Alejandro Master's student at Mcgill Curriculum studies.

I was really happy to read your tribute to Joe Kincheloe. He really is an inspiring man.  This is the first year that I have a class with him at McGill and learning has never been so fun.  We are studying the works of Paolo Freire, another inspirational character in the world of critical pedagogy.  A short time ago a series of powerful events led me to this class and suddenly these events feel connected.  Outside of school I work with an organisation called Nomadic Massive.  We are a multi-ethnic group, working towars creating an international dialogue among youth.  We have participated in festivals across the North and South American continent. 

On one occasion we hosted a group called Zafrica in Montreal.   They stayed in our homes and we performed shows in Toronto and Ottawa alongside these talented singers.   The morning before returning home to Brazil, we were having breakfast, and I discovered that one of the singers was also a student of Freire.  At this point I had heard the name, but I was unfamiliar with the philosophy.  We talked at length about Freire and I felt as though his teachings were in keeping with my own visions of educational reform.    I wished that this informal discussion would never end.  I was feeling more enlightened with every word about Freire.  The most interesting part about this conversation was that it was shared with an individual who had actually put Freire's theory into practice. 

Eventually, the Brazilians were picked up and taken to the airport.  The following day Nomadic Massive had a show at a downtown Hotel.  It was a luncheon for a woman named Nita.  I didn't know who the special guest was, at the time, but this is often the case with our shows.  We played at the luncheon and afterwards I was taken to meet Nita Freire.  She had so much warmth and she listened so attentively to the unimportant things I had to say.  I felt that her spirit was in tune with what I imagined about Freire.  The same evening I had class at McGill.  The teacher said that we would be attending a talk instead of having the usual class.  The woman we were going to see talk was Nita Freire.

Both Nita and Donaldo Macedo told wonderful stories about Freire.  They spoke of his passion, his childlike innocence and optimism.  They handed Shirley Steinberg a pair of his glasses and original hand written works.  The whole experience was really moving.  I knew that I wanted to learn more about this man and help to carry on with the example that he had set.  A week later at another Nomadic event I ran into Shirley, who told me that there were going to be two intensive weeks of Freire classes with herself and Joe.  When I met Joe I noticed that he shared some of the characteristics with Freire.  Specifically those described by Nita and Donaldo.  I beleive that Joe and Shirley are the perfect people to help inspire a new generation through the creation of the Paulo and Nita Project.

(name removed) and Alejandro,

I hope I am not intruding in your dialogue. Your topics of discussion are quite realistic and it is obvious that you both speak from lived experiences. A question  for both of you: Is fear not a result of ignorance? Were your parents and friends not speaking from ignorance when they kept telling you not to go to Peru because it is violent and they Peruvians will hurt you and steal from you?

In many ways, I do find that people that fear others (culturally, racially, religiously, sexually) is the fact that it is the unknown for them. They have no explanation and have created their own reality within their own limited context. When I was a child, I realized the injustices that were occuring to me in my own town. I lived in constant fear as a child. Constant fear of being beaten up to a pulp. I knew these people, or did I really know them? I feared them because I was being teased. I never dared say a word because I feared the consequences. I lived in fear because I was ignorant of them. I did not know them to understand why they were oppressing me. Hence, my fear was real to me but was also concocted by me.

This experience as a youth gave me power and strength. Why because I was dying -litearally inside - as a kid to get out of my town - near James Bay - away from the prejudices of that world. I had hope that there was something else out there that would give me the opportunity to be myself. I am glad I waited and percevered in my studies to go else where and be successful. It is interesting how hope was my driving force to a better life. My fear weined as my hope gained force. I had promised myself after having lived the oppression of my village and then others giving me an opportunity to grow into myself in another city that I would try to become more knowledgeable of others' oppressions. That is when I was introduced to travelling.

I enjoy travelling and getting to see others in their own world within their own cultural, religious, racial, etc. bouderies. I have learned so much from just back packing and staying at people's homes. It gives me such an insite - even though little - of what people live on a regular basis. It gives me that little opportunity to appreciate what I have and how I can assist my students in their quest for knowledge, empowerment, equality and justice.

Alejandro,

Thank you for sharing that situation and I can understand what you mean by emphazing race when the crime is done expecially if it is a Black person. The media definitely knows how to play on the fear of the public and destroying the Black communities identity by generalizing all Black people are criminels. However, we know that crime has no colour. Of course, we do not mediatize as much when it is White people. I definitely agree with you on this one Alejandro.

Another case to prove your point Alejandro! Here I am Monday morning getting on the metro like many Montrealers on my way to work. Of course, we all like to have the opportunity  to sit down during the voyage. Like many times, there was no seats available at my stop. Therefore, I stood like many others. It was apparent that this one White gentleman was getting annoyed at standing. Here are the events that proceeded.

A man got up from his seat to leave the train and a Black woman that was right beside the seat proceeded to sit down. The White man was also beside the seat (ont the other side) and did not realize quick enough that the seat was being vacated. The Black woman did and took advantage of the seat available to her. This angered the White man and he started to mumble under his breath that this woman was rude and had no right to sit there. It was his seat! So then he continued but this time looking at the Black woman and making rude comments such as: "Get out of my seat. This seat is mine. You have no right as a Black woman to sit. This is my seat. Get out! " Then he tried to grab her! At this point everyone was looking on! I was getting annoyed but I standing near the other door and there was a crowd between us. I was so pleased when this White lady that was on the other side of the Black lady sitting down told the gentleman that he had no right to speak to the lady that way and that it was her that sat first and therefore he needed to leave her alone. The gentleman turned away, mumbled under his breath, the doors opened and he left. Everyone around the Black lady than asked her if she was alright.

The fact that it was a White lady coming to yhr Black lady's defence is not to make the assumption that she was trying to be her saviour. The Black lady was definitely feeling uncomfortable and started to be weary about the fact that the gentleman was going to remove her from the seat forcibly. The fact that it was a White lady that spoke harshly to the White man made a clear statement to the White man. Back off!

I don't know what the Black and White ladies were thinking. Was it the fact that they were both ladies, the race issue or just the mere fact that the gentleman was getting aggressive. All I know is that I was proud that someone, anyone, came to the help of an innocent lady sitting on the bench.

In my opinion, the White man has definitely some issues with race and colour. Who knows where it orginiated, upbringing, television, newspaper, friends, etc. There was no justification for his acts and people came together to support another human being in need. It was great to have witnessed this. That morning when I had level meetings with my students at school, I shared this story with them to let them know I understand that there is racism. Now, how can you overcome this in order for you to become successful is the question I asked them. And after these two classes with Joe and Shirley, I realize that I must go even further. How can they become successful and still be Black! That is so very important.

Ladies and Gentlemen, do not lose who you are, it is your culture, your language, your religion, your identity, it is you!

As we are approaching the end of these summer courses, I cannot help but feel saddened. I have learned so much from everyone, especially you both, Joe and Shirley, to have given me the ability to look at this world in so many different lenses. I know because of your insistance at looking at things differently, that I will be an asset to my students. I have still so much to learn.