Presidential address to Students

How sad is it that conservatives would rather call for our country's young students stay home rather than hear the President speak and call upon them to work hard and strive to become more involved in helping our nation realize its promise?

I remember my time at P.S. 307 - Daniel Hale Williams School in Brooklyn, (funny how so many years later I remember this school so vividly), a teacher had explained to my parents that I could not be expected to excel or succeed in a similar fashion to "American" children because I am Puerto Rican. After the cops were called to prevent my mother from murdering the teacher, I was transferred to a new classroom with a different teacher.

I had learned a lesson, the importance of having parents who support and defend you as well as working in an environment created by an adult who asked me to strive for excellence. Mrs. Matthews was my new teacher (or was it Miss Matthews?). I truly believe that the incident was not without a profound effect on my future.

I also remember sitting in front of the television watching romper room and at the start of every show being disappointed that after the teacher looked through her magical looking glass out to us television viewers and announcing that she saw "Susie, and Billy, and Mary, and Ken, etc." she NEVER saw Luis. I would stand up and jump in a futile effort to be recognized and included. But alas, the magical looking glass never saw inside my home.

Since these elementary school years, I have worked hard and against the statistical odds have been fortunate enough to have been provided an opportunity to excel in academia and in my career.

These small exchanges can be very significant in a young impressionable mind. So sad that there are some in our country who are so selfish as to deny a young child of color from hearing an inspirational message from an adult who looks like them or their family member.

Where are the mothers who, like my mom, lunged for the throat of that teacher who sought to keep her child from being marginalized and denied of opportunities. Rise up!

Sources:

CNN
Huffington Post
Below the Beltway