This blog is a visual articulation of MY views of the world around me. I will present various sides of arguments, and always sum them up with my own personal take.
My more entertaining/diverse/ridiculous/lovable blog can be found at http://mrjdjude.tumblr.com/ and I'll do all of my following from that blog as well!
Thanks and enjoy!
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
ARTICLE SHARE: "Classroom Heroes: D.C. Performer Paige Hernandez Reaches Students Through Performing Arts"
I’m shouting out this article for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, for the artist that they are honoring. My homie Paige is an amazing actress, dancer, B-girl, teaching artist, motivator, etc. and this article doesn’t even begin to articulate just how much she means to the kids she serves. I’d also add that she motivates those she works with. I’ve been moved by listening to her one woman show Paige in Full and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
I also highlight this article because I think it shows just how important arts education is. It is highly undervalued but can do so much. Paige has developed strategies that will help reach kids that traditional ways of learning have left out in the cold. There are times when I’m at the elementary school I also work for and wonder what affect could an arts education curriculum make in some of these kids lives. Maybe that is being too optimistic, but articles like this one, and mavericks like Paige, give me confidence that it is all possible.
Our Attempt
So today dreamhard and I tried to do something about the killing in Chicago. We went and talked to the 4th grade boys at the elementary school that he (we) work at. We talked to them about the small things. Learning to respect one another, stop picking on each other, comradery, and modeling good behavior. We realized that it is almost pointless to try and reason with 8-10 year olds; scientifically speaking, their brain isn’t developed enough. We did try to get them to understand the imporantce of being good role models and setting good examples. We decided that we would try to reward their good behavior and take those students who were modeling good behavior out to breakfast. I hope this will get them on the right path. We’ll see how it goes.
Little Rock Nine
Today, September 23 in 1957, the Little Rock Nine were forced to withdraw from Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas because of an angry, white mob protesting them outside.
Today, and with Michele posting her feelings about the Civil Rights class she is taking, I just couldn’t stop thinking about what the fight really has meant in my life.
Today I had a conversation with a couple of my fellow Fellows at Arena. All of them are white, and have lived pretty privileged lives (one attending boarding school and the other attended SMU). I told them, although quickly and not with a lot of detail, what it was like for me at Colgate. I talked to them about it felt great to be going to such a prestigious school, but how at the same time, I felt unappreciated at the school. Colgate use to be, and it can be argued still is, a bastion of white supremacy and sanctity. Minority students are made to feel inferior and white students are made to feel empowered. While these things aren’t true (minority students do have a lot of power at the school and white people are kept in check sometimes) there still is that same general feeling.
I realize that these strongholds of whiteness still exist today. Thanks to the Little Rock Nine, and other Civil Right activists and fighters, these strongholds are slowly being torn down. I thank them for getting kicked in the stomach (physically) so that I can attend a college and kick people in the ass (mentally, intellectually, and physically). I thank them for getting spit upon so that I can shit on the people who have doubted me. I thank them for having the courage to stand up for what is right so that I can stand on stage and present work that I believe in.
I owe so much, if not all, of my life’s accomplishments to those who have ventured out into the harsh world of American racism before me. I do not take their struggles and pain, and suffering lightly. Everyday I am reminded of their sacrifice. Everyday I continue to pay homage to them, and continue to endure the fight they started. I will not let their battles go for naught. I will do everything in my power to fight so one day, the generations of colored children that will inhabit this place when I’m gone, won’t have to experience what I have. Thank you Little Rock Nine, I am eternally indebted to you.
-Jamil Jude
