Herman Brown and Cameron Stephenson
Recorded
February 8, 2022
Archived
February 8, 2022
53:01 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
dda003076
Description
Cameron Stephenson (47) reminisces with her colleague Herman Brown (71), a teacher for over 45 years, about his experience in the Black Panther Party, how his community in Oakland has been influenced and changed, and their shared connection as educators working for KIPP.Subject Log / Time Code
HB remembers retiring from OUSD (Oakland Unified School District) but was not in a position to just yet, that summer he would stumble across KIPP become one of their Algebra teachers and later on meet Mrs. Jackson.
HB considers the activism he'd like to see in today's younger generation. HB speaks on his experience as a Black Panther during the civil rights movement. He compares how it differs from what he sees in his students now and what influenced or caused those differences.
HB acknowledges when his personally noticed through his time teaching that his students were increasingly developing a gangster mentality, influenced by pop culture, spreading during the time drugs were being introduced to the overall community after the Vietnam war.
HB saw a need in his community for messengers and his way of playing his part was to become a teacher.
HB pauses to reflect on what he'll miss when he retires.
CS had initially thought she would go to law school but an internship she had teaching students who were homeless greatly moved her. CS shares how that experience would bring her to the teaching profession.
HB reflects on the demographic changes of the education system in Oakland when he went to school.
Participants
- Herman Brown
- Cameron Stephenson