Today, someone told me Mike Brown's voice didn't matter

I don't know her personally, but ...

Today, someone told me Mike Brown's voice didn't matter. I was scrolling my Twitter TL and she (her photo icon is a red stapler, which I hope doesn't indicate that she is a fellow teacher) direct-messaged me, accusing me of favoring one side over the other. Although her comment, "Mike's side of the story doesn't matter," felt like a slap in the face, not only to me, but to all of my brothers out there, I remained calm with her and tried to find some common ground.

I asked if her statement was in fact an example of favoring one side over the other. She replied right away saying, "you people are full of s---." She then continued to prove her case saying she had been following the story on Fox News since Mike's death in Ferguson, Missouri and she was sticking only with facts, unlike myself. She was tired of the eyewitness accounts constantly changing. Ah yes, Fox News, of course. Upon hearing this, I asked if she had explored other news sources to get a more balanced view of the news coverage. She had not. She didn't know of any other news sources.

While I wanted to make fun of her apparent ignorance, I chose not to, and invited her to agree on at least one thing: There was loss of life nine days ago. A teen is no longer headed off to college. Mike Brown is no longer here to tell his side of the story of that night. No matter what side of the coin one chooses to view this tragedy, it is a tragedy indeed. All life matters. All loss of life matters, too. Once the videos and name-calling from her continued to flood my TL, I ended up having to block her. We found no common ground. However, the idea that there are folks among us who don't feel like some lives are worth living, is crushing, heartbreaking.

Despite not having every single detail from the fateful night in Ferguson, I do know one thing: Mike Brown's voice did matter. His side of the story did, and still matters. No matter his choices that day, his life was worth living.

Open letter from an educator to parents of school age children in Ferguson, Missouri

 

Open letter from an educator to parents of school age children in Ferguson, Missouri

August 18, 2014

Dear Ferguson parents,

Although the school doors may be closed this week in light of the untimely and horrific death of Mike Brown, the teaching and learning moments don’t have to halt while your children aren’t inside those buildings. There are many moments during the unrest that can be used as teachable moments for your children as they add their voices to the important racial disparity, profiling, and justice conversations taking place in Ferguson and wait for their schools to reopen. Below is a list of eight activities for all school-aged children. These activities are designed to be completed with your child. Change any part of these activities as needed.

1.     Photograph your surroundings. Use your phone and document the events happening in your neighborhood. Describe the photo and write in detail what you see unfolding in each picture. Share with one of your peers.

2.     Interview three of your neighbors. First, write a list of questions about life in Ferguson right now and ask the neighbors you select to answer your questions. Once you have their answers, write down your thoughts about your interviewing experience. Once you have written down your thoughts, share with a reporter or newsperson around you.

3.     Look up the definition of protest. Count the number of people you find who have joined the protests in your neighborhood. How many women are present? How many men are present? How many of your fellow students are present? How many children are present? Once you have your total numbers, make a bar graph to display your results.

4.     Investigate your free speech rights as a peaceful protestor. What does the constitution say? What are your rights? Write down what you have found and share with one of your peers. Next, make a list of how your rights are being protected or violated presently in your neighborhood.

5.     Journal your thoughts on the Mike Brown death. Each day keep a journal of your observations, photos, and thoughts through the day. Your journal can include lists, quotes, thoughts, drawings, etc.

6.     Open a Twitter and/or Facebook account and document what you are seeing in your neighborhood. Engage in the dialogue that is happening by adding your voice to the ongoing conversations.

7.     Create your own protest signs. You can use materials of your choice, but be creative. Always keep in mind the reason you are protesting and write one statement on your sign that sums up your feelings about Ferguson and the unrest happening right now.

8.     Recycle and help to clean your neighborhood after a protest. Separate and carefully gather all recyclable materials –plastics, paper, glass, metals, compost-ables, and batteries. Once you have collected two bags full of recyclables, separate into the appropriate piles and count how many items you have found. Once you have separated and counted, take all items to the nearest recycling bin and recycle them.

The school doors are closed this week, but real teaching and learning happens everywhere and at anytime. You are your child’s first and most important teacher. And remember, teachers and students all around the world stand with you during this time #Justice for Mike Brown. 

“We’re hoping to have greater stability in the community, but we look forward to opening schools as soon as possible” – Ferguson educator on school closings.

Ebony Wilkins

@ebonyjoy

Educator & Author

This is an important counter-narrative to the Chi-Iraq stories we are so used to hearing about by now. And it just so happens to be from the mouths of 'babes,' so read and take a listen if you have time http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/02/337338509/-you-don-t-really-know-us-chicago-kids-tell-news-media.