"Peace isn't always the answer, but..." | One student's thoughts about last night

The question I put to the classes late last night was simple. "What are you thinking about right now?"

This is one student's response.

"Their blackness is what I fear..." | One student's thoughts on the murder of George Floyd

Late last night I posted this picture to our class socials and asked them for their thoughts.

Here is one of my student's reply:

Working with Adjudicated Youth Part 7: On 7/27/15 I wrote...

Sooooo......

After class I often took notes and journaled, if you can't already tell by all of the previous posts of my summer teaching experience as an English teacher of adjudicated youth. Ha!

Here are the exact words I typed into my phone after class on 7/27/15:

The focus of this class has changed so much. I've really had to be flexible. What I thought would be a traditional English course has turned out to be anything but. No shade and no fault, just the reality and that's OK. Teachers are special people with a special skill set to be able to adapt, adjust, and still aim to be effective and that doesn't come with 5 weeks of "intense" training. I hate TFA and I hate this country's attitude toward the profession!


Click on a post to read:
Working with Adjudicated Youth part 1

Working with Adjudicated Youth: Part 2 - Teaching

Working with Adjudicated Youth: Part 3 - What THEY said

Working with Adjudicated Youth, Part 4: My Old Student

Working with Adjudicated Youth, Part 5: The Connections

Working with Adjudicated Youth, Part 6: The Research

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Working with Adjudicated Youth, Part 5: The Connections

To reiterate what’s already been posted, this summer I was an English teacher for a program that served adjudicated youth. I’ve recalled the experiences in various "parts" which are available for you to read in the list of posts for August, 2015 all beginning with “Working with Adjudicated Youth…”

I believe excellent teachers are those who not only have book knowledge, but also those who are able to make and sustain, to some degree, connections with his/her students. I strive to be an excellent teacher, because each student I teach, deserves one!

This summer was no exception. Early on as I was still figuring out how this would work and testing the waters, we read a poem that my middle school kids of yester-year enjoyed. It wasn’t anything African-American related, but was on another “cool” topic, BUGS!!! The poem is titled, “Insect Logic”. We read it. Later I rapped it to their beats! We had a blast. I followed up a couple of days later by bringing in my class pets, four Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches!

Pics of our pets in my regular classroom (top) and at my home (bottom)

(((BAM))) A connection!! One kid was really looking forward to seeing them and another wished to God that I wouldn’t bring them! But all were at least curious and talking about these….roaches!

On the day I brought them in, the one kid who was looking forward to seeing them went all in! Opening the enclosure, he picked one up and handled it, observed it, and really wanted to engage in a conversation about it (them). The other hard core, macho, “thugs” cowered before the insects. They’re here for serious crimes but are squeamish around the class pets! LOL!!! I wish I could’ve take a picture of the reactions, of the hiding behind the teacher, of the “ayo dawg, put that jawn back in the jawn yo! They tryna sleep! They come out a night!” That was a good day!

UNfortunately, the kid who didn’t want to see them was due in court and was absent from class. Upon returning the next day and finding out that he missed out on the visitors, “Yoooo, I’m so *%&^ glad I wasn’t here yo!! NOW ole ‘head, can’t get me!”

I brought them back the next day.

He was there the next day.

He would have NOTHING to do with me!!!! LOL!!!!

Me, “NOW young bol, GOTCHU!!” lol

In addition to the bugs, I found that whenever they were a bit obnoxious on a particular day and I was determined to teach the few who were attentive, the discussions on Black History brought them right back in. Let me set up the scene. There may have been 9 or 10 in the class. 7 may have been in their bag that day. The 3 who wanted me to teach would be attentive and I would teach. The 7 would slowly come around to either calming down and doodling or even listening and contributing to the conversations, the writing, the film or whatever! I noticed that more than once.

It’s important to note that while the experience was new to me, I didn’t really take TOO much offense. They are in situations they probably really don’t want to be in. (The word "probably" is there for a reason.) And here comes a teacher who is insistent on teaching, in the summer, in their space, when some of them may not have sat in a classroom but a few times all year long. I get it. Which is why I had to constantly “reroute”, just like Siri. Establishing connections, and then new ones when new students came through (all. summer. long.), was the only way that I was going to be successful this past summer.

Previous Posts on Working with Adjudicated Youth (not advice, but my summer experience)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Baltimore Weekend: Freddie Gray

Baltimore, Maryland.
April 19, 2015 - Spring

His name, Freddie Gray

Baltimore, Maryland
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
July 31st, August 1st, August 2nd
2015 - Summer

I came to Baltimore this weekend, intending to stay only one night to attend one night of a church convocation (and I did) and to visit sites significant to Black History (and I did that too) the next morning before heading back to Philly.

I ended up staying a night longer than planned in order to fulfill that second desire so as not to rush. My second stop, since the first was church, was to The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum (again). Read about that experience here.

I did intend to visit other historically significant sites, but those plans fell through.

Then, like a ton bricks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Huh? Wha?

Just read on...

You'd have to be from another galaxy if you are unaware of the events that unfolded in Baltimore this past April, the zenith of which was the arrest and death of Freddie Gray while in police custody and the violent unrest that followed.

Google it.

CVS stores and others establishments, along with police cars were on the receiving end of young Baltimorean (and undoubtedly opportunistic out-of-towners') frustrations and were ultimately looted and set ablaze.

So, after visiting The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, I set out to visit sites that have become historical sites since they have come to represent symbols of what some called the Baltimore Uprising. First up, the two CVS locations.

Interestingly enough, as I was walking around the CVS at Pennsylvania Ave and North Ave, snapping pictures, not one, not two, not three but four police cars pulled up on a car. The occupant, a black man. I snapped a pic of him getting out and video taped the rest of the encounter.

I couldn't set my camera fast enough to catch the brother incontrovertibly reaching toward the sky as he exited the car or fast enough to capture the eye contact and inaudible gratitude that his eyes made with every camera phone that was out and focused on him and the police at this exceptionally busy intersection! This, right across the street from one of the CVS stores! I don't know what he did or didn't do and I'm not at all in a position to give my opinion on that. All I now know to do is to take out my phone and start recording and getting pictures. (Oh, they let him go, by the way, after searching his car including the trunk.)

The CVS on Franklin Street, not given as much press during the unrest 

Snapped a pic from the car when I didn't know if I'd be able to park or not...just in case!

No, that's not food or anything on my mustache, it's the sun...

This was across from where I snapped the two pics just before this pic!

This post isn't dedicated to my opining over the unrest itself or the acts themselves, but simply to recall my feelings of having visited these sites, these epicenters where tensions finally boiled over.

Surreal.

'Surreal' about sums up how I felt after visiting the two CVS stores and ESPECIALLY having visited the site where the police took Freddie Gray into custody.

The spot where Eddie Gray was arrested. I confirmed that with a few brothers sitting nearby.

That visit, especially, left an indelible mark on me. A mark on my heart, on my mind, on my attitude. A mark.

As I walked through the housing development, a mark.
As I approached a group of brothers and chatted with them for a couple a minutes, a mark.
As one of the brothers pointed out one of Freddie Gray's closest friends from the cradle, a mark.
As I shook his hand and extended my condolences, a mark.
As I drove through the neighborhood, a mark.
As I made my way back up I-95.....a mark.

That mark caused me to whisper words of prayer and to ruminate on the roles that institutions like churches, schools, and community organizations can play to make changes that can breathe life and hope into our communities; institutions that can help bridge the relational disconnect between the police and the African American community at large.

A mark.

Freddie Gray mural and a snapshot of his neighborhood in my mirror

Maron/Obama Podcast -- Episode 613 - President Barack Obama

Episode 613 - President Barack Obama
Click to listen.

I decided to listen to the entire Maron/Obama podcast before adding my little opinion to the mix of the potpourri of opinions that I'm sure are out there (most of which I have not read/listened to) regarding President Obama's use of the word "nigger".

While Maron wanted to have a conversation that wasn't policy driven, but more friendly and personal, it's kind of hard to have the President of the United States in your garage and it not turn political.

President Obama did discuss many of his agenda items including some that became more prevalent in the last few years: climate change, the ACA, common sense gun laws, education, poverty, policing, etc.

Then there was the discussion on race and how it's "incontrovertible" that progress has been made since the 50s, 60s, and 70s but that America still isn't "cured" of racism.

I'm sure there's no shortage of opinion out there over his choice of one word out of the many he uttered during the nearly hour-long conversation. I'm sure that many closet racists are now coming out and are low key satisfied that they now have a reason to repeat the word publicly in a feigned attempt at opining over the President's talk with Maron. (Tip from me to you, don't even think about it!)

I think it's important to consider the context in which the President used the word and the what that he was saying. Don't miss the message!

Here's a very small portion of what he said:
"And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say 'nigger' in public. That's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It's not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies don't, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior."

The message:
Racism is not nonexistent simply because it's not nice to use the word 'nigger' in public and most may not. Racism is not nonexistent because it's not as "overt" as it once was. Racism still exists and it will take some time to get to a point where it doesn't exist.

I do not take issue with the President had to say, especially considering the context in which it was said and the message he was trying to convey.

And a little 411, a little post-script from the streets and the chairs of the barbershop, there is a difference in the use of the word ending in "er" and "a". That's a whole different post for a whole different day.

Quil Lemons, Photographer Extraordinaire!!

His name is Quil Lemons. He’s 18 years old and fine example of a young black man doing some good in the hood!

Quil and his camera work wonders and those wonders were on display at the James Oliver Gallery on the 700 block of Chestnut Street here in Philly!

After ascending Jacob’s ladder, an unending and very steep stairway to heaven, I quickly discovered the climb was worth it! I beheld white walls awash with Quil’s photographs, on display for all of the guests take in. Pictures of young men, young ladies, objects, and an object of his affection, his sister, Zuri!

I eventually made my way to introduce myself to mister picture-taker extraodinaire, mentioning that his mother and I went to school together and that I was proud of what he was able to accomplish!

During the evening I made my way to James Oliver, the owner of the gallery and thanked him for giving Quil the opportunity to showcase his talents. While it may not have been my place to thank him, I felt like I needed to do so on behalf of young black men everywhere who are making a fine mark on the world with our talents and abilities, one way or another! I informed him that I read the piece on Fox29’s website and appreciate the focus on the positive contributions of our youth to society at large!

FOX 29 News Philadelphia | WTXF-TV

As I sat and munched on the hors d’oeuvres that were available, I noticed Quil doing “Quil”, snapping candid shots of the guests he knew. As he snapped, I got a quick snap in myself, a pic of him getting pics!

Capturing young ladies seated just outside of the picture!

All the best to Quil and big ups to mom, Jade and grandmom for raising a great kid!! Now, on to New York for college!!

Related:
Young, black, male, and plays classical!!

Re: The Suburban Station Violinist

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode...

For those who watched the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when it was running, I'm sure you remember season one and the episode where Carlton and Will drove Uncle Phil's law partner's fancy shmancy car to the retreat area and were stopped by a cop along the way.

Episodes like this and others that I've been watching while relaxing remind me that we never had a funeral for racism, this because, it never died!

Even then, those episodes shot in the early 90s, reflect the issues of that day and of this day.

In that episode Carlton believed that the police were "just doing their jobs" and that the system "works". Will took exception to this, and rightfully so. He continued to show Carl that he would see a lot more of that system and that money and connections won't be able to save him from it.

Boy are we still seeing that today!!

What I choose to not worry about is how others perceive me! I choose not to live my life like that! I choose to continue to educate myself and walk the streets with the belief that I can and will do anything I set my mind to do. If and when I and others encounter racism, I'll act accordingly. Marching, rallying, emailing, calling, tweeting, blogging, talking, public speaking, and VOTING, I will do what I can, when I can!

What I won't be, is bound by the provincial, elitist, and racist thoughts of others! I'm not going to live my life thinking about what I think I can or cannot do because of the color of the skin that covers this black male soul! That's bondage and I'll have no parts!

First thougts??

Mr. Backwards Hat with a gang sign?

OR

Young man who holds a Bachelors and Masters in Education, three teaching certificates including Secondary English and Reading Specialist, studies and speaks French with a certain degree of proficiency (since 7th grade), traveled to Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Switzerland, France, England, and Canada, loves teaching and will often get into character in a judge's robe, assume a rapper's mode, or even use street code to get his point across to his students?

Which one did you assume at first glance?

P.S. There are great educational raps out there, add a little spice to playing them by dancing, waving your hands, or throwing on a cap---backwards. Let them know you're a human, with rhythm....or not lol

Hashtag Activism

My little post-script to what I just wrote re: my not being able to breathe...

I tried to read some #CrimingWhileWhite tweets and saw that #ICantBreathe was also making the hashtag activism circuit as well and I'm all for it. I have nothing against this show of solidarity, unity, and sounding of the proverbial clarion call. I couldn't get as involved as I normally would have, because I was too "done" with everything. I'm all for the outcry, I have my share of outcrying (and, to be honest, real tear drop moments...)

But what next?
Now what?

We've marched, shed light, shared stories, exposed bias, passed certain laws, reviewed policies, now what?

Wait?
Hope?
Wish?
Die?

No, I REALLY can't breathe!!

It was sickening to learn that a grand jury, yet again, decided not to indict a white police officer on charges in the death of an unarmed black man, one, Eric Garner. Despite what was seen in the video and the medical examiner's report, no indictment....again!

Last night, as I learned of the inaction taken by the grand jury, my thoughts raced all over the place as I decided not to entrench myself in what normally would have been a twitter tirade complete with hashtag activism and the retweeting the words that were in my head but couldn't come out the way I wanted!

I just couldn't and still can't seem to....breathe!

Even this post could go on and on and on and on and on and ON!!! But I really need to sit back and catch. my. breath!