As a young black womyn, I think back to my experiences attending public school where I was often the only person of color in the honors or advanced classes. I think about what  it would have meant to have a space with other working class and students of color to discuss our concerns about the future of our people, our histories from a womyn’s and oppressed nationality perspective, build camaraderie and support with my fellow peers and most important gains the skills and knowledge to shift our conditions and history...

On April 23rd we held our first community meeting on "truancy" tickets
and school police conduct...find out more and learn how to get
involved!

On March 10, 2009, I committed my first "crime." That morning I woke up late. I couldn't believe the fact that it was only 8:30, and I was going to school! At that moment, everything hit me. I cried like a kid. I couldn't face it all by myself...don't they realize how much a ticket is affecting not just the student but the family as well?

Spring Break Take Action this past week really challenged me-in a good way. SBTA teaches us to communicate to our people that we have a common struggle.

The discussions in the last few days of Spring Break Take Action have a connection to the topic of Prison Industrial Complex. This is a major issue that needs to be dealt with. Reality is, this is actually something that has a negative affect on many of us, if not directly then indirectly. It affects us in the sense that it can lead to you being separated from family members, like not being able to have a relationship with your own father, mother or any other person.

My name is Jahmal, and today we read and discussed this extremely interesting article on the Drug War by Graham Boyd. This 'war' on drugs is paralleled to America's dark history of slavery, seeing as how the number of black men in jail is equals the number of black men enslaved in the 1820s.

Today was the first day we went out on the buses to organize people. Honestly it was very interesting, because it was the first time that I have actually tried it. It was kind of awkward because you're on a bumpy metro bus trying to keep your balance and hand out flyers at the same time, lol! The best conversation I had was with a man who worked for LAUSD, because... well...he works for LAUSD!

My name is John Salinas, I am a 9th grader at North Hollywood High School. I have been a member of the BRU for 3 months. What I really liked about my first day in Spring Break Take Action is how easily I spoke out because normally I am a shy person. I usually do not engage in a conversation, I just step back and let other people speak. I'm usually shy because I'm afraid of responding wrong or saying something that I think may not be suitable for the discussion.

Members of Westchester High School's Taking Action rally for 1000 more buses, 1000 less tickets! See the Poem Who am I? performed by student/author Cathia Barrow "Am I really the future as everyone says or just another court case Below the federal poverty line is where the majority is based So how can one afford a $250 truancy ticket for being 30 minutes late Especially since unemployment among minorities is highest in the state Not to mention that LAUSD has a 50% high school drop out rate"