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') 2 Se. ey \ \ and most of all‘denied the right to question. Your job: to nelp them begiito question. ™~ What are the people like? They are each differ- ent, but they will have in common the scars of the system. Some will be cynical. Some will be distrust- ful. All will have a serious lack of preparation both with regard to academic subjects and contemporary issues -- but all of them will have a knowledge far beyond their years of how to survive in a society that is out to destroy them. Because they have this knowl- edge, this awareness of the extent of evil in the world, they will be ahead of you in many ways, but most of this knowledge is negative. It is only half the picture, and it is this half which is crumbling. There is great reason to hope for the first time. Your job: to help the neonle see this hone, and inspire them to go after it. peopl this hope What will they demand of you? They will demand that you be honest. Honesty is an attitude toward life which is communicated by everything you do. Since you, too, will be in a learning situation, honesty means that you will ask questions, as well as answer them. H It means that if you don't know something you will say so. It means that you will not "act" a part in the } attempt to compensate for all they've endured in the South. You can't compensate for that, and they don't want you to try. These people have been taught by the system not to trust. You have to be trust-worthy. There is little you can teach them about prejudice and ae segregation, They know. What you can do is help them develop ideas and assoctations and tools with which they can do something about segregation and prejudice. . How? The key to teaching is honesty and creativity. Material . vy ge familiar w 2 oroefes Materials prepared by those familiar with the profession, and with the situation, can help, but ultimately you must discover the way for yourself. In some areas you will find that you are almost the first civil rights worker to be there, and if you are white, almost certainly you will be the first white civil rights worker. You will have to deal with the problem of your novelty as well as with the educational challenge. In such areas, interest in education will have to be created, and teachers will have to recruit their students. In other areas there have been projects in the past and you will be warmly welcomed. Almost every- whe! for a worker. Otherwise you would not be sent. It is important to realize that many of the commun- ities in which you may find yourself are in the process of rapid social change and the program in which you are engaged will be in the midst of this ferment. find yourself involved in political activities, registering people to vote, organizing political rallies, campaigning You may 39