Harlem Knights

Yesterday officially made 4-weeks at my new job. I started working at the Harlem Children’s Zone as a Middle School Tutor. It’s definitely a shock coming from the Talented &Gifted school I’ve worked at for the last 4 years. I’ve become accustomed to students who were self sufficient and intelligent beyond their years. Now I’ve been put into a place that makes me believe the movie Precious still resounds in our modern days.

I have one student who can’t read or write, other students who can almost read, and then there are those who can read the words but have now idea what the words mean. My first thoughts were how I can make a quick but professional exit. I didn’t and still don’t believe I can make any change. Geoffrey Canada, the founder of Harlem Children’s Zone, has had his name broadcasted throughout the country as his program is supposed to make huge leaps in education amongst low income children. How can I live up to that?

Whatever my fate is at this new place, I can’t help but be upset with the fact that the level of education will not increase anytime soon amongst low income neighborhoods which so happen to house mostly Black people. I’ve been lucky enough to live within the status of the Middle Class. But what about the poverty stricken. What about their education? Not granting them an equal chance means that the cycle will only continue.

So I hope we aren’t surprised in a couple of years when there’s an inflation of Black boys in prison, Black mothers of only 15 years old, a decrease in graduation rates, an increase in government assistance and a slew of elderly people who have no support.

Anyway, wish me and my new children luck. I will try my hardest to make the change that Geoffrey Canada has established. I just might go bald and sleep deprived while doing it.

Is it too early for a drink?

I started the day extremely early in the eyes of a jobless person. I got up because I needed to run some errands. I had to deposit a check at the bank, try to sneak back into my college clinic for a physical (for a possible job), and then go to pick up a receipt of my fingerprints from the Department of Education (for said possible job).
So, the first two went fairly smoothly. But it had to be a city agency that ruined my day. I never made it into the Department of Education because there was no parking downtown and way too much traffic for me to concentrate. So as I was passing the city building I called their office to see if I even needed to go in and I was on hold until I got all the way back by my house. 13 minutes and 17 seconds! WTF. What are they paying these people for?
Maybe you think I’m jumping to conclusions but I never got a hold of anyone. I even tried to call again when I got home and my wait time was over 20 minutes. When someone did finally answer, I told them what I needed and the man simply responded “65 Court Street, Room 102.” What!!! I didn’t ask for the address. I know the address. I was there this Morning. But that was his smart ass way of telling me to come in. Ugh. Next time I’m taking the train.
Oh, I almost forgot. I hit someone today. Just a little tap. Why couldn’t life be more like Grand Theft Auto. In his case it was. Not even a scratch on his Ford Explorer XLT. On the other hand, my 1996 Camry has a sad face now.