Monday, June 1, 2009

Progress?


This is a sad picture of seven African American Couples before their African American only prom. Yes, their prom is segregated meaning they were no allowed to attend the white prom the night before. They are standing on a downward slope that represents Americas progress. It is astounding that in 2009, not 1909, not 1809, not 1709, 2009 there are segregated proms. For my final, I did a see, think, wonder model and here it is: I see 7 Black couples standing together on a downward sloping bridge. They look unhappy and defeated.
I think they are unhappy because they are forced to go to an all Black Prom; they feel defeated because they were prohibited from attending the all White prom.
I wonder if the White students who attended prom the night before care that their Black friends are going to a diferent prom.
The downward sloping bridge represents the downward path America is headed. A segregated prom in 2009 is the opposite of progress.
This relates to AIS’ Myths and Mythologies unit because there is a myth that because Obama is president, racism is dead in America. This myth is clearly only a myth because in 2009, there are still segregated proms in America.