In my Algebra class, I had my students create surveys about issues of their choice. They will analyze this data and present it to the class.
These surveys are all anonymous.
Period 2/3
Impact of Drug Dealing
Period 11:
Cigarette Smoking
Deondra, “You’re Just a Girl”
“You’re a girl.” “You can’t do half of the stuff men do.” “Girls are weak.” Why is it often said that Women are not as strong as men? People tend to doubt woman and what they can actually be capable of doing. But why? Is it because they think Man should do everything so the women don’t have to or is it because people think men are bigger better and stronger? I really don’t understand it. What ever happened to the saying “everyone is equal?” If we were all really equal do you think that it would be any competition between Men and women?
When I was little I use to play football. Every time my mother talks to one of her friends she tells them that and they act like they never heard of a female playing football. They are always in shock when my mom tells them that. I was a tomboy but they see me today and assumed that I would never even attempt to play football. They would be like, “Do they have sympathy for you?” “Do they be scared to hit you?” “Did they take it easy on you?” And the whole time I’m just looking like “What?” When I first came I had boilies in my hair and was totally dressed like a girl. I really didn’t know how I was supposed come prepared at that point of time. I was treated differently because I was a girl. A tiny one at that, but throughout that time I became a part of their team and they had finally began to warm up towards me. I come from a family where I have 3 brothers and of course I’m the only girl so I had to do whatever they did because I didn’t have anyone else to play with. I basically learned everything about sports from them. As I joined the football team, The North Philly Aztecs, Every single boy looked at me like I was crazy. I often heard them say “What is she doing here?” “Girls don’t play football.” Even know they doubted me I kept on doing what I wanted to do.
As a young lady it is said that woman can not do half of the things that men do . It’s kind of sexist, but that’s what everyone says about women Vs. men. It is often said that women are not as good as men and can’t do certain things that men do.
Some people think that women aren’t as strong as men. A time that I had experienced that is when I told a boy that I ran track. They automatically thought I was lying. Boys tend to think that everything is made for them, when in reality it’s not. Another time, I was in my front yard sweeping up my leaves. My neighbor came all the way out of his house just to ask me “Why isn’t your brother out here doing this and helping you? You’re a girl and you’re not supposed to be out here doing this type of work. This is a man’s job.” I felt like it didn’t matter what sex did the yard work as long as the job got done, because anyone could sweep a yard up. I see old people do it all the time when really they’re the ones that is not supposed to be doing it. But I really didn’t pay it any mind because girls can do multiple things, including a “man’s job.” Women probably do yard work better than men anyway.
Yes, I am a girl. But, I am not weak. I can do anything a man can do if I really try It’s not even about the fact of men being stronger than woman. It’s the fact that people tend to talk down on women all the time. We are all supposed to be “equal”, but are we really? Do women have all of the advantages that men do? At the end of the day, I think some men are intimidated by powerful women. They can’t stand the fact of a woman coming in and doing their job better. Bottom line is if a women wants to do a man’s job she can. So I go back to the question, Are women really equal to men?
Kyron, “Not Considered Black”
Is it because I have respect that i’m not considered black? Is it because I don’t get involved with violence? Or is it because I’m calm laid back and don’t speak ghetto?
It totally shocking when a fellow student said you don’t seem black because you don’t fight. that was the day I realized how black people was viewed as violent and ruthless machines.
One day I was almost involved in a fight. The people who thought I couldn’t fight and thought I was nice and calm saw me differently saying “he’s black after all”.I thought about it and said damn , I just couldn’t believe being in a little situation like that made them realize i was black. It wasn’t that hard to tell from my brown skin.
I was also asked how come I’m not that good of a dancer? Then i said “because my legs don’t operate as well I was never learned to dance.Quickly they said, “You’re not black using a word like operate.” I thought about it saying I don’t get how being a bad dancer or saying long words doesn’t make me black…
I never liked the fact of judging a book by its cover,because you never know who they are in the inside as a person.They judged me my whole life because of how strictly I carried myself. I don’t know what’s better, learning how to do things to make everyone think I’m black ,or to let people criticize me about being different.
Janet, “Danger of a Single Story”
“You act so white now!” “You act black.” How can someone act a race? Does the color of our skin define us?
When I moved to Florida, I thought things would be different and people would be really proper I was still around people who cursed but I cursed much more than them. The reason they did not curse as much is because they had strict parents or went to church. Although they had expectations in those places they didn’t live up to those expectations in school. There were white kids at school who also cursed and could be inappropriate. I found it funny when white kids would curse because I thought that white people were always proper. As I continued to live in Florida, I started going to church but I behaved the same way as I did back in Philadelphia. I used to rap songs that had cursing in it in front of people at my church, I argued with teachers and students because I didn’t care. As time passed I had my own experience with God and I wanted to change my ways and live a life honoring God rather than people. Eventually, I moved back to Philly and I was hanging out with two of my best friends. In two years, we hadn’t spent much time together. They were more aggressive and cursed a lot more than I did but I was used to that coming from them so I didn’t mind. We were having a conversation about girls we didn’t get along with because those girls liked the guys we were dating. I wasn’t worried as much about the girl I didn’t like and I was calmer than they were about it. Suddenly my friend said, “You act so white now and you’re so happy all the time. You used to be so crazy. Whenever someone would talk crap about you, you would curse them out and try to fight them.” She said it with disapproval and confusion. Then we changed the subject and went on with our day.
I don’t understand why she said I was acting “white” instead of respectful, proper, or polite. A lot of people say this especially in the lower class. It makes me think whether or not people from the lower class that aren’t white think they are not capable of being proper and if they have to be around white people to do so. When I was growing up I didn’t curse or talk slang, but I noticed that people around me did talk like that and I wanted to fit in. For a while I never thought I cursed and talked the way I did because I was Puerto Rican or lived in the hood it was just who I was but I was wrong. I did it because everyone else did it. By the time I became a teenager I thought that I wasn’t capable of being proper or polite. Eventually I started spending time with people who were more positive in order for me to change and I started having people keep me accountable for what I said or did. Everyone has a choice about what they want to do or how they want to live their lives, and I made the choice to change because I wanted to. I didn’t change because others wanted me to change. Other people’s opinions do matter to a certain extent but I choose whether or not I want to believe them. When you believe in something you start to live by it. So do people believe they are improper and less than white people just because of their race? Is that why they make statements saying “You act white”? People don’t only make this statement. I’ve also heard “You act black.” This statement came up when I would do something inappropriate. Do people think that if someone is black they are inappropriate?
Even Phillis Wheatley, an African American woman who was the first to publish a book, felt as though she learned how to be civilized because she was kidnapped and raised around white people. So why wouldn’t other people who are not white think you have to be around white people to be civilized. I personally don’t think you have to be around white people to be civilized but you have to be around people who have that mindset to be influenced by them. Thus, you can make the choice whether or not you want to have that type of behavior. I believe I have changed because of Jesus being in my life. Even though some people don’t have God in their life, it doesn’t mean they can’t be polite or proper, but God is what motivated me and helped me become who I am. It’s so much more than just thinking “Oh I want to be a better person and stop cursing.” It takes a lot to change your ways and most of that has to do with how you think as well.
I want people to understand how we, including myself, stereotype ourselves and put ourselves down by believing we’re inferior. We think others are a certain way based on their race which is wrong. I hope my thesis can be something that helps people understand how much we stereotype and how it effects us.
Tijenna, “I was raised by my two younger brothers”
Never really understood life
until two people came into it.
Went with mommy to the doctors.
The white coat lady had her lay down
on a table with her shirt up,
she put cold invisible toothpaste on her belly.
I know that because mommy told me.
Than they were talking about stuff, thats when I started coloring on the floor.
Then I heard the lady in the white coat say,
“do you want to know the babies sex?”
I said “I know what we’re having, a baby brother.”
And the lady with the white coat said ‘’yes, exactly!’’
When she said that my mom had a smile like that famous
picture with lady in it, with the weird sad face smile.
One regular day with just a casual dinner at home with my
brother Timmy and father.
Weird conversation, great grandma screaming from the other room about what she don’t see.
Smelling the gross apple vinegar being poured into collard greens.
While forking down our food he pours his words while our mouths are full.
And says “you’re having a baby brother.”
Trying to swallow down fork fulls of food.
Just waiting for a cricket to power the awkward silence.
I blurred out “so, who did you do?”
My dad brushes it off with a grin on his face.
(Self conversation) ”so you waited that long to tell us we had a baby brother?, ok thats nice.”
With dimmed down conversation we finished our food.
than left to our rooms thinking about what just happend, just shocked.
As time and time again go on these boys
teach me so much about myself and them.
There isn’t one day I don’t notice something that had happened.
Half black and white kid with nice curly naps
is the sweetest and craziest kid you will ever come across.
Half black and Puerto Rican teenager still trying to find himsef
is looking up to everybody, anyone.
Even though I was the first born
doesn’t mean I wouldn’t learn anything from them because I do,
and I do for them as well. They teach how to be
a kinder person and to try and do more things in my life.
And I introduce how to be a there own person in their life.
And since we are our fathers children he see’s how awesome we are together
and how much we know as siblings and it’s amazing to him.
My brothers amaze me and I’m so grateful to have them in my life
no matter what.
I was raised by my two younger brothers.
Anthony S., “Raised By”
I was raised by Anita Santos
Kit Melzer and Joey Santos
People that has always been there for me
People that I will always be there for
I was raised by Palethorp Street and Lehigh Avenue
Two streets that define where I am from
Two streets where drug dealers and crackheads are on both corners
Two streets with abandoned and knocked down houses
I was raised by Waterloo and Mascher parks
Two parks that influenced my NBA dream
Two parks that I have and had rivalries in
Two parks that I have friendships and relationships in
I was raised by basketball
A sport that has also influenced my NBA dream
A sport that I can take my anger and sadness out in
A sport that let’s people see the aggressive side of me
I was raised by Kensington
A place with a very bad reputation
A place that has been my home my whole life
A place I am determined to get out of
I was raised by the piano
An instrument that I can show my emotion in
An instrument that allows me to be myself in a beautiful way
An instrument that let’s people see the sensitive side of me
I was raised by fake gangsters
The type that says “You wanna rumble?” and then pulls out a gun
The type that when the gun is pulled out, the trigger is never touched
The type that when a friend is in trouble, the person says they were busy
I was raised by Philly
Sergio, “Raised By”
I was Raised by
Doors wide open
The Tall Trees
Fruit surrounding the fields
Hearing the birds chirping
I was Raised by
Bright Sunlight
Piercing the Window Shades
Illuminating the Surroundings
Birds Chirpings
By the morning Dewdrops
Dripping From the Top Wide Leafs
Showering a New Morning
Reflecting The Shining Light of The Sun
Waking Up at Night Hearing the Echoes
Of the Coqui, Skirting Under the night Sky
Watching the Lizards and Ants walk by
Seeing the Difference Scenes from Morning And Night
Walking Down a Tall mountain
Reaching the Mountains of Trees
Until you Hear the Loud Honks of Cars Along the street
Reaching the Loud and Warm streets of Puerto Rico
Walking Alongside the Sidewalk
Catching a Sniff of the morning pastillos
Just Catching ur Noise and never letting go
Catching you as A Dog and Cat
Later to Catch the Evening Sun
Shine Bright Showering the Sky
Creating a Magical Horizon
That just seems to Split Reality and Fantasy Apart
Andrew, “Raised By”
I was raised by my parents.
Hard working and strong minded parents.
I was raised with good intentions.
Intentions that would make my parents proud.
I was raised by the streets.
Streets that would make certain people breakdown.
I was raised with a strong family
The kind of family who sticks up for eachother.
I was raised with the great friends
The type of friends i have known for years.
I was raised by hardships and issues.
hardships such as not seeing your parents because
the working to provide for the family.
I was raised by myself .
Because i was the oldest and had to watch my younger siblings.
I was raised by the play grounds.
I spent many years in those parks with my friends.
I was raised with doubts and worries.
These doubts and worries made me stronger.
I was raised with the i can do anything i put my mind to kind of attitude.
This kind of attitude made the man i am today.
Talia, “Raised By Sad Songs”
i was raised by sad songs
sad songs i was raised by
i never knew what was happiness, or even joy
down in the dump i always was
i was raised by sad songs
sad songs i was raised by
the sad melodies and sad harmonies
put in my head
you’re not good enough cuz i am
“your not pretty’ and
“you’re not ever going to even be close to what i am”
i was raised by sad songs
sad songs i was raised by
the up and down rhythm of the song
made it mysterious and suspenseful
who knew me, who would ever know
“im fine” and “i’m good”
always i hide my type of song
i was raised by sad songs
sad songs i was raised by
the dark, it even made it hurt more,
yeah i always was alone
always surrounded
by negative thoughts and gestures
i was raised by sad songs
sad songs i was raised by
that mother that always said
“you’re going to be more than what they
think you will in life”
but in reality dying slowly
with sad eyes, “cancer?” but always
trying to look happy in disguise
i was raised by sad songs
sad songs i was raised by
those brother who was so mean and teased me
“oh stop playing ugly” and
“don’t ever put your hand up to me”
but you did that to me first
i was raised by sad songs
sad songs i was raised by
that step dad that misunderstands me
“why do you sing all the time” always end up
“shut up!”
i was raised by sad songs
sad songs i was raised by
thats what i was raised by the reason
i love to sing to show what my reality brings
thats what i was raised by
a slow….. sad song…..
Edwin, “Raised By”
My grandma would yell at me
When i wouldn’t stop riding my bike
i would pass by the beaches to see the girls
The waves splashing
Baseball was my sport
The small ball hard to hit with the wooden bat
Me as catcher or second baseman
“El número 14 cual yo era
Waiting excited
Like a coqui
Singing “coqui coqui coqui”
A not so big frog
Only able to live in Puerto Rico
La isla del encanto
If I go back I feel brand new
Happy to be back on the island
Back from where I can from
Otherwise a bit of me is dead
Wen i did something wrong
My grandma would tell me
“No me va durar para’ piedra”
Sipping on her cafe con leche, cigarette by her side
Sitting on her flower couch
I was raised by weather
Hot, windy, chilly at night
Never cold
But always pleasant
Como ningún otro lugar
Love where i come from
Nothing like it i say
Pleasant at all times
For me no moment where i don’t like
To sing
i love my island like a coqui
When he sings
Coqui coqui
Puerto rico is all for me.
Student Voices Amplified 