Building a Bridge

Building a bridge over man-made chasms is a task that requires time, determination, and selflessness.

How does a white, female, 34-year-old middle school teacher connect with a classroom comprised of eighth graders, the majority of whom are black?

Here is how my wife did it.

A few weeks ago, she talked to her students about Martin Luther King, Jr. She attempted to impress upon them his importance in the civil rights struggle and the legacy he imparted to so many, especially new generations of young black men and women.

They did not really listen (remember, they are eighth graders). She then played them an audio clip of King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. They gave it a listen, and something happened that changed them.

The clip ended and some of the students noticed something peculiar. One asked, "Mrs. Brewster, why are you crying?"

Suddenly, a white, female, 34-year-old middle school teacher was transformed before the eyes of these eighth graders. She became someone who truly cared. They felt her empathy.

And a barrier was felled.

The dream is still alive.