Gangs

On tuesdays/thursdays, I tutor at an inner city Lansing high school. When i pulled into the lot on tuesday, I noticed a lot of police cars, more than usual. Shaking it off I entered the school. There were DOZENS of police officers lining the halls. I shook it off and went to check in at the office.

"is there anything going on I should know about?"

"There was a little fight today. I'll have security walk you down to the room." I have never had anyone walk me down to the room. Soon, 2 big, black police officers came and walked on either side of me to the tutoring room. i went in and greeted Kevin, a fellow tutor. We only had one kid and when we left, the officers walked us to our cars, and made sure i locked mine after I got in.

I pushed it aside, until yesterday. I got an e-mail from my supervisor, Paulo. he asked if we had any questions about the "incident" at the school. I said i noticed the officers, etc. What was going on?

He wrote me an e-mail back, saying that there was a skirmish between two gangs at the school. A couple knives were pulled, etc. A kid kicked an officer, there was blood, you get the idea. Apparently, according to him, there has been a lot of gang activity in the school, concerning the "white" gang, and the "black" gang and centering around a group of white girls...should i say more?? He told me not to worry, sercurity would be stepped up. But, if i felt uncomfortable going back, i should let him know. The school already told him they would understand.

i went back today, again escorted from the parking lot, to the office, and to the tutoring room, where an officer stayed by the door. A regular kid of mine, Jayvon gave me a big hug and said he was glad i decided to come back.

?

I asked him why he was surprised.

"You're a white girl."

I can't stop thinking about that. True, I am a minority in the school, but i never thought it would have that kind of affect. he told me a little more about the fight, all the dozens of kids being suspended, the numbers of kids who were being arrested and ticketed. but he said he was glad I was there.

And we worked on his english for an hour before i left, escorted out to my car by the officer.

I have never felt this way. I love working with the kids. They are all good kids. jayvon told me, "I wouldn't never get mixed up in that s***." And I told him i was proud of him for that, to keep working hard so he can go to college like he wants to. He wants out of that kind of lifestyle. he told me another time his older brother was in jail for robbery.

It makes me sad. That there are situations like this, happening in schools. But then there are kids like Jayvon, who work hard and do their best. And that makes me happy.

Kevin, another tutor, also asked why i would come back, after finding out what caused all this violence. Honestly, i don't know. But i don't feel like I should punish kids like Jayvon for the actions their peers commit. It wouldn't be fair of me to place judgement, and say i no longer feel safe in a "black" school. So...I'll continue tutoring there, as long as there is an officer at my side...

-allie-