A Conversation about Racism in the Classroom

LaTasha (not her real name) is an African American woman in her late 40s. She is a student in our GED program. I met with her to discuss her placement test results. This is the paraphrased conversation I had with her:
LaTasha is very shy and when I ask her why she is taking GED classes with our program she says because her children are all out of the house and now it’s time for her to concentrate on herself.
Perfect, I say. What are you going to do with the GED once you get it?
I may go to college, I may improve my career in healthcare, but mostly I just want it. Because I tried so many times to go back to school and graduate but I failed each time.
Tell me about it.
I got pregnant in high school, I took some time off to have the baby. After the baby I went back but I couldn’t do it. So then I went back again and I couldn’t do it. Finally I just gave up. And I have a learning disability, I have dyslexia.
Okay, there are things we can do to help you overcome that obstacle. Do you have trouble with letters or words? Numbers?
I don’t know. I just know I can’t learn like other people.
When did they tell you that you had dyslexia?
I think it was the third grade. I was 7 or 8. I was slow in class so they put me in a big room by myself and gave me a test. They said that the test told them I had dyslexia. They also had me read a paragraph on a blackboard in front of my mother, the teacher, and some other people from the school. I stuttered through the whole thing. Then they were sure. My mother told me that I just had to work harder than other people so I did. But I still couldn’t learn.
Did they keep you in class?
No, I was put in a special class with other kids who had learning disabilities and sometimes they taught us stuff but mostly we did nothing.
So you went through school like this?
Yes.
You said you’re in healthcare, what do you do?
I am an M.A and a C.N.A.
So you went to college?
Yes.
But you had to pay for the classes yourself because you didn’t have a high school diploma so you weren’t eligible for financial aid.
Yes.
How did you do in your M.A. C.N.A classes?
Fine.
Did you pass all of the tests?
Yes.
Even the state tests?
Yes. I had to work because I have four children and their father and I are divorced.
What about your children, you said they were all out of the house now.
Yes. Three are college graduates and one is a bank manager.
Your children are successful.
Yes. I never wanted them to struggle like I did with school.
LaTasha, I’ve heard this story before. And I apologize for what happened to you. I have no idea if you have a learning disability, but I do not think you are slow. In fact, from the little information you’ve given me, it sounds like you’re pretty smart.
What do you mean?
Well, you didn’t finish high school but you went on to get two certificates that helped you start a career and you have four children who are all doing well. I’d say that’s pretty smart.
Why are you apologizing then?
Because what happened to you happened to so many people, many times women, of color. If you couldn’t keep up, nobody cared why. You were labeled and then put in special education classes where they didn’t have to worry about you.
But them telling me I was slow kept me from doing so many things in my life.
I’m so sorry, LaTasha.
My children don’t even know that I didn’t graduate or that I have dyslexia. Do you think I have dyslexia?
LaTasha, I don’t know, what I know is that a young black girl was told she was slow and she believed it. This was very common back then and still happens in some school districts, especially poor, minority districts.
Well, that’s rude. Why would they do that?
Because the people in power want to stay in power, LaTasha. And this is just one of a thousand ways of keeping minorities undereducated.
What do I do now?
Start believing in yourself. Talk with your friends and family. Chances are that many of them had the same experiences. Share you story. Educate yourself. In a way, you’ve already beat them, La Nita. Your children didn’t suffer the same treatment and they did well.
So I’m not slow?
No. In fact, I would say that they only difference between you and me is that I have more education. You are just as capable as I am. If you and I had started on equal footing it could easily be you sitting here.
Thank you.
No, La Nita, thank you. Thank you for sharing your story with me. Thank you for reminding me that we still have so much work to do.
