One Tribe
by beccaborrelli
"Embrace of Peace." George Tooker. 1988
Want to know something cute? Sure you do.
Ask elementary kids about race.
Ethnicity.
Culture.
War.
Last year I overheard a Kindergartener to a Third Grader:
“Why do they call Jaylan “black? He’s not black he’s “tan.”
“That’s just something adults say. But you’re right, he’s tan.”
Gold star for an answer that surpasses most adult intellects. I salute you my 65 pound mini-friend.
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My first year teaching an Egyptian student named Kareem was looking on the Internet at a desert photograph as a reference for a painting.
“Miss B, why are there houses?”
I look. Indeed, Kareem is looking at a picture of Iraq- cars, children, houses… and U.S. tanks. I was confused.
“I don’t know Kareem, it’s a city.”
“Yeah but isn’t this a picture of Iraq?”
“Yeah it is…” I say absentmindedly as I help another kiddo find a blue oil pastel.
“Well what I mean is… there are people there?”
“Yes Kareem… what are you asking me?”
“Like- kids and stuff. I thought the war was fought in the desert.”
Truth fires connections through brazen brain matter. In mere seconds I am struck by a mixture of amusement and sadness.
“Iraq has a desert climate. But there are cities there just like here. Did you think the fighting was happening in an empty desert?”
Kareem presses troubled lips together and nods. I begin wishing I wasn’t the one to tell this third grader that indeed- the war he was hearing about wasn’t being fought in a sandy vacuum.
“So what happens to the people?” He looks at me with big brown eyes.
It is in this moment- sitting on a red plastic chair in a windowless, cinder block room with 25 pairs of eyes on me- that I wish I had the phone number for the president. He ought to be answering this. Only Capitol Hill, oil companies, Wall Street, the Defense industry, and adult citizens pumped full of fear think it’s more “complicated” than this Third Grader is now framing it before my very brazen eyes.
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Three weeks ago at 2:30 on a Friday my last class of Fourth graders arrives. They come in and sit on the floor as they always do for directions. Bella raises her hand.
“Miss B, can I ask you something?”
“Why are we in a war?”
I look around at the others. They gaze back at me, as if this is the most appropriate question in the world to ask the Art Teacher during the first 60 seconds of class.
“Well I suppose, if you ask 100 different people that question, you’ll get about 100 different answers.”
I feel strangely proud of this diplomatic response. One that will not incite any agnry parent email this weekend.
She gives me a look.
An “oh you don’t know either” look.
Touche my little nine year old.
I try to do better.
“I mean, it’s a fight- just like a fight you might see on the playground- only much bigger. So think about kid fights. Why do they happen?”
Thus ensues a 15 minute discussion that has nothing to do with clay. Kiddos are the most attentive I’ve see since I first met them in Kindergarten. We never really resolve Bella’s inquiry. I awkwardly move on into a glaze demo and the topic is dropped.
The next week I put in “One Tribe” by Black Eyed Peas. We listen as we work, and one of the students says:
“This song is like a work of art.”
And suddenly a lightening bolt enters my cranium through the ceiling tiles of our vaulted hospital white art room. I hear brain matter sizzle- I swear.
“Would you like to turn this song into visual art?”
Every head turns towards me with saucer size eyes and wide toothy grins. I hear claps and muffled “yesssssss….”
Crap. Couldn’t the universe find a more seasoned, organized Disney Teacher of the year to send this idea to? Isn’t Ron White looking for a good multi-cultural art integrated lesson? Crap, Crap, Crap.
As I look around at them, I realize I’ve been handed an opportunity most teachers dream about. Hell- one that I dream about. Shit, I hope I don’t screw it up.
This Brazen Teacher 
Again, THIS is why you are the best. art teacher. ever.
I had a student who was from Iraq. When they created presentations on their culture, she called me over and said, “Is this what they think of us?” All the images were of war and destruction. “This is sensible Persians become extremists. It’s because they believe they are hated and hate is contagious.”
I should have double-checked it. She said, “This is why sensible Persians become extremists.” The why is important there, but I let it slip.
that’s right mister spener. double-check.
wars are about who talks and who listens.
like most other relationships. don’t tell
the kids. thanks for the post.
Angela: I want you to know that your compliments are weighted two times more than most others. And I don’t even know you in person. Interesting huh?
John: One of my closest friends is Palestinian. He’s a photographer for several local publications. Just imagine how much trouble a large, male, Palestinian gets into walking around with a camera. I’ve thought about having him come to class when we start the unit on stereotype.
Vlorbik- Your welcome friend. I imagine I WILL tell the kiddos. But I imagine that most of the adults (myself in included) will model the opposite and they will forget all about it. Which is like not telling them in the first place.
Wow. It isn’t easy being stuck in a tiny little box where all of your entire speech is censored, is it?
You want to shape these young minds for the greater good, but a lot of parents are just NOT ok with that. Sad.
Yes, I’d like to call the president at least once a day. I wonder if the former president would have shaped his actions a bit better if he were allowed at least 5 civilian phone calls per day, and sworn under oath to tell the truth during those phone calls, lest face a serious inquiry in court?
It definitely bears thinking about.
Wow, you certainly have quite the opportunity here! And no, I’m sure you won’t mess it up in any way shape or form. You and the kids will do great!
Children and “others” are so wise and naive at the same time. Can we learn something from them? I just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett; take a gander and you’ll see the connection between your latest blog and the book. (Which I highly recommend!!) Experience and interpretation…
Hi. I randomly came across your page looking for a Banksy picture and started to skim through some of your posts. I had to slow down to read them because they were so good. =) Keep inspiring, cuz this Algebra/Calc teacher really does have to fight for such times.
Thank you for dropping a comment my way. I admit I get giddy when new people comment. Especially Algebra/Calc teachers. Any tips for passing the Math section of the GRE?? Good lord, I’m rusty. Please come back soon ninja.
[…] November, the Fourth Grader’s probing about race and war, prompted me to write a lesson integrating social justice. Students illustrated […]