Educational+Influences

Ruth sent her twelve to predominately Jewish public schools, like most of his siblings James went to kindergarden at P.S. 118, then went P.S. 138 in Rosedale, Queens then traveled to Benjamin Cardozo for high school.James was predominately the only black kid in class. He "grew accustomed too it. " (89) He got used to the idea of the kids making fun of him and got used to being uncomfortable. got good grades freshman year, but dropped out next year. James's mother wanted him to get the best education possible, and wouldn't let race get in the way of his opportunities. Education was so important to his mother. After freshmen year in high school James failed most of his classes and more or less by sophomore year he dropped out. James found the love of music when he was young when his was not that social because non of his classmates wanted to become acquaintances with him. He fell in love with Jazz saxophonist, James Moody.

How does James’ school environment make him feel about himself? -  James was never entirely comfortable in school environment. It was oppressive and a place where his ability to excel would always be overshadowed by his teacher’s and peer’s negative connotations to his skin color. In chapter 10 (pg. 89) James states that many teachers were happy to knock down his tests scores from a 95 to an 85 or 80 over the most minor mistakes. It was not his own self consciousness about his skin color that discouraged him from feeling confident or himself in school, but rather it was the attitude of those that surrounded him. For instance, when learning about “Negro History,” a student in the class felt it necessary to point out that James too was a Negro by calling him a nigger. This destructive comment to James’ self esteem is what kept him from speaking his mind in school, or feeling like he was even capable or worthy of standing up for himself. His social experience in school influenced his shy and passive personality. The negative experiences that seemed to be affiliated with his education are what made him feel the need to for an imaginary world for himself. He states that he felt his true self was a boy who lived in the mirror because he was free and had no worries or aches due to color. Only black kid in school.

Made him dance (105)

Jewish public schools (88)

Music education Jazz sax