Ellis Island
Storyboard Text
- Today class we are going to be discussing Ellis Island and the history of how your ancestors traveled across the waters to America!
- I didn't know everyone's ancestors came by ship to America
- How was school today sweetie? Did you learn anything new?
- I learned that about Ellis Island and how everyone's ancestors came to America on this big ship to live the American Dream!
- Oh honey, not everyone's ancestors came through Ellis Island, that was for immigrants, who were immigrating from their war torn or escaping religious persecution. Unfortunately our ancestors did not have that option.
- What is this school teaching you! This is ridiculous!
- What do you mean? I thought everyone did, why not us?
- No not everyone. Our ancestors were here long before immigrants came through Ellis Island. Our ancestors were slaves and were forcibly removed from their Africa to brought to America in shackles to be slaves.
- Good Morning class! I have exciting news! We are going on a field trip to Ellis Island!
- I don't want to go, I can't relate to them, what am i supposed to do??
- I don't want to go on this trip or do this assignment
- Can you sign this permission slip for my trip to Ellis Island?
- Yes of course, are you sure you want to go?
- TRIP TO ELLIS ISLANDBy: Mia Townes
- I'm having so much fun!
- Are you having a fun time Mi?
- In the 4th grade, I learned about Ellis Island at school, I was so excited to go home and tell my parents what I learned. I went to a predominately white school my whole life, so it wasn't strange for my teachers to forget that not everyone was white since I was the only Person of Color in my grade at the time.
- That's great sweetie! We're so happy you found them
- Guys! I found Forté and Townes!
- My parents were really disappointed and upset with my teacher. I didn't understand then why they were upset but I get it now. I knew they didn't want to crush my hopes because I was so excited to share my new information with them, but ultimately they did.
- I had a lot of fun on that trip mom. I want to learn more about our history
- That's great honey! I would be happy to help you research and teach you about anything you would like to learn about
- Finding out that my ancestors were actually slaves and not immigrants was really shocking and upsetting to me. I didn't understand why people would be so cruel to other people, and I didn't truly comprehend the reason why until later on.
- Which clubs should I join?
- Student Coalition for Human Dignity?
- Gay-Straight Alliance?
- 5 years later
- When I went back to school the next day, my teacher had told us my class was going on a trip to Ellis Island. I wasn't too happy about that. Especially when she gave us a homework assignment the night before the trip, and it said for us to ask our parents about what our ancestors brought on the boat with them to Ellis Island.
- 8 years later
- COLLEGE ESSAY!!
- My nine-year-old self had difficulty understanding what my parents shared. Onething was clear: my classmates and I shared racial differences. This was the first of many experiences that made me aware of my minority status. I didn't know that these experiences would thrust me into the life-changing journey of finding my voice and, more significantly, my purpose.
- After finding out about the trip and assignment, I had really mixed feelings about what I wanted to do. I didn't want to miss out on a trip with my class to NYC but I also knew there was nothing for me there. I felt like an outsider and a stranger in my own skin.
- I decided to go on the trip because I loved history and wanted to see Ellis Island. My parents supported me and ended up coming on the trip to chaperone.
- When we first got to Ellis Island I thought it was beautiful. It was my first time I had ever been on a ferry and we had passed the statue of liberty, I was in awe. The inside of Ellis Island station was massive. We had a tour guide show us around everywhere and tell us the test the immigrants went through in order to be able to even come into New York.
- Ellis Island ended up being my favorite class trip. At Ellis Island there's a wall with all the immigrants last names and all my classmates had found their last names. I decided to look for mine too and I was shocked to see my mom and dads last names.
- My parents were always super supportive and never wanted to make me upset. Eventually when I was really curious I searched up the origins of my last names and came to find out that most slaves took on their slave owners last names and I probably won't know my true last name, unless I take a DNA test. Finding this out did upset me but I still had a deep love for history.
- After the Ellis Island trip, I read book after book on African American history and I retained as much information I possibly could about the injustices black people faced in the past but still continue to face today.
- When I first got to high school it was still a predominately white school but it was way more diverse and felt more welcoming. There was an abundance of clubs for me to join and I couldn't decide, I wanted to join them all. I chose the clubs that I felt like were the best and it was those three clubs.
- Girls up?
- I started applying to colleges and This small moment in the 4th grade was what my college essay was based around. I never thought I could pinpoint a time in my life where I started wanting to learn about racial injustices or find my voice and feel like myself in skin, but it was that moment 8 years ago that changed my life for the better.
- My dream in the future is to become a criminal defense attorney. I want to be able to speak for the people that aren't able to defend themselves. Everyone deserves the chance to defend themselves and be protected. I found my voice and I want the same for others. All thanks to my 4th grade trip to Ellis Island.
- BY: MIA TOWNES
- THE END
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