Racism: Kids are Ready to Talk

Every Friday in my classroom we do something called "Fun Fact Friday". It is a five minute look into some musical fact. This year, we are looking at musicians or songs that have some type of cultural or political significance. In these first few weeks we have already learned about music surrounding Apartheid, the Holocaust, and slavery. This past Friday, I chose the song "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke to give some insight into the Civil Rights movement.

Sam Cooke wrote "A Change is Gonna Come" in 1964 as a response to the racism he was experiencing at the time. He tried to rent a room in a motel in Louisiana and was turned away for being black. Cooke regularly spoke out against racism and would even refuse to perform at segregated concerts. He was one of many who helped push the Civil Rights movement forward.

Many of my students were surprised to hear Cooke was denied a motel room just because of the color of his skin. I could see looks of shock on their face and some of them even said "Well that's just dumb." We have talked previously about how skin color is not a choice, we're just born the color we are. And I think something as simple as not being able to stay in a hotel room really impacted some of my students. It gave them some empathy to the situation that they may not have had previously.

As beneficial as I knew this song had the potential to be, it took an unexpected, yet wonderful, turn. Some of my students ended up feeling safe enough in our classroom space to share examples of racism that they have experienced or seen with their families. One student and their mom were asked to not stay at a hotel because they were Native American, but the dad was told he could stay without them since he was white. Another student told me about a time that an elderly white woman yanked at her sister's hair in a grocery store to make sure it was a wig. Why? Because she is black but the wig was blonde. A third student told me that her white-passing stepsister was asked if she was okay and felt safe at a waterpark because she was with her Hispanic father. This person assumed the child was being abducted or trafficked because her dad was darker than she was.

I felt a lot of emotions as my students shared these storied with me. I was thankful they felt safe enough to do so in my classroom. I was saddened and frustrated that my 12 and 13-year-old students could clearly identify moments of racism in their lives. But most of all, I was impressed. The class that had the most meaningful discussions and shared moments of vulnerability with each other was my most challenging class. The kids who I struggle to get to stay in their seats and work silently were listening intently to what their classmates had to say, not moving a muscle. And it made me realize something: Students are ready to have these tough conversations.

I think we are doing a disservice to our students by trying to shield them from the world. They are already out living in it and seeing what is good and bad about it. And they want to have conversations about it. Students are ready and willing to talk, but may not know how to bring up tough subjects. As teachers we are in fortunate positions to give kids a safe space to talk about what's happening in their worlds. We should take advantage of that opportunity and continue to have tough conversations. We know that they will be better for it.

Did my Fun Fact Friday take a little longer than planned with some classes because they wanted to understand Civil Rights and share their experiences? Absolutely. But not once during that conversation was I concerned with the time we were using up. I saw a beautiful moment of humanity and vulnerability within the classroom that I hope my students hold on to. If you've been too scared in the past to bring up more mature or tough subject matter with your students, I highly encourage you to take a chance on it. You may just be amazed at what your students have to say.

A Change is Gonna Come- Sam Cooke