How do I summarize the summer? I learned about history and race relations. I ate too much. I debated so much I don't want to debate anymore... For a little bit at least. Im going to try to summarize it as directly as I can.
What went well?
The speakers were the best part of the internship. Going on the Time Magazine website and seeing an article about two of the people I just spoke with was pretty awesome. Discussing real issues with people out in the field is great. The trips were amazing. Going to see the places where Emmett Till was tortured, killed, and thrown into the Tallahatchie river was powerful. Seeing a KIPP school that was run well, with a philosophy on teaching, was empowering.
What didn't?
The office work after the summer school was over was boring. It was the end of the internship and a lot of things had to be finished. These things were the least exciting or thought provoking part of the internship. Mr. Ben Guest called this our "tuition" for everything else. That seems fair.
What was the highlight?
The trips were the main highlight. Going with the interns to Memphis, traveling to Indianola, seeing the Sunflower County Freedom Project, these things help keep a lot of other things in perspective.
What did you learn?
I need more time to digest everything in order to give the best answer for this. However I learned a lot about seeing things from another perspective and seeing where other people are coming from.
How have you changed?
I really can't say yet. I'm probably a little more open minded. I know more about Mississippi. I'm going to think a lot more about the situations and people around me.
How will this internship inform what you do?
This is another question I can't answer right now. Everything becomes clearer in retrospect. But I know that it will change some of my decisions for the better.
Who do you want to thank?
I want to thank everyone who helped me inform my decision about this internship, the good people at the Southern Education Foundation, the teachers/administrators at MTC, family, friends, etc. (I feel like I just gave a speech lmao)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Brown Report
Brown University created the "Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice" and commissioned them to write an in depth report about the legacy and lasting meaning of American Slavery on Brown University, America, and the world at large. Some of the history uncovered was not the most positive for Brown's image. Some of the history was good for Brown's image in retrospect. They were overall straight forward and blunt, and this report was a very respectable move on their part. There is no way I am going to be able to cover everything they did on this blog, so I highly recommend reading it for yourself. The report can be found in its entirety in PDF format here.
Reasons For Doing So
Brown listed several reasons for doing this report, the main reason being the pursuit of truth that all universities claim to aim for. This largely comprehensive report focused on honesty. There have been many cases of selective memory and denial when it comes to discussion on this topic, and Brown wanted to avoid that. They decided to acknowledge and see if there was a way to make amends for a past trespass. They ask how a place that claims to be dedicated to knowledge (university or otherwise) could avoid looking its own past in the face. They also discuss the validity of some forms of reparations for different aspects of slavery.
Denial/Pain
This topic can bring pain to a lot of different groups of people, for various reasons. This cited as the main reason they are the first institute to put forth an effort like this. Some people would rather act like it never happened. Some people feel that it ended, and everyone should let it go. Some people say Barack Obama is President, so everyone should just let it go. One thing is true however, the American Slavery of the past still affects the American Society of today, whether we talk about it in public or not. There are still plenty of race issues in America, none quite as polarized, yet as subtle as a residual white and black tension. Not to say that all there is between the cultures is tension, but just to say that on some levels its still there.
Examples of Acknowledgement
America is however, not the only country with issues. Other countries have made reparations for past injustices. The most notable reparations program was Germany's somewhat hesitant official apology and series of reparations programs to families of victims of the Holocaust. Some people there also would rather forget some aspects of their past, but Germany was under international pressure and scrutiny after World War II. What I find most interesting is that America has given apologies before. Japanese-Americans interned during World War II, native Hawaiians, and victims of the Tuskegee "Bad Blood" experiment have all received at least a Presidential apology. Families of former slaves and indigenous Americans have received no formal apology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, after discussing the effects of slavery, the worlds reactions to similar situations, and the overall philosophy of America, Brown University believes that reparations are in order. However, the reparations do not have to come in the form of direct payments to descendents. Brown stated (& I agree) that the most favorable form of reparations would come in the form of what was most passionately held away from slaves: education. Brown found that slavery and the left-over, never fully dealt with effects of slavery have held African Americans back from receiving a equal education. This was changed in the 1960's legally, but there is a very clear overall gap in the level of education available even today. The process of reparations should address this issue.
Reasons For Doing So
Brown listed several reasons for doing this report, the main reason being the pursuit of truth that all universities claim to aim for. This largely comprehensive report focused on honesty. There have been many cases of selective memory and denial when it comes to discussion on this topic, and Brown wanted to avoid that. They decided to acknowledge and see if there was a way to make amends for a past trespass. They ask how a place that claims to be dedicated to knowledge (university or otherwise) could avoid looking its own past in the face. They also discuss the validity of some forms of reparations for different aspects of slavery.
Denial/Pain
This topic can bring pain to a lot of different groups of people, for various reasons. This cited as the main reason they are the first institute to put forth an effort like this. Some people would rather act like it never happened. Some people feel that it ended, and everyone should let it go. Some people say Barack Obama is President, so everyone should just let it go. One thing is true however, the American Slavery of the past still affects the American Society of today, whether we talk about it in public or not. There are still plenty of race issues in America, none quite as polarized, yet as subtle as a residual white and black tension. Not to say that all there is between the cultures is tension, but just to say that on some levels its still there.
Examples of Acknowledgement
America is however, not the only country with issues. Other countries have made reparations for past injustices. The most notable reparations program was Germany's somewhat hesitant official apology and series of reparations programs to families of victims of the Holocaust. Some people there also would rather forget some aspects of their past, but Germany was under international pressure and scrutiny after World War II. What I find most interesting is that America has given apologies before. Japanese-Americans interned during World War II, native Hawaiians, and victims of the Tuskegee "Bad Blood" experiment have all received at least a Presidential apology. Families of former slaves and indigenous Americans have received no formal apology.
Conclusion
In conclusion, after discussing the effects of slavery, the worlds reactions to similar situations, and the overall philosophy of America, Brown University believes that reparations are in order. However, the reparations do not have to come in the form of direct payments to descendents. Brown stated (& I agree) that the most favorable form of reparations would come in the form of what was most passionately held away from slaves: education. Brown found that slavery and the left-over, never fully dealt with effects of slavery have held African Americans back from receiving a equal education. This was changed in the 1960's legally, but there is a very clear overall gap in the level of education available even today. The process of reparations should address this issue.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Maliks Top Ten List For Future Interns
10. Know that it gets hot. Too hot.
9. Be ready to do a lot of readings and make more annotations than you normally would (I don't usually make any, so it kinda sucked for me.)
8. Be honest.
7. There is no amazing barbeque in Oxford, MS. The best is B's and that's located in a gas station.
6. Be ready learn new things about education, race, and life. Some of it will probably be uncomfortable.
5. Bring a car if you can.
4. Be ready to debate all day everyday.
3. Make sure you recognize sarcasm/dry humor, life will be easier.
2. It's really hot out here.
1. Come with an open mind.
9. Be ready to do a lot of readings and make more annotations than you normally would (I don't usually make any, so it kinda sucked for me.)
8. Be honest.
7. There is no amazing barbeque in Oxford, MS. The best is B's and that's located in a gas station.
6. Be ready learn new things about education, race, and life. Some of it will probably be uncomfortable.
5. Bring a car if you can.
4. Be ready to debate all day everyday.
3. Make sure you recognize sarcasm/dry humor, life will be easier.
2. It's really hot out here.
1. Come with an open mind.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Speakers & Life
This week we had some interesting speakers. We went a KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) charter school in Arkansas. KIPP is basically a certain mindset and philosophy about how a school should be run. It was refreshing to see a school in a high poverty, mostly minority area that cared about the kids. It was also refreshing to see one that got results. The kids were well behaved and 100% of graduates got accepted to and went to college. We spoke with the pricipal, Mr. Marcus Nelson.
We also spoke to Mr. Reggie Barnes. He spoke with us about his experiences being amoung the first group of black people desegregating public schools in Mississippi growing up. He used to get in a lot of fights. He also spoke with us about his accomplishments and how he accheived them. He invited us to his lovely home on a lake and made us a bunch of great seafood.
However the speaker I am going to focus on for this post is Otis Pickett. Brown University released a paper about its past involvement in slavery, the effects of American slavery, the historical context of American slavery, and what can and should be done in modern society. Later this week I will blog more about the specifics contained in the report itself and now I will focus instead on Mr. Pickett himself.
We had a previous, unplanned discussion with Mr. Pickett before but this one was even better. We used the report as a jumping off point to discuss issues of race and class in America and the world at large today. Consider these thoughts, why do some cultures focus so specidically on themselves that they exclude, and may even be offended at being included with other cultures with many simularities? For example, Dominican versus Puerto Rican, Trinidadian versus Jamaican, and Chinese versus Korean. I feel that more can be acheived through working together, especially in America, where all of these groups are usually lumped together. I understand the need for cultural identity, but not at the expense of solidarity with other cultures, specifically with cultures that are close to my own and especially when we have a common goal.
Basically it became an interesting open forum on race and identity, particularly in the American South. There were many topics openly discussed and I feel that we all took things from the conversation, Mr. Pickett included. I hope to have more like it.
We also spoke to Mr. Reggie Barnes. He spoke with us about his experiences being amoung the first group of black people desegregating public schools in Mississippi growing up. He used to get in a lot of fights. He also spoke with us about his accomplishments and how he accheived them. He invited us to his lovely home on a lake and made us a bunch of great seafood.
However the speaker I am going to focus on for this post is Otis Pickett. Brown University released a paper about its past involvement in slavery, the effects of American slavery, the historical context of American slavery, and what can and should be done in modern society. Later this week I will blog more about the specifics contained in the report itself and now I will focus instead on Mr. Pickett himself.
We had a previous, unplanned discussion with Mr. Pickett before but this one was even better. We used the report as a jumping off point to discuss issues of race and class in America and the world at large today. Consider these thoughts, why do some cultures focus so specidically on themselves that they exclude, and may even be offended at being included with other cultures with many simularities? For example, Dominican versus Puerto Rican, Trinidadian versus Jamaican, and Chinese versus Korean. I feel that more can be acheived through working together, especially in America, where all of these groups are usually lumped together. I understand the need for cultural identity, but not at the expense of solidarity with other cultures, specifically with cultures that are close to my own and especially when we have a common goal.
Basically it became an interesting open forum on race and identity, particularly in the American South. There were many topics openly discussed and I feel that we all took things from the conversation, Mr. Pickett included. I hope to have more like it.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Why Is Fairness Important?
Why is fairness important?
First off, let it be said that everyone has their own concept of what is and what is not fair. Approach any amount of people about a moral situation and odds are there will be as many different answers as there were people asked. With that in mind, there is no one perfect guideline for what is fair in every situation. Life is too varied to accurately predict all of the millions of little details that make up every situation in our lives. We do have some guidelines for fairness however, holy books for example. These are the quintessential examples of how one thing can mean different things to different people. The same quote can be used for multiple conflicting arguments because holy books, like anything else in life, are up for interpretation.
As Americans, we have been taught that fairness is a natural right of all people. From day one we hear talk about how America is great because we have such a focus on fairness, justice, liberty, freedom, and many other ambiguous but positive concepts. Whether America truly tries its hardest to make all its decisions with as large of an emphasis on these concepts as we are told or not can be debated. One thing that is clear however is that because of the public perception of how important fairness is in America, many Americans personally believe strongly that fairness is important. However, this is by no means strictly an American concept.
With the human race in general, there seems to be a common perception that there is a value that needs to be put on the ideas of fairness and justice, even if we dont always agree in exactly what ways. The human race consistently seems to value these concepts throughout our history, no matter what the culture. We admire those who give to the less fortunate. We harbor bad feeling towards those that we see as selfish. There is some part of humanity that naturally reflects these values. Why? It is difficult to say for sure why exactly people started valuing these moral concepts. Most likely because it helps mankind to better function together as a society if we all work together and value each other.
Why is fairness important? At the end of the day it is important because for whatever reason, we as a people throughout history and into modern times have and continue to put a value on it.
First off, let it be said that everyone has their own concept of what is and what is not fair. Approach any amount of people about a moral situation and odds are there will be as many different answers as there were people asked. With that in mind, there is no one perfect guideline for what is fair in every situation. Life is too varied to accurately predict all of the millions of little details that make up every situation in our lives. We do have some guidelines for fairness however, holy books for example. These are the quintessential examples of how one thing can mean different things to different people. The same quote can be used for multiple conflicting arguments because holy books, like anything else in life, are up for interpretation.
As Americans, we have been taught that fairness is a natural right of all people. From day one we hear talk about how America is great because we have such a focus on fairness, justice, liberty, freedom, and many other ambiguous but positive concepts. Whether America truly tries its hardest to make all its decisions with as large of an emphasis on these concepts as we are told or not can be debated. One thing that is clear however is that because of the public perception of how important fairness is in America, many Americans personally believe strongly that fairness is important. However, this is by no means strictly an American concept.
With the human race in general, there seems to be a common perception that there is a value that needs to be put on the ideas of fairness and justice, even if we dont always agree in exactly what ways. The human race consistently seems to value these concepts throughout our history, no matter what the culture. We admire those who give to the less fortunate. We harbor bad feeling towards those that we see as selfish. There is some part of humanity that naturally reflects these values. Why? It is difficult to say for sure why exactly people started valuing these moral concepts. Most likely because it helps mankind to better function together as a society if we all work together and value each other.
Why is fairness important? At the end of the day it is important because for whatever reason, we as a people throughout history and into modern times have and continue to put a value on it.
A Day In The Life: The Day Food Took Over
My next assaignment is a photo-essay about one day on the job. I chose the day we got a gelato machine. Also Kalina was not in school that day & I was the only intern. I did more running around then you see here, but thats boring. Those pictures would just be me holding papers & I skimmed over my regular duties for this photo-essay & I hope you enjoy my day filled with food.
Gotta make the bread.
Gotta make the copies/run around.
The strawberry gelato process.
The bread finally finished.
The lunches I shipped off to detention & me with the lunch ladies at the end of the day.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
My Blues Song.
Here is the one and only blues song I ever wrote. It follows the typical AAB format of the genre. If you ask me to sing it... Ill probably just look at you funny and walk away hahah... Anyway here is "The Worst Kind Of Deal"
Oh baby baby baby please
(Yea baby baby baby please)
You got me, got me on my knees
And i donno, i dont know where to go
(I donno, baby I dont know where to go)
But u got me trapped in your heart shaped hole
I aint know, no no no, I aint know
(I aint know, no no no, I aint know)
That you done wanted my soul
Oh you devil devil woman
(You devil devil woman you)
You want me to make the worst kinda deal
[instrumental break]
Oh baby baby baby please
(Yea baby baby baby please)
You got me, got me on my knees
And i donno, i dont know where to go
(I donno, baby I dont know where to go)
Dont promise me fame, dont promise me fortune
But I know your love would be torture
(I know your love would be torture baby)
I think I know what would be wise
But I aint never took no good advice
(I aint never took no no advice baby)
I hope you make me feel.
[instrumental break]
Oh baby baby baby please
(Yea baby baby baby please)
You got me, got me on my knees
And i donno, i dont know where to go
(I donno, baby I dont know where to go)
But u got me trapped in your heart shaped hole
I aint know, no no no, I aint know
(I aint know, no no no, I aint know)
That you done wanted my soul
Oh you devil devil woman
(You devil devil woman you)
You want me to make the worst kinda deal
[instrumental break]
Oh baby baby baby please
(Yea baby baby baby please)
You got me, got me on my knees
And i donno, i dont know where to go
(I donno, baby I dont know where to go)
Dont promise me fame, dont promise me fortune
But I know your love would be torture
(I know your love would be torture baby)
I think I know what would be wise
But I aint never took no good advice
(I aint never took no no advice baby)
I hope you make me feel.
[instrumental break]
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