Curtis Ferguson
An art teacher at Dallas Independent School District’s Carter High School is taking bold steps, bringing attention to some of the social issues his students are battling.
Teacher of the Year Curtis Ferguson has been on a hunger strike for nearly a month. He said he is bringing awareness to violent crime and community relations with police through his mission called “Fasting for You and the Boys in Blue.”
“He is sacrificing his body to help the community,” said one student.
The students have been watching the art teacher and mentor work through a fast for 27 days. The teacher said he is fasting to make a difference.
“We wanted to bridge the gap between communities and law enforcement,” said Ferguson.
He wanted to bring attention to violent crime in the community after losing three former students in separate murders this school year.
“I lost Avery Jones who was in my program. We also lost Jaquan Jones, and we lost Klyde Williams,” Ferguson said.
The teacher said class discussions about pop culture also motivated him to use the fast to promote positive relationships with police.
“I said, ‘How do you feel about law enforcement?’ And a majority of my students raised their hand and said they didn’t like it,” he explained. “And that bothered me.”
Ferguson’s been pushing though his days only consuming a mixture of water, honey and lemon. He has lost about 35 pounds in the process, he said.
Many students are supporting the teacher’s mission by wearing orange and blue ribbons.
“There has been a lot of fatalities through black communities,” said Chris Ferguson. He is Carter High School’s senior class president, and the art teacher’s son.
Source: WFAA | Demond Fernandez
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