How Will Your Degree Impact the World?

In the United States, graduation is an accomplishment that symbolizes many things. Whether it be accessibility to jobs, gifts from relatives or completion of long nights of academic work, graduation is a happy time for people. Recently, I attained my Masters degree. Walking across the stage and receiving my diploma was an emotional and triumphant moment. When I returned to the pew, I leisurely recalled my college graduation. The president of the University, a Jesuit Catholic priest, told us that we had joined the ranks of the 1% of the world's population that have a college degree. Then my mind traveled to a conversation that took place in one of my graduate classes. We were discussing the relevance and significance of ethnic studies programs. Of course, as usual, I was in the minority and most of my classmates claimed that these programs are not as important as "traditional" courses of study.

All of this was going through my mind as I sat and watched my peers cross the stage and receive their diploma. Graduation, more specifically, the actual attainment of Bachelor's, Masters, doctorates, etc. should remind us of our extreme privilege and responsibility to others. We are amongst an elite group. Indeed, an MBA does afford you the opportunity to work at a huge Fortune 500 company and make a six-figure salary, but what impact does that have on the rest of OUR world. As the millennial generation, I hope we all consider our world as larger than ourselves, our homes or our neighborhoods. Thanks to technology and globalization, frankly, I have more in common with girls living in Johannesburg than my peers from Westchester County. As I reflect on my two degrees at 23, I'm wondering how my career will impact the other 99% of the world. Furthermore, in addition to identifying as a millenial, I also strongly identify as an African American. My racial identity brings an even heavier burden for me to carry. As millenial people of color, we must be more aware of our privilege because at some point in American history, someone leveraged their privilege to pave the way for us. Why did I study African American Studies as an undergraduate and continue to focus my research on black girls? Because without knowing our history and understanding this racialized society, I cannot help young people conceptualize, develop and express their strengths. I'm not proposing that everyone quit their jobs and join the Peace Core (although that's great!) but I am still challenging our generation to use our degrees to tear down historically oppressive boundaries that continue to contain that 99% that may not have the power to do so.

Also, I am now a contributing blogger for FWDNation.com so please take a look at the site and give us your feedback!

Proverbs 31 Woman

When I sit down and explain my research topic to people, many look very confused. The term that sparks the bewildered faces is “public space.” My research question is “how does the social capitol of adolescent African American girls affect their integration into public space?” I am reading, conducting interviews and analyzing my findings to figure out how relationships with young men, oftentimes the perpetrators of violent crimes in urban areas, influence girls voluntary involvement in their community. A leading scholar in discourse about the intersection of gender and public space is Dolores Hayden. Although she focuses mostly on feminist implications rather than racial, while reading her book, Redesigning the American Dream: Gender Housing, and Family Life, I felt like an angry black woman.

She identifies the restrictive boundaries of public and private space. She argues that since the 19^th century, a woman’s place has been in the home – not in the city, and definitely not in the city without her husband. Women that were seen in the city alone were considered prostitutes and undesirable. Fast-forward to present day, Hayden that argues not much has changed. Women still experience a distinct vulnerability when entering public spaces alone because a fear of being physically, verbally or sexually assaulted.

Similar to most feminist scholarships I read, Hayden is looking at the world through a white woman’s lens. In the 19^th century, black women in America did not have an option to feel safe or unladylike in or outside their home because we were slaves for most of that century. In modern times, most crimes against black women tend to be reflected back on us, and we are portrayed as “wanting it” or “having no business being there at that time.” Hayden also addresses urban advertising and how women tend to be presented in a sexually suggestive, helpless or disempowered way. At least for white women, they are able to turn on a television and movies and see women such as Meryl Streep, Angelia Jolie and Hilary Clinton portrayed as strong and influential characters and public figures. While young black women see accomplished actresses such as Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, but never see them playing something other than drug-addicted mother or maid. Let’s be honest there are more basketball wives, Nicki Minaj’s, and video vixens saturating mainstream media than Michelle Obama’s. I’m not saying this to knock their hustle, but I am just trying to figure out when this assault on black women will end? Last year, I saw the below image on blog sites

The child is barely walking and talking and is already victim to the acceptable subjucation of black women. My research focuses on adolescent African American women that are dealing with inaccess to resources and the basic public space in their community. On top of abstract barriers such as lack of role models in the media, young black women in Bayview/Hunter's Point and similar neighborhoods in America's major cities have to deal with wreckless, persistent and senseless violence.

Although my data is not large enough to be a representative sample, it does present a glimpse of 20 young women's reality. I'm working on writing a policy prescription to address the effects of this violence on girls; but in the meantime, I've tried to make some change on a smaller scale. Proverbs 31 has been a popular scripture in many women's groups that I've experienced. It is full of beautiful language and essentially, very high expectations for us as young women to meet. But we can. Take the time to share the scripture and reaffirm the beauty, strength and potential for young women.

Proverbs 31:10-31

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I read this poem as a teenager. Now, as an adult, I understand.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings / Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps
on the back of the win
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Samba

Hello everyone,
I'm nearing the end of my MA in Urban Studies program. During this past summer, I realized that the classes I had taken cultivated a better understanding of my concentration, globalization and the city. I decided to take a Latin American Studies course to help me better understand how people from Latin America and their culture fit into American culture and the study of cities.

Last night, in my Latin America and Latino Cultures class, our country of discussion was beautiful Brazil. The name itself conjures images of vibrancy, euphoria and many of the cultural traditions highlighted in Alma Guillermoprieto's Samba.                 

Sociopolitical analysis of 1930s/1940s Brazil, on the other hand, conjures images of dictatorship, oppression and class stratification, which were implicitly expressed in our other book for the week Clarise Lispector's An Apprenticeship or the Book of Delights.

This blog entry is not a book review, however. I left the class wrapping my simple mind around how a class discussion initiatially based on the the sensual and passionate movement of samba morphed into talking about trauma. Guillermoprieto immersed herself into Brazilian culture, paying close attention to the evolution and consumption of samba. (Yes, I am extremely intentional in using the word consumption.) Samba was started by Afro-Brazilians. Over time, samba became more mainstream and huge (and lucrative) national fairs showcased the dancers. In this book, Guillermoprieto documents the dedication and pride that the Afro-Brazilians have for the samba art, costumes, makeup, and performers. Samba literally consumes their lives. Conversely, Brazil completely consumes samba. The samba dancers and teachers have so much joy for the art. Simultaneously, Brazil is under the leadership of a military dictatorship. These same people are living in grave poverty. Essentially, the colorful, fun and traditional dance that helps Afro-Brazilians preserve their history, is the same dance that their aristocrats commodify and exploit.

As a young urbanist/sociologist/over-analyzer, I often assert that in order to sustainably "develop" or "modernize" a country, we must study that country's culture. Studying the culture and social networks will enable developers to avoid providing economic development prescriptions that work on an anomaly (such as the United States), and instead, empower the people to reconstruct their own structures for more productivity. In the 1930s and 1940s, the people of Brazil were using their power to perform samba to fuel Brazil's tourist economy. At some point, and I don't know when, the performances became a commercial product. As we dove deeper into dialogue about the costumes and makeup, we juxtaposed the samba community to the inhumane power structures in Brazil; I was appalled. Frankly, the bright makeup of samba performances reminded me of the black faces in minstrel shows here in the United States.

Then, the problem got deeper and hurt my core. As a naive urbanist/sociologist/over-analyzer that advocates to put culture atop the list of considerations in a development project, I struggle with the question of

"How do we incorporate culture into a modernization process?"

As conflicting thoughts filled my mind, the next logical question was "who is this 'we'" The colonized, colonizers and their respective descendants each have a different perception of "we." Each group has an intricate history that must be considered. Additionally, in all perceptions of the history, we must acknowledge the trauma of slavery and colonization in Brazil, other developing countries and, honestly, in the United States. Essentially I realized, as Professor Benavides brilliantly said, we are all just trying to make sense of something, but [our conclusion] is culturally specific.

That's my issue today. How can we incorporate the trauma? Furthermore, do we (ALL OF US) even acknowledge the trauma and how it still affect us today? I'll pray on that and write again soon.

A Scripture to Start the Day

I read my Daily Bread today and the scripture was so warm. Read it. Then, think about how encourage and display welcoming hospitality. I often refer to myself as "anti-social," but as much as I pretend to keep to myself, I love being around people. While reading this verse, I had to reflect on relationships in my life that aren't going to well. Am I really showing God's unconditional love? Or holding a meaningless grudge? Who knows.

Romans 12:9-21
⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[b says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Masking the Shame in NOLA

I'm still processing my immersion trip to NOLA. I feel conflicted with mixed emotions. Trying to understand my feelings, led to a free write and the first half of my personal statement for law school. Figured I'd share it with some pictures from my trip.

New Orleans was rough. I remember driving passed a high school. The date read: August 17, 2005.

How sad. After six years, the city of New Orleans, the state of Louisian nor our United States of America could figure out a remedy to mask the shame of Hurricane Katrina. Of course, in some areas like the Garden District – where the city’s wealth is concentrated in the pockets of the same people that abandoned the city that demonic day in 2005 – have completely rebounded. The city restored those beautiful homes. The city preserved

Bourbon Street

and the Superdome. The city was able to patch up the broken windows and eroded parks. The city has not patched up one thing though. The poor, mentally disabled, or socially rejected people on the streets and in the alleys. They have upgraded from what the rest of the country recalls seeing on August 29^th, 2005. Instead of waving white flags and surrendinering themselves for their country’s help, they wave cardboard signs that simply say “I just need a drink.” At organization where we worked, they wave the queen of hearts in a spades game because that is what they do to pass the time in between their doctor’s appointments because the people there have HIV. Why does it bother me so much? Because it took me flying across the country to know that my people are living in third world conditions in the richest country on Earth. While I was studying and stressing about the LSAT, my people are trying to find food, protect themselves from a corrupt New Orleans Police Department, and avoid cancer-causing FEMA trailers. Going to law school and attaining my BA and MA will allow me to go into places like NOLA and advocate for sustainable community development.



Cafe Reconcile



Literally, where the levees broke



At our home in NOLA



Greek Festival

Just one of our many adventures

Day 1 of Fieldwork - Interviewing

Hello everyone,
Once again, it has been too long. Since my last entry, I've moved back to SaN Francisco, CA to do my fieldwork for my thesis. So yes I finished finals, did my immersion trip, took the LSAT, started working at the law firm, and started my research. My life is hectic as usual.

I'm not writing to vent though, more so to share. I was supposed to start my interviewing the week I returned to the California. I called up my friend to schedule all of the interviews. She informed me that due to various murders taking place in the neighborhood, many of the usual students in the program, were not coming. We got off the phone and all I could do was cry.

Time and time again, my colleagues in my Masters program ask me how will I refrain from being subjective in my research. My immediate (and well rehearsed) answer is "I have taken my passions, researched them, and successfully translated them into scholarly discourse. Through semi-structured interviewing, I hope to prove my hypotheses." Meanwhile, on the inside, my heart is saying, teenagers are not supposed to grow up meeting death before they have met life. Too many of my childhood friends have been murdered or involved with the "turf war" lifestyle; while even more of my female friends and family members have been adversely affected by it. I don't need Elijah Anderson, Lois Wacquant or Jodi Miller to teach me these things because I've lived it. Further, my first attempt at meeting the respondents because the population of 14-18 year old girls living in this neighborhood are afraid to leave their homes.

It's not right. As a community member, I'm outraged. As a researcher, I'm intrigued. As a Christian, I am praying steadfastly that the Lord provide a resolve.

A month later, I was able to start my interviews. I prepared a binder that has all of my current research, approximately 30 pages of literature reviews and information on my methods and methodology. A counselor and I sat down to do the interviews and my hypothese are already being proven. Approximately half of the respondents live in the neighborhood of interest. They describe their community as "full of hopelessness."

I try to leave all of my blogs on a high note, but I'm still processing this whole experience, so I'll end with a request to simply pray for a young people growing with no hope. I pray that God will speak to them and let them know that they must be the change they wish to see.