You Gotta Be Hard - Juan

Gangs. Obviously prevalent across the Chicago area, gangs are forming even in the ranks of Mr. Michie’s middle school students. While attending a Mexican Independence parade in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, rival gangs are taunting gang factions against each other. Some of these gang members are some of Mr. Michie’s seventh grade students. In the beginning, Mr. Michie’s attitude towards gangs was, “ Me against them.” He categorized the students as bad because of their involvement with gangs, and originally did not care to think of them as individuals.

One of the first situations that Mr. Michie came across with gang members fighting in school was handled cooly by another teacher, Moses Green. Nicknamed the preacher, Moses really knew how to talk and be heard, something I think is key to being a “successful” teacher in the classroom. The imperative information that is relayed from Moses to Mr. Michie about the gang fight is, “acknowledging them and giving them opportunities to reflect on their experiences in the classroom may help them become equipped to make better choices. It can enable them to see alternative realities, to envision other futures for themselves.”

Juan was a bright student who had a knack for directing and videography. We start this section after Juan and a friend Tony have presented a short film to an audience, receiving great praise for their work. The feeling doesn’t last long for Juan, however, for he feels the imminent future pressing down upon him. Thoughts of not succeeding and disappointing his family and culture run rampant through him. Luckily for him, gang involvement was never an option for him, because his family kept him busy enough to where he wouldn’t be interested. Juan is worried about the economy. While he has a job, he realizes that the more money someone makes, the more likely they are to have to spend more, as well.

I think that underprivileged neighborhoods such as the ones in this book not only have the attack of a negative economy, but the social stigmas that go with that as well. From the point of view of a social society, good things do not come from neighborhoods like Back of the Yards. This is where teachers like Mr. Michie come into play. Having teachers and educators (even mentors, parents, and community leaders) attempting to change the negative images placed upon the individuals is a commendable task. Obviously, Mr. Michie knows that he can’t change the world, nor does he try to, but he knows that by impacting as many students as he can, will help create a better world, if not for him, then at least for the kids.