Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Paying It Backwards

"It was a time not that long ago, but one which you younger people probably can't even  imagine."

The professor speaking to us was from the University of Utah, but had grown up in these parts. In fact, I'd taught two of his younger brothers. He was writing a book about the time of segregation in South Texas. My students were rapt with attention as he spoke of the days in which students in our very district attended two separate and unequal schools, one for Hispanics and one for Anglos. When the Supreme Court decreed racial integration, this school district and others got around it in other ways. Yes, children would all go to the same school, but the school board saw to it that segregation was still practiced.

He told of how students with Spanish surnames were forced to attend first grade for three consecutive years, and were also automatically labeled "retarded" if Spanish was their first language. This meant that eight and nine year old children were still in first grade, no matter how intelligent they were or how fluent they were in Spanish or English.

In 1957, a little girl named Linda was forced into the remedial, three year first grade program, even though she spoke no language other than English, and was by all accounts a very bright girl. Her parents and others with children in the school filed suit against the school district.

The speaker continued. "My mother was one of the original plaintiffs. She and 5 other eight and nine year old girls had to testify in court. Their teachers sat in the front row and the girls had to face them each time they took the stand. The judge was very gruff with them and tried to intimidate them. People who were there that day say the girls spoke clearly and answered each question with dignity despite the stare-down tactics of the teachers and the rudeness of the judge.

"In the end, they ruled that the discriminatory system must be done away with and the school had to offer equal education for all students. My mom was eventually elected the first Mexican American Homecoming Queen of her high school when she was a senior. She was 21 when she graduated."

One of my students raised her hand. "What does your mom think about the way things turned out?" she asked.

"Well, she passed away from cancer. She had a successful career as a chemist and worked very hard with my dad at raising my brothers and me." He choked up and cleared his throat. After a moment, he continued. "She never spoke about this with us. I found all this out by reading court records and talking with other family members after she died. She still felt shame about how they were treated and didn't want to bring it up anymore. It hurts my heart to think about her, a little eight year old girl, having to get up on that stand and face those adults who were so mean to her. To my last breath, though, I will always be so very, tremendously proud of her."

Another student raised his hand. "What about the other families involved in the lawsuit?"

The professor looked around the room. "How many in here have the last name of Trevino, Gonzalez, Rivera, Aleman, or Hernandez?"

A number of students raised their hands. "When you go home, ask your parents and grandparents about this and see if you are related to anyone involved. Chances are, since this is such a small community, you are. You  have brave people like that to thank that you are able to get the wonderful education you get now.

"We have a responsibility to honor those who came before us and broke down barriers. One of the ways we honor them is to do the absolute best we can with opportunities they never even dreamed of having.

"My great grandfather and grandfather plowed these very fields," he said as he pointed out the windows at the farmland around us. "They had to use mules and a hand plow while working for other people. Every time I drive here, I stop at these fields and look at the dirt, and the furrows that still grow cotton and think of them. If it wouldn't have been for their sacrifice, I wouldn't be where I am now, having traveled all over the world, having worked for the CIA, having a law degree and being a professor. Never forget to pay tribute to those who make things possible for you through their sacrifices."

The students gave him a standing ovation and were full of questions for me after we got back to our room. I was pleased it was making an impact on them.

Later that afternoon, my fitness class was running a large loop down the country roads and through the freshly plowed fields. I bring up the rear on these runs to be sure no one is left behind. As I rounded a corner, I saw four girls kneeling near the edge of a field.

I was concerned someone was hurt and sprinted to get to them. "Girls, what happened?"

They looked up at me. Each had a small handful of dirt. One of them raised her head and said, "Our ancestors worked these fields, too. We'd never really thought about it before today, about how much work they had to do and how hard it was. So we're remembering them right now, and being thankful for what they did so that we could have a better life."

Sometimes paying it forward means also paying it backwards, too.

30 comments:

  1. That was beautiful, Shelly! I am ashamed to admit that I never knew schools were segregated between Whites & Hispanics. I always learn so much here!

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  2. Kelley: It surprised me at how hard people tried to keep it in place for so long after the Supreme Court ruling. So thankful those days are gone!

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  3. I did not know about the segregation between whites and Hispanics either. So sad. We all take so for granted what we have today. It was not that long ago.

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  4. Jamie: It was pretty prevalent down here, as well as against African Americans, too. I am so glad that part of the old days is gone- I just can't imagine doing that to any child.

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  5. I learned something new from this post, Shelly. I remember school desegregation as a black and white issue and was unaware of these injustices against Latin Americans. It amazes me the lengths to which people will go to preserve the status quo. They regard change as a threat to their way of life. They find ways to circumvent authority, following the letter of the law while violating its spirit. Once again the most important part of your post is what today's young people can learn from the past. They learned that they must never take for granted the liberties, rights and opportunities that their ancestors struggled so hard to win for them. I'm glad to know that your kids took this history lesson to heart.

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  6. The professor who spoke made a deep impression on the students and I'm glad. As for those who fought against the little children and desegregation - I am sometimes overwhelmed by the heartless actions of people.

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  7. Shady: My grandmother taught in a "Mexican" school when she first started teaching. I have her class picture from that year. She taught first grade, and in the picture is her and 67 children. Just her, no other help or teacher. All at the same time. Not only did they get only the cast off books from the other school, but she made less money as a teacher there than the teachers at the other school then. It's just incredible the lengths people went to back then to as you so correctly put it "preserve the status quo". I'm so proud of the ones who persevered and didn't drop out, which I think was the aim of those who perpetrated it.

    Thank you so much for stopping by, good friend!

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  8. Belle: It is so important for the kids of today to know that stuff actually went on. It really hurts me deeply to know kids had to endure such hatefulness when they should have just been able to be kids and learn.

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  9. Wow, like another commenter, I didn't realize the prejudice/segregation in the schools between Hispanics/Caucasians. This was a history lesson for me. Good for the mother of your speaker to finish school and go on to be a chemist, that she rose above what had happened to her and didn't let it define her to go down a different path of dropping out of school, etc. Thanks for sharing this; really enjoyed reading it!

    betty

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  10. Betty: It was pretty rampant down here during those times. It's just completely incredible to me what was done to children back then. So glad things are different now. Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Dear Shelly (this is Orchid)
    It is always important to learn how our ancestors fought for us, isnT it? What a wonderful speech the professor made and the studesnts learned a lot. (glad to read even a a standing ovation!!!)
    Oh, I wonder if these segregation still remains. We have the Ainu race in Hokkaido, but not much experience of the difference of race in Japan. The word melting pot (hope this is the right word here) surprised me when I first learned it when young. Haha, far back.
    Anyways, education is always important and thank you for the phrase of yours "Sometimes paying it forward means also paying it backwards, too."
    Blessings to you, xoxo Orchid*

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  12. I did not know of the segregation you write of here either.

    I do know, however, how difficult it was for my siblings and I to flourish in a predominantly Hispanic school and neighborhood. We were half white and half Mexican and not readily accepted in either group. girls were terrible to my sister and I. She often got slapped by enormous Mexican bullies for no other crime but looking at the brute.

    "I saw you looking at me" came the accusation, Then a sound slap across Coral's face.

    Awful.

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  13. Orchid: Segregation is illegal here now, and even if it wasn't, I would hope enough people would speak out against it that it would quickly become so. It was not a shining part of our history. And yes, the professor is one the kids will always remember! Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. Crystal: I've often wondered how wide spread it was. It was such an ugly period of history here. Gosh, it hurts my heart at what your sister had to endure. Racism exists in every group, but it has to be taught. I hope they didn't come after you, too.

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  15. Tears...oh my...streaming down my face. How long will it take for all of us to cease with our bigotry on ALL levels?

    Thank you Shelly, poignant, moving and necessary story.

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  16. I learned first-hand as a child how many whites in the south didn't like blacks. People in Texas didn't like Mexicans. In Oklahoma, it was Native Americans. Up north, they didn't like anybody but pretended they did.

    We humans are really screwed up. Great post.

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  17. That was a very emotional post my friend. Thank the Lord that that sort of segregation issue has ended. How unbelievably cruel those teachers were, and the Judge certainly didn't help matters. How brave of those poor little girls to take the stand and tell their stories. I can remember going to South Africa in the early 70's when black and whites were completely segregated, and I found it very difficult to cope with. How dare we think that we are any better than them. I agree that it's good that the children of today are told of this sort of thing. My 13 year old granddaughter is learning all about World War I at school and she says that it was all so sad., especially when they visited the sites of the German Concentration Camps.

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  18. Sush: I can't think too long about that situation without becoming emotional. It was so tragically wrong.

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  19. CLint: There just isn't any value in hate, yet it makes up so much of what we are as a society. God help us.

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  20. Diane: You are so right. Thankfully it is outlawed. I think visiting South Africa during aparthied would have been so very difficult. I am so glad your grandaughter is learning about that era. If we don't teach our kids what happened, then we truly are doomed to repeat it.

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  21. Oh my Shelly, I'm happy you shared this story. I would love for the speaker to know the impact he had that day on the three young girls kneeling down by the plowed fields and the words they shared with you.

    Thank you, Shelly ♥

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  22. Cindy: Thank you, and yes, we are writing him thank you letters and I am going to share with him how this has impacted the kids so powerfully. Education about those times is going to be the key that stops it fowever!

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  23. Shelly, you have a way of touching my heart with your writing; it takes me to that quiet place inside where there's space for reflection. Have you read the book Barefoot Heart? I think you'd love it.

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  24. kneesandpaws: I am truly honored by your words. I haven't read The Barefoot Heart, but I'm looking for it on my Kindle right now. Thank you!

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  25. I am sorry - I didn't realize all of that was going on to the extent it was. Very sad and shameful. Hopefully we are getting past that now for the most part. Such ignorance and fear. Thank you for sharing that story.

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  26. Karen: I so hope those days were gone forever. It was such an ugly part of our history. No one deserves to be treated like those kids were.

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  27. A poignant and necessary lesson for all of us.
    Thank you ... Marsha

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  28. Marsha: I hope it's one we'll never forget.

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  29. What a touching post and sadly, some of this prejudiceness still happens today. My children by my first husband are half Italian. An Italian woman one day called my son a halfcaste, I almost hit her. How ignorant! I believe the problem is ignorance.

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  30. Crystal Mary: I don't blame you for wanting to hit that woman. Cruelty to children is the worst form there is.

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