When many people think of Black-White race relations in Boston, they often think of the violent racial battles in the 1970s over forced desegregation of Boston Public Schools through busing.
Either that, or, if they’re not from Boston, they think of the zillion recent Tough White Gangster Boston movies like “The Departed” and ask, “Wait, there are Black people in Boston?”
Guess what, folks? Boston actually has a LONG, RICH African-American History!
I am [...Read More!]
Want to feel like a famous celebrity with people racing up to take photos of and with you? With teenage girls giggling hysterically when they see you? With eyes becoming wide with awe as you walk by?
All you have to do is hop on a plane and arrive somewhere where the majority of people look, dress, and act nothing like you!
We forget about this, sometimes, in America.
We forget how racially and ethnically [...Read More!]
This article is dedicated to the 150 eighth and tenth grade Boston Public Schools students I have the pleasure of teaching this year.
I figure the odds are pretty good that some of my sweet students sometimes experience the stress that comes with the middle and high school social scene… and so it’s time at last to start unearthing the photos and stories of my OWN skinny self in 8th grade, to [...Read More!]
So you dream of global understanding, connection, and communication. What better way to create this than to have students across the world write letters to one another?
Ahh, the romanticized International Penpal Exchange idea: so beautiful and so grand!
And yet, as those of us who have tried it often soon realize… so full of potential mayhem and chaos!
During the three months I volunteered in Sogakope, Ghana, I helped run the Youth Creating [...Read More!]
I can’t drive a car and I don’t really want to learn.
Lame?
Meh… naw.
It just means I’ll always be forced to live somewhere with adequate public transportation…
…meaning I’ll always have the joy of the train/bus reading commute!
My current hour round-trip MBTA ride means an hour of delightful book time each day.
Article #5 in the ESL Student Life Stories Project, by Eileen from Korea, age 20.
“Don’t do that!” I screamed.
His hand was on my arm, squeezing and rubbing it. He replied to me, “Your arms are so soft, I want to touch them!”
His name was Romano and he was from Italy. I met him the third week after I came to the USA from my home country of Korea, at an English [...Read More!]
Let’s play a game called “How many ridiculous elements can you find in the 2010 U.S. Census Race form!” Study the photo above and chuckle. I’ll start, and you add on.
1.) There is no box at all for Arab or Middle Eastern.
2.) Where do Cape Verdeans (a Portuguese-creole-speaking island off Africa with a big population in Boston) check?
3.) “Negro”???!!!!
4.) Should European “Spaniard” really be under “Latino/Hispanic”? There are entire college courses [...Read More!]
I am drooping like spinach in a frying pan right now due to jet lag… but I haven’t missed a single day of blogging since that night I was ill on Ko Phi Phi in Thailand, seven months ago (and before that, even longer) so the show will go on! Commitment feels good.
I am OVERJOYED to be back home in Boston with loved ones, after nine great months abroad. Now, as [...Read More!]
The wildly popular website, Stuff White People Like, has an article entitled: “Taking a Year Off.” It details the trend among rich Caucasians to flee the daily grind and jaunt around the world for a year, always thinking that they are the first to concoct such a brilliant idea.
“Give them a FAKE email address before they leave!” warns the site, or you will get nonstop annoying emails bragging about [...Read More!]
Article #15 in the YCC Kids Club Ghana Student Life Stories Project Nigerians Don’t Eat Human Flesh!!! By Okeke Melody, Age 11
My Father came from Nigeria and my Mother came from Ghana, so for the first three years of my life, I lived with my Grandmom and relatives in Nigeria.
In Kindergarten One in Nigeria, the kids always spoke the Nigerian language and never spoke “Good English.” For example, they would [...Read More!]
My name is Lillie and I thank you for reading and taking part in this journey.
I am the Boston coordinator of a national series of events on extended travel called "Meet Plan Go." Join the MPG community by clicking here, and jump-start your travel dreams!
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