Interview #2 – Life as a teen in 1989

Hello everyone!

I hope you’re remaining safe and healthy during this time.

Last week, I had the opportunity to conduct a very fruitful interview with Amy Borrell Berner. Ms. Berner is the Director of Seller Happiness for the company Teachers Pay Teachers. Ms. Berner went to middle school and high school with Yusef Salaam who is one of the Exonerated Five. Ms. Berner told me that although they went to school together, Mr. Salaam wasn’t someone she had been super close friends with.  When the case came to light, she described it as “Yusef was there and then he wasn’t.” He practically disappeared. The way she described it didn’t surprise me but before the interview, I had never thought about the impact the case had on people, besides their families, who knew the young men. Ms. Berner also expressed to me that she knew about the racial disparity that had been prevalent across the city but she never actually understood it until later in life. 

Ms. Berner also expressed to me that she knew about the racial disparity that had been prevalent across the city but she never actually understood it until later in life. The media heavily broadcasted the case and she explained that she didn’t believe she had the capacity to believe that they had been falsely accused. 

Speaking with Ms. Berner not only helped me to understand the viewpoint of other youth at the time of the case but also the issues that are rising due to different issues that are left untreated. 

Don’t forget to tune into my Senior Project Presentation next week Friday, June 12 at 1:30 pm.

Kayla