Confessions from the Couch » In Remembrance . . .

In Remembrance . . .

I love when Dr. King’s birthday rolls around each year . . .with my students we reflect on the dream, the dreamer and the legacy. I try to remind my students that it was more than just the work of Dr. King that achieved civil liberties for minorities in this country. No one person can do it on their own, but it was the work of several people: regular folks and students (their age) who protested publicly and worked to make equality in this country a norm. I mention people like Fannie Lou Hamer, SNCC, Stokely Carmichael, WEB DuBois, Medgar Evers, Diane Nash & Ida Bell Wells. It was the work of these people in conjunction with Dr. King that changed our country. I emphasize that students should use the day to serve others, following the example of Dr. King and other activists.

In response to a question about America today, many kids suggested King would be proud of our AA President. One of the students pointed out he be especially proud that it was not Blacks who elected him-the population of AAs in the country is not enough to have won the election for him.

At the end of the conversation on legacy, I ask: “How would Dr. King feel if he walked into our school building at this exact moment?”

An interesting thing happens: White students raise their hands and say he would be proud and Black students raise their hand say he’d be disappointed.

D said “Well, I think he’d cry. So many of my friends are African Americans and we have beautiful relationships.” And she’s right. I think he’d love to see that! He would be excited with all of the interracial relationships, friendships and learning he saw in my school.

A responded, “Miss Teacha, I think he’d be disappointed. It’s not about the black/white relationships. He would be upset with the Black students. Look at us, look at how we act at school. We don’t take education seriously.” Many Black students raised their hand to agree with her, to add to her comments. It awed me that the students made these connections without any prompting from me. It was a very, very good conversation. And I am impressed that my students realize that there are problems today our communities. . .it made me think about this Boondocks clip (graphic use of the N word & profanity, watch at your own risk).

Overall, I think Dr. King would be proud of our country, even with all of the work left to do. Happy MLK Day to all!

In Loving Memory of All Who Fought for Equality:

I just never understood

How a man who died for good

Could not have a day that would

Be set aside for his recognition

Because it should never be

Just because some cannot see

The dream as clear as he

that they should make it become an illusion

And we all know everything

That he stood for time will bring

For in peace our hearts will sing

Thanks to Martin Luther King

-Stevie Wonder

Reflections, race discussion, students | Miss Teacha | January 18, 2010 9:39 am

8 Comments

By Tamara, January 18, 2010 @ 10:46 am

Sounds like a wonderful class discussion. It’s these discussions that I treasure most and that often teach more than a book or a full unit can.
By ricochet, January 18, 2010 @ 11:40 am

(still love the math!!)
I am older than dirt.

I moved to the South in the early 1960s from California and didn’t understand segragation, why some people came to the back door not the front, etc.

We have come a long way as a country.

We have so far to go.

I intend to clean up my portion of the world.

Happy MLK Day! Thank you for the video.

(I cannot get through to the kids I teach that their liberal use of the N word diminishes them.)
ricochet´s last blog ..Funsucker – yeah, I know
By ricochet, January 18, 2010 @ 11:43 am

I had the opportunity to meet Hosea WIlliams when my daughter was in kindergarten. A group of Girl Scouts from the suburbs had done a service project (making sleeping bags for the homeless) – then we couldn’t find anyone to give them to. Mr. Williams took them and was so gracious to the girls that dd has always referred to him as My Hosea.
ricochet´s last blog ..Funsucker – yeah, I know
By butterfly angel, January 18, 2010 @ 11:50 am

Hello Miss A…

Beautiful posting and an awesome new site!! I hope you are enjoying the time off and resting.

~BA <3
By Marcy Webb, January 18, 2010 @ 12:56 pm

Thank you for posting this. I often find that the best teaching and learning emerges from students.
Marcy Webb´s last blog ..Dr. King from the Perspective of the Spanish-Speaking World
By Margaret, January 18, 2010 @ 4:02 pm

Math!! Oh, dear. I think I can handle the easy problems, just no algebra please. I love how perceptive your students are, and how well they analyze. Kudos to their teacher!! You don’t have the day off today? We do.
Margaret´s last blog ..Weekend notes and a movie review, sort of
By Frumteacher, January 19, 2010 @ 12:56 am

Wonderful post. No MLK day here, so thank you for grabbing my attention. Today is training day for class from hell, updates will follow.

I LOVE your new template, how did you make it look so professional?
By TeacherMom, January 21, 2010 @ 5:49 am

What an interesting discussion! I am so impressed by the maturity of your students.