Kids asked to pretend they're slaves DETROIT, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A suburban Detroit mother said she won't let her 11-year-old son complete a school assignment that requires him to pretend he's a slave and keep a journal. Jessica Gibson, 27, of Melvindale told the Detroit Free Press her son Tylan initially hid the Strong Middle School assignment from her and she only found out about it last week. "He's never had a master, nor will he ever have a master, so why should be have to pretend to have a master?" said Gibson. The assignment by teacher Michelle Angileri asked students to "pretend that you are a slave in the southern United States. Write a journal/diary memoir about your life. Tylan Gibson, who is black, said the assignment embarrassed him. The teacher directed Free Press questions about the assignment to the school principal or district superintendent. The newspaper was unable to reach either of them Monday.