- You've written this story as you've been at our age. Do you think today, there is still a similar problem at school as far as the skin colour of students is concerned?
- Do you think that there is a real chance for Erika to become a better person or do you think that she would relapse? And why do you think so?
Mittwoch, 3. Oktober 2007
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Hello Maren--I enjoyed going through my blog. That's an interesting and very realistic future for Erika! To answer your questions, I think that in 2007, a lot of the same issues with skin color still exist that existed in 1990, when I wrote the book. I teach high school now and my students are the same ages as the characters in the novel. I teach at a school called Woodward Academy, and it is one of the most racially diverse schools in the city of Atlanta. We have black students, white, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Asian, Hispanic. I think they they are more accepting of difference than people were when I was in school--there are lots more ways to be "pretty" other than blond and blue eyed--but there is still some racism. My Muslim students have to deal with some prejudice--people thinking they are terrorists! Black boys will tell me about getting followed around a store when they go shopping (the shop keeper afraid they will steal something). And there is still some of that light skinned vs dark skin prejudice that happens with black people.
I think Erika can have a great future! High school is just 1 time in people's lives, and it doesn't have to determine your future. Since I've become a teacher, I've seen that everyone "blooms" in their own time. Some people really get it together when they are 15, some when they are 25, some even later. So I try to think in terms of "potential" with students, knowing they might not yet be ready to be the best student they can during the year I teach them!
All best, Lorri Hewett
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