When describing how research takes place in a learning-based community initiative, Knight and Schwartzman encourage the community-based artist to "explore various ways to collect information, including interviewing. Develop listening skills"(159). In the context of the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition Workshop, these skills--interviewing and listening--are ones that I am hoping to develop in myself as well as in the young participants in my program. I am excited about this program not only because I could give a student from Mart a chance to win a college scholarship, but also because I truly believe in the power of really hearing another person's voice and story.
Initially, I was very focused on opening the Essay Workshop program to black students only. However, recent developments--namely, a possibly partnership with Mart's high school, instead of the black churches--lead me think that the program should be open to students of all races, with the stipulation that over half the participating students be black students. So why has a change of partnership create this shift in my hopes for the makeup of the group? Well, for one thing, I feel pretty uncomfortable walking into Mart High School and talking about programming with a financial benefit that is only open to black students. Personally I think it would make sense to work with a homogenous group while discussing their own culture; however, I also acknowledge that while it's easy for me to say my piece and then leave, the black students will have to face the repercussions of any animosity that arises as a result of the (perfectly understandable and possibly beneficial) exclusion of white students from the program.
Beyond my fear of stirring up racial tensions, however, is a glimmer of hope that opening the program to students of all races could actually result in a rethinking of race and race relations on everyone's part. The mission of the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition is to encourage students to interview older African Americans in their communities in order to learn more about African American history in Texas. What kinds of important shifts could arise when a young white high schooler from Texas takes the initiative to learn more about the history of the black experience in Mart? How might the usual power dynamic change when all participants are discussing the history of African Americans in Mart? How will this history--gathered through story and discussion--differ from the one told in students' history books?
I'm really excited about the possibilities of the Essay Workshop. Through interviews and listening, I think some real transformations could occur.
We will be announcing the date of the Media Blitz in class on Monday that Sean is organizing for the Writing for Non Profit class and our class - it is to take place for 6 hours on Saturday, November 20th. Sean will have point and shoot cameras, voice recorders,disposable digital cameras, etc. so students and residents can record stories, take photos, and create a Google map among other media products. That would be an excellent recruitment tool and vehicle to galvanize participation in the essay contest.
ReplyDeleteI understand your reticence about "targeting" students for the essay context; however, the reason for focusing on African descent students is the lack of submissions by them in this contest. We do not have to exclude anyone when going to the high school and making your presentation - we can; however be mindful about making a special effort to encourage African descent students to participate. I agree that having a white student interview an older African American Mart resident to gain a new or greater understanding of the town's segregated past will shift their previous vantage point though we want to be sure to increase submissions by African descent students in hopes of them winning the scholarship prize to attend college.They are not mutually exclusive goals, and your comments reflect insight and a thoughtfulness about potential consequences hazards of veering in a particular direction.I am certain you will learn a great deal by listening to the students when you visit the high school, and perhaps discover a variety of ways to ensure African descent students are encouraged to submit essays while not excluding others who wish to participate.