Entry # 39:
The Right to Be Ourselves
There's an epidemic raging here in Philadelphia and it's called Sixers'
Fever. I'm happy to report that I have a bad case of it, myself.
Everywhere you go people are talking about the playoffs. Little kids are
holding signs on corners that plead, "Honk, if you love the 76'ers!"
and most drivers comply. School uniform policies are bending in favor of
basketball gear as the term winds down and car flags are selling out as
fast as the merchants can put them on display.
I am heartened by the feeling of community and the expressions of hope that
can be felt in all our neighborhoods. I am both amazed and encouraged each
time I watch our David, Allen Iverson (AI), as he squares off against the
Goliaths on the Lakers' team.
There are lessons for our city in this match-up. There are plenty of lessons
for our schools too.
Role models
In today's paper, I read an article, "To corporate America, Bryant
a surer shot than Iverson" and I was pleased to see someone raising
the issues that have bothered me throughout this latest series. I'm tired
of endless Kobe commercials, even the ones I enjoyed the first time I saw
them.
I can't help but wonder what our kids are thinking? Do they admire Kobe?
I'm sure they do, but can they relate to his experience? I'm not so sure.
The article in today's paper quotes Iverson as saying, "I don't want
to be some crossover figure just to please some people. I'm from the inner
city, and that's who I am, and that's what I am going to be."
The writers go on to say that AI's persona, his previous brushes with the
law, his tattoos, the skull cap, and the rap song lyrics, all hurt him with
corporate endorsers. I'm sure this is the case. The endorsers are looking
for mainstream role models, translated as "palatable to white parents."
What are "we" looking for in the schools? Are we looking for evidence
that hard work and hustle pay off, or are we looking for someone that doesn't
look much like anyone or anything in our kids experience? Are we looking
for some fantasy or some much needed reality?
I have problems with Iverson's lyrics. I don't care for the tattoos either.
I'm certainly not pleased with the arrests, but I do admire his accomplishments.
The message for me is more what he's grown to become -- not a different
person, but a more mature version of the scrappy inner city star player
that he's always been.
AI has learned the value of teamwork and leadership. He has grown into a
leader not by forgetting where he came from or pretending to be someone,
whom he is not, but by deepening his understanding, on the job, right before
our eyes.
Iverson is a college graduate and a loving father. Yes, he's had some problems,
but he has overcome them. His appearance is his decision, it's his right.
Are we looking for sameness, or our own reflection? Are we willing to examine
what it is about our differences that matters, and what is just a question
of culture or preference?
Real people we can respect
I'd be willing to struggle with him about his lyrics, but I'm also willing
to look beyond the words to his actions. In my book, you're more what you
do than what you say.
I'm not looking for perfection, I'm looking for real people who are worthy
of respect. I have lots of heroes and sheroes, not because they have no
faults, but because I derive strength from watching the way they live their
lives under pressure.
Too often in our classrooms, success is equated with selling out. Very real
pressures are applied to our children when they are expected to not only
speak, but also to think white, in proper English, and as if they were middle
class.
Conformity to the standards we set, those that are implicit as well as explicit,
creates very real conflicts for both our students of color and our students
who are poor, especially our boys.
It is high time we had discussions with our kids about what they want and
what they need to do to get it. If that means acknowledging that "proper
English" is the language of power, then so be it. We need to be up
front in our discussions of different forms of our language and when and
where they are acceptable.
We need to discuss modes of dress as well. Just pretending that there's
only one way to act, look and speak, doesn't cut it. We come off as out
of touch, and we lose our credibility with our students. If we continue
to deny the differences that exist in our society, if we pretend that we
are all equal, we fail to empower our kids.
Kids need to examine "the right to be different"
If I were going into my classroom tomorrow, I'd copy the article about Iverson
and Bryant for my kids. We'd slap up a Venn diagram and we'd compare and
contrast the two players. We'd talk about their right to be different, and
how they were both hard working athletes to be admired. Perhaps most importantly,
we'd discuss Iverson's quote and their reading of its meaning.
I see this series as an opportunity for many teachable moments about diversity,
tolerance and community. When I finish writing this, I think I'll call around
and see if I can wrangle an invitation to visit a classroom or two this
week. I'm anxious to hear what some middle school kids have to say about
these ideas.
In the meantime, I'm hoping the advantage of playing on our home court will
serve us well tonight. Beating the Lakers in LA was sweet, but there's nothing
quite like winning at home...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This diary entry was written on Saturday. The Lakers won
Saturday night's game and take a 2-1 lead into Game 4 on Wednesday.
[Deb Bambino is co-moderator of the MiddleWeb
listserve.]
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