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The Relation Between Education and Power (Introduction (Brown v Board of…
The Relation Between Education and Power
Introduction
Brown v Board of Education: ruled that separate was not equal so the Jim Crow laws were unconstitutional
The unequal treatment of students of color continued through various decades after the ruling
According to a poll taken in 2008, 70% of Blacks attended schools that are over 50% minority. In fact, 40% of those students attend a school that is over 90% minority
The percentage of Native Americans that graduate high school is 13% lower than the national average.
Introduction of conversation about this topic occurring through out decades
Specific topic covered within this essay: education has the power to uplift or oppress
Texts covering this topic including "Superman and Me" and "Knowledge is Power: The Black Struggle for Literacy"
Holt:
Historian writer in the academic discourse community
specializes in studies of Blacks in the US
Alexie: Native American writer in public discourse community that shares personal experience in the reservation school system
Historical Context of the time period during the case: post slavery, civil rights movement, and Jim Crow Laws in effect
Excerpts providing evidence of the underlying message of each text
Summary of Holt's Text
“if we—black and white—who take on the profound responsibility of educators… offer our knowledge not as a means to conformity or submission but as a way to uplift, a way to change society for the better, a way to power”
Holt believes that education can uplift an entire community or oppress it
Summary of Alexie's text
“I am smart. I am arrogant. I am lucky. I am trying to save our lives”
Alexie believes that by encouraging students on a reservation that he is saving their lives through education
Evidence of rhetorical situation impacting each text
Holt
“Throughout our history—through the cruelties of slavery, through the disappointments of reconstruction, through the brutal repressions of the years after reconstruction—through all those periods, black people have held onto the belief that literacy is one of the keys that will unlock the door”
The African culture has such a high value in education that has stayed with them throughout the decades they were denied education
Alexie
“they look at me with bright eyes and arrogant wonder. They are trying to save their lives. Then there are the sullen and already defeated Indian kids who sit in the back rows and ignore me with theatrical precision … They stare out the window. They refuse and resist”
Native Americans were forced into education during assimilation, a time where many were forced to leave their culture behind. This caused many Natives to disapprove of having an education (like the kids Alexie was talking about in the quote)
Conclusion
One of the main ideas in the continuing conversation about Race Literacy, and Power is that education can uplift or oppress
Prime example of this main idea: Frederick Douglas educating himself to escape slavery
More Modern example: Colin Kaepernick using his knowledge about racial injustice to do something about it with his platform
The conversation evolves with each decade but the issues being addressed down change