Melissa McLamb's Blog
Jimi / Nov 15, 03:30 PM
A free domestic violence service, Between Friends, is in class today with the students and as they are watching a film that I’ve seen 3 times today — I’m taking this time to practice my blogging skills.
The video is a look at hip hop culture —it’s American origin and development. it discusses the make up of hip hop culture within the black community and the negative messages that are conveyed going by unnoticed in their normalcy. Interviews with rap artists, hip hop supporters —male and female, black and white—clips, and images of hip hop culture spur much thinking on the issue of the way in which culture can and has desensitized those within it. you should check it out and ignite the dialogue —> Hip Hop: Beyond beats and Rhymes. i recommend this(http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/index.htm)
there’s a substitute in the classroom today. His name is Jimi. Raised in Nigeria, supported by his two illiterate parents to go to school and finish his studies —he found a job, worked after secondary schooling and saved money to move to the States to further his education. He now lives in Chicago after raising 6 children in his home country, and supports 4 in college within the states and 2 at home (their move here delayed through the green card process).
Jimi began sharing with me his thoughts about the video that was presented in class today. “Black America is different from my country.” The accepted violence, the disrespect…he hates to see it. [remember this in the context that this conversation is in light of what we have just viewed in the video which focuses on the many controversial issues of hip hop culture]
In Nigeria, the teacher student relationship is one of highest respect. In his experience, his mom worked and worried and worked more just to pay for his schooling — not doing well, not making mother happy was not even an option. Respecting the teacher comes from learning to honor others in his upbringing. His understanding is that as the student shows respect for the teacher, the wisdom that the teacher has will be shared out of respect for the student. This blows me away in just thinking about how much the importance of authority in America’s public school system is emphasized. Students are not encouraged to respect teachers for the wisdom/ knowledge that they are able to share, nonetheless for who they are. Jimi’s understanding of a teacher-student relationship is more of one that is giving and receiving on both ends.
Jimi says the heritage of his people is “charity begins in the home.” He told me that 1 in 100 black families in the States are undivorced. His perspective is that children get educated in the home. The home is where the children learn first. I’m thinking, well we can’t expect respect from children if they haven’t received it themselves and been taught to honor others. And that isn’t the fault of the kids. But what do you do? Jimi says the negativity has to change but the people have to want it.
I wanted him to share what he thought about the difference between the appreciation for educational opportunity and education in general in his home country and the misuse of education here in the states. so i asked. He mentioned the government and the way that it supports and encourages the unjust system that makes up Americas’ public schools. As I listened, he continued to share his beliefs on the importance of family. The apathy of children towards education is one that has been taught and fostered to them through their own community. He gave this example: He ‘has education’ and children. having education to give he wants what he has received and even more for his children, believing that to be best for them. if he has no education then his children have no education…he cannot give it to them.
I believe that learning happens in the home. and it makes sense that it begins there.
thinking mode:
What are the effects of a child growing up without nurturing parent(s) or caretakers. What are the values instilled, if any, in their environment? When you have whole communities made up of broken families, what are the opportunities for the children? What are some prevalent understandings of who they are, the importance of others, of life? Are they their own responsibility? Must they always remain a product of their forced environment?
‘it takes a whole village to raise a child’
have you ever heard that?
in the understanding of that saying, it is the responsibility of the whole community to care for and nurture the children and their environment.
now those thoughts collide with the low-income black communities that i find myself living in and concerned for now.
it’s a different culture. and I’m having to do research and learn. i feel that it’s my responsibility.
thanks for reading.
call me and e-mail me.
I have stories.
and I’d like to hear yours.
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