Prelude to Hip-Hop

I am an enthusiastic lover of hip-hop. However, in today's time and era we see and hear hip-hop everywhere, but has the value in the messaging been lost??? These are the original conscious brothers who started the trend of addressing social ills in the form of poetry (spoken-word). Therefore, I pay homage to these brothers who fought on the front lines of a grass roots level to address social inequalities......listen and learn.

http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/LAST-POETS/last_poets0.html

What is Gentrification?

What is gentrification?

What does this mean for the future of Detroit?

Read this article via the link below and state your understanding about the future of Detroit, that really isn't that far away!!!

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/nolan-finley/2014/12/14/black-people/20322377/

Does Furious (Lawrence Fishburne) give a great explanation of the above concept??? This is a re-post of information that I provided earlier in regards to thinking about the future of the urban sectors!!!

Thought Provoking, tasteful, powerful.

How do you make a powerful statement without speaking any words??????

View the following link and then look at the Tumblr page created by "African American" men who attend Yale University entitled "To my unborn son".

http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/12/06/yale-college-black-mens-union-offers-silent-comfort-michael-browns-parents/

“To My Unborn Son”

Focus Questions

1. How has social media changed the way that we are able to communicate with one another? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What are your thoughts of this powerful social media message? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Has the death of Micheal Brown made you think about your role in society? If so, in what ways has it impacted your  viewpoint of police, the justice system, and how you should conduct yourself in society? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Have you Ever Questioned????

Have you ever questioned????

Questioning, or challenging is what I like to call it in my class. Challenging ideas, challenging concepts, or challenging ideologies takes a lot of courage and background information. I think that a person should however challenge with a purpose and not challenge just for the sake saying something or trying to make a joke. Challenging something should provoke thought and critical thinking on how to solve problems.  

Below is a clip of Muhammad Ali, watch and learn about how he raises questions and challenges what he is taught via his experiences.

1. Have you ever wondered about some of the questions that he asked in the beginning of the interview? If so, which ones? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How does he address the issue of racism in the video? __________________________________________________________c_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. According to Muhammad Ali, how has brainwashing occured? Does this brainwashing effect still happen in today's age and time? If so, how? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Does today's athletes challenge issues that are happening in the world today? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learning with Humor- Thinking Outside of the Box!!!!!!!

This is a great clip to watch and learn about being an adult and the choices that you make, which help to determine your future. After watching respond and engage in meaningful dialogue by posting comments in the comment box. Remember  each week you can earn 10 Pts. or 25 Pts. depending on how much interaction that you engage in:

Focus Questions:

1. What are your plans for life after high school? (Explain) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Are you prepared to accomplish your dreams / goals? (be honest) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Are you going to be a regular person or are you going to be exceptional? How? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Are you a leader (trailblazer) or a follower? What are some of those leader characteristics that you have? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Making History Relevant Now - Analyzing Social Injustices

What are social injustices?

Can you give me an example of a social injustice?

How do we address the issue of social injustices? 

When does humanity trump performing duties as an officer?

Current Events are a way of keeping up with the happenings of the world. At the same time history continues to happen everyday. Moreover, our current and present history is just as relevant as events that happened in the past. Therefore, it is imperative that we take time to analyze various events of our present state and develop solutions on how to address that specific issue!!! One of the most pressing issues that come to mind when dealing with a large population of "African American Males", is the issue of police brutality. Recent events that have transpired, which rendered a not guilty verdict for the following victims, are unacceptable. They are unacceptable because someone losses their life and thus dismissed as if they did not matter. 

Watch the following videos / links, then respond accordingly to have an open dialogue about the present / recent happenings, and how we can address those issues properly, as a people and as a community? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvATEjsf41g

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/19/mckenzie-cochran-northland-mall-died_n_5849348.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZaXfCB2b78

Now think about the questions that I posted at the beginning of this blog, and respond accordingly and profoundly:

Being a fluent Reader-preparation for the ACT

Check out the link below!!!!!! Ask yourself, are you a fluent reader?

http://educationclearinghouse.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/fluency-standards-by-grade.pdf

1. What does the word fluency mean? Look it up and give me some great dialouge on what you think the word fluency means? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Looking at the fluency chart? What is your ability level in regard to reading fluently? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How do you think that being able to read fluently, helps you throughout your lifetime?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Being a fluent reader takes skill and practice. How much reading should you do a day to become a fluent reader? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is Age a Factor in Being Able to Solve Problems in Your Community????

Asking questions to solve problems in your community!!!!!!!

Please watch the video and hopefully it inspires you to learn and tackle real community problems.

1. Are the viewpoints that Marquis make in the video valid (in regard to minorities on the police force? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Do you share some of the same viewpoints? Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What are Marquis's ambitions? What are your's? Are yours and his similar or different? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACT- I know, most of the information that  I have posted on this blog was posted there to get students and viewers to think and give some feedback primarily based on topics that aren't usually discussed in class. Therefore, in order to create some balance and direct student attention toward important curriculum within the classroom, I have posted the following link for the ACT question of the day. This link will address some of the potential questions that will be on the ACT or questions that are similar to these. With that being said we are constantly trying to prepare the students for their next phase of learning beyond high school, so this question of the day provided via ACT website should help the students to think about various questions that will be given to them on the ACT. Please answer and build your learning skills to excel in all academic endeavors: 

ACT Question of the Day!!!!!

http://www.act.org/qotd/?_ga=1.64738031.1193072007.1417391272

Economics in our Community

1. When you here the term economics, what comes to mind? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What are some of the main viewpoints that you have abstracted from the video in regards to economics? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. According to the speaker in the video, how does economics directly connect to social injustices in our communities ( i.e. police brutality, racism)? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Have you ever heard of Marcus Garvey? If so, what do you know about him? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What type of business would you like to start in your community? Why? What is your plan to make this business successful? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mike Brown, another chapter in the perpetual war against people who are threat to those who dwell on the upper portion of the social class hierarchy!!!

1. What are your thoughts of the Mike Brown verdict? Why do you feel this way?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What lessons can we learn from this display of injustice? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you feel is the role of police men in your neighborhood? Are you afraid of the police because of their abuse of "power"? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

View the links below (Videos of news reports in relation to Mike Brown)

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/11/22/smerconish-intv-bassem-masri-ferguson-protests.cnn.html

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/11/24/sot-protesters-smash-police-car.cnn.html

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/11/25/sot-obama-ferguson-grand-jury-decision.cnn.html

1. After viewing the third link (video speech given by Obama), what are your thoughts of it? Do you agree with him or disagree with him? Why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Being that this incident happened in St. Louis, how does it affect you? (Explain) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Has the media influenced the way that you viewed this case of Mike Brown? If so how? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mathematics- If you want to be a music artist you need to know the business!!!!!

I love hip-hop. I embrace hip-hop with a passion because it displayed the culture of my generation to the utmost (5 Elements of Hip-Hop). The hip - hop culture was / is unique, passionate, and life altering for most people. Initially, no one thought that hip -hop would evolve into what it has become today. For some, it has become larger than life. For others however it has become an aspiring career especially the youth of today. A lot of students that I encounter want to be a hip - hop artist because they want to become rich and famous. I have nothing against becoming rich and famous, but if you are going to enter this arena, you need to know how the business works!!!!!!

1. What are the 5 elements of hip-hop? (Some hip-hop history) If you dont know, do so research? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. In the video how does knowing about the music industry relate to knowing about math (finance)? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is a record advance? What is recouping? Why are knowing these important?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

genius.com

Analyzing Hip-Hop

On Genius.com, analyze the hip-hop song Mathematics by Mos Def by listening to the lyrics and providing feedback to the moderator (Me).

1. What is the purpose of this song? Why do you think that he made it?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Is this a type of hip-hop song that you would normally listen to? Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How does the video and the song by Mos Def, help to prepare you for the industry if you are an aspiring rapper / hip-hop artist? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ancient History Analysis and Research Activity - The Original Name is Kemet!!!

Even today, a significant number of mainstream Egyptologists, anthropologists, historians and Hollywood moviemakers continue to deny African people’s role in humankind’s first and greatest civilization in ancient Egypt. This whitewashing of history negatively impacts Black people and our image in the world. There remains a vital need to correct the misinformation of our achievements in antiquity.

Senegalese scholar Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop (1923-1986) dedicated his life to scientifically challenging Eurocentric and Arab-centric views of precolonial African culture, specifically those that suggested the ancient civilization of Egypt did not have its origins in Black Africa.

Since some people continue to ignore the overwhelming evidence that indicates ancient Egypt was built, ruled, and populated by dark-skinned African people.

A lot of times my students ask, "How and why is history important or relevant to me?" Therefore, I attempt to show them that history is important and relevant to them because a lot of what we view as ancient history, is their history. Moreover, it is up to me to make the connection to the ancient history of them by bridging the gap and reinserting them back into the historical fold by producing evidence and conducting research which clearly shows that the ancient ancestors were people of "color". However, movies and forms of media like this

don't make my job easy!!!!

1. Be honest, where do you think that the historical origin of the Afrikan began? What year?Around what time period?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Before looking at a map, tell me where Egypt (Kemet) is geographically located? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Compare and Contrast-Compare these depictions of Ancient Egypt vs. The Movie Posters. Are there any differences in regards to the people shown in these pictures? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Have you eve heard of Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop ? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Based on some pieces of evidence presented, were the inhbabitants of Ancient Egypt (Kemet), people of "color"? Why do you think that today's media, does not want to convey this message? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Black Incarceration" Let's give this some thought!!!!

Please view the video in its entirety!!! The purpose of this blog is to analyze the disproportionate numbers of "blacks" being locked up (put in jail) or either being castrated by society by putting them on probation and branding them with felonies or misdemeanors. Your responses are appreciated!!!!

1. Do you think that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's vision was one of today's society in regard to "black incarceration" and social inequalities that are constantly being brought fourth to keep "blacks" in a state of dependency??? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Compare and Contrast - How have things (society) changed for the worst in regards to the Civil Rights Act (fight for equal rights) vs. today's society and the thought process of  a good portion of "people" of color? Are we still fighting for equality or are we content being where we are as a people? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Is there anything that we can do as a community / communities to help usher in a change of perception of the people of color, so that we are not targeted by powerful entities who have influence over society? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

Boyz in The Hood - Movie Analysis

Movie Analysis Boyz in The Hood

The purpose of this exercise is to recognize and address some of the problems that plague our neighborhoods and formulate strategies to combat them. Therefore, we are analyzing some of these issues and making them relevant to ourselves in order to improve our consciousness and communities.

1. After watching this clip, what is your perception of Furious? Do you know anyone that has some of the same characteristics of him? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is gentrification? Do you think that this process actually happens? If so, how? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Observe your surroundings (community), how many liquor stores are there in your neighborhood? Is there a reason why there are so few or so many?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Message in the Movie - Higher Learning / Boyz in The Hood

Supreme Wisdom 101- Movie analysis of Higher Learning!!!!!

The goal of this movie clip analysis is to understand the various elements that are perpetuated in society, which focus on social /class distinction, educational inequality, and a conscious awakening of the mind.

After watching this movie clip answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think, that I had you watch this movie clip? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. How does seizing information make you powerful? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Do you view your life as a game? Is it a game that you want to win? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________