a school, where most if not all children live in poverty, made me realize that not everyone lives a "comfortable life" or the "American dream". Every time I go to the school, I am always trying to figure out just why these children aren't getting the same education I recieved in elementary school. The quote made sense to me, I had never looked at it that way before. Those children live in poverty, grow up in poverty, and are taught in schools that esentially have no money. If the children had the opportunity to go to a school where they were able to see middle class children, they might want more for their lives. Those kids might be willing to put the effort into their education if they knew there was a better life for them.
The second quote that struck me was, "Studies have shown that it is not the race of students that is significant, but rather the improved all-around enviornment of schools with better teachers, fewer classroom disruptions, pupils who are engaged academically, parents who are more involved, and so on." I know that for me, parent involvement was huge. My parents checked my homework daily and always made sure to help me if they saw a mistake. I personally believe that if every child had a parent who was willing to put the effort in, then the kids would benefit. Maybe the kids would be more engaged in the class room and who knows, maybe test scores would rise. There are endless possibilities that could occur all from one small change.
Both Wise and Herbert were able to capture the topics of race and education in ways that would make any follower or reader think, and thinking is the first step to change.
Link: A small side note from this weeks talking point...In second grade my class watched a movie on segregation/intergration that had to do with a girl by the name of Ruby Bridges, I dont know if any of you remember her but her story is great. Here is a link to youtube that has the first part of the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klj5fgaKzIk
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