Laura Greenfield "Preface"

Some things I understand: Laura Greenfield takes through a journey with pictures instead of writing. She uses photography to express the lives of teenagers in LA “the center of the entertainment industry”. The difference of growing up in LA as opposed to a teen growing up in RI I that life in LA is a fast one, and among the pictures I saw in Greenfield’s portfolio was the fast life. “It seems like everyone is in a rush to be an adult. It is not cool to be a kid.” And that is true today among all teens not only those living in LA. Being a bartender since I was 19 makes me have social contact with teens every weekend. It is funny to see teens in the club acting cool and drinking. Teenagers now days want to be and act like grown-ups do.

“A common theme that kept me focused throughout was the sense of an early loss of innocence” and I agree with Greenfield. This happens on an everyday basis with teens they just don’t want to grow up!

Some words that popped up: -focused on other societies
-their candid and perceptive worlds
-confusing territory
-LA the center of entertainment industry
-television, music, magazines
-trends and attitudes
-the gangs as a new type of family
-socioeconomic divisions
-the media as a homogenizing force (?)


Connections with other texts: When we were analyzing the Christensen article I recall that “If our youth starts embedding itself onto what the media portrays, our teenagers are going to suffer one sad life growing up” While reading the Greenfield preface when she speaks about the media having a severe influence on teenagers in LA.

I am very pleased with this photo project, I had fun and overall the reading was good!!!

Choice #2: Becoming Activist

“Seldom do we dive in depth on African-American issues” (Jeff Johnson)

On March 6, 2008 RIC’s organization Harambee presented the audience with a visit from Jeff Johnson or “Cousin Jeff” as formally known on BET television. Activism is the policy of action, and it is sustained by socially conscious movements. Embedded in activism are powerful messages with a non-substantial meaning. Activism is not about giving a speech but it is about movement. In this era not everyone knows the true meaning of being an activist. An example of this is when you see a random person wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt and that person has no idea who Che is.

Johnson introduced the crossover activist Martin L. King. Black folks lie about King because in his time he was not popular. In the rallies carried out by King was dangerous and risky, so black folks never frequented these rallies. Johnson spoke about the relevance behind the “I have a Dream” speech. If King would still be alive in 2008 he would have a different dream. One of the questions made by Johnson to the audience was: What is relevant of playing on and on the speech I have a dream in 2008?
Institutions that maintain activism

1.Black Church: were secret meetings were held from slavery to civil rights. It is the revival stage: how do we activate people. The convention season local churches would pay money if not they elected a bishop. Building natural infrastructure an example of this is Mega fest in Atlanta.
2.Black Electoral: they are not politically dynastic. They use the policy of action, no commitment for the electorate. “We are more concern with charisma then transformation.” Here Johnson happened to start the lecture with politics and stated something that made me open my eyes: “Obama is not a black leader, he is leader that happens to be black.” And I was like “oh my good” that is so true, why do so many people especially African-Americans view Obama as a black leader?
3.Civic and Social Organizations: Like NAACP, there has to be national agendas.


To be an effective activist:

1.Everybody is called to something different and when the call is made; know were your position is.
2.What do I have the capacity to do now? As I grow my capacity grows.
3.Identify organizations that need help. Give with integrity.
4.Build teams of people that focus on a single issue.

"Bad Boys" or Bad Implementations

The reading "Bad Boys" by Ferguson is an eye-opener for society to learn about the ways teachers treat kids. The "hidden curriculum" is mainly school labeling and excercising of the rules. It's main focus is to mainly seclude and marginalize a group of individuals in this case children. Teachers now a days need to go beyond books and into students lives. Ferguson is issuing a call to all professors to set their priorities to a different level. she is arguing about the power of schools to teach kids. It not only happens in the racial context but it happens with minoroties, ESL students, handicccaped and disabled students. So teachers need to put in perspective their agenda and "step up their level of play." (Aaron Bruce, Director of the Unity Center)

Fanatacizm goes beyond...

“On hollowed Ground”
“This is my hood, my life, my tradition, this is respect.”

It happens every day on Rucker Park in Harlem, NY… These folks are fanatics about what they do. “Basketball Extravaganza”. Unification of brotherhood, integrating hip-hop moves into the game. These players play hard to represent not only their game but also as a way of identity. The fanatics are kids growing up in the surrounding neighborhood and look up to these players, to be like them in the future. It is seen as an eye-opening experience.
These players take fanatics minds to another place. They do not feel afraid of crimes, drugs, violence because “this is home.” “There is nothing ghetto about these projects.” Most of them seek to play overseas but they require an extensive resume and some of these players dropped out of school at a young age.
The NBA only cares to contract these players because their main focus is set on money. But they don’t care about money “street ball is today what the NBA is going to be tomorrow”

“Safety Zone, Continuing Legacy, success, bold talking, for the love of the game, street trash talking, fighting for respect, untouchable, reputation is everything, dignity and pride, brotherhood…” All these words highlight the film of On hollowed Ground.