BLOG POST #11 week 14 Abolitionists

What ideas here feel close, like you can touch them?

An idea that feels close enough to touch is being/becoming woke to systemic racism, woke to the idea that nothing is going to change unless you don't A C T I V E L Y do something about it, act on it. In the podcast, B. Love became woke in college when she noticed she was in jock classes with the male bball players and not in classes that would put her in the direction towards a degree program that she wanted. This decision was made for her, by her being from the inner city, the "systems that be" thought that she needed easy classes in order for her to pass. G. Muhammad was school age when she noticed her twin sister got put on the fast track in school and she was in the "slow" classes. She stuck up for herself and was able to convince her mom that she belonged in the "fast" classes with her sister. I noticed the system not working for me in high school. I was in U.S History class and I felt that the teacher really wasn't teaching me. I would ask her questions and she would tell me to read the book. I ended up failing her class and having to take the same class with the same teacher and got the same results. I tried to fight it but my guidance counselor did not help my situation. I ended up having to take the class in summer school and passed with an A but could only receive a C because they had to take the average score. The next year my sister had the same teacher for the same class and the teacher said to her, " You're back again?" This situation cemented in my head that not everyone is on your side fighting for you and your well being. It let me know that I have to speak up and fight for myself to get what I need and want.

What ideas feel far away/ hard to wrap your mind around/ impossible?

The ideas that feels far away is that when thinking who needs antiracism education the system seems to want to educate the minorities, the black and brown children when they are living and maneuvering through this world as it is. As B. Love said on the podcast, the schools need to educate white children/teachers/parents so they can S E E what is going on in our education system, and how things aren't how they are presented to us and what we have to go through on a daily basis.

What does this have to do with youth work? With social justice? With your daily practice?

The abolitionists work goes hand in hand with youth work. We have to have small acts of resistance to keep pushing forward. We have to keep fighting for equal right for black and brown students and teachers. We want change so we have to put in the work to make the changes that we want to see.