Blog #3 America the home of the Injustice

In the previous class session we started class with an activity that would let us reflect on our short and long term goals. We don’t do this on a daily basis and that is why I learned that sometimes it is good to sit down and write your goals down. Like Julian stated, studies have shown that writing your goals down you are more likely to achieve them. I actually had a similar situation with that. I never write down on the things that I need to get done for the day, I usually just go along with whats on my head an plan according to those thoughts. However, I did something different. For once I wrote down the things I needed to get done for that specific day, and I felt a sense of accomplishment because as I was doing my things on my list I would cross them off my list. For some reason I felt good doing those things. That is why I truly believe that writing down the things or goals that you want to achieve you will get that same sense of accomplishment as  I did. I was also moved by some of the things that my group members shared. One that really caught my ear was one of my group members said he wanted to be in his children’s lives. That is something we don’t think as a goal, but this particular person made me reflect that we have to achieve the smallest details in our daily lives. Not just goals that will help you move forward in life, but goals that will help you live a happier life.

The one word that represents my thoughts for this weeks readings is Injustice. I think that the way the education system treats African-Americans puts them at a disadvantage  academically but also meets a burden on the lives they live outside of these institutions. Teachers don’t encourage for the personal growth and desire of african-american students to pursue higher education and better paying jobs because they simply stick to the stereotype that society puts on them. They are not productive members of society. Instead they dedicated their lives to criminal activity out in the streets. However, we have seen icons such as Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac whom lived on the streets and manage to get themselves up on their own and give another meaning to the stereotype of the black male. The only difference here is that they had “teachers” out in the streets that mentored them in a different way. Why not pick the african-american kid in a classroom and hear his thoughts? Why not tell them simple things such as “Good Job” “I am proud of you” believe it or not these words of encouragement can boost up a teenagers self-esteem really high. With a higher self-esteem one can reach about anything that they set their mind to. As Julius Lester states, “America talks peace while dropping bombs, speaks of self-determination for all people while moving to control the means of production, white power creates once basic condition under which who are powerless must live…… We’re paid enough to stay alive and work and make money for someone else. Thats life in America.”