PERO'S PERCEPTION

Text (film): I Am Not Your Negro Author: James Baldwin In the film, "I Am Not Your Negro," James Baldwin attempts to educate others about race in Western society. Baldwin suggests that "the story of the Negro is the story of America." He states that the term "nigger" is a constructed concept created by whites in an effort to dehumanize African Americans and maintain a sense of superiority. Western society reinforces white superiority through the policies and institutions it creates. Baldwin states that the schools that Negros attend are inadequate to those attended by their white counterparts.  The textbooks used portray African Americans as inhumane and uncivilized.  According to Baldwin, because of these school experiences, "Negro children discover that there is no place for them in society at a very young age."  In an attempt to change the educational experiences of Negro children,  Dumas would suggest that Negro children need an educatio...

Text: Dis/ability critical race studies (DisCrit): Theorizing at the intersections of race and dis/ability Author: S.  Annamma, D. Connor, & B. Ferri The article, Dis/ability critical race studies (Discrit): Theorizing at the intersections of race and dis/ability argues that race and dis/ability are two interlocking systems of oppression that negatively impact individuals in society and education. According to the article, students of color are more likely to be segregated from their peers to receive specialized instruction than white students. The article states, "dis/ability justifies segregation and unequal treatment for students of color compared to their white counterparts"(7). The practice of segregating students based on race and dis/ability aligns with the ideas presented in the 13th documentary.   (Click the picture for more information) The 13th documentary suggests that there has been a perpetuation of systems of oppression throughout history such as, slaver...

Text: Precious Knowledge (Documentary) Director: Ari Palos Cast: Curtis Acosta/ Jose Gonzalez The Precious Knowledge documentary takes place in Tucson, Arizona.  The documentary depicts the personal narratives of teachers and students and their experiences with cultural inequities in Tucson such as, unsafe neighborhoods, poor healthcare , and the lack of quality education.  Students enrolled in an Ethnic Studies course at Tucson Magnet High school are twice as likely to graduate high school than their counterparts in other schools. Despite this, Arizona school administrators and lawmakers strive to shut down the program.  As a result, students create a civil rights movement in an effort to keep their Ethnic Studies program.  . Throughout the documentary, teachers and students express their appreciation for and commitment to the social justice curriculum taught in the Ethnic Studies program.  Jose Gonzalez, an Ethnic Studies teacher, believes in the concept...

Text: Law and Order in School and Society: How Discipline and Policing Policies Harm Students of Color, and What We Can Do About It Author: Janelle Scott       In, “ Law and Order in School and Society: How Discipline and Policing Policies Harm Students of Color, and What We Can Do About It ,” Scott outlines possible approaches to counter the destructive policies in place in schools and society which negatively impact students of color.   Scott outlines recommendations for both local and state levels.  The recommendations are socialistic in nature such as the redistribution of resources and creating restorative justice in school communities.  In these types of school communities, students become active participants in their academic learning, social emotional development, and acquire skills to assist with conflict resolution.       The concept of restorative practice aligns with the concept of “Critical Hope” presented by Duncan...

                                                           While viewing and reading the assigned documentaries and articles for the week, I took notes and wrote down quotes that resonated with me.  When I reviewed my notes, the quotes that I had written down seemed ironically connected.   The three quotes were:  " We carry history in our bodies."  Episode #1-Sickness and in Wealth:Unnatural Causes "Every person's health is intertwined with the health of everyone else."  Thinking about Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Impacts through a Science-Informed Early Childhood Lens- Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D. & David R. Williams, Ph.D. "We are in this together."  When Blackness is a Pre-Existing Condition- Kimberle Williams Crenshaw The documentary, In Sickness and in Wealth, s uggests that human beings today are af...

I am a teacher who stands up for equality against prejudice and hate , who is in favor of doing the hard work to succeed against those who say we wont , who is a supporter of quality and inclusionary education systems against skewed and biased ones , and who is a defender of all students despite their race, language, gender, or religion against those who see differences as misfortunes. I am a teacher who favors the permanent struggle against ignorance and against "a one size fits all approach." I am a teacher who rejects educational norms , because it is responsible for ostracizing students and promoting differences as inequalities . I am a teacher full of empathy and optimism , in spite of apathy and pessimism. I am a teacher who refuses to believe that my students will fail despite the undeniable odds stacked against them . I am a teacher proud of the rapport I have with my students and their families . If I do not struggle for my students to have a voice in the con...