Stephanie Baker- Y.P.P Greater Boston Summer Workshop Facilitator
There is one thing that is almost irrevocably linked with power; and that is education. What do Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Ghandi, and Barack Obama have in common? They all saw the importance of schooling in their lives. They recognized that any change in society must come from an understanding of society and knowing your rights. So how does this relate with power? There is a reason that those who control the workings of society deny certain people an education. There are reasons why teaching slaves to read and write was criminalized, and why for a long time, and still currently around the world, women have been excluded from education. There is a reason why civil rights activists fought for equal education, and why girls in Afghanistan risk their lives every day to go to school. It is simply because the greatest way to marginalize portions of a society is to deny them an education, and the truest path to self-empowerment is knowledge. If only an elite few are educated, then they know how to decipher laws and policy, then only they can control it.
But there is also more to power than just being educated. The great leaders mentioned above have something else in common. They had an unwavering ability to share what they know and educate the people. Positive change comes through the diessemination of knowledge, and oppression comes from its monopolization by a few. These leaders were able to uplift people through sharing their knowledge. You can have all the information in the world, but if you can’t share it then it is pointless.
There is also more to education than what you learn in school. In addition to reading, writing, and math you need to know our legal system and your rights, thus knowing how to change they system. However, there is another type of education. Take Obama for example. In Dreams From My Father, there is a specific point when Barack Obama is a community organizer that the community he is working with has a breakthrough. Before this moment, Barack was at an impasse with the people in the South Side of Chicago. Racial differences and others issues blocked the community from going forward to create a positive change to their environment. However, when they sat down and began to share with each other, they saw how much they had in common. Barack recounts the experience: “stories full of terror and wonder, studded with events that sill haunted or inspired them. Sacred stories…as people listened to my stories…they would nod their heads or shrug or laugh…Then they’d offer a story to match or confound mine….a knot to bind out experiences together…I found that these stories, taken together, had helped me bind my world together…There was always a community if you dug deep enough.”
It is vital that one educate themselves on the stories of those that live in their community. The beginning of real change is also listening, finding out what fears and hopes people have. This past spring, in a class at New York University called Journalism, Lyricism, Activism and Power), my classmates and I embarked on such a journey to learn about the NYC community. Our teacher , Kathy Engel, assigned the class a writing assignment in which we had to write letters to anyone on a subject that is important to us. I wrote about religion, others wrote about the environment, the death of loved ones, and to family. Each letter had a therapeutic quality, we all told personal stories that related to a larger issue in the local or national community. We decided to create a book of letters from residents of New York City, from business men ,to college students, to a class of middle school students from the Bronx, and beyond. We learend and connected with each other in a way that we didn't think was possible. I presented the same prompt to the Boston MLWs. Below are some touching stories that demand to be heard and demand action. I implore you after reading these letters to go out into your community and find out people’s stories. Only then, can the community really grow.
Dear Cris
I would like to see a lot of changes inside the school system. For example, I don’t like the new tardy systems that the school is upholding. Some students live on the other side of Cambridge and it takes them a long commute to get to school and should be penalized for that. Also, I would lie to see more classes about African culture. I am tired of going through the same boring American history classes year after year. I would like to learn about my ancestors and other parts of the world.
From Stephan
Dear Person,
I am writing to you of how gang violence is affecting so many places and people that I love. So many of my friends too have lost family and friends to this problem. The worst part is that is really impacts on the children of today. So many kids I know and don’t know are trying to be “cool” or “gangsta” even though they have no idea what either of those tings are and the only solution I can think of is that we sit them down and explain to them what “gangsta” really is.
Later
Dear Boston Police Department,
In my job we spoke about police men not using their authority properly. I as wondering how many you guys are lie that because seriously I am hoping you guys would od yoru best to protect us not hurt us.
I wonder if you would like have anger management cases for police. I understand that some people lie out the mouth. But guys are supposed to be the better and bigger person.
Now after the gangs and stuff, I understand that you guys are trying or the members to be at peace, what I think you do is have another meeting the one that was held at the courthouse but instead have it in a public open area with like a mic and amplifiers and stuff. It could look like a block party. So year that's like my idea.
I do want to give thanks to you guys cuz its not all bad you do have things under control.
From,
Anonymous
Dear Listener,
A social justice issue that effects me is violence. Violence is like an enemy of life because now in days that’s how most lives are taken. A couple of years ago my Dad was shot nine times and is lucky to be breathing now. When this happened I tired to be tough and not show fear nor tears. When I found this out I prayed and prayed and prayed. This has infected my life dramatically because he is not the same anymore. He’s not in a wheelchair or anything but its just physically and mentally affected. Like about two years after that my moms boyfriend was shot in the head and was found in his back seat of his car. This has affected me and mom because she wakes up knowing he’s ont there and it affected me because he was like my superman when I got in trouble by my mom. Imagine having two parents by affected by violence and losing half of them emotionally.
From,
Anonymous
Dear Gang Member,
I want to know why you would join a gang. I want to know why you feel going through tough prison or jail will make you a better person. Why cant some of you use your brain and realize that being in a gang doesn't get you anywhere but jail or in a casket? I realize that there are a lot of guys my age who are smart enough to be successful but they just don't get the chance or the opportunity to prove themselves. They feel as if their fellow gang friends can relate to them more. Me personally, I find it stupid because it shows you cant be your own persona at a time as if you have to put on an act for people to respect you. I think everyone has a special talent or skill it all depends on how you can use it in a positive way. So dear gang member, I know your smarter then what people think of you and I know this isn’t the life you want to live forever. Trust I can speak on being in a gang, but I can definitely speak about those close to me who were and how they have turned their life around.
From,
Chris
Dear Friend,
I noticed that you like to smoke and sell marijuana. Smoking marijuana is not that bad for you it still is bad for you and I care a lot about you. I never want to hear that you got cancer or are in the hospital do to marijuana. I think you should really stop smoking. I believe you should sthop selling marijuana as wel because selling drugs ends up into serious problems. People around th world are getting killed over selling drugs and arrested. I want you to live your life to the fullest and have nothing stop you. You are too good for all of this. I am here for you always. Whenever you need to talk or anything I will always be here for you. I care about you bro.
Dear Cousin,
I know you don’t mean to go to jail but it is still pretty sad seeing you there. I mean, I look up to you because you do everything I try to do. You are like my teacher. We are very close and I feel abandoned for you doing life in prison. To me, personally, I don’t think you should be there. I try to keep it moving but it is hard to move on when your friend, idol, and family member, has a life sentence in prison. I don’t think it is faire for them to take my other half away from me. I hope you are focusing more on maturity instead on childishness. I hope to appeal works. I don’t want to see my cousins or any of my family members die in jail. You need to change your state of mind. Miss you cousin.
From,
Dre
