Choice # 2. A Voice for Youth Leadership: Jeff Johnson

On March 6th, Harambee a multicultural organization at RIC hosted a lecture with activist Jeff Johnson, a producer for BET and host of the TV show Chop UP lives. It was an amazing night because he touched on very controversial and sensitive topics that pertain specifically to the black community in this country.

Johnson began his discussion by highlighting how issues pertaining black people are only celebrated during black history month throughout colleges and universities yet he notes “never celebrated by its own people.” He explained that Martin Luther King is only highlighted during black history month and that we lie about his commitment to activism because it makes us feel comfortable. MLK was not popular, he was considered a troublemaker yet we view him as the legendary activist of all times. Johnson says “we should rally about his spirits, not his speeches” because they are not relevant to the issues of social and political change of this era. How relevant is 2008 is to play I have a dream?

He provided the example of the young black teenagers from Louisiana charged with attempted murder and conspiracy charges after beating a white schoolmate following months of racial discrimination that started in a schoolyard tree. Johnson expressed frustration when this happened not because of the young teen’s necessarily but the up rise of black people going to Louisiana to fight the case. He says this is known as the “ring tone movement” which is the idea that we only move and take action when somebody calls. He was sad about this movement because people were leaving their towns to fight for these kids yet they did not fight in their neighborhoods for their own people.

Moreover, Johnson talked about the institutions responsible for maintaining activism for black people. Black churches were the jump off point for changes from slavery to the civil rights movement. He explained the 3 stages that the church went through which preceded this change:

• The revival cycle, when local churches was the source of revival for local communities, politically and socially. The role of the church during this stage was to save souls while saving lives.

• The convention season, when the focus became building infrastructure to cover the churches fees. Church separated the need to discuss issues of poverty and education in the church.

• Black effective officials, when the church was more concerned with charisma of its officials rather than the transformation and mobilization of the church to help black people.
  

Jeff Johnson concluded his presentation with tips on how to become an effective activist. He said “activism in not about leadership. It’s about action and movement.” Anyone interested in becoming an activist of an issue should take into consideration the following points:

1. What is my call? What pisses me off about this issue? What is the emotion that moves you?It is like calling your internal self.
2. What is my capacity? Identify organizations (there are some on campus) that might need help.
3.Understand that as I grow my capacity grows.
4.Build a team of people that are focused on a single issue.

Fast Forward--- Laura Greenfield

Some things I understand: Laura Greenfield uses photos as a medium to express the “journey’s” lived by these teenagers. However, her point is not to express their experiences in the same context instead is “to explore the ways in which young people from diverse backgrounds are similarly influenced by a popular culture they share.” I think what Greenfield suggest is that our popular culture today pushes to grow up and to move drastically from their experiences as teens.

Greenfield says “a common theme that kept me focused throughout was the sense of an early loss of innocence.” It was very interesting that I first began by looking at the images and then read her preface. By the end of looking at the images I had the same feeling about these teens. They had lost their innocence and were looking at their lives very differently. One aspect of the project that was defined picture through picture was how the teens felt very different in relation to other teens. That difference made them special and unique.

Connection to other texts: One connection I found relevant for this discussion was the article “Bad Boys” when Ann Ferguson explains her experiences with Horace, a 12 year old that she was assigned to tutor. She says, "With his help I came to see kids not as humans-in-the-making but as resourceful social actors who took an active role in shaping their daily experiences." I think Greenfield in her photo project interprets teens similarly since they are portrayed as kids actively involved in their passions.

This project was very interactive and fun to analyze. I had a good time listening to the stories.

Bad Boys

This article was very interesting because it analyzed the pressures that young African American men have to face from their experiences in school. Ann Arnett Ferguson begins her article with her observations as a member of an “at-risk” intervention program. Through some boys that she observed in a classroom she had the opportunity to observe the punishing room which led to her research.
One aspect of her research that interested me was that the only African Americans part of the staff were those who overseen the punishing room. Ferguson categorized the group of students she observed as “troublemakers” and “schoolboys.” She points that “as African American males, the schoolboys were always on the brink of being redefined into the troublemaker category by the school.” “By the school” was the part that hit me. These boys regardless of being “troublemakers” or “schoolboys” were defined as such by school staff without taken into consideration where they lived, their background, community, their family.
Ferguson adopted a very creative approach to look at their good and bad experiences within the school through their voices. She says “I assumed at the start that I would learn about kids; but it was long before I was obliged to question this premise and to learn from children.”
Ferguson’s experiences reminded me of my experiences at Hope High School because as students of color we were constantly categorized, questioned and underestimated. I felt like the “troublemakers” of this story were underestimated by the school staff. As Ferguson explained, “those who were classified as lazy, belligerent, incorrigible at school could be respectful, diligent, and responsible in other contexts.” It also reminded me of the kids from the after school program from my job at Volunteers In Providence Schools (VIPS). They come to our program in the afternoons because they are failing in some classes and are not receiving the attention needed at the school to do better. When we have visited the teachers that the school to find out if they have progressed some of them refer to them as “kids with problems” because they only speak Spanish (and speak in class all the time), they are always behind with the work and don’t participate in class. Yet, what the Ferguson talks about in her article, these kids have only been in the country for less than two years. They have confessed to us that they are mad at the schools, parents and even the world for putting them in this difficult environment that they cannot accustom to. The reason why they are behind with homework and do not participate in class is because they do not understand what they need to do and they talk in class because they ask other kids who know English and Spanish to translate for them what the teacher said.
It is sad and frustrating to know that students are always put into these positions and expected to do so much with so little provided to them.

A Style Nobody can Deal With: Politics, Styles and the Postindustrial City in Hip Hop

This article gives a great insight on the foundations of Hip Hop and the challenges faced during this time period. Contrary to most people I understood and connected to this article very well. However, I have to agree with Dr. Bogad that this was different time and Hip Hop has evolved since then.
Rose’s article identified key points in the development of Hip Hop. She talks about how “Hip Hop replicates and reimagines the experiences of urban life and symbolically appropriates urban space through sampling, attitude, dance, style and sound effects.” The problem with the replication of such images is that it has taken this notion to the extremes. It has been difficult for entrepreneurs in this industry to draw the line on “its complicity with commercialism.”
One thing I did not understand from the reading was how she talked about the use of commodity in Hip Hop but she failed to express the use of women as commodity in Hip Hop videos.
My direct experiences in the Hip Hop world have been very limited. Shamefully when I came here and learned about Hip Hop it was at Hope High School from the African American students there. I would hear them singing songs that I did not understand and my brother’s friends watching the videos in BET. I respect those who enjoy Hip Hop but ever since high school I have overlooked it because of the subliminal messages that I disagree with, especially those reflecting women.

Jordan Pruitt Lyrics "Teenager"

I like stayin' up all night I think it's my right sleepin' noon I love watching
scary movies I could stay shopping all day Gettin' my way Tryin' on shoes Don't tell me what I should be doin' Give me a break.

I'm just a teenager I like putting things off til later Just hangin' out Havin' fun Takin' my time Give me a break I'm just a teenager I'm automatically attracted to danger I can't help myself Can be no one else I'm just a teenager I dread making my bed I wish I could get out of cleanin' my room Cause I hate keeping my friends waiting Fast cars Playin' it by heart Googling stars And searching for tunes Does anyone here get what I'm saying?

[ring ring][Speaking phone conversation][Jordan:] Hello, this is Jordan[Girl:] Hey what's up?[Jordan:] You'll never guess who called me yesterday[Girl:] Who?[Jordan:] You know that guy that's taking me to homecoming?[Girl:] Yeah[Jordan:] He was like, "you took my breath away when I saw you."[Girl: laugh][Jordan:] He called me sweetie too![Girl:] Aww[Jordan:] I don't know if I like him though.

I need more minutes on my cell phone I wanna credit card of my own I want the keys to the Mercedes-Benz Yeah I wanna wear what I wanna wear I wanna copy when I think it's fair I wanna chill at the mall with my friends(at the mall with my friends) Does anyone here get what I'm saying?Just hangin' out Havin' fun Takin' my time I can't help myself Can be no one else.

I'm just a teenager Give me a break I'm just a teenager I like putting things off til later (til later)Just hangin' out Havin' fun Takin' my time Give me a break I'm just a teenager I'm automatically attracted to danger I can't help myself Can be no one else I'm just a teenager Give me a break I'm just a teenager.

Digital Natives Digital Immigrants

First of all, what an excellent connection with the title. The correlation with immigrants and natives just makes it so clear.

I agree to some extent with Prensky’s points on the need to confront the issue of Digital Immigrants not adapting to the needs of Digital Natives. He argues through his piece that “Today’s teachers have to learn to communicate in the language and style of their students.”

Still, I have to disagree to some level with his argument because some of the technological usage that these “Digital Natives” are using is not serving an educational purpose that will help them move forward in their educational path.

Being involved with the Providence school system through my job I have seen how the usage of technology has affected the performance of students in their classes but also how the schools lack the resources to provide a more digital class environment where students can engage more and feel that they are being understood.

My questions would be:

To what extent are teachers and educators willing to re-adjust their lessons to a more “digital friendly” environment for the benefit of the students?

How many resources such as training, software, computers and so forth would this state be willing to provide?

Lastly, how can the technology teenagers already know and use could be used to engage them more in their educational life?

I am pretty sure there are ways of coming to a middle ground where both parties would be satisfied.

And as Prensky’s says “They will succeed in the long run-and their successes will come that much sooner if their administrators support them.”

Hispanic Teens & Pregnancy

After I had looked at the movie I was looking for info on teen pregnancy online and came across this article about Hispanic teens rise with pregnancy. Just to give you a little taste of the article:

"Teen pregnancies, especially among Hispanics, is discouraging news - not only for the ill-equipped young mothers, but for the economic well-being of the entire region."
http://www.masslive.com/editorials/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1203063777269040.xml&coll=1