Transcript Race
Race Lorie Wilson, Erin White & Linda Little "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.“ Martin Luther King Jr. Summary Race In this interview we learned that the majority race was African American. We also learned that the majority teachers were African American. According to Valerie, “I would probably say… 2/3 of the teachers are African-American, have a sprinkle of Caucasian and then we’ve got a sprinkle of Japanese or Chinese, whatever you want to call it. But I mean, they all care about us and they want us to learn. Except for those few teachers that got issues”. From analyzing this information we interpreted that at King High School there are mostly African-American students but there are also race like, Caucasian, Chinese, and Japanese. Most of the teachers seem like they’re caring teachers. Except for the few teachers in the interview that Valerie said had issues. History “One thing I would say that once you, once you know your history as a African person, a descendent from African greatness, once you know that you were the founder of civilization, once you know that you were the one who created math, science, chemistry then anything and everything that you want, if you work at it, is reachable. (Coffield, personal interview, November 2006). ”There are some students who believe that by learning how much the people they came from gad to do with the learning process, it gives them a better appreciation for learning. They want to delve deeper into the branches of mathematics, science, chemistry, etc. Because where they came from, these subjects originated also. It gives them inspiration that if our descendents could reach all of those goals then they can definitely do whatever they imagine. It is a really positive incentive because our ancestors work through the struggles and so can they. Background “The kids that I attended high school with was a well rounded mixed group of children, mixed group of ethnic and racial background, a mix of economics. The kids today, we have more deprived kids today, kids who are not getting the things they need to be nurtured to actually learn (Lidell, personal interview, December 2006).” Being in a diverse school can make a big difference in your life. You have so many opportunities to meet new people and get a feel of a new culture. In a way that is a good experience to be in. Sometimes it is not so good because you have a lot of conflict with the different races. Something That You Can Relate To According to a DPS board member, “The curriculum has to reflect the demographics, the community as it relates to being 98% African American, we have to have an African centered curriculum that tells and teaches about us” (personal interview, November 2006). Some people believe that when you’re taught things that you can relate to, it gives you more motivation to learn. When you are taught by someone who cares and who can relate to what you’ve been through they have a way of understanding your experiences. They have the capacity to “understand where you’re coming from. Someone That You Can Relate To “There were a lot of teachers who helped me. There were a lot of teachers who hurt me. But what made the difference in my life is when I was put in a situation where there were teachers who looked like me, who lived in my neighborhood and who primarily were men teachers. Who got with me. And said, hey, you're too important. We're not gonna let you fall through the cracks. (personal interview, November 2006).” When you are put in a classroom with students and teachers who look like you, it makes it easier to go through the day. It makes it easier to learn when you are being taught by a teacher who won’t judge and will give you extra attention when you need it. Although it may put you in a comfort zone to be around people that look like you, this may set you up for failure. You cannot stay in the world for the rest of your life with a person that looks like you. The world is diverse, and learning to be around people that are not the same complexion as you may make you a stronger person. Conclusion In conclusion, this PowerPoint described the experiences of Detroit Public School students according to race.