News-Record.com

Allen,

Thanks for posting this.

Hopefully more people will read it.

And I hope that Ciara's piece might serve as a springboard to some worthwhile discussion about such important issues as race and education.

Sincerely,

Hardy

I believe young Ciara has a point. Racism is still alive.
Racism lives in unequal funding for HBCU's, the war on drugs, advertising and marketing, incarceration rates, customer service and so on.
Sad but true - I know of at least one high school in Georgia that still has separate proms.
And everybody - from the school board, to the PTA, to the city council - accepts it because "that's how it's always been."
I noticed how some people treat me in Georgia, and I know it's just because of the color of my skin.
Aside from skin color most people are the same. Except for racists. How can you know anything about anybody just by looking at their skin?
Indeed, something may be wrong with me, but there's definetely something with racists.

Thanks for posting it, Allen.

When I read this today, I felt empathy; I knew how Ciara felt as a stranger in a classroom. It doesn't matter how many decades divide our experience because the experience itself endures. Without going into details, the small scornful smirks, the scoffing, the looks of disdain are often more painful than the outright "punch." Knowing that you are separate and apart and there's nothing you can do (even if you wanted to) to change it, is one of the vicious by-products of high school.

In AP classes, we hope that the students can think beyond physical violence (this doesn't mean that school shooters aren't "smart" but I don't agree that their violence is "smart") and understand what the hate-filled looks and whispered remarks mean about the people who make them.

I don't know Southwest high school; never been there. I'm sure it's a "great school," and it's obvious that many are fighting to get in or stay in. And no school choice plan will ever overcome the way groups of people feel about others.

Ciara is what we'd call a "gutsy broad" up north and it's meant with collegial respect. Knowing it is one thing; saying it is another. But writing it is in its own class.

Well done, Ciara. We wish you the best on your path of what is sure to be a life worth living.

Clara is indeed a brave and bright young woman who deserves every chance she can get. I wish her a bright future and dream of a day when all the Claras the world over will never have to endure what she had to endure.

Sounds to me like we don't need that kind of teacher around here. He should be encouraged to move to Kansas or SouthDakota or Vermont where he wouldn"t be bothered or have to deal with kids other than white.
He should be ashamed. And, speaking as a former high school teacher...he makes me sick.

I believe this is an important discussion and I'm enjoying reading everyone's comments. It's interesting so far that the comments on this blog have been supportive of Ciara and that the comments on the Chalkboard have focused on how this article makes Southwest look. It's simply interesting looking at the different perspectives.

I didn't see the Chalkboard comments, but that would be another example of people focusing on image and appearance instead of substance.

Focusing on image and appearance rather than substance you say?

Excuse me, but did a School Board Meeting just break out because you just recited their motto.

Allen, I am reposting this here because it is the more appropriate thread.

I read the article on racism at Southwest in the previous post, and I ask- is perception reality?

Isn’t it just quite possible that Ciara Lilly’s experience had nothing to do with racism? Suppose the reaction to her first day was the normal reaction of a class to a new student, regardless of race. The teacher’s alleged cold reaction seemed to be quickly tempered the next day when she called on Ms. Lilly to tell a little about herself. This doesn’t sound like indifference to me. Maybe the other kids shaking their heads was a reaction to the stupidity of the boys disrupting the class. Suppose the groans when she mentioned that she had gone to Andrews were a normal reaction from the student body to the mention of a cross-town rival (I know that when I went to Andrews in the 80’s, we had a similar reaction to people who went to Central or Ragsdale). Maybe the white girl’s disappointed looks were meant to convey to Ms. Lilly an apology for the stupid behavior of a few boys in disrupting class. How is disrupting class racist? Did she see any of the “encouragement” between the white people that she missed from Andrews? If not, doesn’t that discount the racist theory because they don’t “encourage” each other either? How much encouragement was she expecting on her first day?

I attended Andrews in the 1980’s. My best friend was black. We took AP courses together, and we all got along. Andrews was a lot more “white” then than it is now. Maybe if the N&R and other venues would stop building up racism, peoples perceptions of things would be different. If you build it, they will come. It seems to me that what Ms. Lilly experienced was not racism, but a normal reaction to a new student in a classroom with a few cutups. That happens regardless of race. Maybe she has been taught to see racism everywhere. We will never make progress as long as that happens.

If you're brought up to be a victim, you'll see everything through a victim's eyes.
If you expect to be treated differently, you'll imagine everything unsettling that happens to be because you're being treated differently.
If you're a hammer you'll see every problem as a nail.
Etc., etc.
Perceving everything as negative is a dismal way to go through life, but many do it.
I've known many in similar situations who maintained a positive outlook instead of imagining that they were victims of racism or some other form of persecution.
I think it's a matter of her perception rather than reality.

Perception is definitely a powerful thing. I perceived many of the things that Ciara did while I was in school, even though I pass as white.

I appreciate Ciara's writing and feelings. It is a good view into the mindset and emotions of a young person. All of the self-doubts, questioning, and even perceiving peers as monsters (which some may actually be) renews some of the old high-school feelings I had put in moth-proof bags and shoved to the back of the closet.

I also think it is encouraging the Ms. Lilly is attending Gardner-Webb University. A lot of people in her shoes would have tucked their tail and ran back to the shelter and perceived protection of an mainly minority university such as A&T or Bennett college. The fact that Ms. Lilly is determined to stick it out and face reality is encouraging.

I hope that Ciara's teacher read her article. I wonder what his impression is? Did he know he was ignoring her? Did he even realize that the class was being disrespectful? Did he ever sense the discomfort of the African-American students?

We all need to be aware of how our actions and words affect others, regardless of what their intention is.

bless ya heart, child. i know growing up different is hard, but take heart. it gets better and it is getting better. when i was your age they wouldn't print anything a black woman had to say in the newspaper. and that would be a shame because you got something to say.

as you get older you'll appreciate being different. you'll be glad that you are.

peace in the middle east (and southwest)

Allen,

I think Mr. Spagnola's comment is not only fair but on the mark. The article has an eerie anecdotal quality about it.

It could be she had a chip on her shoulder the day she arrived at Southwest. Sounds like she has had some beyond the campus indoctrination from the crowd in Guilford County that plays the race card faster than you can school assigment plan.

I have to agree with Sam S and Mrs. Wormer. Don't you find it very interesting that the same Greensboro blogging groupies find Ciara's story so believable. It is pure perception or possibly misperception and opinion on her part. I wonder if any of these Greensboro people have ever even been to Southwest.

The teacher that Ciara is referring to is one of the most respected and well liked teachers at SWH. This is among black, white, Asian students. The kids enjoy like hearing some of the music he plays in his classes. This teacher asks every new student to tell something about themselves.

I hope he read her second opinion and has a good lawyer on hand and one that specializes in slander cases.

It is also very interesting that the second opinion is quite long and in huge headline letters, that it is being discussed on this website and the Chalkboard. It sounds to me like this student had some coaching. Why is this getting so much coverage?

Could the politicians be positioning so soon for next year's school board elections and playing the race card again, and again and again?

The vicious lies about Southwest people just never stop.

Are you sure this whole original story wasn't part of a fiction assignment meant to stir up racial discontent yet once again?
It's very similar to a troll post, looks like it's just a story to try and stir up the racial pot.

OK, I acknowledge that perception is reality and for Ciara this is her reality. She may have arrived with some fears about being in a predominately white school/classroom and let those fears cloud her judgment and mar her experience. I am more than willing to concede that point. However, the argument that this teacher is well-liked is akin to saying "I have a black friend, too." It's irrelevant to this discussion. I'm sure some people liked the men who dragged James Byrd to death, but their being liked/likable didn't make them not be racists. (No, I am not comparing the teacher to those murderers, I am just using that extreme example to make my point). Also, "vicious lies?" Sounds to me like Southwest has a pretty good reputation, you're just mad because someone may have pointed out a chink in the armor.

My response to Ciara Lilly's piece is titled "My Flood Of Reactions To Ciara Lilly's "An Encounter With Racism At Southwest."

I will warn you in advance that it is very long.

I hope that it does not offend anyone, but as with anything you write, say, or do, it certainly has that potential. My goal was not to offend but to address many of the issues involved. What I wrote still comes nowhere close to addressing the countless issues and points raised.

Sincerely,

Hardy

Some very good points on your blog site Hardy but thank you for the warning. It is way too long.

Unlike many of the people who have commented, I had this teacher this semester, and actually ahving him as a teacher showed me that this article is incorrect, in terms of my experience. No doubt that Ciarra had trouble in the class because of the racism issues, the teacher in my opinion is not racist. I did not have him for AP US History but for another AP class. He was one of the best teachers i have had because he had a laissez-faire attitude. This is why he probably didn't do anything when you were up there introducing yourself, because he just likes to relax.

He is confident in us and is a great teacher, and when I took the AP class, there were about 2 african americans in the class and the rest were white and there were 2 asians (I was one of those asians).

There was never racism involved in the classroom, could it be that the students were the ignorant bigots and the teacher was not involved, because that is what it seems like to me.

I found each response quite interesting. I am the very proud mother of Ciara. I am not commenting to come to my child's rescue. I just thought it would be good to have some insight on who she is as a person. Ciara was always raised to treat everyone with the same respect that she felt was due her. Even when she disagrees with someones opinion she respects their right to their own beliefs. I remember when Ciara first wrote this article, I shuddered at the thought of it being put to print. Because I knew that it would be quite controversial. I assure you no one coaxed her into any of it's content. If anything I tried to discourage her. Because I feared the reaction she would receive. But quickly realized that I was suppressing her and she has a right to confront an issue that is still very prevelant in America. Not only that it is something that Ciara feels passionate about. So I just pray that you all will realize that, my child is not a troublemaker but a thought provoker. She simply stated facts as she saw and experienced it first hand. Racism is a very touchy subject and will always get a rise from people. Do I think thinks things will ever change, not as long as people continue to discount the truth.

For those of you who wished Ciara well. You will be glad to know that Ciara received a Presidential Scholarship based on Academic Acheivement to a (predominantely white university). Where I might add she is excelling quite well.