Renaissance High: If it sounds like a typical high school anywhere, that's because it is.

that a greater percentage of
white girls are pregnant
than blacks, and that whites
are more involved in crime
than blacks.
The problem is society's
"subconscious brain-
washing," which teaches
hatred of anyone who
doesn't fit in with the ma-
jority, he says. Consequent-
, ly, most heterosexuals
dislike homosexuals and
most whites are prejudiced
against blacks.
Examples of brain-
washing can be found
everywhere from television,
"where you see the poor,
white detective fighting
black pimps and Hispanic
drug dealers," to one's own
parents, Aaron says.
"We've been taught to
blame things on race and
religion," he says. "That's
how you avert attention
from what's really going on
— you find a scapegoat."
This was the case with Jews
in Nazi Germany in the
1930s and today with blacks
in the inner city, according
to Katz.
Friends' negative com-
ments about blacks concern
the students.

Freddy believes a number
of his white, Jewish ac-
quaintances outside the
school are prejudiced. "I
don't think they would be
happy going to Renaissance
High," he says.
Still, Freddy says he
doesn't respond when he
hears friends make racist
comments. His sister is
different.
"I get really mad when
people say (negative) things
about blacks," Amy says.
"Most people generalize,
and you need to know people
before you judge them."
She remembers a BBG
meeting that made her
angry.
"The girls were telling
jokes about Chaldeans," she
says. "I couldn't believe it."
Amy is particularly
bothered by white Jews from
the suburbs who want to
know the race of her friends.
"I'll be talking and I'll say,
`So this guy —' and they'll
interrupt and ask, 'Is he
black?' "
"There are differences"
between blacks and whites
at Renaissance, Amy says.
"But I don't care about
them."

t must be a jeans jacket,
but you would never
know from a cursory
glance. The back of the
jacket is so covered with but-
tons it's hard to see the
material peeking out from
in between. The buttons of-
fer everything from political
messages — denouncing
apartheid — to the more
mild-mannered "I Love K-
Mart."

want to. Her mother works
with the Jewish Welfare
Federation.

Julie is dissatisfied with
Renaissance High's academ-
ic program because "I like
fast classes and working
hard." A private person who
enjoys discovery and discus-
sion, Julie, 15, says she often
finds herself in classrooms
where "we're just learning

Amy is particularly bothered by
white Jews from the suburbs who
want to know the race of her friends.

The owner of the jacket is
Julie Becker, humanist.
Philosophies of humanism
pervade virtually her every
word. It's more important to
her to marry a humanist
than a Jew.
Julie, who lives in
Rosedale Park, has lived all
her life in Detroit. Her
mother used to work for the
city; when her job ended, the
family thought about mov-
ing. They still think about
leaving, but Julie doesn't

stuff and spitting it back
out."
Once, when she asked a
teacher why certain materi-
al was relevant, Julie was
told, "Because it will be on
your test."
Still, Julie does not want
to start at a new schol now.
And she certainly doesn't
want to go to high school in
the suburbs.
Julie, who like many of
the other Jewish students
wears a Star of David

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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