Julie Landsman’s book caused me to reflect deeply on race and the role of a teacher.  The book was inspiring and heart breaking and left my head spinning.  It also left me with the hope that I, too, might create a classroom that is vibrant and exciting. 
In thinking of my visual representation of Landsman’s book, I wanted to paint a picture with hundreds of children in all colors and all nationalities.  I lack the artistic talent (and the nerve) and thus opted for a celebration quilt.  My quilt is made of many colors that represent the many people I encounter each day.  Each square also holds a heart.  The hearts are all the same color, but of varying sizes, shapes, and direction.  The squares are bound together and create a unit that is greater than the individual pieces.  This quilt is a celebration of life.

The discrepancy between aspirations and outcome, especially for the Brothers, was disheartening in Ain’t No Making It.  Similar to the Brothers, I also have faith in the American dream.  It has become clear to me, however, that there is far more than education that leads to the fulfillment of dreams.  I have created an art piece that reflects (no pun intended) the struggles of both the Brothers and Hallway Hangers.  The base of the lamp holds symbols of opposition these men encountered: drugs, finances, vocabulary, public policy and a myriad of other forces at play in their lives.  The shade of the lamp depicts the hopes, aspirations, and expectations these young men have for their future.  I placed the silhouettes of the young men on the lampshade so the light reflects through their images. As a pre-service teacher I maintain that the acquisition of the American Dream is available for all these young men.  I see education being a part of that reflection that will help them succeed. 

I planned on making a mask for my art project before I read one word from The Mismeasure of Man.  After reading the book, however, I felt the project would tie into Gould’s philosophy.  Since prehistoric times, masks have been made to serve a variety of purposes or functions.  The word “person” comes from the Latin word persona meaning mask.  A mask allows the wearer to adopt a new personality or identity with its own unique mannerisms and behaviors. This use of the mask is evident in all parts of the world and can be seen in both ancient and modern cultures.  Gould’s book reminded me of people hiding behind masks, yet searching for true identity. 
Some masks serve to protect the wearer against physical dangers. For example, doctors and surgeons sometimes wear masks to protect them from airborne germs.  My children wear masks for protection in sports such as hockey and football.
Another use of masks is to preserve personality.  For thousands of years, people have tried to preserve the personalities of the dead, especially if the deceased possessed great wisdom, physical strength or power. The creation of funerary masks in some cultures served this purpose.  In ancient Egypt, people believed that immortality depended largely on the preservation of the personality of the honored dead.  Even in Western societies today, there exists a desire to preserve the body of the dead as long as possible and to invoke his/her memory in monuments, statues, pictures, and masks.