Malcolm London: "High School Training Ground"

Translator: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Morton Bast

翻译人员: Yo Yu 校对人员: Wei Zeng

At 7:45 a.m., I open the doors to a building

清晨7点45分，我打开那扇门，

dedicated to building, yet only breaks me down.

那扇通往建筑楼的门， 即便它只能让我失望。

I march down hallways cleaned up after me every day

我走过门廊，

by regular janitors,

清洁工每日在我的身后打扫，

but I never have the decency to honor their names.

但我从未高尚地记住他们的名字。

Lockers left open like teenage boys' mouths

储物柜敞开着，就像青春期的男生们看到

when teenage girls wear clothes that covers

女生们穿着暴露的衣服——那种除了掩饰她们的不安全感，

their insecurities but exposes everything else.

其实什么都没有遮住的衣服时，他们张大的嘴一样。

Masculinity mimicked by men who grew up with no fathers,

处处彰显着自己的男子气概的， 是成长在没有父亲的家庭中的男人；

camouflage worn by bullies who are dangerously armed

恃强凌弱、横行霸道的，

but need hugs.

是需要拥抱的持枪者。

Teachers paid less than what it costs them to be here.

老师们拿着不足以维持生计的薪水，

Oceans of adolescents come here to receive lessons

孩子们如潮水一般涌来聆听教诲，

but never learn to swim,

却从未学会游泳。

part like the Red Sea when the bell rings.

下课铃一响，孩子们便像红海分开一样，彼此说再会。

This is a training ground.

这就是我们的训练场。

My high school is Chicago,

我的高中，芝加哥，

diverse and segregated on purpose.

在那里，学生被蓄意分隔成不同类别。

Social lines are barbed wire.

像有一张铁丝网横在我们中间一样。

Labels like "Regulars" and "Honors" resonate.

“普通学生”和“优等生”的标签不绝于耳。

I am an Honors but go home with Regular students

我是一个优等生， 却混杂在普通学生中一道回家。

who are soldiers in territory that owns them.

那些普通学生，就像战士站在统治他们的领地上一样。

This is a training ground to sort out the Regulars

这就是我们的训练场：

from the Honors, a reoccurring cycle

永无止境地从优等生中寻找平庸者，

built to recycle the trash of this system.

只是为了回收体系的垃圾。

Trained at a young age to capitalize,

从小接受的资本化训练告诉你，

letters taught now that capitalism raises you

虽然资本主义养育了你，

but you have to step on someone else to get there.

但你还必须踩在别人的肩膀上才能实现自己的目标。

This is a training ground where one group

这就是我们的训练场：

is taught to lead and the other is made to follow.

在这里，一部分人被训练成领导者， 另一部分人被训练如何去服从。

No wonder so many of my people spit bars,

为什么我们中很多人去饶舌，

because the truth is hard to swallow.

因为真相很难下咽。

The need for degrees has left so many people frozen.

对学位的需求让许多人感到害怕。

Homework is stressful,

家庭作业让人抓狂，

but when you go home every day and your home is work,

每当你回到家中，你的家就是作业，

you don't want to pick up any assignments.

你根本不想拿起作业本。

Reading textbooks is stressful,

读课本也让人抓狂，

but reading does not matter when you feel

但有时，读书也没有用：那就是当你觉得

your story is already written,

你的命运已被决定——

either dead or getting booked.

不是死亡，就是被征用的时候。

Taking tests is stressful,

考试更让人抓狂，

but bubbling in a Scantron does not stop

但是在答题卡上填涂得再多，

bullets from bursting.

也无法阻止枪声响起，子弹爆炸。

I hear education systems are failing,

我听到我们的教育正在走向失败，

but I believe they're succeeding at what they're built to do --

但我以为， 我们的教育正是成功实现了它的预期目标——

to train you, to keep you on track,

训练你在已有的轨道上前行，

to track down an American dream that has failed

去追寻一个对于我们很多人来说

so many of us all.

已经失败的美国梦。

(Applause)

（掌声）