Baltazar-Sabbah 

Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE) Journal © 2016, Volume 10, Issue 3, ISSN 2377-9187 | 141  

 

A Call to Action 

 

Blanca Baltazar-Sabbah 

San José State University 

 

I am enraged by the racism, the stereotypes and the lack of respect for my gente. 

What makes me angry about education, you ask? 

Silence—the systems and people that make us voiceless 

Passivity—the people who don’t act upon injusticias 

Stereotypes—the lack of expectations because of the color of our skin, our gender, nuestra 

lengua natal 

Inequities— the tracking of students, the lack of resources, underachievement of Latinos 

Apathy—complacency with the status quo 

Silence, passivity, stereotypes, inequities, apathy— that’s what makes me angry 

I am enraged by the racism, the stereotypes and the lack of respect for my gente. 

I’ve learned to let my anger fuel my passion for change 

to make the voiceless have a voice 

to call out the inequities and challenge the status quo 

to rise to a position of influence despite being a Spanish-speaking, brown-skinned immigrant, 

born to teenage farm-working parents 

to be an advocate for our most marginalized students 

to hold people accountable, including myself 

I am no longer enraged, I am empowered. 

I will stand up and speak up, will you stand with me? 

Will you break up the silence, passivity, stereotypes, inequities and apathy?  

Let our voices tear through the silence and oppression!