Just as the members of the East Austin community share in our video as it relates to the journey their neighborhood has been on, we too share in our own journey as members of this semester's African American Families class. As we formed our groups, each of us joined as individuals with our own stories and perspectives to share. As Jasmine pointed out in her blog, each of us in our committee were drawn to this project for different reasons, however each one of us was interested in raising awareness around the topic of gentrification in our target community. This once close-knit community had slowly changed. Our desire was to visit with both long-time residents and "newcomers" to learn more about their perspectives on the changes that had occurred over many years, and also the changes that are on the horizon. In the midst of the semester and our work together, we shifted our focus a bit; not in the information we wanted to learn more about, but the audience we wanted to share it with. Originally, we thought that we would create a video of collected interviews from people within the neighborhood and share it with the community at large to increase discussion about what is happening in their neighborhood. As the project evolved, we knew that sharing our project with the community was important. However, there is currently a group of very hardworking individuals that we feel do not accurately represent the face of East Austin. It was at this point that our focus shifted and our video project became a message to this committee of the importance of inclusion within their group. We are both excited and anxious to share with the class our work and look forward to additional voices to our message!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes
The overall message of HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes takes a look at the
representations of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in the hip-hop culture and
describes the cultural and political environment in which the music is created,
consumed, and commercialized. The
issues of women and violence in rap music, representations of manhood in
hip-hop culture, what today’s rap lyrics reveal to their listeners and
homoeroticism in hip-hop reveal the complex intersection of culture, gender,
and business. This video allowed for
much class discussion around gender, race, and the community as it relates to
hip-hop and stirred strong emotions amongst our group.
The video addresses the need for improved media
literacy. Literacy no longer is
exclusively necessary in written material.
As a result of technology and increased media, there are a variety of
avenues for entertainment and education, many of which do not include reading,
but instead involve viewing and listening through various media outlets. Parents, educators, and other professionals
should use this film and other similar resources to engage in the process of
improved media literacy. This idea is
supported through the Watts article which speaks to an intervention designed to
help young boys use critical thinking in examining the lyrics of hip hop. Expanded
media literacy can also be used to discuss the additional area of concern
related to African American girls’ sexual health. Tools such as the video HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes and the intervention
discussed in the Watts article are what have been missing in this hotly debated
topic. With resources such as these,
viewers (youth and adult) can better listen, understand, and respond.
Friday, April 6, 2012
THE BOYS OF BARAKA
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| Mural project Devon Brown participated in after his return from the Baraka School |
This week I will focus my blog on the documentary film "The Boys of Baraka." From a social work perspective, there were some things that very much concerned me about the way the news that the boys would not have the opportunity to continue at the school for a second year was presented. Where were the options for alternatives to just returning them to their zone schools? Where was the care and concern for what would happen to these young men if/when thrown back into their neighborhood environments long-term? As social workers, we are trained through our education and required by the NASW (National Association of Social Workers) to uphold six ethical principles: Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence.
In my opinion, the following three ethical principles were not followed by The Baraka School's administration. Are educators not held to a similar set of ethical principles? Does this type of training occur as part of their education? If not, why?
Ethical Principle: Social workers challenge social injustice.
Social workers pursue social change, particularly with and on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed individuals and groups of people. Social workers’ social change efforts are focused primarily on issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and other forms of social injustice. These activities seek to promote sensitivity to and knowledge about oppression and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers strive to ensure access to needed information, services, and resources; equality of opportunity; and meaningful participation in decision making for all people.
Value: Dignity and Worth of the Person
Ethical Principle: Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person.
Social workers treat each person in a caring and respectful fashion, mindful of individual differences and cultural and ethnic diversity. Social workers promote clients’ socially responsible self-determination. Social workers seek to enhance clients’ capacity and opportunity to change and to address their own needs. Social workers are cognizant of their dual responsibility to clients and to the broader society. They seek to resolve conflicts between clients’ interests and the broader society’s interests in a socially responsible manner consistent with the values, ethical principles, and ethical standards of the profession.
Value: Importance of Human Relationships
Ethical Principle: Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships.
Social workers understand that relationships between and among people are an important vehicle for change. Social workers engage people as partners in the helping process. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people in a purposeful effort to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities.
I have posted a link below to a Point of View Discussion Guide based around "The Boys of Baraka" documentary. It was created to use as an outreach tool for giving interested groups the opportunity for discussion about school improvement and educational policy. The Discussion Prompts raise excellent questions to consider.
LINKS
Link to the Point of View Discussion Guide I discussed in my blog: http://www.pbs.org/pov/film-files/pov_boysofbaraka_guide_action_discussion_file_0.pdf
Link to the article from Washington, D.C.'s Capital Community News in which it shares the story of the mural that Devon Brown helped create: http://www.hillrag.com/CCN_Website09/publicationhtml/papers/EOR/0110/Ward7Metamorphosis.html
Link to an article from the PR Newswire website in which Bill Cosby encourages action through National School Choice Week: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bill-cosby-urges-parents-to-get-involved-in-childrens-education-encourages-participation-in-national-school-choice-week-114275819.html
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