My take on "Stolen Education", and the importance of how it has effected our society today.
In March of this year as a graduate
assistant for the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at Tarleton State I was
given the task to plan a culture excursion for the multicultural ambassadors, a
group of students who value diversity and represent equality and inclusion in
all forms and fashion. In searching for activities and events I came across a
documentary screening on systematic discrimination in Texas schools. The
documentary was called "Stolen Education", and it was going to be
shown at the Institute of Texan Cultures on one of the days we would be in San
Antonio, TX. The name itself spiked a lot of curiosity and I knew it was an
event we had to attend. "Stolen
Education" documents the untold story of Mexican-American children who
challenged discrimination in Texas in the 1950s. Hernandez vs. al. Driscoll
Consolidated Independent School District, is one of the first post Brown
desegregation court cases to be litigated or filed.
This year we commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act in July 1964. It was
discrimination case like this one that led to the major civil rights movement
of the 1960s. “Stolen Education” depicts a story of a fight for equality and
change. It is a story of the untold truth not found or discussed in many books
that directly effects many in our community today. I cannot begin to stress how
important our history is and the role it continues to play in our daily lives
and decisions. It is in our history that allows us to see the struggles and
triumphs of our ancestors. It is in understanding the past that we are better
capable of understanding our present state and make better decisions for the
future. It is in our history that we
begin to value what we are fortunate to have because of those that lead the way
and created change through courage.
Till this day this documentary has been one of
the most inspiring to me. Not only because of the courage demonstrated but
because of how unaware I was of this vital part of history for many Hispanics.
This documentary clearly addresses discrimination that the Hispanic community
went through which in return has caused a lost for the beautiful Spanish
language in many families and a culture that is trying to be revived in our
society. This discrimination has now turned into discrimination within our own
Hispanic community. Where the new generation of Hispanics now suffer
discrimination for looking Hispanic and having a Hispanic name and not knowing
the language. No one truly knows the consequences of our actions. Those
children that went through that difficult time in society had good intentions
of protecting their children. Together as a society we shall not look at our
neighbor and assume anything of them. Today, our society is so unique diversified
by cultures and languages, that there is no room for hate. We should focus on Love for it does not know race, ethnicity or language, it is transparent.
~ Diana Esperanza Martinez
~ Diana Esperanza Martinez