Why is it So Easy to Forget the Least of Us?

A few years ago, I moved out of the city to reside in a suburb. After I moved, I seldom went into the city except for work; of which I had a direct route to my job, and to visit family. Although I grew up in the city, once I moved, I began to detest the feelings I felt upon entering the city each morning. The relief I felt each day I left the city was indicative of my new surroundings. The city reminded me of a grave yard with ruin all around. I began saying that the city was the "forgotten city" as the people represented the forgotten people. On rare occasion, I drove through parts of the city that I was familiar with and became in awe of the destruction as the forsaken buildings and communities that were once considered respectable had also come to ruin. While the people in the suburbs were comfortable in their safe havens, only a couple of blocks away, thousands suffered daily.

Interestingly, as the urban schools are obviously forsaken, urban children are also deprived of the need for equal education. Although children may not realize that they are not receiving equal education, the responsibility to ensure equality rests on parents and leaders. It seems that few people truly care enough about urban education to do something about it. School closures, underfunded programs, and the voices of leaders crying for help for the schools seems to be the norm. The deterioration has been gradual but steady. The forgotten children of the city represent the least of us. They depend on others to make their lives better. Many come from troubled backgrounds and need direction and help from those who will take the time to care. Policies and politics have not worked to improve the situations but have rather labeled and stolen innocent dreams from the hearts of thousands of children. Programs that would have helped to propel dreams to realities have been eliminated for lack of funding. While those who can, move to the suburbs to provide a more formal assurance of a solid and stable education for their children, others remain in hopes of change.

Amazingly, despite all, so many good things have come from the city. Great musicians, athletes, artists, actors, activist, and more, have their origins from the city. Great talent has come from the city. Somehow, in the midst of despair, some are still able to rise above their circumstances. Somehow the voice of the forgotten has been heard from the time of slavery to this very day. Remnants of their sufferings remain as songs of freedom continue to be sung. Poetry of the revolution, literature, rap music, and expressive arts are all vehicles used by many. These expressions have enriched our society and help to remind us of the injustices of our society as the least of us have somehow become the greatest among us.

My concern is that while some rise above circumstances, others are not able to expand beyond their immediate conditions. Education has often been that vehicle through which people could grasp and confidently know that their future would be different from their present state. However, change has come, and the least of us is become forgotten. Can we continue to pretend inequality is not occurring and live in our suburban homes as if everyone is being treated fairly? Efforts to end injustices infiltrated in American education through NCLB have not proven effective. Inequality continues to exists as is evident. therefore,the challenge is to continue to pursue equality for all, especially the for least of us.