Being around other Latino peers such as myself throughout
the first five years within the New York City Public School system, made me
overlook that we, as a community were a minority within society. It was not
until Junior High School, where I realized how small of a student body Latinos
were in the public school system.
The lack of ethnic studies only added to the perpetuated
social isolation within the primary and secondary public education environment.
Somehow the rich history of Latinos within the United States got lost among
Pilgrims, Ellis Island and World/Cold Wars. We were lost among a richly
Euro/White-centric academic curriculum. And thus, we as students were lost,
only trying to find our identities in a society that kept us as foreign.
According to the Pew
Hispanic Center for Research, between 1972 and 2011, Latino public school
students K-12 rose from 6.0% to 23.9%. One in every four students are Latino
present day, and in twenty-five years it will be one in every three.
Parallel to this rapid growth, certain States have adopted a
method to empowering and recognizing the Latino community. One example would be
the Tucson Unified School District, like other Districts in other states have
adopted some form of ethnic studies program designed to include and thus
educate students within a diverse community. While empowering their sense of
identity, students learn of the rich history their communities have within this
country.
As of January of 2012, the governing board of the Tucson School
District banned this program, claiming it was unlawful and dangerous to this
country’s security. However, last time I checked history should not be selective
in providing facts.
It wasn’t until I enrolled in College where I found a sense
of self-identity and empowerment. Ethnic studies, history and political science
were some of the many courses that opened my eyes to facts left out of the
primary and secondary public school system. No one can say history is pleasant
and I will agree, much of what is left out is history of oppression,
marginalization and subjugation.
Nevertheless, these facts are an important part to learn as
both a Latino/a and non-Latino/a. Contrary to what many conservatives might
fear, knowledge of the truth does not promote hate towards the society we live
in. It provides a sense of
self-identity and worth within this country. A sense of responsibility to move
forward, away from mistakes that may have been committed due to lack of
knowledge and tolerance. As well as an appreciation to what our ancestors
contributed to U.S. History.
We are the largest growing minority in the United States,
thus society has to accept this rapid change and instead of isolating our
community through hateful policies and bans on ethnic studies programs; they
should recognize us, as Latinos. As many immigrants before us, we have our own
history, identity and way of life. We cannot be forced to live through other
communities’ histories nor identify through their way of life and how they
assimilated to this country. For if we continue to be isolated, this fact too,
will resonate throughout history. Perpetuating a division within a country that
is rapidly changing its demographics, isolation will simply create the
animosity that conservatives fear if policies of tolerance and diverse
education were implemented.
