Aston was wondering:
I am wondering what the African American kids that went to school in the white school system felt before the Brown vs. Board?
What would you have felt if you were discriminated against during school? Do you think you could handle what they went through?
5 comments:
Going to an all-white school as a black child would be a horrifying and nerve-racking. You would basically go into the school knowing everyone was going to try their best not to like you, no matter how kind or quiet you were. You could do your best to stay out of everyone else's way but one way or another they would find a way to stomp all over you. If you think being bullied about your braces or glasses is bad, how about being teased because of you're skin color? There's no way to hide that behind your lips or pay to get it removed.
Ruby Bridges was one of the first black students to go to an all-white school. Ruby's mom wanted her to get a proper education, even if that meant going against the way of segregation. Ruby was threatened repeatedly by the white population and had to travel to school with several US marshals. Most of the white children did not come to school on the day Ruby was admitted. When they finally came back, most of the parents refused to have their children taught on the same floor as Ruby. At first, she wasn't bother by the lack of company but after a while, she began to question the absence of other children.
Ruby must have felt an immense amount of pressure as a six-year-old girl. She was ignored all through elementary school and ended up having to see a counselor. However, Ruby was lucky to have the protection of US marshals and the school's principal. If she had been fully integrated, I'm sure things would have turned out a lot worse.
Anna Badalamenti
6th
I believe that it must have been a scary and very negative experience for the African-Americans going to an all white school. The whites more than likely were terrorizing the African-American children daily to maike them not want to come back to their school another day. The African-Americans who went to an all white school were probably hoping for the day in which blacks and whites could go to school together and work together to help improve each others lives. Not go to school and bring negative energy to someone just because the color of their skin. I would have felt scared but at the same time mad if I was discriminated against during school because I would not know how each day would be, as far as what the white kids would try and do to me. But then I would be mad because that would get on my nerves after awhile and there would be nothing much I could do about it. No, I couldn't handle what they were going through. I would have went off on alot of people. I would be mad almost everyday and would probably go crazy. The blacks situation back then was to suffocating. Very few people helped them and others acted like they didn't understand what was wrong.
Adriel Oliver
5th hr.
I am sure the African-American children that went to school in the white school system felt very nervous and uncertain about how they would be treated before the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. I would think that as an African-American going to an all white school having a different skin color and being culturally different from everybody else would be quite terrifying. I assume many children in that all white school system would probably have looked at you funny or even might have said some racial unjust jokes against you because of your differences.
If I had been discriminated against in school, I think I would have been able to handle it. I do know however, that I am not that great with putting up with racial bias or anti-Semitism. I hope in the future, topics like discrimination and anti-Semitism will no loner need to be discussed! If I would have been in an uncomfortable situation, I probably would not have told the principal on the offending student. Instead, I would have asked fellow black friends to come over and demonstrate that black people are no different than anyone else. The last time I checked my head, I thought it said that BLACK PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE TOO!
A good example of this situation would be Ruby Bridges. She was the first African-American girl to go to a white school and try to succeed in that all white school system. Even though it might have been hard for Ruby, she knew that deep down some good was going to result from this experience. Black and white relations are gradually improving, even though there are still racist people in the United States today.
In conclusion, I do not think black people should ever feel different in school. When you are in school, it is supposed to be like your second home, with your classmates as your brothers and sisters and the administration as your parents. If this analogy is true, then the parents (school administration), during the 1960’s should have been placed in solitary confinement for the way they treated their sons and daughters. No matter whom you are, you should not feel unsafe or feel singled out going to school because of a slight difference between you and a white person. I believe school is like a “melting pot” and everyone should be comfortable and able to call it home!
Ian Kohler 5th hour
If I grew up in that sort of environment, i think I may have come out emotionally stunted. I would have had to be strong in every way as well as passive and understanding. That's more than most adults can ever amount to. I can't imagine being under eighteen and enduring that sort of torture. I can't imagine the hate and anger that would surround me. I can't even imagine witnessing that, let alone being the target of it.
My initial reaction would be anger and frustration. I would be angry at the fact that If I were any other color, the situation would be different. I would also be outraged that people were targeting all their problems on a race. My race. I would also be frustrated that I can't change my race, not that I would want to. But I would be born african american, and I would have no control over my skin color.
The one thing that would be worse than being an african american student would be the student's mother. It must have been so difficult for the parents of those children, sending their kids into such a hateful world.
Either way, life would be extremely painful in every way. This whole topic makes me wonder if we treat Arabic American the same way in today's world. We're so wrapped up in fear and terrorism, that we become suspicious of all arabic americans, which is a predjudice we fail to recognize. We need to learn from history and act upon what we can change.
Chelsea R.
fifth hour
If I were discriminated against during school I would not want to go to school, plan and simple. It would be so horrifying and nerve racking to be put in that type of situation. I don’t know what I would do with myself especially if I was a young child who dint knows better. I would feel like I would have to tip toe around not to do anything wrong because if I did I would be harassed, that is such a horrible thing to think about what African American children had to go through to get a better education its sad to think about. I don’t think I could of handle what they had to go through; they must have been extremely stung kids to do what they did. I can really say that I would be scared out of my mind and probably would have not gone to class. I can look up to them and say if they can go through such a horrible thing and come out of it with a positive out look them what is holding me back from going what I want to do in life.
Ashley B. 5th
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