"Flem got that drip on!" A reflection on my rockin' academic regalia at their graduation

I'm struggling to find the words to capture the meaning of what I experienced today. The words may come as I briefly describe what transpired.

Today Martin Luther King High School held commencement exercises for the class of 2021. I was one of the faculty members assigned to assist the fellas. We gathered in the music wing of our school. They had their robes on and I came back to the area with my academic regalia.

I didn't think that high school brothas paid attention to things like a "doc's robe" nor did I expect the reception that I received.

"OKAY Flem!!"

"Flem got that drip on!"

"Ayooo, how can I get one of THEM!?"

"the lay tho!"

"I'm tryna rock one-a-them jawns"

"Yeahhh Doc!!"

One went so far as to "compliment" me by saying I resembled Lord Farquaad from Shrek. Bro. I def was not insulted as it was a little cheezy and corny, but I laughed. So did ALL his homies and even my colleagues. I threatened to forget his name when the time came in the ceremony. 😂😂😂

What I'm struggling to wrap my head around is what it all meant. I'm thinking as I'm typing and may (may not) edit this part out.

Clearly, my guys were feeling this older young brotha in his different type of robe. I did explain what it was all about and how I came to wear it. They still were feeling it and some even said they wouldn't mind working just to be adorned in one. I'll take that at this age and stage.😉

Why, though? Why did they take interest and what, if anything, does it mean? Admiration? I don't know. I'm a little self conscious about stuff like that. It seems a little self-glorifying. Because we have a very transient student body, many of them don't even know me as intimately as others. Some just know me from rehearsals this week and by my calling their names to come on stage as we practiced. Was this week just enough to get to know the man in this robe? I want to say no, but I think real knows real when it sees it and real is how I try to be and keep it. (insert a little allergy in the eyes)

Whether it was admiration or just the robe, it was abundantly clear, and unexpected for me, they liked what they saw and wanted parts.

Congratulations to the intelligent and beautiful young ladies and to the intelligent and handsome young men of the class of 2021 here at Martin Luther King High School. Love you for real!

Setting the mood in the classroom

I've always believed that a classroom's ambience can make or break moods for the year, week, day, or class period. I believe in windows and fresh air and plants around the room. I believe in books, books, and more books* for students to enjoy--in class--no assignments attached--just because.

Throwback to the '19-'20 school year. Seems like a lifetime ago, I know. I had to resort to artificial plants because of the dynamics of the room. What I couldn't do with real plants, however, I made up for in the lighting and in music, all with input from the students.

Those overhead lights?

In September of that year one said, "Mr. Flemming, can you cut them lights off?"

From that point forward, those lights may have been on for a total of 20 times all year**.

They were replaced with a few lamps around the room and the natural light from the sun.

Music?

Imagine the YouTube clip below full screen on the SmartBoard as the students enter the room.

Then imagine running it back while we all worked.

The feedback from students and staff all but said we were on to something.

The mood was described as "calm", "peaceful" or "this makes me want to sleep"--code for "there's peace in this room." Most of the comments were unsolicited and often overheard.

How did I pivot the mood for remote instruction? Tbh, I didn't do it a lot. From time to time I would drop links that this into the chat then send the students out of class to come back in 10 or 15 minutes. I didn't do it every class session. Given the another opportunity, I know I'd do it more often.

What made me think of all of this at this moment in June, a week before school is done? I've been playing a lot of this mood music lately.

I've had to.

It's been quite the year.

*books = reading materials of all kinds, including menus, bus schedules, comics, magazines, etc

**year meaning September 2019 to March, 2020, of course 

Negro Wall Street: Teaching what I hadn't learned

Today marks the beginning of the centennial *somberversary of the white terrorist attacks and mass slaughter of Black Americans in the Greenwood section of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a very prosperous Black section of the city. Booker T. Washington had previously nicknamed it "Negro Wall Street." In 1921, at least 300 Black people were killed in an hours-long assault, by air and land, at the hands of white people who couldn't nor wouldn't tolerate the idea of Black people...existing and prospering. Armed Black men and women resisted, fighting back in an attempt to save what rightfully was theirs--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; their family and their property.

They were outnumbered, outgunned, and out-airplaned.

I did not learn about this in school.

TBH, I had been teaching for several years when I did learn about it.

I explained to my elementary students at the time, that I chose not to bemoan what I didn't learn growing up. Instead, as I read and learn, I'll share my learning with them so that they can never say that which I later had to admit as a seasoned educator.

Ever since, I've made what occurred in 1921, and in 1985 in Philadelphia (MOVE), part and parcel of the discussions on the history of this country and its treatment towards Black people.

This approach, the learning of what I wasn't taught and in-turn teaching it, will continue to be my approach, as I continue to read, watch, listen, and engage. 

By the way, consider reading, watching, listening and engaging with The Oklahoma Eagle. Based in Tulsa, it's the 10th oldest Black-owned newspaper in the country still in publication. They "are the last survivor of the original black-owned businesses still operating within the historic Black Wall Street footprint."

https://t.co/2O3bXblqlI pic.twitter.com/RCviiQbtyx

— The Oklahoma Eagle (@oklahoma_eagle) May 24, 2021

Link

Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre takes an in-depth sobering look at the tragic events. From the birth of Black Wall Street to its downfall. The two-hour documentary premieres Sunday, May 30 at 8pm. #RememberTulsa pic.twitter.com/3Te6qWtHJ7

— HISTORY (@HISTORY) April 26, 2021

"Behind the Eyes of Our Youth" | A reflection on podcasting with high school students

We did a thing.

I briefly wrote about that thing back in December, 2020.

Who did a thing? The class. Comm101.

That thing? Student podcasting.

Back in the fall, via a vote, the students of Comm101 suggested and decided on the name, Behind the Eyes of Our Youth. True to its name, they come up with topics to discuss that truly give us a window into some of the thinking of young Black high school students in a large urban school district. They choose the topics. They volunteer to host particular episodes. They guide the discussions. I assist behind the scenes.

The class? Communications. The point of the podcast? Communicate. 👀 The pedagogy? Black student student-centered.✊🏾 We don't just *talk* communications, we *do* communications.

— Doc Flem (@kellygrade6) May 7, 2021

In that previous post, I briefly discussed the podcast's inception and also posted audio summarizing season 1. Season 2, which began in January 2021, has not disappointed. The talent, the critical thinking, the articulation of informed opinions, the debates, and the passion on and off a recorded mic has been, in an emoji, 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I also spoke about Comm101 and our Behind the Eyes of Our Youth podcast with a colleague from another school here in Philly for his own podcast. Check out that conversation below.

Listen to ""Behind the Eyes of Our Youth" and the Pedagogy of Podcasting". This is episode 1 of season 2 of @RappingPE ... it was a pleasure having @kellygrade6 pop on to talk about @comm101_ and Behind The Eyes of Our Youth. #PHLed #edutwitter #PhysEd https://t.co/hR5vKM0XCR

— Steven Michael Buller (@BeardDripBuller) April 16, 2021

With less than 30 days left of school, I honestly believe that the thinkers and communicators of Comm101 have a few more episodes left in them before we archive this poddy and possibly begin afresh with a new group of students in the fall.

In Comm101-related news, one of our local journalists, who keeps his finger on the pulse of Philly education, came to visit our class one day. He observed and reported on the spirited reaction conversation my class had in response to the guilty verdicts rendered in the Derrick Chauvin trial. Chauvin, of course, was the police officer who lynched George Floyd in May of 2020. You'll hear some audio of my Comm101ers in his report.

Big thanks to @kellygrade6 for letting me sit in on one of his classes. It was one of the most interesting and energetic classroom conversations I've ever witnessed. #PhlEd

Check out the story below: https://t.co/PS3vkJTxbu

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) April 28, 2021

 

Waiting for tomorrow | March 12, 2020, Our last day in school...

Thursday, March 12, 2020

We were on an "A" Day schedule, which means I had English classes all day. Lately we had been reading Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. I hadn't intended on teaching this novel, but when many of my students told me they hadn't read or heard of it, I didn't believe we had any other choice.

During lunch that day, a few students came to the room to just sit, chat, and chill as many of them are wont to do on occasion. One young brotha, who also was 5th grader in my class years earlier, asked if I had heard that the NBA canceled the previous night's game and subsequently the season. I had. The conversation was normal, like we'd have it again tomorrow.

During that same block of time, my prep/lunch, a colleague asked if I thought the schools would shut down in Philadelphia. I remember smirking and saying "no" because I didn't feel like they cared enough about us in the inner city. Anyway, I'd see her tomorrow and we'd chit chat again.

Then 4th period came and went. Some students worked. Others chose to engage in tasks they deemed much more important than anything I could ever assign. *cough* phones *cough*

The day ended uneventfully. I'd see them tomorrow. I left for the day. Shoot. My coffee was on my desk. I didn't feel like getting rid of it. It's cool. It ain't hurting nobody. I'd dispose of it tomorrow.

Friday, March 12, 2021

.

.

.

N****

⚠️This post contains language that some may find offensive and that others just can't use at all.⚠️

The screenshot below is from an episode of Family Matters, "Fight the Good Fight" (S2, E20). I showed this episode in our communications class. The purpose was two-fold. One, we had a discussion about the word you see spay-painted on Laura's locker. The students expressed their opinions in a podcast episode we recorded on the use of that word and the variant spelling of its repurposed version, nigga. The second purpose was to stir up their emotions for elevator-pitch style speeches they will give in the weeks to come. Right now the assignment is called, Drafts of Injustice. The focus will eventually be on solutions, Ujima, if you please.

The following occurred in our chat just as Laura closed her locker. 

11:14:16 From Ja'Lae Wyatt to Everyone : *Gasp*

11:14:53 From Dr. Stephen R. Flemming to Everyone : yup

11:15:05 From Shane Carter to Everyone : been there

11:15:34 From Ja'Lae Wyatt to Everyone : Shane I gotta question for you when the show end

11:15:36 From Jazmyn Ervin to Everyone : this is the sad truth bc you can't escape racism. America is one big mixing pot of hatred for no reason.

11:16:15 From Shane Carter to Everyone : is it what I mean by “been there”? [Context: this student was called a n*gger by a white competitor]

11:17:05 From Ja'Lae Wyatt to Everyone : No but was about that wrestling match you told us about. Did you win?

11:17:13 From Jazmyn Ervin to Everyone : oh I hate hearing people voices crack when they're about to cry

11:18:27 From Kriya to Everyone : sir I have to go  now

11:18:37 From Ja'Lae Wyatt to Everyone : I remember you said that comment threw you off. But you said you kept going so....you did win mentally. plus you showed sportsmanship

11:18:44 From Dr. Stephen R. Flemming to Everyone : sure thing @Kriya

11:18:46 From Ja'Lae Wyatt to Everyone : that was for shane

11:19:17 From Shane Carter to Everyone : Yeah, it pissed me off so bad. But I kept control and showed him who exactly he was dealing with. next time he said he was sorry for what he said.

11:20:15 From Ja'Lae Wyatt to Everyone : thats wassup..I was thinking about that story every since you said it. I even told my mom and sister they said the same thing I said

11:21:29 From Shane Carter to Everyone : well I very much honored Ja’Lae

11:21:33 From Dr. Stephen R. Flemming to Everyone : the chat box today!!

11:21:34 From Jazmyn Ervin to Everyone : They're scared bc their ancestors done things that are unbelievable

Advocating for Social Justice through Script-Writing

Here's the link to my piece in English Journal, a publication of the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE).