| This project emerged from a class discussion in which one African American boy shouted out, “you have no idea what it’s like to live in Oakland.” I got defensive, saying I do live in Oakland. He said, “Do you hear gunshots every night? Do you see people shot or knifed? Do you duck to the floor every time you hear a loud noise outside? Do you see sideshows on your street? Do you see people getting high and women selling their bodies and little kids selling weed?” |
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He responded, “That’s what it’s like in my neighborhood. How can I concentrate on school when I can’t sleep at night? I can’t do my homework in a quiet place?” He then stormed out my room, slamming the door as the rest of the class broke into a loud discussion, affirming what he had said as their every day experiences.
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My students have no time in their school day to process what they experience outside of school on a daily basis. The newspapers tell me what happens in their neighborhood, but the reports do not provide the kinds of details that Marcus did. As Oakland’s homicide rate skyrockets so does my student’s anxiety. They urgently need a time in their lives and in their days when they can express some of the anger and fear that they have. |
This project seeks to create a space for this and to teach students some writing and art tools that they can use to express their emotions. Furthermore, we hope that it will be seen outside of our school. My students are hoping to display their photographs in public sites in other parts of Oakland, and to present their artwork and concerns to Oakland’s incoming mayor. I hope that they will learn that their photography and writing can be a tool for change and that they will feel empowered by having an audience outside of their peers.
- Elena Aguilar |
Contact Elena : elenaaguilar@yahoo.com
Contact Stacey: stacey@memorydrum.com
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