Monday, June 18, 2018
June 18, 2018
"Stay Woke"
This 40 minute documentary focuses on the the Black Lives Matter Movement and how it came to to be. The series of events showcased in the film, that spurred the movement to get where it is today, where not new to me. I believe that we are all very familiar with these stories.
In this film, the founders and members want to drive home the point that the Black Lives Matters is not a hate group, but a movement. A movement similar to the Civil Rights movement in America in the 60s. They also aired the clips from the former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, who like so many like him, rather than focusing on the injustices black people face in our society- focused on the semantics. "Well don't Cop's/White's lives matter?" (And I DO believe they do, even my cat's life matters to me!), but that is an attempt at distracting from the real problem. The real problem is the way that blacks in America have been treated.
"The Children's March"
This documentary was more of a history lesson for me. I had never known of the Children's March that took place in Birmingham during the Civil Rights Movement. It was amazing to see that thousands of children were able to band together to fight for justice. The story of the school children walking out and convening at the church with Rev. Bevel made me wonder if I would have been as brave at that age. Even when being hauled into the paddy wagons they did not show fear. It was when the protesters began recalling the time when firefighter turned their hoses on them made me angry. How could anyone shoot a hose with that much pressure at a group of children? It was sickening to say the least, but the children once again showed their strength and determination by showing up days later in their bathing suits to mock the firemen and their pressurized water hoses.
The major connection I made between these two films is that it is the youth that have been responsible for there own social movements. The Black Lives Matter movement is not interested in Al Sharpton's support, they want to take control of their own futures and destiny. The youth of Birmingham's Children March took action because their parents couldn't or were afraid of losing their jobs. As a teacher I need to continue to remind my students of their power and they are certainly not too young to fight for social justice.
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Leah, I have been thinking of showing the piece on children's march in Birmingham to my kids tomorrow and maybe a follow up with the school to prison pipeline video that Ben shared. My fear is that twelve year olds will sometimes call me a racist because I won't let them go to the lav right away. When I am explaining something or giving directions they have to wait. When there are three other children out of the room, they have to wait. It doesn't matter who is doing the asking. Because they are young, they sometimes feel they are being treated unjustly when they are not. I want them to have an understanding of the past Civil Rights Movement and the present Black Lives Matter Movement, but I don't want them to misconstrue what is being said here.
ReplyDeleteI think the part of explaining to students that they have rights and power needs to be structured around the responsibility to use it. That power should not be used to fight against individual perceived slants, but rather against true structural injustice. I think showing this to my students was very effective in displaying that to my students. They understood that true racism and injustice are different from just throwing around those terms because they don't like the response you gave them. But it is important to frame the discussions around this.
ReplyDeleteHi Leah,
ReplyDeleteI agree with empowering students with history, and for most of us, I believe a history lost or unknown to the masses (blacks, whites and others). It would be interesting, and a lot of work, to create a unit that focuses on how youth can change the nation and world. Besides politically, we see children who are inventors, artists, athletes, authors and are altruistic. Children do not see limitations at times, while adults tend to be overwhelmed with the enormity of social injustices in this country. As educators, we can enlighten young children to aspects of racism, and I am sure the students can brainstorm and come up with interesting projects and activities too.
Also, to be honest, I was familiar with the shootings, protests and Black Lives Matter movement; however, after seeing the two films, I feel much more versed in the subject, .... From a white girl's view; I can only empathize.
Hi Leah,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about Bill O'Reilly like so many others taking away and distorting the message. It is easy for the majority group to say "All Lives Matter", but that is not what this movement is about. Of course all lives matter, but the problem the movement is focusing on is the way blacks are treated in America today.