life beyond the well…

Author Archives: erin.almond


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What are we teaching about King’s Dream?

How much do we really know about Dr. King? Outside of knowing that he had a dream, what do we know? We know that he married Coretta, that he was assassinated in Memphis, and then what?

This article from the Washington Post says that a lot of students are unaware of Dr. King’s dream. I find that interesting because Martin Luther King is one of the premier subjects if/when black history is covered in social studies classes. Part of the argument is that curriculums are so rigid that there isn’t enough time to cover something that won’t be covered on their standardized tests.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

“In a recent survey of college students on U.S. civic literacy, more than 81 percent knew that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was expressing hope for “racial justice and brotherhood” in his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

That’s the good news.

Most of the rest surveyed thought King was advocating the abolition of slavery…

In many schools across the country, teachers say social studies has taken a back seat under the federal No Child Left Behind law, which stresses math and reading. Squeezing history into the curriculum can be difficult, educators say, and taking time out of a scheduled lesson to use a federal holiday — even King’s — as a teaching moment can be tough.”

Any insights? What did you learn about Dr. King in school?


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An Interesting Article on Dreamgirls

I haven’t posted on Dreamgirls because I have yet to see it. Yes, I know I’m wack. BUT, when you consider that it JUST opened in Athens TODAY, I don’t feel too bad. I go to Atlanta for a lot of things, but just to see a movie? Nah, homie.

Anyhow, check out this article which discusses how Dreamgirls might be getting set up for the okie doke when it comes to getting an Oscar. No movie with a mostly black cast has won an Academy Award, and there have definitely been some good ones. But here’s what’s worth quoting from this article:

“No film with a predominantly African American cast has ever won best picture.

Is it time that one did? For sure. But Dreamgirls with all its star power and glam probably won’t do in 2007 what “The Color Purple” and “Malcolm X” (which wasn’t nominated) should have done in 1986 and 1993 respectively — and that is win. And while “Ray,” which was nominated in 2005, was both a critical and financial success, it was no “Million Dollar Baby.”

The critics who have praised “Dreamgirls” will likely claim that an Academy that recently honored Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Jamie Foxx with golden boys for best actress/actor, is not ready to embrace a film detailing the struggles African Americans face when they fail to assimilate to the dominant culture. That would be like admitting that “Crash,” last year’s best-picture winner, was truly an accurate portrayal of life in America.

We can’t have art imitating real life and winning awards for it!

The collective victories of Berry, Washington, Foxx and others have opened the door a little wider for African Americans in the film industry, but it still remains only ajar. It’s often said by black and white actors alike that the only color studio heads ever see is green. Well, American currency is green and white.”

So…I’d love to hear what you think. Especially if you’ve seen the movie. I keep hearing about THE SCENE. AND I AM TELLING YOU…don’t worry, I’m going to see it this weekend!