I watched the story of Dr. Ben Carson on television and the
story showed examples of prejudice, and oppressions that he and his family
encountered because he was black and lived in a single parent household. Ben’s
mother was illiterate, but didn’t want her children to know that she was struggling
with this fact. She was determined that her children would rise above
prejudice, bias, and oppression.
When Ben finished eighth grade at the top of his class, his
teacher told the children that they should be ashamed that a black boy with so
many obstacles in his life received the highest academic award. She did this in
an open assembly with parents, faculty, and students present. When Ben first
came to the school, he was getting failing grades. His mother pushed him and
his brother to strive to do better. She made them read. Out of that, Ben expanded
his knowledge and desire to earn.
In this story, the teacher showed that she had personal
feelings and bias of prejudice and oppression. She expressed them openly. No
one in the auditorium addressed her statement they all sat there as if she was
right in what she was saying. Ben’s mother felt insulted, and removed the boys
from that school, and neighborhood to another district and school. Not all the
teachers felt as the one who spoke openly, because his science teacher became
impressed with Ben’s knowledge about rocks and asked him to stay after class
for what turned out to be a demonstration and praise of his knowledge he had acquired.
I felt that the teacher who spoke of her bias, prejudice feelings openly showed
that they didn’t want the black boy in their school, and she definitely did not
approve of him learning and exhaling beyond the Caucasians who were also
attending the same school. Education is free, and every child has a right to receive
a free education to the fullest extent regardless of color, origin, or family
background.
As an educator, she should not have expressed her feelings
openly. If I could turn that incident into an opportunity for a greater equity,
I would have spoke up against such bias and open prejudice. Her feelings of
open prejudice turned into opportunities for Ben and his family. His mother
moved, and the young men attended another school. Ben had to face his rage,
that he harbored due to open prejudice and bias statements that others had
always expressed to him. He studied and with the encouragement of his mother,
he went on to college and became a famous brain surgeon. He would always see
and hear visions from his past that would motivate him to succeed. His mother
had taught him to have dreams and visions. As educators we should focus on
education and not the color of a person’s skin. Encourage all children to
strive for excellence. After watching
that movie I can see some changes I can make in my own family situation with my
grandson. I will start encouraging him more, and make him read more instead of
watching television and playing video games. Reading can be fun and very
informative.
