Check out the link to the Podcast from NPR. There is an article and a slideshow of the students first integrated prom. After watching, take a minute to think about Ruby Bridges and the connections you are making in terms of her and what you believe.
Great day again today. See you all tomorrow.
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It seems as though the status quo remained in MS for lack of leadership. Leadership takes a lot of energy. If we teach 75 or 100 kids a day with passion, how much energy do teachers have to confront the norms even if they are flawed. If we eschew the teacher's room because of the noxious drain of critics and early retirees, we risk becoming reclusive or perceived prima donnas. But you can affect change in your classroom. Can't you see Callum throwing a Capulet's masquerade prom for everyone he's ever taught? I would sure like an invitation!! See everyone tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThinking about the segregated prom within the context of the Ruby Bridges story truly shows me how far people still have to go and also makes me wonder if it could ever truly happen 100%. Though we have come miles from where we were, the thoughts and notions about people of different backgrounds, colors, and belief systems keep segregation alive in the actions of people and affect our ability to be truly accepting. The fact that a senior in the high school’s mother said “I am not going to have any of those n-----s rubbing up against my daughter at an integrated prom” shows how far we need to go. The time the mid 1600’s when slavery first began in the New World to 1865 when the Civil War ended is a long 200 years of slavery and beliefs. It then took almost 100 years for Ruby Bridges to walk through the doors of the Frantz School in Mississippi. Now, about 40 years later in the year 2009, a long institution of non-school run segregated prom nights has come to an end. Though it seems unfathomable to many of us that a segregated prom could still be occurring in our all accepting country with a newly elected African American president, looking at the history of slavery and the civil rights movement shows me how long it takes for peoples beliefs to change. Though we have not come far enough, this gives me hope that it can truly happen. And the fact that the school has finally sponsored an integrated prom shows that change is still happening, and the feeling I gather from the students is that they do not want separate proms. Though some still talk of separation in the schools common areas, she also notes an interracial relationship that the students are all okay with. As the generations change, I feel an attitude shift coming. People are no longer separate, everyone has the freedom to hear other perspectives and make judgements about people based on their own merit and not what someone has told them.
ReplyDeleteI think that the segregated prom night story is an all-important wake up call for people to not be content and complacent, and that there is still plenty of room for growth. Though we may take our freedom for granted, it is important for every one of all races to re-evaluate from time to time their personal freedoms. In the prom night story I found it also interesting that it was said, “The white children were allowed to go to the black prom”. In a way I don’t feel this is true, though they would have been welcomed, they were not free to go due to their parents and perhaps their community. This reminds me of the white children and families in the Ruby Bridges story who were also allowed to go to school, but now “allowed” by their community. Anyone who moved for progress was ostracized or verbal abused. The fact that the minister had to leave the community due to his belief that integration was morally right shows the lack of “freedom” everyone had.
This podcast made me think a lot about the power of tradition in our culture, specifically how we often accept things for tradition's sake because that's the way it has always been. I was reminded of the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, in which the townspeople hold a lottery each year to determine which member of the town will be stoned to death. All the townspeople accept the tradition as necessity, and very few ask any questions about why it is done. Some even believe(without proof)that horrible things may happen to their town if they do not continue this tradition. There are even unsubstantiated rumors that other towns that have done away with the lottery have suffered devestating consequences. The climax of the story occurs when we see the "winner" of the lottery change her mind about the tradition. But of course, as the winner(victim, really), she is not in a position of power, and as a result, she cannot save herself. And so we are left to believe that the tradition will live on-especially when we read that some of the smallest children pick up the biggest rocks to throw.
ReplyDeleteThis all made me think about how it takes those in positions of power taking risks or challenging their own ways of thinking to really effect change. Were the Charleston teens who had already integrated in the classroom, formed interracial friendships, and joined the same sports teams really the ones who needed to change their ways of thinking? Were they the ones in the community with the power in this particular situation?
When asked how things in Charlseton have really changed given that the white parents still held the whites only prom, Both Chastity and Saltzman felt that things really had changed, and accepted the whites only prom as tradition, with surprisingly little regard for what it really represents. What the whites only prom shows is that there are people willing to still allow segregation as long as there are "other options" for those who wish to desegregate. Isn't that the epitome of separate but equal?
Had the Charleston schools taken a public stance against the whites only prom and if other parents had protest it, then perhaps we could argue for real change. Hopefully the white prom will dissappear over time as Saltzman claims, but for now I believe that relatively little has changed. The kids who were friends before are still friends now, and those who would not befriend a student of a different skin color will likely remain closeminded.
To connect this back to Ruby Bates, it took more than just allowing one black child into the school to break down the walls of segregation. It meant that a separate "whites only" school was not created to satisfy the wishes of the white parents who didn't send their kids when Ruby first attended. It took the efforts of the families who risked their jobs and often their families' safety to bring their own white children to that school. It also required the efforts of the school not to back down, regardless of the adversity it faced from most parents. The following year kids came to school as usual, and Ruby had classmates. Would this had happened had a seperate white school been established? No way.
Perhaps without a whites only prom, the white students who did not attend the integrated prom the first year, might not want to miss out the next year. Maybe the tradition of prom as a celebratory culminating experience for high school students would outweigh the tradition of hatred held by those students and their parents who refused to allow them to attend. That would be change.
As parents and teachers, we have so much influence on our children. Sometimes it is a positive force as in the Ruby Bridges case and sometimes our influence can be detrimental as in the Mississippi prom case. But in both cases it was the voice of children that changed the status quo and interestingly, they both took place in a school. We, as parents and teachers, need to share our beliefs but at the same time listen to their voices. Through healthy meaningful and open discussions, we give children the confidence and courage to speak their truths. Like Chasidy Buckley commented, “We proved ourselves wrong. We proved the community wrong. They didn’t think it was going to happen.” Young people expose the truth. We cannot hold onto to the practices of the past to secure a future for our children. It is theirs, not ours.
ReplyDeleteHats off to Ruby and the integrated prom. Hats off to those who stood up and said that things in the world were wrong. Hats off to Mrs. Henry, Ruby's teacher. I admire her. We hear we can make a difference; well, what a profound difference she made. Can you imagine the grief she took to her face and behind her back? (Ah, the good old teacher's room!)
ReplyDeleteHats off to those who declared that, "I, little old me, can whisper about justice and that whisper incited someone else to whisper." After all, many whispers make a loud noise. Why waste time on those who are narrow minded and live in their own world, thinking it's good? Fine---be left behind, miss out on the rich opportunities others give to your life. Stay cocooned and live the illusion that your life is full - to you maybe, but you'll never know your potential.
Sticking your neck out can hurt - but usually the surprise at the end is so gratifying. I admire people who can do this. These people stuck their neck out far---I wonder if I can just stretch a little more and try to become as brave as them?
By the school finally changing their tradition and integrating the prom, they are proving there is still hope for a change when it comes to racial segregation and prejudice. Although it took a while, similar to Ruby’s story, integrating races is not a terrible thing as was thought in the past. Like reported, the students “proved themselves wrong” and did have fun at their integrated prom, just like students today can have fun and learn in a school with peers of mixed races.
ReplyDeleteI think the students in Mississippi need to be aware of how important they were in making this change. I feel like the cycle has finally broken in their school and future generations no long have to continue with a tradition forced upon by their parents.
Although an integrated prom should have been implemented years ago, this change shows how powerful people can really be. It is up to us, and future generations to continue positive change in our society. It just takes one person, Ruby, or one school to make a change.
I was really struck by the sense of pride that some of these students are begining to feel. I almost get the sense that Chasidy feels that this event is really going to impact her community. I hope that she is right. I hope that this community is going to take the necessary steps to begin reflecting on how tradition can be hurtful. I am glad that school finally decided to sponsor the prom. Hopefully community members will be able to see that change is going to happen. Maybe this will force them to look at what has happened and how it has affected other people.
ReplyDeleteThis idea of reflection is true for Ruby Bridges too. Based on her afterword, and even throughout the story, Ruby seems like a person who is also looking back at what is happening and it has affected her and how she has affected others.
I believe that reflection is one of the best ways to bring about change. If we ignore what has happened and what is happening, how can take the steps toward tolerance, acceptance, and for some equal rights. We need to look at ourselves and our country and see how can improve. I think we may need to improve ourselves first then improve the community, the country, and so on.
Good evening everybody, Janna here...I respect both Ruby and the students who attended this integrated prom for their actions. However, I believe in what Ruby claimed as an adult-that as a child she was less of a hero and more just an ordinary girl doing what her parents told her to do. I am not saying that this makes her actions any less important, or that she or any six-year-old should be the ones spear-heading change in legislation or procedure, rather that it frustrates me that parents are telling their children to fight these battles. (much like Shauna pointed out-that the children are not the ones in positions of power) Either side, whether parents are telling their children to encourage segregation or to fight it, children should not be the soldiers in our civil rights battles, and if they are it should be by choice, not by pressure. I am proud of the children and teenagers who lead the way by choice, but it saddens me that adults could be so hardened and so heartless that they must use their children as role models. I believe that teenagers can be a potent force in fighting for causes, and I am encouraged and hopeful for the future when they lead the way, but saddened at the failures of our past and present when we consider how many adults are resistant to change and compassion. I believe in what Ghandi said, that we should be the change we wish to see in the world--and I believe that we should do this personally as adults and fight legislature and policy, then inform our students and allow them to decide what it is they would like to do with the world we pass on to them. Hopefully we inform them well enough, and model consistenly enough, to teach them well and support them sturdily so that they too become adults who fight injustice, learn fervently, and love deeply.
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ReplyDeleteAs Ruby did not truly understand the ramifications of her attending an integrated school, I believe that many of the students in Mississippi don't have a deep understanding that they have created history with this single event. Ruby was just doing what her parents told her to do. The kids attending the white prom are doing what their parents are telling them to do and I suspect that many attending the joint prom were encouraged to do so by their parents. Clearly some of the students were aware of the need for change and took an active part in advocating for it. Some may not have a true awareness of the significance due to the lack of knowledge about the world around them. I believe that some awareness can be gained through literature and media but some knowledge is best gained through experiences. How many of us who considered ourselves to be educated and thoughtful about the world did not know that segregation was still an issue to this point in our own country? I marvel at the strength and courage displayed by those involved. I wonder what the members of the "angry mob" have to say today? Have they changed their views? What would they say to Ruby today? Could they even face her after their unbelievable cruelty directed toward her and her supporters?
ReplyDeleteAs we discussed the videos we watched last night, I too was reminded of the power of tradition (and “The Lottery” came to mind for me as well – Oyster River brains think alike, I guess ☺). While the prom segregation was a terrible situation, I was encouraged by the fact that staunch racism did not exist in every student’s heart (on account of how difficult it is to uproot); rather, most simply knew the segregated proms as a yearly tradition that has always been, and it was their parents’ prejudice that promoted and maintained such separation. Sadly, however, many students did not question it; they simply attended because they’ve never seen anything else. This reality is illustrated by the fact that students have no problems associating with one another in other settings.
ReplyDeleteChasidy is a bit of an exception to the rule because of her experience elsewhere, and that got me to thinking about the importance of exposure to cultures other than your own…something that is often accomplished by going to other places, something which many of the students in Charleston had never done. Someone said in class today that one does not necessarily need to travel to increase one’s sphere of understanding; however, it does seem to me that it is imperative that we are exposed to how life works in other places in order to think more critically about how our own communities function. While travel is not the only way, in a community like Charleston, where one view is dominant and the education in schools may be limited according to that mindset (huge assumption here), it seems necessary to get out and see other ways of being and thinking.
I have also continued to ponder what Janna brought up in class today about the importance of reflecting on our own issues with race and prejudice in the North and not just pointing fingers at the South. We use the novel Our Nig in my American Studies class, and the students are always struck by just how terrible the young girl Frado’s experience is just because she had a black father…right in our backyard (Milford, NH). We all think of the North as this safe haven for blacks when in reality many former slaves returned to the South because it was easier to deal with the overt racism there than the “hidden” hatred that had profound, rather unexpected effects on their lives. It is this different “kind” of racism, that Neal described in class today, that we must guide our students in considering. We must reflect on the prejudices we carry unknowingly and how they are shaped by the absence of diversity in many of our New England towns.
So now, to make the link back to Ruby’s story…She walked boldly through crowds expressing racism in a very overt manner. She carried compassion for those who were dead set against her presence in that school, and she set an example that changed the course of history, as both the individuals in both article and podcast noted this one integrated prom may just do. I believe that the education we provide our students, the kind that exposes them to a wide variety of perspectives and experiences, will allow individual students to be that agent of change in face of injustice, armed with compassion and confidence, as they head out into the world, even when the battle might not be as clear-cut as people screaming at them from a crowd.
I just want to follow up on my previous comment. First, I think I gave Ruby the last name "Bates." Sorry about that. I'm sure there are many more typos there as well! I also wanted to comment on how refreshing it is to read so many responses to this issue from people with varied opinions and experiences. You kids are wicked smaht!
ReplyDeleteA major connection that continues to be apparent is that for the most part the parents are perpetuating this injustice. Chastity mentioned in the NPR podcast that this is how it has always been and parents are doing what their parents did. She also mentioned that there was a strong fear of change in her town which is why things like a segregated prom continue in her town.
ReplyDeleteFor Ruby, you see mainly adults in the angry mob. The adults were the ones spreading the hate. They were the ones threatening to poison a small child and creating coffins with black dolls in them. These mob members clearly had strong feelings about keeping their children separate from black children that they would create say and do such terrible things. I am still trying to grasp the idea of an adult throwing rocks and eggs at children simply because these children dared to attend a "white" school. Fear had to be overruling their common sense and human decency. Their fear of change contributed to them being so hateful to a sweet, innocent girl. Thankfully, Ruby did not really understand what she was doing or the situation, because that probably saved her from being permanently scarred by this constant barrage of hatred.
It is hard to believe that the story of Ruby Bridges occurred many years ago, yet we are still battling issues of segregation, racism, and prejudices. Yes, we may be all prejudiced according to Paul Saltzmann, but it is overcoming those prejudices that Ruby teaches us about. She was a 6 year old girl who faced issues that, I believe, no adult would ever dare to face. She stared in the faces of screaming and jeering crowds and would simply pray for them. Ruby was the inspiration for other black children, as well as adults. Blacks could understand that they too deserved equal opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI was inspired to hear the students talking about their experiences at the prom. A quote that stuck out for me was by the girl who said, "We proved ourselves and we proved our community wrong." This is a direct parallel to Ruby Bridges- she proved not only herself of her strength and will power, but she proved to the community that black students should be integrated with white students. The "racism" that ran rampant was due to the beliefs that parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents held about each gender, but Ruby was able to overcome those.
From class today, I realized the importance of needing to take the time to realize and comprehend all that is around us. We must continue to want to make change so that one day, our children won't have to fight for that change. As educators, we must show our students the endless posibilities that are out there.
The parallels are that change was made in a school setting by students. Ruby Bridges was the solitary figure that, unknowingly, as a six year old broke barriers as she walked in to William Franz Public School. Only later was she to learn from a classmate that his mother did not want him to play with her because of the color of her skin. "I can,t play with you," the boy said. "My mama said not to because you are a nigger." About fifty years later the same derogatory term "nigger" was used by a parent . A father did not want his daughter to go to the school prom because she might be near a" nigger". So much time, so little change for some people in this Southern town. The audio clip did explain that Charleston "fought hard against segregation and clan activity took place there". Opinions, beliefs and emotions run deep. It is clear that these three components reached far back in time between generations with respect to thought and action for the people of Charleston [as it did in many parts of the United State in the 1950's]. Not so much for the high school students, but rather for their parents and the influence and pressure they had on the children. As Cassidy said," What we learn.. it is from these parents...it is passed on . That's the way it has always been. Everyone is afraid to change". Ruby's steps helped great change to begin to slowly unfold. The high school students with their 2009 Prom Night danced many steps to continue the movement toward change.
ReplyDeleteI took the night to think about the links that were posted and reread Ruby Bridges. And I find myself thinking of a student I had when I taught in Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York. For those of you who aren't familiar with this place, Bed-Stuy is in Brooklyn and has a predominately black population. Many of the students come from homes of poverty, drugs, loss, etc. There are gangs, but during the three years I taught there I never noticed them - perhaps because I was naive and am still naive in a sense. I really did not know that there was so much racial tension in the U.S. I knew that things were not perfect and that there are racist people in the world, but I thought that as a society we were becoming more accepting of people's differences. Which leads me back to this little girl that I taught. This girl was so sweet and determined as ever to do what she had to do even though it was a struggle for her. She was surrounded by students who would randomly start fights in class (physical and verbal) and often went home wondering about me and feeling for me and what I had to deal with on a daily basis. I was always touched by this, but after reading Ruby Bridges and watching these clips I realize that this girl is trying to make a change. It would have been so easy for her to join in with the fighting, but she didn't and for the most part the kids never picked on her. It was amazing. Slowly she is changing the world in her own way and I doubt she realizes the impact that she is having. For me, she gave me the strength and determination to push through; she was my glimmer of hope. I often wonder where she is right now and hope that she has not changed because of her environment as so many of us do. We lose that innocence that we had as a child once we realize and see the world for what it is based on where we are growning up. As children, many of us have tolerance until we are taught otherwise - either by our parents or the environment we are in. I wonder what the world would be like if that was not ever taken away from us...
ReplyDelete"I Believe"
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young and full of grace
My spirit hid a rattlesnake.
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You're on your honor not to tell
I believe in coyotes and time as an abstract
Explain the change, the difference between
What you want and what you need, there's the key,
Your adventure for today, what do you do
Between the horns of the day?
I believe my shirt is wearing thin
And change is what I believe in
When I was young and give and take
And foolish said my fool awake
When I was young and fever fell
My spirit, I will not tell
You're on your honor, on your honor
Trust in your calling, make sure your calling's true
Think of others, the others think of you
Silly rule golden words make, practice, practice makes perfect,
Perfect is a fault, and fault lines change
I believe my humor's wearing thin
And change is what I believe in
--Music by REM; lyrics by Michael Stipe
What struck me most about the pictures, in both _Through My Eyes_ and in the NPR slideshow, is how essential kids are to affecting change. The attitudes of the white minority in Mississippi is so perfectly encapsulated by the lawyer's farcically dated comment about black kids doing the "Electric Slide." I'm sure that guy would be shocked right out of his bell bottoms if he knew what his pure white kids were really listening to.
The beautiful irony (and let's face it, irony makes life worth living--well, irony and cheesecake) of the situation is that despite our assumptions that these kids must be really isolated and in a place decades behind the times, they looked just like any other kids at prom across America. By being the same, they are on the cusp of changing everything in their town.
The poles are shifting, and change is what I believe in.