I began working at
Castlemont High in East Oakland two weeks ago.
I no longer have much time for reading or writing, but here are some
flashes from last week:
Wednesday: Wednesday is an early release day so
that the teachers have time for professional development and
collaboration. I’m in the music room
with eight other teachers, discussing how we can make better use of the
advisory classes. Then a sound: “what’s
that?” a new teacher asks. Others look
up and calmly say, “gunfire.” “But it
sounded so soft.”
Thursday: One of my few Yeminis students is
pretty checked out today. I go and talk
with his girlfriend. “What’s up with
---- today?” “Oh don’t you know Mr. B? His friend got shot at yesterday.” “Is he ok?”
“Yeah, they just trying to scare that nigga.”
Friday: I overhear this in my classroom: a
black female says a young black man with a crush on her, “you too fuckin’
scared to use a gun.” He hangs his head
and does not reply as she looks at him condescendingly. I walk over, pretending I didn’t hear, and
ask, “hey, I’m looking forward to this weekend.
What about you guys?” After class
I ask him to stay. I told him what I
heard.
“What do you think
about what ----- said?” I ask. “I
dunno. I mean, it’s fucked up.” “What’s fucked up?” “I dunno.
It just is.” He looks confused. I put on my “man-to-man” voice I use with my
male students: “Look,” I say. “What if
she told that to another man, a man who’s not as strong as you? If he wasn’t as strong as you, maybe he would
do it. I think that’s what’s fucked
up. What should men do when they get
challenged like that? I mean, some of
them might give in. Especially if
they’re around people who challenge them a lot, they might give in. You know what I mean? We need to put ourselves around the right people.” "Yeah, yeah. I know."
"You see it?" "Yeah, I see it," he says.
