The day after the election, one of my students said to me, “I have approximately 70 days, Mrs. Stoker, to find a hiding place.” I instantly had a pit in my stomach. “Why?” I asked cautiously. “Because I’m black and the KKK are celebrating today,” his tone was flat, yet his eyes were indicating fear and pain.
As a 20+ year veteran teacher, no college class or professional development opportunity had prepared me for how to react and respond to that statement from my student. Yes, I had taken an excellent grad course on Race, Gender, and Social Class in the Secondary Classroom, BUT we didn’t discuss how educators might respond to points like the one my student shared with me.
How did I react and respond? Within nanoseconds, internally my heart was breaking for my student. As aforementioned, I had a pit in my stomach. In my mind, I had flashes of horrible hate crimes that have happened both past and present in our country. I had visions of somehow protecting this student as if my white privilege was some superficial superhero cape--that image in itself sickened me for several reasons.
I initially reacted with an external sigh and nod of compassion. I responded by saying, "It makes me so sad that you are thinking that thought. And I understand why you would say that statement. And it’s 2016, and it makes me sick that we are still dealing with racism.” My student and I then held silence--searching for what to say next.
***
Reflecting on the conversation with my student, I think: We should have been discussing college essay topics. We should have been discussing our school newspaper stories because my student is a co-editor of the paper. We should have been discussing how my student performed in his indoor track meet. We should have been discussing his latest spoken word poem he wrote because he is a national competitor. And instead we were discussing his safety because of the color of his beautiful skin. For those of you who know me, you know I teach in a small New England town. Some of you may conclude, really what does my student have to be scared of attending a small New England high school? Well let me share, racism exists everywhere--and until we discuss the complexities of this social construct of discrimination...until we unlearn what our family, friends, society and media have taught us about the fears about race--my student will remain scared. And I cannot accept a student who is scared to exist, so I need to write. I need to share what incredible human beings my students are...
I find I spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about what the trajectory of my child's life will be now that Trump is in power. And we are in a demographic that would be considered pretty safe; I cannot imagine the anxiety, sadness and anger of people of color, immigrants or the LGBTQ community. I want to wrap my arms around the all & promise to do anything I can to protect them. But who knows what can protect them from him & Bannon? I keep thinking, the Republicans have the power to literally save the world. But will they? :-(
ReplyDeleteAs your son, and you telling me all about your experiences with your students, it makes me sad just thinking what Trump and other people will do to these people who only have a darker color skin. It makes me happy that you care about your students and that you will do anything for your students.
ReplyDeleteAll we can do is pray these great people who have poor fates have a great future.
You worded it perfectly and I wouldn't have said it better.
Racism is bad and we need to discover what is truly right and what is wrong for this world. If people don't realize that then we can hope that they eventually get the life they deserve. You are an amazing person and you couldn't have said anything better.
Your 12-year-old son,
Seamus
Seamus,
DeleteHow proud your mom must be having read your comment. I know I'm proud to know you and am so grateful that there are kids out there like you, Gabe, Charlotte, and Molly to help point this country in the right direction. Keep up the positive attitude, we all need it right now! 👊👍
Yes, it has been a heartbreaking few weeks. Anger and sadness hit me at odd moments and my worry for the many vulnerable people in our society remains for those close and stretches to those more distant. I am trying to be hopeful but as the changes keep coming hard and fast I am watching people become tired and accept. And that scares me almost more than anything because unless enough of us fight now things are going to get much uglier.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing this. Let's do everything in our power -- as educators, as fellow human beings -- to fight ignorance and hate and to stand with and for the marginalized. We are warriors. It's time to fight, harder than ever.
ReplyDelete-Marsha