Race and Culture

In one of my classes we recently watched the HBO Documentary, Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later (2007).  This powerful documentary juxtaposes the school’s history with current challenges.  Over 50 years ago, this school was the focus on tremendous conflict because of the forced segregation of nine African American students during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.  The segregation was representative of the conflict of long standing racial beliefs and demands for change.   Fifty years later, things have changed and yet they have stayed the same.  The documentary shows that although the African American population is now the majority group at the school students of color continue to be marginalized in many ways.  Students and teachers talk about the barriers for African American students to be involved in advanced placement classes or other achievement oriented school activities.   African American students at Little Rock Central are more likely to be in remedial education or struggling with multiple socio-economic and family challenges.

One of the most compelling scenes of the film is when one of the Little Rock Nine,  Minnijean Brown, speaks to a group of current students.  Ms. Brown talks with the group of students about their own self-segregation within the classroom.  Several students claim that they are just sitting by people they know or one person cannot truly make a difference.  Ms. Brown tells the students that they are not making choices.  Their behaviors demonstrate a set of societal standards.  This scene is striking because we see a woman who engaged in such a courageous act as a teenager confront students who live under an assumption that they don’t have the power to change anything.

The documentary is interesting and provocative on many levels.  The story shows how the culture of the local institution is shaped in such a dramatic manner by larger social and legal issues.  The film also shows in dramatic fashion how culture leads to patterns of thinking that are very ingrained into individual beliefs. 

Minnijean Brown reminds us that one person can make a difference.  Her story demonstrates the importance of breaking out of stereotypes.  Her story reminds us all to examine our own belief systems.  Are we just playing out long standing societal patterns?  Are we aware of our own cultural context?

Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later. (2007). HBO Films

Scene: Minnijean Brown talks to a group of current students http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Or8OBrMzg