Do any of us have the full picture? I think that is the bigger question here? The answer? No, we don’t, in school we have been taught about segregation in schools and were told the story of the Little Rock Nine, we were painted a small picture of what the African American race had to endure while in the pursuit of a better education. I had never heard the story of Ruby Bridges and everything she went through while going to an all-white school. It saddens me that this story was never mentioned in any of my classes, especially because she went through so much being alone in a class for a full year and being taunted by grown white women. It makes me wonder what other races and ethnicities have stories untold? I realize now that just as we did not have the bigger picture when it came to segregation, we also don’t have the bigger picture when it comes to each other.
I will admit, I don’t have the full picture, I don’t know the stories that my peers carry with them and what brought them to this point in their careers. We each have unique stories of hard work, struggle, and determination which many may not know of. We each come from families of different cultures that share unique traditions but also challenges. As future educators we must be opened to learn more about our students and build a better and bigger picture in which every culture and race can share their uniqueness and help each other.
Alex, thank you for your perspective. I agree that we do not have the full picture and I honestly think we never will. There is so much history out there in the World that I feel like it is near impossible to learn it all. But I do believe that if we just keep an open mind by knowing that we do not have the whole picture, we will on the right track to more social justice. I do remember the story of Ruby Bridges and the Little Rock Nine, but barely. I refreshed my memory by doing my own research after going through this module. It seems like they were only a lesson in History once in my High School History class. That was clearly not enough. I think ‘layers’ of the stories should be added on as we get older and as they are age-appropriate for the students. I am grateful that Ruby continues to share her story, continuing to strengthen the fight for social justice.
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