Education

Tearful Eighth Grader Defends Controversial Essay on GBTV: Not a ‘Racial Issue,‘ It’s a ‘Learning Issue’

When 13-year-old Jada Williams was given a copy of Frederick Douglass’ book “The Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass,” she was inspired. So inspired that she decided to write an essay that drew a parallel between the abhorrent illiteracy in city schools and slavery. And she took aim at her teachers.

But that, apparently, is where she went wrong. The teacher took exception to the essay — which was supposed to be for a contest but was never submitted — and even confronted her. And according to her mother, that started a chain of hostility by the school — located in Rochester, NY — which eventually forced the mother to remove Jada from the school.

Jada Williams Defends Frederick Douglass Essay on GBTV

“My advice to my peers, people of color, and my generation, start making these white teachers accountable for instructing you,” Jada wrote. “They tooled this profession, they brag about their credentials, they brag about their tenure, so if you have so much experience then find a more productive way to teach the so called ‘unteachable.’”

On Wednesday, Jada and her mother, Karla, joined Glenn Beck on GBTV to discuss those words and the incident. It was an emotional interview that covered Jada’s original intent, the school’s reaction, and even her thoughts on what she’s learned.

You may be wondering what young Jada meant by singling out “white teachers.” That’s exactly the question Beck was wondering, and one that sparked debate among his staff. Jada’s response?

She was simply using the language of Frederick Douglass’ book, published in the 1800s.

“I feel misunderstood, because most grownups are making it a racial issue, when it’s a learning issue,” a tearful Jada said later. “I also feel hurt, because I’m not in school right now. They’re taking from me the one thing that I do love, and I feel confused because I thought I lived in a country of freedom of speech.”

“I know this is absolutely not about racism, it’s about the education of our children, and that’s what needs to be the focus,” Jada’s mother added, later saying “if that’s all it’s about [color] then how far will we ever get?”

Beck agreed with Jada’s remarks on freedom of speech.

“Jada, I’ve been talking about this this week, about freedom of speech, and they’re trying to get people to sit down and be afraid,” Beck said. “If there’s one thing you should get from Frederick Douglass is, her’s a man that refused to be a slave.”

“Don’t you let them bully you, and don’t you give up on the promise of America,” Beck concluded later. “It is always just over the horizon, but it requires each of us to reach for it.”

You can watch the emotional interview below:

In the end, Jada’s essay did make it into the essay contest for the Frederick Douglass Foundation, and they recognized her essay with an award. As for the school Rochester School District Interim Superintendent Dr. Bolgen Vargas acknowledged Wednesday to local media that Williams‘ teacher didn’t encourage the free-flow of ideas.

“Of course that’s not the best way to handle a situation like this,” he said. And while he didn’t address specific disciplinary action, he did say, “Suffice it to say I am addressing the situation.”

For more on the interview, including other quotes, visit Glennbeck.com.

Comments (310)

1 2 3 ... 7
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:36am

    Has anyone here on the Blaze ever been to rochester ny? We dont call it rottenchester for nothing,gangs thugs murders drugs are very rampent.I’m glad to see some good trying to emerge from the chaos from that innercity.But I also take objection to a label thrown in (white teachers).And you claim this isn’t a race issue.what you should have quoted should have the word teachers without the conotation of white.But you also need to remove yourself from the rochester area if you do trully want to make a difference.Sooner or later you will hook up and be a baby mama,because thats all the area has for those fine upstanding men in your area.

    Report Post » scrapadapolis  
    • SweetOlBob
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:55am

      Hey Scrapadapapolis: When Douglas published his book in the 1800s, I doubt that the black race had taken over the teaching “profession” as they have in most large cities and county school systems.
      Was there a “teachers union” at that time ? I don’t know, but there was no AEA to prop up failing teachers and rail against charter schools as there is now. Maybe the gal should have put any quote from Douglas in quotation marks. Maybe if she had better teachers, she would have known to do that. Personally, I wouldn’t have used any race related term but my slight preference is dimmed nearly to extinction by her effort and skill at communicating. You go girl !

      Report Post »  
    • gemologist
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:07pm

      Anyone can get out of the Rochester school district and make something of themselves. It simply takes not having any friends in the school, then add to that, hard work and parents that want you to succeed and who’s idea of success is closer to George Washington Carver (my hero) than p diddy

      Any of those things missing and you are average or below, on govt programs or working for the govt. I used to go to a school that was mostly black and hispanic. The worst insult they had in grade school was “White” Chew on that for a minute and try to see how hard it would be to succeed if your friends mockingly labeled you that when you got an A, spent more time doing homework than them or actually caring about the assignment.

      a childhood acquaintance “Jim you so white you ain’t even white, you clear yo.” (everyone else laughing) I had decided that they weren’t worthy of my friendship because of views like that, but not everyone else has that fortitude, so parents need to be much more involved than they are.

      If everyone understood the pressures that our children face in school, we would more heaven and earth to GET THEM OUT OF SCHOOL and into an environment that allows them to learn. (homeschooling comes to mind)

      Report Post »  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:34am

    “She was simply using the language of Frederick Douglas’s book, published in the 1800s.”

    Watch the interview and read the article before you people spew your ignorance and racism. Read Frederick Douglass too. He was more of a patriot than any of you could ever hope to be.

    Report Post »  
    • Dstarr55
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:49am

      Sorry, she was wrong in its use. Frederick Douglas was talking about a predominately white issue – vast majority of slave holders were white – vast majority of those in power were white – to then translate this into the school system today but only point out white teachers makes it racist. Her intentions might not have been racist but putting the failure of the education system strictly on ‘white’ teachers was a mistake even with the caveat of ‘using the language’ of Frederick Douglas. The teacher was wrong not to submit the paper and would have been better served to point out how using that term today in an integrated school system can be construed as racist.

       
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:27am

      Good gravy. She’s a child and read a remarkable book. I feel the same way about teachers. Because of the Union, they are shacked and still keep their jobs and graduate unlearned children.

      Report Post »  
  • discus02
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:32am

    Congratulations to the mother and her daughter for their courage. A petition should be sent to fire the teacher and the principal. Two cowards backed by a union!

    Report Post »  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:39am

      First they came for the Catholics, but I did not speak out, because I was not a Catholic.

      Then they came for the little black girls, but I did not speak out, because I was not a Catholic.

      Report Post »  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:50am

      Oops Then they came for the little black girls , but I did not speak out because I was not black.

      Report Post »  
  • ksoileau
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:31am

    It’s not about race, but she singles out white teachers for criticism. Uh huh. Right.

    Report Post »  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:35am

      Read the article and watch the interview you idiot! “She was simply using the language of Frederick Douglas’s book, published in the 1800s.”

      Report Post »  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:28am

    @WATCHTHEOTHERHAND “Second, I support what she said and would include black, Asian, Hispanic etc in that list as well.”

    You obviously did not watch the interview.

    Report Post »  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:58am

      O contrary my friend. I meant I would have included it in the writing since all are accountable.

      Report Post » watchtheotherhand  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 11:34am

      On the contrary I did watch it. I was referring to what I would have liked seen in the paper.

      Report Post » watchtheotherhand  
  • TROONORTH
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:27am

    The essay was written far above the level of vocabulary and sentence structure used by even advanced eighth grade students, which brings into question the possibility of a ghost writer. Certainly the thoughts and analysis are those of an older person. That being said, the fact that the child makes racially inspired accusations about ‘white’ teachers and then claims that ‘it is not about race’, is just a little too much to stomach. Clearly, she has been fed and believes the bile of black racism and is incapable of recognizing that she is just as racist as those she has accused. The child should never have been taken out of school to avoid the troubles that she has stirred.

    Report Post » TROONORTH  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:25am

    .
    Not a ‘Racial Issue are you kidding me? It is racial C’mon Man “Black History Month” if it’s not where is “White History Month”?……….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:29am

      Watch the interview and stop being ignorant and racist.

      Report Post »  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:18am

      .
      UBETHECHANGE
      Are you really gonna vote for Obama again? I’ll pray for you, but at some point your gonna have to pull your head out of his behind………

      The Democrats have shaped you into a spineless creature………

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • Tdude
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:39am

      Where is white history month? Monkey dude… Open a history book, any history book. Black history month came about because the contributions of a segment of American history was left out. In battle, distorted or not reported. I was party to a conversation in the 90′s, where one of the guys spoke up and said, “I don’t know of anything that blacks have contributed to in American history.” At the time, I agreed. That is until I got curious and started doing my own research. Instead of trying to find reasons to divide the races, perhaps it will be more beneficial to us all if we try to bring them together. As far as your other comment on what a Black teacher said… Totally repulsive, totally irrelevant and totally unfounded.

      Report Post »  
    • Gumbercules
      Posted on March 2, 2012 at 11:12pm

      @Tdude

      “I was party to a conversation in the 90′s, where one of the guys spoke up and said, “I don’t know of anything that blacks have contributed to in American history.”
      ________________________________________________

      Whar are the credentials of this “guy” you heard speak up? Just because one low-life, ret@rd says something doesn’t mean in represents everyone elses knowledge of blacks and their contributions.

      Get new friends, or go to parties with smarter folk.

      Report Post » Gumbercules  
  • cemerius
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:24am

    I have an idea to “fix” these inner city schools and to show we “care”. Send more Tax money to their Teacher’s Union so that EVERYONE of them can drive a Mercedes or BMW. That’ll help the kids to learn!

    -or-

    Get back to the basics and REMOVE the social learning with the Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic!!!

    Report Post » cemerius  
    • oneshiner
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 11:04am

      That was tongue~N~cheek, but I also believe the chant “throw more money to our children” does not make them smart. It makes we tax payers “dumb” for believing more money helps our children. It gives more money to the Unions, and guarantee jobs to inept teachers……..because you can’t get rid of a cancer in these teachers.

      When I’m asked to donate to schools, my first reaction is: get rid of bad teachers, get rid of overloaded administration, cut back to Principal and fire Vice Principal (good Lord, so unnecessary) stop all the cutesy programs that teach nothing and get kids back to the RRR’s. Why, in these bad times do we pay more for sports, bands, trips? Teach the kids, stop the nonsense, until we again have unlimited money to do these programs that help only a small percentage of the students.

      We pay taxes to support these poor teachers and support the schools, just DO you jobs.

      Report Post »  
  • ShadowPlacebo
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:24am

    Is that Precious?

    Report Post » ShadowPlacebo  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:32am

      The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. Go take a hike troll.

      Report Post »  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:21am

    “She was simply using the language of Frederick Douglas’s book, published in the 1800s.”

    They agreed with Glenn that today all teachers fail their students. Read the whole article and watch the interview before you comment. Stop being ignorant.

    Report Post »  
    • texchris
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:40am

      Can we ,the white race ,use 1800`s racial descriptions in our current daily conversation? Can we print those same words anywhere without being branded a racist? We just taught that little girl she can be a racist as long as she frames it in the 1800`s?

      Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:59am

      If you can’t use and separate the language used during the time period from today, Your are an idiot!

      Quite being so PC that you can’t frame what actually happened and what was said during the period it was said. If you don’t acknowledge some of it was hateful and racial during that time period, we won’t solve any problems. You can’t sweep this under rug, hoping one day it will be erased forever. It was said, deal with it. By no means was this about race. Those who make it so, are the racist.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • gemologist
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:11pm

      Um, she wasn’t (very clearly) I personally find it disturbing that GB would agree that that is what she was doing, the language of Douglass uses the term N*****, but that has nothing to do with he singling out (with reason, not accidentally) white teachers. see it is context http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-lG1Wb2AfM&feature=youtu.be

      Report Post »  
  • Listen_then_think
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:18am

    “Suffice it to say I am doing nothing about the situation.” Is what the superintendant meant to say. They will always back the teacher. I have seen it over and over.

    Report Post »  
  • watchtheotherhand
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:14am

    OK at the risk of being controversial I want to make a couple of comments. First, I am white and I am not offended in the slightest with what this young black girl wrote in any way. Second, I support what she said and would include black, Asian, Hispanic etc in that list as well. Third, many “educators” are more interested in indoctrination than education. They do not want a highly educated, critically thinking population. They want unquestioning worker ants that fall into their place in society and pay homage to the liberal PC teachings of the day. Fourth, what would the outcry have been from the liberal media if a what white girl had made the same comment about black teachers or Hispanic teachers? Definition: Racism = the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. I ask you this given the definition previously and the presumption of the outcry had roles been reversed, who is the racist me or the liberal? Liberalism is moral relativism with no concrete foundation of standards and therefore no foundation. Everything is relative to them.

    Report Post » watchtheotherhand  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:13am

    She is a future leader, she thinks, she puts together the pieces and writes from both her head and her heart. She is cetainly able to see where the “system” is failing the ones who need the most help. It is no wonder the young black population has no jobs, they were failed by the ones who swear they know best how to educate. Keep standing Jada, and kudos to her great mom who stands behind her.

    Report Post »  
  • SCARY313568
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:11am

    YEs, she has freedom of speech and I have no problem with that. However, she claims this is not a race issue but an education issue addressing the teachers as white teachers. THis brings race into it. Furthermore, she says the teachers need to find ways to teach the unteachable. Has anybody been to an inner city low income school lately? Those teachers have to worry about surviving more than teaching. How do you teach a bunch of thugs who want to do nothing but break the law and spread their hate? I know they make over-reaching films such as “Stand and Deliver” but that is an overexagerated Hollywood version of real life. The fact is the kid should not have been booted from school but defending the criminal element in school is wrong.

    Report Post »  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:16am

      You could not have read the article nor watched the interview by your comment. “She was simply using the language of Frederick Douglas’s book, published in the 1800s.”

      Think people, stop reacting with knee jerk reaction like liberals! Read the article and watch the interview, then critical think!

      Report Post »  
    • TerryDo
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:33am

      If blacks believe that white teachers are racist, there is one easy solution to this problem, only let black teachers teach black children. Parents are responsible for the unteachable also..

      Report Post »  
    • BlackCrow
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:43am

      There are multiple problems that are being ignored and when ever problems are ignored the problems only get worse.

      Yes “Black Culture” for the most part puts little value on education. I have heard “It’s a white thing”. Along with a perverted view of what success is in the black community, placing teachers and preachers ahead of doctors lawyers and business people. This is most evident in how the black community treats it’s small business people/ Instead of supporting and patronizing black owned small businesses those establishments are the first to be held up and burned down. Until those attitudes turn around there will be little progress.

      Then the teachers. The teachers in those inner city schools tend to be the new hires and incompetents. Not exactly the cream of the crop. Now there are exceptions but a few exceptional individuals cannot change the direction of an entrenched bureaucracy. for the most part they are government poverty pimps.

      Where to start?

      Report Post » BlackCrow  
  • Darla_K
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:11am

    I think all the teachers should be sorted out according to how prejudice they are. Teachers should keep a open mind at all times and let the children learn and form their own opinions. I am hearing more and more incidents about teachers seducing youngsters and such. This is frightening and good teachers should be hand picked in front of a board of citizens. Home school is about the best we can do for our children.

    Report Post » Darla_K  
  • RoqueGerig
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:11am

    if you’re going to troll, develop a more convincing technique

    Report Post »  
  • CLG 4
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:10am

    What I find the most telling here is that the Frederick Douglas foundation gave this essay an award, the school gave her a book, then promply threw her out for writing about the book. Vote democrat (socialist) early and often, we must continue this suffocation of individual rights.

    Report Post »  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:19am

      Have you ever read any of Frederick Douglass’ works? I doubt it. He was more of a patriot than you could ever be.

      Report Post »  
    • jetblast3500
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 11:04am

      @ UBE It sounds like CLG 4‘s comment is sarcastic and they didn’t mark them as such.

      Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 11:07am

      I took his statement as sarcasm, I could be wrong.

      Report Post » COFemale  
  • Oldvet51
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:06am

    The principles of free speech are the bed rock of our constitution. When one citizen has been silenced all are on that road to silence.

    Report Post »  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:03am

    Before you people comment watch the interview and critical think before you react. All real racists please take your hateful a**es to stormfront. Racists are not wanted on this website.

    Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:39am

      And this is coming from someone who called a billion plus people “Nazi muslim animals”

      Report Post » justangry  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:52am

      Did I call them all that? No. STHU idiot.

      Report Post »  
    • loveliberty83
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 7:35pm

      i lived on the NW for years, ev1 got along no matter what your race-i have never in all of my travels met people that are such racist as some blacks in the south with all their hate I think they should heve their own schools & own teachers & having a month for black hX is BS, they should be studying all cultures & the hx of the world

      Report Post »  
    • CLG 4
      Posted on March 3, 2012 at 9:09am

      I am sorry that you could not understand the levity my comments. I took a oath many years ago to protect and defemd the constutition. I find socialist democrats as threatening, this child was put apon by union socialist. All are created equal, all have free speach rights.

      Report Post »  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:00am

    You are a vile human being and did not even watch the interview. Go back to your cave.

    Report Post »  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:55am

    Jada, and parents are commended! Now, it is time to fire the teacher, principal, and school board.

    SAYINGS AND THINGS

    Great minds discuss ideas.
    Average minds discuss events.
    Small minds discuss people.

    Report Post »  
  • Stacy In KY
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:55am

    We as Americans need to unite please read this: http://oleglorynews.com/2012/02/09/a-call-to-re-unite-america/

    Report Post » Stacy In KY  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:54am

    If a white student had used the laguage of Abraham Lincoln: “There is a physical difference between the two (races), which in my judgment will probably forever forbid their living together upon the equal footing of equality” It would be overlooked? She seems like a good kid and if the word “white” had been omitted, I would be 100% in agreement with her. This seems to be a convenient double standard that we are going through contortions to overlook because we agree with her about teachers as a whole.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:21am

      “..an essay that drew a parallel between the abhorrent illiteracy in city schools and slavery…”
      For a 13yo that’s a very thought & an impressive comparison. I’d like to read her essay. As for the quote, I’d like to see how she framed it and in what context it was used.

      Report Post »  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:26am

      You missed an important part of the article “She was simply using the language of Frederick Douglas’s book, published in the 1800s.”

      Report Post »  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:27am

      Meant to say: a very *mature* thought

      Report Post »  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 9:42am

      @UBETHECHANGE

      Not sure if you are commenting on my comment…. if so, I did read the ariticle. The language of Douglas is the “quote” I was referring to. I’d really like to see how she incorporated it into her essay. I should have made that clearer.

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 11:16am

      Isn’t Glenn always saying we should take people at their word? That doesn’t apply as long as we agree with what they are saying?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:36pm

      I didn’t say I agreed or disagreed with the analogy. I merely commented that it was more than I would expect from the average 13yo. I would like to see how she used it in her essay. Without reading the essay, I don’t have enough information to determine my opinion of whether she did or didn’t use it in a racial context. I rarely take anything or anyone at face value. I look a little deeper before making up my mind.

      Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:53am

    Mean people suck. I feel for this poor kid, she is trying to be honest, and you have soulless people that have to tear down others to make themselves feel better about their pathetic lives.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • marthasusan40
    Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:51am

    Thank you Glenn for bringing truth to GBTV…We can only count on you these days for real news.

    Report Post »  
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