All American Boys

This book mesmerized me the same way the video we watched in class where the authors discussed the book. I felt like I was there and I was all in. I wanted to read every word and know what was going on. I had no other option. I had been inveloped by the story. Tears would prick the edges of my eyes while I was reading (similar to when I was watching the video). I started to see my life for what it is, a place a can simply sit back and relax. I have no worries, no serious worries that matter. Both the book and the video made me think critically about my white privilege. It is easy to feel guilty, but that doesn't do anything. Instead I would say these authors make me want to take action. I don't just want to stand idly by and let these racial injustices keep occurring. The best way I can do that is in my classroom. To teach my students about the racial injustices and not let it me a topic I shy away from in fear--similar to the teachers and coach in the book who say leave that stuff at the door. I will not leave it at the door because that is not where it will get fixed. Ignoring the problem doesn't do anything. It helps no one. It doesn't help me, my family, my community, my students, our world. This book brings up these issues and parallels two young boys to evoke emotion. They are not adults. They are not different. The only thing that makes them different is the color of their skin, and because of this they have two extremely different life situations and lives in general.
JP brought up something in class on Thursday as Chris and I were walking out. He said how if it was a female where a short skirt people would be talking about what she was wearing. But because Rashad was a male we were standing up for the fact that it doesn't matter what he's wearing. I disagree with this. I think people still think that because of the way African Americans dress they are asking to get shot. They think that the fact they dress "hood" is a way of them asking for it. I definitely do not agree with this, but I think it is the case. There is a hierarchy: white male, white female, black male, black female. Because of this I think white girls are seen as more pure and innocent then black males when something bad happens to them. Society will be more willing to get on what an African American male wears then a white female. I am not saying that females are not degraded because this is definitely not the case. But I don't think that in this instance you can compare a white female to an African American male because that is not what the book is about. It is not bringing in women--this is not the place to bring in that information. Other books, yes. Eleanor and Park? Yes. Gabi a Girl in Pieces? Yes. The Absolute True Diary of a Part Time Indian? Yes. Not this book. This is about something I see as almost bigger and a bigger issue at the moment. That may not be right, but that is my opinion.
There are so many sections of this back that I know I can teach. I can't teach the whole book because of the language and sexual references, but there are sections I know I can pull out of it and teach to my class. Have a day where we don't read the book but go over sections of the book, compare it to history and what is going on today. The book references parts of history and I think it would be interesting to go into detail about those instances and then compare it to the book and now. I would obviously have to be cautious while doing this but I also think it is imperative that we don't shield our students from this information. I also got Andrew to read the book and watch the video because I think he could teach this book and it would be really successful.
This book interests teens because it is about young boys. It is talking about current issues that are so prevalent and that isn't being talked about. Like Jason said in the interview we watched, kids don't want to talk about this issues. They see it in front of them, but they are not willing to talk about it. They don't want to face the reality of it. But it is so important to talk about because (also like Jason said) they are not going to be the ones that change things, we are. Our students are. They need to learn about it. They need to read this book and have a pit in their stomachs and have this need to change things, because we need to change things. It starts with our students and it starts with us. We must take action. This book brings that need to take action out of its readers because it is so powerful.
My rating for this book is an A+