Well, in the begging I was really frustrated because I felt like it was too focused on color... and segregating people from one another! Well, there may be benefits in separating African American males from their females but exasperating them from whites in general does not make sense to me. We live in one world and we all need to get along... honestly, as the book called it I am one those "Black-White" people. I didn't grow up in the city or attend city schools as I child... I was in a private school or in the public school system for most of my educational years. So knowing this, that might effect the way that I preserve things... but I really believe that many African Americas need to stop comparing themselves to other people, especially whites. I believe they have done that for so long that it has almost became a handicap to them furthering themselves within the community. I do not forget all of the negative things that whites have done to blacks but I also know that we have come a long way from slavery and if we as a people need to capitalize on that. It upsets me that there are so many problems within the city schools... I understand that the living dynamics are different but I also know that all of those students are not living up to their potential... if I can do it, so can they! Our skin is the same but our mindset isn't.
Secondly, one thing that I really like about these chapters where the authors personal stories... it allowed me to become more actively engaged with what she was saying and recognize that she's had a lot of different experiences that have shaped her and make her more knowledgeable about what she is talking about that other people might not have or be... I like it when she said, "I remember all of my teacher." Who is she... lol... does she have a photographic memory? I can't even remember what I had for breakfast... much less remember who all of my teachers where! lol... but the positive or negative impact that they had on her life was SO strong that she will never forget them...I pray that I will be one of those teachers that have a lasting positive impact. Based upon the teaching experience you have had so far, what do you believe your students would say about you? Positive or Negative?
So far, I enjoy the book.. there are a lot of things that I will share in our discussions but I enjoy hearing and learning from the eight teachers that were interviewed for this book... the perspectives and insight is very interesting. So far, So Good!
The Dreamkeepers "Education, like electricity, needs a conduit, a teacher, through which to transmit its power- i.e., the discovery and continuity of information, knowledge, wisdom, experience, and culture. Through the stories and experiences of eight successful teacher-transmitters, The DreamKeepers keeps hope alive for educating young African Americans."
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