Exploring the meaning of racism

October 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment


This is the second of eight write-ups from freshman students at Manual Arts High School. Some participated in weeks-long projects about animal abuse, drugs, gangs, prostitution and racism. Part of their projects included surveys they created for their communities. After they gathered information, all of the groups presented their findings at a school presentation. Two days later, each group wrote about their experiences during an Intersections: The South Los Angeles Report mentoring and writing workshop.

Racism

By: Anahi Acevado, Daniel Aguilar, Ana Gonzales, Dillon Rivas and Darwin Vicente

We chose racism because it is very interesting to us. It is an issue and problem we wanted to discuss and look up. We studied and searched websites, articles and documents. We found and discovered many things.

Our group learned that racism is very familiar to people and it exists in our community. We surveyed many classes and students, and we interviewed five people, including an English teacher, a physical education teacher, a coordinator and an assistant dean.

Everyone we interviewed felt the same way we did. We all feel that racism is a problem that needs to be dealt with. This problem will not change or stop if we do not work together to make a difference. We think that if everyone works together and resolves their issues, we will succeed.

Our group also thinks racism most likely comes from pure ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of racism because people who are racist do not realize that racism just brings more problems and violence in our community and world.

Racism can negatively affect you and everyone around it. It can start problems and create violence. Race itself can stop you from getting or keeping a job. We believe you should earn your job based on your hard work, experience and loyalty, rather than your race. Most importantly, race can keep you from having a nice, soothing and joyful life, but that is not okay.

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Students and volunteers reflect on trip to Washington

October 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment


image“Students will actually benefit from this program, people start to look up to these students,” Daniel Reyes said, an alum of Crenshaw High School who works with the program Mother of Many and was one of the 18 students that went to the White House this past September.

The group, who is made up of students both from Crenshaw’s Digital Media Team and Cooking Live with Dorsey High raised all the money themselves through fundraisers and drives.

“We got to meet with President Barack Obama’s Digital Web team, we met with the First Lady’s nutrition campaign, the ‘Let’s Move’ campaign and we got to see her garden, which was very cool,” said Mother of Many board member Lauri Burrier.

The students were so inspired that they want to start their own First Lady Garden on a already existing 2.5 acre plot at Crenshaw. Mother of Many served healthy popcorn at the Taste of Soul Festival on Crenshaw Boulevard October 16.

“Our big dream is to start a farmers market that would work with the community, so we really want to get out into the community to give the kids more incentive to feel an involvement and feel leadership in their community and stay in school and go to college,” Burrier said.

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Jerry Brown visits South Los Angeles churches

October 24, 2010 By 4 Comments


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Listen to Jerry Brown’s speech at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

View the slide show here.

Hot off his appearance with President Barack Obama at the University of Southern California, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown spoke from the pulpit of several South Los Angeles churches on Sunday. Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco and Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, traveled with Brown to the churches.

Over the course of the morning, Brown visited four churches in South Los Angeles and Compton. Brown used these visits as a means to encourage voter participation and to preach the Democratic platform in preparation for the midterm elections.

One of his stops, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, is the oldest African American-founded church in Los Angeles. The pastor, the Rev. John Hunter, introduced Brown with a line of implicit support.

“The Lord oftentimes anoints and moves people to offer themselves to lead and to be a part of the solution,” Hunter said before Brown took the stage.

imageBrown is no stranger to speaking to religious audiences, as he was at one time in the seminary himself. Speaking to the large congregation appeared to energize him, even though he had just been ushered into the building moments before, running late after speaking at another church.

“I know you’re going to vote,” Brown said. “I just want to remind you to vote. This is real important. If you don’t vote, you don’t count.”

Enthusiastic applause broke out after Brown said he wants to make sure everybody has the God-given right to exceed, to soar, and to go however high they can go.

Brown continued, peppering his speech with religious references, while at the same time making powerful jabs at his Republican opposition.

“With your help and God’s blessing, we’ll make it work for everybody. Not just the powerful. Not just the people who seek out Mammon. You know, the children of darkness in their own way are pretty smart, but this is the time for the children of light. Follow the light. The light that will give us the kind of illumination that will lead us to the right path.”

He made a final call to fix the schools and reform the prisons, and then was off to his next destination.

imageWard African Methodist Episcopal Church offered a smaller, but no less enthusiastic audience for Brown. His speech became folksier and he spoke on a more intimate level to the church members, who at this point were already two hours into a church service.

“Seeking and praying and serving, that’s really what we need from our people in government,” Brown said, before launching into a tirade against money-grubbing politicians.

“They’re called public servants. But we know some of those folks over there in Bell, California, were like public potentates. They were paying themselves more than the President of the United States for running a little city. I don’t know if they were running the city, they were running off with the city.”

He asked how many people have already cast their absentee ballot. When several hands shot up, Brown responded, “Well that’s good! It’s good if you voted for me! If you didn’t, it’s bad.”

The congregation laughed, and then continued to offer verbal affirmations and smatterings of applause as Brown insisted that it’s time to stop pointing fingers and to start coming together to solve problems. “At the end of the day, we’re all Californians, and we all have to live in the state.”

Outside of Ward, one church member lamented that they didn’t have a red carpet to roll out for the man he hopes will be the next governor of California.

John Frierson, another church member and long time South Los Angeles community and political activist, shook his head. “I’ve known Brown for 40 years. He’s not the kind of guy who would like a red carpet.”
Slide Show:


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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OPINION: Why South Central L.A. needs Prop 24

October 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment


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imageCuts in public services have devastated the South Central community. As a teacher at Santee High School I have personally seen these devastating effects in my classroom. Our class sizes are larger than ever, many of our newest promising educators have been let go, school supplies are low, and the uncertainty of the future has our entire school community on edge.

South Central is like many other urban areas of California, forgotten by the politicians and their big business donors and left to fend for itself.

The abandonment by city leadership has lead to post-industrial decay in South Central. Lack of affordable housing has many families renting out rooms and multiple families living in single family homes. I often hear stories of residents forgoing trips to the doctor for lack of health insurance. The poorest in our communities have been hardest hit by this recession and cuts to public services have been devastating.

This is why we need Proposition 24.

Proposition 24 will stop special tax loopholes for big business that are set to take effect next year. That equals $1.3 billion in lost revenue to the state and a huge corporate giveaway to big business. And that $1.3 billion is a much-needed pile of cash that could be allocated to affordable housing, health care, and education. Instead of giving yet another bailout to these corporations, we should invest in what our community needs: education, housing and health care programs. We should use that money to invest in our children.

Proposition 24 will not solve all our problems, but for places like South Central Los Angeles, it’s a step in the right direction.

For more on Proposition 24, visit the California Voter Guide.

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS:

YES vote on this measure means: Three business tax provisions will return to what they were before 2008 and 2009 law changes. As a result: (1) a business will be less able to deduct losses in one year against income in other years, (2) a multistate business will have its California income determined by a calculation using three factors, and (3) a business will not be able to share tax credits with related businesses NO vote on this measure means: Three business tax provisions that were recently changed will not be affected. As a result of maintaining current law: (1) a business will be able to deduct losses in one year against income in more situations, (2) most multistate businesses could choose to have their California income determined based only on a single sales factor, and (3) a business will be able to share its tax credits with related businesses.

ARGUMENTS:

PRO: Prop. 24 stops $1.7 billion in new special tax breaks for wealthy, multi-state corporations. They get unfair tax loopholes without creating one new job while small businesses get virtually no benefit. Public schools, healthcare and public safety should come before tax loopholes. Vote YES on 24—the Tax Fairness Act. CON: CALIFORNIA NEEDS JOBS, NOT A JOBS TAX! Prop. 24 doesn’t guarantee $1 for our classrooms and REDUCES long-term revenues for schools and vital services. It would hurt small businesses, tax job creation, send jobs OUT of California—costing us 144,000 jobs. Families can’t afford 24’s new taxes. No on 24!

Other stories on Proposition 24:

Proposition 24 would change tax laws for businesses

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Crenshaw student recites Pledge of Allegiance at Obama USC visit

October 22, 2010 By 1 Comment


imageEsaul Parra (standing behind President Obama) watches the President as he walks onstage at a rally on the USC campus.

Esaul Parra, a 14-year-old student at Crenshaw High School, was chosen to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on stage before the thousands of people gathered to hear the president’s speech in Alumni Park at USC.

Daphne Bradford, an Apple-distinguished educator who heads the Digital Media Team at Crenshaw High School, snapped a picture of Parra onstage. Parra is a member of the Digital Media Team and one of 18 students from Crenshaw and Dorsey High Schools to have visited the White House in September.

The visit marked months of campaigning by students and the “Mother of Many” organization to bring the Crenshaw Digital Media Team and Cooking Live with Dorsey High to the White House. Students met with Obama’s personal aide, Reggie Love, and Obama’s personal chef, Sam Kass. Photos from the visit can be viewed here.

More on Esaul Parra and his Pledge of Allegiance: Crenshaw Student to Share Spotlight With President (NBC)

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Obama encourages supporters to ‘Fight On’

October 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment


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imageAt 2:05 pm on Friday, President Barack Obama stepped to the podium placed on the steps of Doheny Library at the University of Southern California.

It was a much-appreciated moment, especially for the several cheering supporters in the crowd of an estimated 37,000 who had arrived as early as 6 am. President Obama’s initial plea for his audience to get “fired up and ready to go” was met with resounding applause.

The President’s speech concluded the Democratic National Committee’s “Moving America Forward” rally. Before the President took to the stage, there was a host of high-profile California Democrats: Sen. Barbara Boxer, Gubernatorial candidate and current Attorney General Jerry Brown, Attorney General candidate Kamala Harris and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

With just 11 days before the midterm elections, the theme of the rally was vote and vote Democrat.

“It is up to us to move the country forward, to not stay on the sidelines, and to at least vote,” Kal Penn, a former actor and current campaign field worker, instructed the crowd.

Kamala Harris, San Francisco’s reform-minded District Attorney, who is running against Los Angeles DA Steve Cooley for Attorney General, echoed that sentiment, saying that the election proved a forum for discussion. “It’s about our voice, and we’ve got a lot to say,” Harris said.

During his 25-minute speech, President Obama emphasized the need to move forward, to avoid the mistakes of his Republican predecessors, and for the audience, to recommit themselves to what he called a “difficult task.”

He also warned the audience that a return to a Republican-dominated government was essentially a return to the past.

“We tried it, we didn’t like it and we’re not going back to it,” Obama said.

Using the metaphor of a car and driver, Obama argued that Republicans had driven the country into a ditch. Jokingly, he added, “[Republicans] can’t have the keys back, [they] don’t know how to drive.”

While most of his speech drew comparisons between the ideologies of the two political parties, Obama reminded his audience that change takes time, and with change inevitably comes dissent.

“But don’t ever let anyone tell you that our fight hasn’t been worth it,” said Obama. “Don’t let them tell you we’re not making a difference. Because of you, there are people here in California who don’t have to choose between getting treatment for their cancer and going bankrupt.”

“Fight on,” he added to the roar of the Trojans and against a backdrop of students clad in cardinal and gold USC garb.

imageFor the majority of the audience, Obama was the big draw to the rally. Supporters were adorned in “Yes We Can” T-shirts and Obama blankets.

Residents of the surrounding South Los Angeles neighborhood took special pride in having President Obama on their turf.

Sherall Preyer-Sumler, a South Los Angeles resident, attended the “Moving America Forward” rally because she still believes “Obama has a lot to offer us.”

“At USC, everyone can get to come and see him by bus, train or driving. It’s just a great location,” said Preyer-Sumler.

The choir from the Foshay Learning Center on South Harvard Boulevard sang for the crowd before the President’s appearance, and Crenshaw High School student Esaul Parra donned his military dress to stand on stage with the commander-in-chief.

For Preyer-Sumler, education was a key issue for Obama to address. Her 6-year-old daughter attends a charter school Lou Dantzler Preparatory Elementary on 53rd Street.

“I think it’s important that we have money to support schools more than anything else,” Preyer-Sumler said.

Education was also on the minds of several of the University of Southern California students in attendance.

“He promised to put so much money into education, and a lot of its been reallocated to things like Afghanistan,” said Jake Kennedy, a University of Southern California junior.

imagePilar Posada, a West Covina resident, spoke out against the economic downfall.

“[Obama] needs to take the economy a little more seriously and evaluate everybody’s necessities equally,” Posada said.

While concerns about Obama’s policies lingered, many in the crowd expressed great appreciation for the ability to witness a presidential speech.

Keith Baker attended the rally with his young son Kamal. Kamal perched on the barricade in order get a glimpse of Obama, a president he hoped would be in office “forever.”

“I’ll probably never see this again in my lifetime,” Baker said. “So any chance I get, it’s so important that we can share this.”

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Thousands attend Obama Rally

October 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment


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Obama LIVE at USC

October 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment


President Obama’s “Moving America Forward” rally can be viewed LIVE at: http://www.livestream.com/uscannenberg via ATVN.org

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OPINION: Walk in the shoes of a teacher

October 22, 2010 By 6 Comments


imageBy Sujata Bhatt, a teacher at Grand View Elementary

All names have been changed to protect students’ privacy.

The first month of school has ended, and many teachers working in urban districts have already gone through the seven stages of grief. Shock and denial over the skills of incoming students. Pain at the thought of how much work it will take to get them up to speed. Anger at the many factors that have brought these students to the classroom in this state of unpreparedness. Depression in the face of the magnitude of the task ahead. Reflection on what it will take to get the students going. The upward turn as students begin to cohere as a class. Reconstruction as the teacher finds methods and strategies to teach this group of students. And, finally, a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, the job will get done.

In short, as the barbs and battle cries in the Great Education Debate fly all around us, we teachers have gotten down to work. We have assessed our students to see where they are in reading and math skills, in writing and comprehension. We have pored through databases to analyze test scores and fill out numerous worksheets to satisfy the experts and district number crunchers. But equally importantly, we have gotten to know our students as human beings.

I know that four out of my 24 fourth-graders read at grade level. One knows her times tables. Almost no one knows his or her phone numbers. Most don’t know their addresses. Many don’t know that they live in the city of Los Angeles, which is in the state of California in the nation of the United States on the continent of North America. Four did not read a single book over the summer. One has missed a week of school already. The other students say she has gone to Mexico, but we don’t know for sure, and we don’t know when she’ll be back. One has already moved to Bakersfield.

I know that fifteen out of twenty four parents showed up at an evening class meeting I held. Two sent notes that they couldn’t make it because they were working; I don’t know about the remaining seven.

I know that Osvaldo’s mom will meet me at the gate once a week to check on how he’s doing.

I know that Avery’s mom wants me to let her know about his behavior every single day, but she won’t come to class meetings or Back to School Night.

I know that David has a handicapped sister at home which makes it hard for his single mom to give him attention, but if I call her and let her know how he’s doing, she’ll make the time for him.

I know that Timothy’s mom will verbally support everything I do but has no time or energy to follow up on it.

I know that Harry has five siblings from five different dads and his mom has “f*** you” tattooed on her eyebrow.

I know that Nicandro’s dad drinks, curses, and (according to him) beats him, and his older brother is in and out of juvie.

I know that Monica’s mother has promised to take her to the California locales we’re exploring in Social Studies if she works hard and does well.

I know that Emilio’s family is taking him to Yosemite because we’re studying it in science. I know that Rigo’s mom is saving to buy him a laptop after I showed her how much extracurricular support the kids can find on the web.

I know that Liam will do anything in order to get computer time.

I know Aline has an enormous talent in motivating her classmates, but that she can only keep focused for 20-minute stretches.

I know that Isabel needs to speak up more, and Reginald needs to learn to listen to others more.

I know that Steven wants to be President of the United States so he can help poor people and those without documents. To motivate him, I just need to ask him if he thinks what he’s doing is presidential enough.

I could go on and on about their lives, their dreams, their weaknesses, their stories, and the year is just beginning.

Does any of this information matter in the Great Education Debate? No, say the experts, because it is not data. It is not quantifiable. It is not part of standardized testing. It can’t be used in Value-Added Measurements. It is merely anecdotal.

But is it valuable? It’s what teachers learn in order to help each individual student move forward. It’s what we have to work both with and against — even as all those so-called experts are telling us how and how not to do our jobs. I wish just for a month they’d walk in our shoes.

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Researching animal abuse at Manual Arts High School

October 21, 2010 By 1 Comment


This is the first of eight write-ups from freshman students at Manual Arts High School. Some participated in weeks-long projects about animal abuse, drugs, gangs, prostitution and racism. Part of their projects included surveys they created for their communities. After they gathered information, all of the groups presented their findings at a school presentation. Two days later, each group wrote about their experiences during an Intersections mentoring and writing workshop.

Animal Abuse

By: Carlos Amaya, Marisol Cruz, Robert Escobedo, Oscar Rivera and Andrea Sosa

We chose to research animal abuse because we care that animals cannot stand up for themselves, unless a person speaks for them. We also chose to research this topic to help people see how badly others treat animals and that everyone needs to help stop animal abuse. It is necessary for factories to stop using hormones, mistreating animals and overfeeding them. We want to create harsher laws against the use of hormones in animals we eat. Dog fighting, and other forms of animal abuse, should also stop.

We believe that when animals are abused, it is similar to abusing a family member. That is what one teacher at Manual Arts High School said when we interviewed her and asked, “How would you feel if you saw an animal being abused?”

Our group also surveyed 238 students, went to 13 classrooms and interviewed five others. We asked, “Have you ever seen a dog or cockfight?” One person said yes, that he also bet on the fight. He said it was worth his money. It is important to have more economic resources in our community, just so people will stop trying to make money off of breeding and fighting animals.

We also asked, “Have you ever abused an animal?” One of the members of our group chose that question because he knows some people who abuse their animals. When we heard that, we felt mad because some people just act as if killing animals and hurting one another is fun or normal. More than half of the people we interviewed have witnessed animal abuse. We discovered that most people are against animal abuse, but there are also some who said they would not help the fight against it.

Overall, this topic was important to us because we see that people take advantage of animals for their own gain. Cruelty to animals is the infliction of harm or suffering for a purpose other than self defense.

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