About Collage

​

       In the center of the collage is my baby picture and me in the present day. On the second level are the Vietnam Veterans War and Korean Veterans War memorials. The third level is the Asian Art Museum and Africa Museum of Art. The fourth level is the African American History Museum and the Holocaust Museum. The last level shows the Native American Museum and National Mall. The collage shows everywhere I traveled in Washington D.C. Around the photos are quotes that I found in the museum of famous historic people. On the back of the poster are more pictures and quotes that I took from Washington D.C.

Caste Affects People of Color in Education System

         The education system of caste affects people of color and low-income people. In the United States, public schools are funded by areas of local taxes (Chatterji). Areas of high-property districts would have well-funded schools and areas of low-property districts have poor-condition schools (Chatterji). Many schools in low-property districts are overcrowded with students and low staff. Redlining is denying African American mortgages and giving white people mortgages. This causes white people to grow wealthy, but African Americans are unable to grow wealth which affects health care, education systems, and more. (Chatterji). In the article, “Fighting Systemic Racism in K-12 Education: Helping Allies Move From the Keyboard to the School Board” by Roby Chatterji, he explains that limits opportunities to people of color in low-income as public schools favor wealthy families more by “35 percent” (Chatterji). In 2018, a shooting in Parkland Florida led 26 states to have security schools. Many student schools felt unsafe as security increased. (Tyner). In 1909, “The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People” (NAACP) was created to fight for civil rights, and from 1920 to 1930 African Americans struggled to gain rights which affected the education system (Tyner). Researchers at the "University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania" show that almost all states spend more on higher income than low income (Tyner). Low-income students in the states spend around “$529 per student” on education and free lunch (Tyner). In school communities, those with fewer resources are not able to succeed at the level of everyone else. During the COVID-19 pandemic, school virtually affected many people in low-income communities not accessing resources such as tutoring, interest, and school supplies needed (Tyner). 

​

       In low-income communities “95 percent” of people can not afford college, which leads them not to go, graduate with debt, or drop out. (Bidwell). The college application recommends that you take the SAT and ACT. Some students are unable to afford or cannot get a waiver for it. In O. Perry Walker High School, the president was frustrated that one student had the highest GPC that full scholarship but could not pay the “$500 deposit” (Bidwell). The president helps students pay and gives opportunities in school such as college scholar programs (Bidwell). Many schools around the United States do not give resources for college applications. Many students in low-income struggle to fill out tax forms as guardians do not have social security numbers or are not present in their lifetimes (Bidwell). For instance, the article “The real reasons many low-income students don’t go to college” tells about a student who was homeless, and could not apply for a tax form because they do not live with their parents (Bidwell). People are living on the next paycheck as minimum wages are still not enough to afford necessary needs. Some people in low-income communities struggle to fill out tax forms as guardians do not have social security numbers or are not present in their lifetimes (Bidwell). For instance, the article “The real reasons many low-income students don’t go to college” tells about a student who was homeless, and could not apply for a tax form because they do not live with their parents (Bidwell). People are living on the next paycheck as minimum wages are still not enough to afford necessary needs. Some people in low-income communities drop out because they are unable to afford college (Bidwell). Many families have taken out loans for college, and do not have the resources to afford financial aid in college (Bidwell). In conclusion, the caste system affects the education system by people of color and low-income people not having enough resources as the high-income and white people.

​

       The “four E of disruption” are education, engagement, empathy, and empowerment. It is important to educate yourself on what goes around the world and topics you are interested in (Brown, Saewtiz, Tallapragada). Engagement is listening to other people's stories and not having one point of view (Wilkerson). For instance, in a TED talk, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explains the dangers of knowing single stories that cause stereotypes of people that are not true about all of them and single stories do not hear all the voices. (Ngozi). Empathy is understanding someone's experience and being vulnerable with each other. The last E is Empowerment as the important word is “Wait” and let people tell their stories without question (Brown, Saewtiz, Tallapragada). For example, on the second day of class, I went to the Blockson Collection and heard Karen Asper's experience about protesting for Girard College and her life stories. Girard College used to be a school for poor orphan white people and people protected to open schools for other low-income and people of color. In the present day, Girard College is a boarding school and one diversity school in Philadelphia (Brown). The disruption of the caste allows change to happen and goes against stereotypes.

Other Ways to Educate Yourself

      It is important to educate yourself so that you know what goes on around the world. In Washington D.C I went to many museums which were all free and traveled around the National Mall. I have learned so much from the museum, and also go to talk with staff members to learn about their experiences. Also, having conversations with different perspectives of people can teach you a lot. The internet is a great tool to help learn but can lead to missing information. Many free libraries around the United States show great opportunities to read books about the topic you're interested in. Another one is to listen to someone high up like a professor who has experience working in the field. Finally, travel around a place with great opportunities to experience and also find history's structure.