’A melting pot.’ How a book is empowering diverse students at this Coast middle school.
English Language Arts teachers at Gulfport Central Middle School are trying new methods to reach their students.
They aren’t just using textbooks. They’re using novels about different cultures, American history and timely issues to connect with their students.
“Our school is a melting pot. The more that you can learn about other students and their cultures, the better you can understand them,” eighth grade ELA co-teacher Louis Henderson said.
“Black students need to be culturally aware of white things, black and white students need to be aware of Hispanic things, and vice versa.”
Henderson’s students are reading a book called “Copper Sun,” a novel by Sharon M. Draper. It is about an African girl named Amari. She was engaged to be married, had a nice family and lived in a village.
But everything changed for the 15-year-old when her village was invaded by slave traders.
Her family was murdered and she was sent to the Carolinas on a slave ship. The book details her journey of hope as she tried to escape her new reality.
Student reaction to the book
This might sound like a heavy, dark story to some, but Henderson says the students are locked in.
Ameeron Stubbs, an eighth-grader at Central Middle, says he’s grateful that his teacher introduced him to this book. He says he’s not used to hearing these stories in schools.
“We need to talk about how black people were treated in the past and how we rose back up in society,” Stubbs said.
“A lot of our people were treated like farm animals when they were on a plantation. They were not treated like human beings. And I learned a lot about this from my family and from books I read on my own, but not so much in school.”
Johnathan Draper, another eighth-grade student, said he doesn’t know much about this aspect of American history, but the book has given him more insight.
“I didn’t know that slaves were actually tagged before they were sold. And I also didn’t know that they were cuffed before they went out. This book allows me to visualize some of what they felt. The book tells me that it’s not always what you want, but sometimes you have to find hope in the smallest things.”
Arissa Elzy and Aryssah Taylor said the book spoke to them as young women and teenagers.
“Amari still held on. Sometimes she even wanted to die, but she was still holding on. Her story and strength makes me want to do more at my school. It makes me want to increase awareness at my school about black history so that we can learn more about what happened in the past,” Elzy said.
Taylor said the book reminded her of important life lessons.
‘I’m a teenager myself, and I feel like the things in the book were just not fair. These people didn’t do anything to be killed. The Europeans just didn’t like them. We need to talk about this more so that it does not repeat itself,” Taylor said.
Beyond the books
Another way ELA teachers at Gulfport Central are trying to connect with their students and keep them engaged is through online learning.
They connect with outside professionals, educators and others via Zoom video chat. The guest speakers tie in what the students are reading with real-world happenings.
Dr. Marco Robinson is an assistant professor of history at Prairie View A&M University in Texas. He’s been to Africa five times and is helping provide context for the students as they journey through the “Copper Sun.”
He says he believes what Henderson and the other teachers are doing is a great thing. He hopes this allows educators and students to realize the important on reading, history and other non-STEM courses.
“Oftentimes, the curriculum in schools don’t allow the room for the conversation. Schools are so STEM-focused now, and a lot of the arts and history courses are getting pushed to the back,” Robinson said.
He said American history and slavery aren’t usually discussed in great detail in schools, and many students come to college lacking knowledge about the slave trade.
“Black history is American history. White history is American history. We need to teach from that perspective. It’s all part of our national narrative that we need to include and share with everyone.”
Henderson, along with other ELA teachers at Gulfport Central, hope to continue to present culturally relevant material to their students to open their minds toward different people and ways of life.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 4:00 AM.
