Malcolm London: "High School Training Ground"

Translator: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Morton Bast

譯者: Clement Fu 審譯者: William Choi

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

早上七時四十五分， 我推開了大樓的數扇門，

dedicated to building, yet only breaks me down.

那數扇門奉獻給大樓， 卻只打倒了我，

I march down hallways cleaned up after me every day

我沿著走廊散步，

by regular janitors,

每日老校工也會打掃走廊，

but I never have the decency to honor their names.

我從不懂禮貌去銘記他們的名字。

Lockers left open like teenage boys' mouths

敞開的儲物櫃，猶如少男的嘴巴，

when teenage girls wear clothes that covers

當少女穿著短衫熱褲時，

their insecurities but exposes everything else.

掩住了不安，卻暴露其他一切，

Masculinity mimicked by men who grew up with no fathers,

成長過程中男孩沒有了父親， 卻模仿著成年人的男子氣概，

camouflage worn by bullies who are dangerously armed

穿迷彩服的持械小霸王， 非常危險，

but need hugs.

卻渴望擁抱。

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

教師們不計薪資微薄，到這裡來，

Oceans of adolescents come here to receive lessons

青少年浩浩蕩蕩到來上課， 像一望無際的海洋，

but never learn to swim,

卻從未學習游泳，

part like the Red Sea when the bell rings.

下課鐘聲響起來，儼如紅海分開。

This is a training ground.

這就是訓練場，

My high school is Chicago,

我的高中就是芝加哥，

diverse and segregated on purpose.

有著各式各樣的不同、 故意地實施隔離政策，

Social lines are barbed wire.

社會分階如鐵絲網，

Labels like "Regulars" and "Honors" resonate.

迴盪著「普通」和「精英」的標籤，

I am an Honors but go home with Regular students

我是名「精英」， 歸家路上卻伴隨著「普通」學生，

who are soldiers in territory that owns them.

他們是這塊疆土的士兵， 擁有這塊疆土，

This is a training ground to sort out the Regulars

這是一個訓練場，區分「普通」

from the Honors, a reoccurring cycle

和「精英」，建立了循環週期，

built to recycle the trash of this system.

去回收這系統裡的廢物，

Trained at a young age to capitalize,

自小受教於師長，要知書識禮，

letters taught now that capitalism raises you

踏入資本主義社會後卻發現，

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

要到達那裡，只好把別人踩在腳下，

This is a training ground where one group

這是一個訓練場，教導了

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

一群領袖人物，一群隨從者，

No wonder so many of my people spit bars,

無疑我們那麼多人當上饒舌歌手，

because the truth is hard to swallow.

因為真相難以接受，

The need for degrees has left so many people frozen.

為求一張學位證書， 多少人冷凍兩眼發直，

Homework is stressful,

功課很大壓力，

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

當你每天歸家後，還要做功課，

you don't want to pick up any assignments.

就不再想做任何習作，

Reading textbooks is stressful,

讀書壓力很大，

but reading does not matter when you feel

你的人生已成定局，

your story is already written,

讀書已不再重要，

either dead or getting booked.

當你覺得反正死路一條， 或遲早登記入冊，

Taking tests is stressful,

考試壓力很大，

but bubbling in a Scantron does not stop

但在選答題上再多塗鴉圈圈，

bullets from bursting.

也阻不了子彈爆裂。

I hear education systems are failing,

我聽到教育制度正在崩壞，

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

但大抵達到當初設立的目標—

to train you, to keep you on track,

訓練你，助你步上正軌，

to track down an American dream that has failed

追逐一個美國夢，

so many of us all.

儘管它曾讓我們眾人失望。

(Applause)

（掌聲）