SoRHOrs and Sisterfriends,
Some of the senior government classes went around and asked different students in the building if they understood or planned on doing something to remember Martin Luther King's birthday on Monday, January 21, 2002. And most of the students replies would deeply upset you. Some of the kids didn't really know anything about the work of Dr. King or the Civil Rights Movement. And still others believed that his great works were a thing of the past (I'm talking about many children of color - African American, Hispanics, Asians, etc.). However, a few said that they were going to participate in different King celebrations and some others said that they were going to volunteer to work with the homeless or others in need. It seems that every year students of color really don't care to hear how Martin, Malcolm, Marcus, Dubois, Stokely, and the many thousands of others fought for African Americans and other people of color to be treated like decent human beings!
It also seems that many of our children don't really care to hear about the struggles of our people. As a history and social studies educator and lover of the subject this is very upsetting to see so many folks turn a deaf ear to such a serious cause. I guess my point to this lengthy post is this-- how do we reach the lost? I know that I decided to spend quality time on Friday, Jan 18, 2002 (after school) educating some of my students that really didn't know what Dr. King did for African Americans and all people.
I guess I have several questions to ask you (sorors and sisterfriends):
Should we (educators, community leaders, bglos, parents)change our tactics to reach the lost?
Should we continue with what seems like a lost cause?
How did you celebrate Dr. King's birthday?
Serioussigma22