Power- Document 5

Document 5 was a short story about an encounter with Herbert Oliver a minister from Birmingham, and the principle of his sons new school in New York City. Before Herbert and his family moved to New York City, his son was above the national average in math, but as soon as he transferred to a new school with not a single Black faculty member. He began to fail his math class. When his father went in to speak with the teacher and principle, the school did not welcome him with open arms until he put his foot down.


1. According to Oliver’s account, what were the key differences between the education of blacks in the South and in the North?
-When his son attended school in Birmingham the school had more black employees and students, then when he attended a school in the north, where blacks were still not accepted. As soon as, he transferred schools his math grade just so happen to drop from nationally above average to failing, with a teacher who does not want to see their student succeed. Herbert Oliver himself was not accepted at his sons school of mostly whites, when he attempted to find time with the principle and math teacher. Although, when his family was back in the south, he was welcomed and his son did well in school, the teachers lived among the people. And the principals, all black, lived somewhere among the people, and you got to know them.