Dyann Moody-Smith

After a long morning in the Delta, we stopped for lunch at a small restaurant. The owner quickly appeared and inquired about our research. He left to place our order and returned with Dyann Moody-Smith, who has spent the last 19 years teaching in the Delta. Smith joined us and candidly spoke about her experiences as both a teacher and student.

Smith began teaching first grade in Clarksdale in August of 2000 and remains there today. "A teacher needs to make exceptions for students in the Delta, you need to realize where the kids come from. The kids speak differently, they don’t use proper English but in the Delta they don’t need to. They are used to being pushed to work hard or they won’t do anything. And they are manipulative. But I require parent involvement and know I can rely on the parents."

Smith explained, "When I grew up, there wasn’t black history. Now schools highlight it in February, but teachers can associate it anytime and I do. I went to a workshop on local history and learned everything about the surrounding area. That way I can teach the kids local legends; it gives them something they can reach out and touch. Local history broadens the students understanding of black history. It shows them that black history is an active part of their life. Kids know their family history."

"My parents told me my family heritage through stories. Oral tradition is very important to black life. I always knew my Dad was Otis McCloud and that his last name was the plantation owner’s name. My great-great grandfather was Joseph McCloud and he was a slave. He and black men in general lost self dignity because they could not protect their families. My grandfather was a sharecropper, he really didn’t know what to do with his freedom but education helped build his self-esteem. It allowed him to do anything."

"It is important to educate the entire child. One time blacks just learned about the fields. Now we can teach black history and this helps empower kids—it shows them where their people triumphed. Really, both blacks and whites need black history. It helps people realize prejudices and changes them. Actually, black history is only good if it is taught right, some people base it off of prejudices and that is dangerous."

"Teachers teach what they feel the kids need to know. I think the stories show us how time brings change and allows the kids to see where they have come from and where they are headed. My father finished third grade and I am a teacher. Sunday school didn’t begin around the Bible but was the only time blacks could receive an education. These are the things kids need to learn."