Black Students Suspended in Greater Numbers

My son is now 25. This stuff doesn't just start with school, Farai, but as I do not want to turn this forum into a National Wailing Wall...Josh was five when he started receiving the ignominious "blue notes". To try and understand this dynamic I started coming to class and observing. And it became clear that none of us were seeing the same things. When a white classmate of my son's began acting out at school, it was quickly attributed to the parents recent divorce, with his mom coming to class to support the teacher in comforting him throughout the day. When my son was standing in a line of boys who were pushing and shoving each other, Josh was LABELED a "leader in destructive behavior" by the teacher and the school librarian. One of his "blue note" infractions was that he was "always raising his hand to answer questions" and not giving the other kids a "chance". And on and on it went. One 6th grade incident had a teacher kicking him out of class for talking. One of the white kids who was part of the group of talkers began to vigorously raise his hand to say that he too had been talking , and did not think it was fair to just punish my son! One teacher moved him to the front so she could "keep and eye on him", still if there was talking going on the only voice she could ever really hear was my son's. In 7th grade he was suspended for a week for having a bidi (an Indian cigarette) given to him by another kid. Josh was the only one to get a week long suspension. In 8th grade he was nominated for class president, best athlete, most popular, best dressed, etc. The principal would not allow him to run because of his 7th grade suspension...People want to talk about drop-out rates, over representation in prisons, substance abuse, etc. None of this is new phenomena. Our kids have been disproportionately punished, alienated and isolated in schools since FOREVER. As indicated by their behavior, those "educating" them do not believe they will be contributers to the Great Society, and thus do not put equal effort into ensuring their success. Though my son has been hurt by these things he also grew up with MY MESSAGES IN HIS HEAD: By the power of God in me, I am, over and over; when other black kids teased him about his nappy hair, I taught hm that he was one of the original people, the first people, whose hair was just like his. I made up songs just for him, read him books with pictures of people who looked like him, took him to art classes and nurtured his love of swimming and gymnastics and baseball and judo and track and basketball and every damn thing else I could afford or find for him to do. You do not feel obliged to believe people's lies about you when you have experiences that contrast with the negative image they would impose. It is not simple, and it is not easy, but we have to put our bodies and our hearts on the line to stand up for our kids..I remember a very poignant story that happened when my son was in the 5th grade. I had gotten called to the school. Josh had been taken to the office for "beating up some big kids". Before I could get through the gate, kids began running up to me to tell me "Josh got in trouble for trying to protect us!" . Some school yard bullies had been picking on and harassing some of the smaller kids. Josh had come to their aid and now he was in trouble for "trying to protect us", they shouted at me. When I asked the principal about this (she had my son in her office) she looked at me and said "We do not encourage VIGILANTEISM(sp?)!" We not only have to teach the value of education but we must also teach self defense through empowerment. That is the challenge for all persons of color seeking access to ALL the institutions in this society being upheld by the TRADITIONAL GATEKEEPERS. Like I said, my son is now 25; I remember every painful moment and Josh rarely speaks of school experiences but every Monday for years we played Bob Marley's "I Hate Mondays" song.

Sent by Gloria Alee | 8:26 PM | 9-27-2007

I really appreciate the long term statistics and study on this. My handsome, popular, athletic son has never been viewed as intelligent by his teachers. We've gone back to the fourth grade to count the number of teacher's who I can only describe as bullies. When in parent meetings I now refer to them as "bully #9, bully #10, and bully #11". He has anxiety attacks before exams that I blame on the system. These folks, teachers, who we support through our taxes, have to be consistently monitored and yes, re-educated.

Sent by Kian F Jacobs, LCSW, LICSW | 12:00 PM | 9-30-2007