Summary of week 1 : history lessons

It's Friday and I'm finally back to the office. I can't belive it's only been one week. It feels like it's been two! I'm excited to share with everyone how wonderful this group of young people are. We have been impressed over and over again with how smart, thoughtful, mature, focused, friendly, and just how genuinely nice this group of young people are. They all have wonderfully unique personalities and qualities, with a lot to share and contribute to the community and project. They have taken to each other very well, and are very supportive and accepting of each other. It might sound like I'm painting an incredible rosy picture, but we can't say enough how pleased we are with this group.

This past week was an intense week of learning.

The week primarily focused on historical content, both the traditional civil rights history, as well the history of civil rights in Boston. The participants were stellar in keeping up and grasping the content. They had thoughtful questions and comments to contribute.

We also introduced the concepts of Identity and Choice making in connection to the history we're studying - Little Rock Nine, Elisabeth Eckford, Linda Lowery, SNCC, and Jesus Colon. Mid-week, students were assigned to their teams and the person they would be interviewing (Mel King, Sarah Ann Shaw, James Breeden, and Jean Mcguire). They began researching these individuals preparing their interview questions. Everyone seemed excited to meet these people in person.

We also began reflecting on what is socially responsible media making, and what is the process of creativity as they begin thinking of their own media products. With so much that's happened, and with so much that has been accomplished, I feel like we've been working together for 2 weeks, not one!!

Next week are the interviews, and everyone has their eyes on the prize. It's going to be intense and challenging, but I have no doubt we will all rise to the challenge, while continuing to have lots of fun. Props to everyone on this team. You've all been great! And that includes the advisors as well :) Looking forward to next week!

....Education is the key to life....

this world is so far beyond crazy..why does it matter what your skin color is? why cant we all get the same amount of education without violence.the history of Boston in the 1960 and 70s still in some ways connect in our society today. there are schools out in the suburbs that have to be payed for. and if you look at that there are mostly all white people. many of black parents cant afford to pay for schools and the only choice they have is to sent there kids to public school, which still don't provide enough education. communities are still segregated today. people want best for their kids. AND IN LIFE YOU ALWAYS HEAR EVERYONE SAYING EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO LIFE...how could we get better in life if our educations aren't helping us. some teacher don't teach well...some just give up on the kids. but most of then don't care because of your race.

An Accident!!!!!!!!!

I probably have had to make many decisions throughout seventeen years of living. Just hearing Jesus (the guy we learned about today) conflicting with himself to help a white woman with a baby, siutcase and two kids and his reasons why were very interesting. His dilema was that he wanted to help the white lady but was confused because it was so late, he would come off as a someone who would just be up to no good. This situation occured in the 1950's. His conflict was about courtesy. Mine was just an accident....I know that the decision that i made for just going through the electronic doors at Ruggles station probably wasn't the best thing to do. But he didn't have to touch me! I was coming from shoooting a short film with a friend of mines when i got to Rugggles. To make a long story short, i heard my train approaching, ran to the doors (without hitting anyone) but some idiot on the other side went through before me. I just went through after he did, instead of missing my train to go home early for the first time all school year! I heard this MBTA police officer yelling "hey, hey!" I turned around towards him beore i went downstairs and i waved my pass at him so that he knew that i wasn't "cheating the system"....I didn't know that he was running after me. Instead of being a gentleman and ask me to get off the train, he used force! To this day, i'm glad for this experience because he will get his (karma) eventually and i see things differently. The challenges that this decision that i made were more than i thought could ever happen to me. It was obvious that this was a racial thing because out of all the people at Ruggles station, he pinpointed me...a young African American woman, who he probably enjoyed slamming around. The case is still in the process, but now my lawyer recently told my mother that it was finally reaching up to the Cheif of the MBTA.The day that i had to go to Juvy, all everyone did was laugh and the case was dismissed because it was so silly. My issue was that police can swarm public transportation stations, but can't reach a spot that someone was killed until like hours later!!!!!!!! The decision that i made wasn't the best, i kno, but his wasn't either. The impact of my decision was huge. I had made my whole entire family worried from my emotional call from the police station and even i worried my friends and staff at school. Not smart on my part, but it was an accident....

Same history from 1960s-2007

The history in Boston that occurred in the 1960s that was dealing with segregation which is still going on today is really not the same but there is one way that I can connect to the history because today you really don't see any black students attending to all white school a.k.a private schools and if you look into "Boston public schools you will only see about 3 white kids.Also like the film they were talking about how the black kids in the 1960s always got the rip up books that were ruin and today in Boston public schools books are all tore up but I bet if you go to a white school in the suburbans there books are Nice like they never been used not destroyed at all and they get everything they want. In black schools we don't even get enough scholarship's to support some of the students but in the non Boston public schools they have plenty of scholarships to give out to every student.

School System Still Sucks!!!!!!!!!

I think think that today, the school system is not as bad as the 1960's and 1970's. But it still sucks. Today, mainly all of the white students go to private, expensive schools that have the best education perhaps that money can buy. But the schools in the inner city is mainly made up of miniorities. There is actually a lot of misconceptions about both schools systems. From talking to my cousin, who goes to a school out in Natick, she says that she really wants to live out in Boston with me so that she could be around more people like herself (ie Black ppl). But her friend, who is also black was taught that all the inner city kids have bad education becaus of the lack of money provided in their schools and that inner city kids have bad attitudes and always fight. But a few of my own friends feel that kids in the Subarbs are snobby and stuck-up. I don't know what to believe except that honestly some inner city kids don't care about education (ie skipping school a lot, etc). Its sad to see all of these films in Facing History, showing how black ppl really fought for their kids to get the best education, yet years later, a few of these kids are not taking thier education seriously :(

The history in Boston that occurred in the 1960s that was dealing with segregation which is still going on today is really not the same but there is one way that I can connect to the history because today you really don't see any black students attending to all white school a.k.a private schools and if you look into "Boston public schools you will only see about 3 white kids.Also like the film they were talking about how the black kids in the 1960s always got the rip up books that were ruin and today in Boston public schools books are all tore up but I bet if you go to a white school in the suburbans there books are Nice like they never been used not destroyed at all and they get everything they want. In black schools we don't even get enough scholarship's to support some of the students but in the non Boston public schools they have plenty of scholarships to give out to every student.

heyy guys. this is sophieeee =]

my first blog on here. i'm reallie excited foh this summer. s0rry, you guys are gonna have to get used to how i type [[blame AiM]]. buh yeahh, yesterday's lectured reallie WOWed me. Steven was reallie knowlegable. it was crazyy how he knew how the dates and names. the whole time i wanted to get a visual of the scho0l committee and today i have the chance to. Louise DayHicks, grrrs. wells, movin` on. our advisors are reallie co0l, they have a lot of things that we'll be able to learn from them. &&as foh my fellow team-mates foh the next 3 or so weeks are just amazin`. each &&every one of you guys have your own style in clothin` &&such. some people are takin` a little longer than others to open up but it's okay. i think everything will be okayy.

oh yeahh.

i'm reallie excited to find out who i will be workin` with foh the next couple of weeks. who ever you are, hope we have a great time together.

a`more sophieee

The history in Boston that occurred in the 1960s that was dealing with segregation which is still going on today is really not the same but there is one way I can connect to the history because today you really don't see any black students attending to all white school a.k.a private schools and if you look into "Boston public schools you will only see about 3 white kids.
also like the film they were talking about how the black kids in the 1960s always got the rip up books that were ruin and today in Boston public schools books are all tore up but I bet if you go to a white school in the suburbans there books are Nice like they never been used not destroyed at all and they get everything they want and in black schools we don't even get enough scholarship's to support some of the students but in the non bostion public schools they have plenty of scholarships to give out to every s

Summary : Day Two Down!

Today was the second day of the Digital Legacies Project. I think the students literally sat through a six hour history lesson...and were still asking questions and sharing their thoughts by the end of the day! I was amazed. Steve Cohen, a professor from Tufts University, came in the afternoon to talk about Boston in the 1960's and 70's. He told a fascinating story of white flight, segregated schools, and the 1974 busing crisis. Everyone had such great questions and comments! Tomorrow everyone finds out what group they'll be working in to make their film and which civil rights activist in Boston they'll be interviewing. I can't wait to see everyone tomorrow!

Summary : the D.L.P

wow! how awsome...i cant believe that im really working. its my first job and im really enjoying it. but for some strange reason we were talking about the nastyest things and it was akward but fun. im being myself around here. Julies great. shes very educated. love the way she teaches. and juan hes always on point at all times...funny i kow. paulinas really layed back...she agree with everything wich is not a bad...we need that type of good energy around early in the morning huh...i guess the DEVIL REALLY DID WEAR THE PRIDA.As a younge teen i dont rally get a lot of great opertunitys, but so far so good. evryone here is really cool and fun to talk to. they always got jokes, but when its time to get to work we get down to bussiness. sophia and i are becoming close to each other. she cool to talk to.Savon's funny., he plays that " shy " game. Angelica is forever talking about FEILDS CORNER...LOL...Kevins kinda of quit...but he talks now and then.. ( maybe hes not use to the enviroment, we'll gave him time). im losing it, im always calling taina tati...which is weird because my cousins name is tati and they look nothing alike. "D"...well what can i say hes a really smart kid...he uses all these big words and i feel AWESOME being around that type of inviorment. jessica goes to school with me...and she and i underestand some things such as the sare values that i used yeaturday when we was making our gorund rules...( community with social respect)...all i have to say is that the girls exciting. i love how she said " think with your feet" thats soon to be my motto. dancers dont talk they listen and think with there feet. i know im a dance freak i cant help it...but yeah. arvia came today happy, energetic and raedy to work and learn. speaking of learning this is one of the best ways that i've learned something. usally i'll be sitting in calss listing to the teacher. its like i hear it but im not listening..lol..strange huh..im soo stressed out...u asked why im this way..well i dont know if i should get these sexy 8Os high top blaack and green pumas... or should i get a new phone...my minds going kinda CRRRRRRAAAAAZZZZYYYY...but i hope i find something good to eat for lunch

SUMMARY

Tuesday,july 10 day 2: YEAHHHHHH MANNN!!! =]
Ok,today...we learned about the civil rights leaders & their personal dilemmas.We had conversations on pivotal moments in history.We focused on incidents such as the murder of Emmett Till and The Little Rock 9.OoO yeSSSS!!! It was intense!lol.I really enjoyed hearing other people's personal experiences and seeing how others around me felt about the whole situation.It was very nice to learn things that I had not in school but was always curious about.I also thought that the activity I participated in today was fun....the one concerning a man who was afraid to help a woman off of a train because of his skin color.I probably would have had the same reaction being that so many people have misconceptions and numerous stereotypes about "minorities" and how we supposedly act.Its a shame that that is the way we are percieved.Although, so many of us are not bad ppl...that is what we are labeled as. My mother always told me that if someone passes judgement over you,do your very best to prove them wrong because most likely what they think of you is the total opposite of how u are.Do not stoop down to their levels and humor ignorance for its just an excuse to appear as if nothing is wrong.They only look at you with superior attitudes because they can smell fear and try to intimidate.She tells me to always keep my head high.I wonder if others were as lucky to recieve that same advice??

Monday, July 9th : Day 1

Day 1 of the project is off to an exciting first day. We began with Human Bingo, my favorite part of the day. Some highlights included learning that Oumaru had spent the first 9 years of his life in West Africa and speaks 3 languages, Angelica's grandmother run a bakery out of her home (Sophia was interested in having cake)and Teeyana has family in Jamaica that she will visiting in August.
Lunch time, brought good pizza and continued conversation/banter, some subjects included how chitlins are prepared to what a hot dog is made of. Yuck! No one cared for the orange soda, maybe this was because we were drinking out of bathroom paper cups. Mr. Love made an appearance, or shall I say Dr. Love and handed out discounted bus passes. Yeah!
The day ended with the sharing of our understanding of the Civil Rights Movement. I heard lots of curiosity and energy in the room. We're off to a great start!