Crossing Over to Canaan Ch. 1-2

Q: Chapter 1: How has the diversity in classrooms changed from the 1960s until now?

A: In the 1960s, students were clearly separated by their racial and cultural differences. There were more consequences of being a minority 40 years ago, and the categories of race, religion, sexual preference, etc. were clearer cut. The 1960s also was the time of the civil rights movement, which caused much discrepancy. That did help African Americans and other minority races blend into society and start to have advantages that their ancestors do not. Today, classrooms are more diverse and differences in culture, race, religion, sexual preference, etc. are not broadcasted as much. Also, the different labels that are put on people are more individualized, in other words there are many more sub-categories (for example, instead of just African American, there is light and dark skinned, etc.). Since the divorce rate has increased drastically, there are more and more children without two-parent homes, or with homes that are not stable or “picture perfect.” There is also many more students who are receiving psychology help and labels if they do not conform with the appropriate behaviors.


Q: Chapter 2: How was Diana’s identity confusion affected by society?

A: Diana is a woman who came from a part European American and part Cuban American culture. I believe that children and adults who come from mixed racial and cultural backgrounds often feel confused as to who they are because they think that they must side with one culture or the other. Diana is a successful woman who worked hard to get where she is, but I think along the way she might have pushed aside her Latina background. She spoke English at home and did not live near her Cuban relatives, so that allowed her to only side with her European American culture. I believe that if she had been integrated and educated on both of her distinct backgrounds, she would have been more comfortable with who she is overall.

Post #4 Ch. 3 Spring

Q: How did literacy affect the slaves and why do you think they were so determined to learn how to read?

A: I can only imagine what it would be like not to read. Being an African American slave left no freedom or choices. Literacy affected the black slaves by allowing them to become educated. They knew they were not stupid or deserving of the way they were being treated, and I believe that learning how to read gave them some dignity and sense of accomplishment. Many slaves risked their lives to learn how to read, and others had very secret and complex ways of learning. By learning how to read, it gave the slaves hope that they would someday be free and when they were they would have some foundation to build on. Also, reading gave them a way to check up on what their master was doing without their master knowing. This let the slaves get a step ahead in any situations that were going on where they worked. Reading is such a powerful tool, and by passing it on to other slaves, it kept their race and culture motivated and filled with at least a little hope and pride.

The picture is an example of how horribly African-American slaves were treated.