Do You See What I See?

Several weeks ago, someone that I consider to be a peer asked me for guidance on something that I have no expertise or really any knowledge about. I communicated quietly, nonchalantly and without hesitation that I couldn’t help him. Not only did I not know enough about the context or the situation, I also didn’t know enough about the topic in general to provide any help. The stakes were too high, this was an important situation and the decision he needed guidance about could be trivial if played well, yet extremely harmful if not.

Questions that confuse us, yet folks insist on asking.

After my quiet yet thoughtful response to his request he insisted I help him. I, curtly, declined again. He insisted once again, and I became impatient. My voiced elevated a bit and my tone and cadence was testy at best, bordering on angry. I began with, “I just told you…you aren’t/don’t listen to me…” He then tried to end the conversation/change the subject, yet in doing so his language put the onus on me for not WANTING to help him, rather than what I was actually saying which is I COULD NOT help him (read: I actually don’t have the ABILITY to effectively help).

He kept insisting that I “have style” and so I could and should help him choose something stylish to wear. I shared with him that I know nothing of style. I simply put together things that I believe reflect my inside, what I feel, what the situation and context call for. His language kept reflecting that he felt I was refusing to help him when I was able to do so.

This has me reflecting on the nature of relationships/interactions in general, and then also about the nature of patriarchy. We’ll deal with the issue of patriarchy later, and thoroughly. Yet, the interaction highlighted something about leadership that I must grapple with civically, professional and, so it seems, personally.

How can anyone lead you if they don’t see you? How can you lead anyone if you don’t see them? Even if we prioritize following, rather than leading: How can you follow someone, trust them and have faith in them, when they don’t see you? How can you lead someone, know and serve their needs, if you don’t see them?

What should one do when interacting with someone who does not SEE you? How does one go about SEEING those around them? We often place an emphasis on listening (and in some respects hearing), yet can one accurately do either without first and/or simultaneously SEEING?

When I say seeing, I don’t mean reflecting. I mean clear, unadulterated, unclouded observation. Looking at someone and taking them in without addition or subtraction. In someone ways seeing without processing, instead simply imprinting. It takes multiple interactions to SEE someone, including observations of them interacting with others without (interacting with) you.

Additionally, how often do we see ourselves in this way – clear, unadulterated, unclouded observation of ourselves?

When was the last time you did not process yourself, measuring yourself against some standard or expectation?

Whether observing our ego at work, our social self or what our true self does when no one is watching, when was the last time you SAW yourself, actually looked at yourself?

When was the last time you made an imprint of yourself?  Just looked at yourself, your actions, your behaviors, your thoughts and just watched them…

In the words of one of the most iconic commercials of my childhood, I’d venture to say that for most of us, “…well that’s too long.”

The Break-Up: Making Decisions

For many of us summertime is a little slower, or perhaps just more fun or free to work as we choose. We often have flings with ourselves, finally enjoying the things we wish we could do all year long. As the summer solstice approaches and you have a bit more daylight to see how you’d like to spend your time maybe it’s time to recommit to your first love: YOU.

Be Joyful Frequently

How often do you break-up with yourself to live a life uncommitted to your values and priorities?

I know it sounds weird to say that we break up with ourselves. Yet if you think about how often we make choices that are out of line with what we believe about our lives and ourselves, you would think that who we are at our core is completely different than who we as we go about everyday life. Many times our behavior says to our soul: I think we should see other people.

This is a common, and even predictable, thing. I mean, making decisions is hard. Especially when you consider the way that we tend to make decisions.

When you have to make a decision, do you look at all the choices you have, and by looking at your choices, believe that you’ll be able to determine which choice…

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School’s Out, Summer Fun – Professor’s Gone Wild!

So many folks have asked in the past 3 weeks, “So school’s out…? What are you doing with your vacation.” Well to tell you the truth, when school’s out, after a short time off, the REAL work begins. There’s no way to be successful as a faculty member without two things 1) a plan; and 2) students. Making sure that students get to college and are prepared to be successful is a true joy that I have. It’s often what I spend my evenings, weekends, and summer (vacations) doing. This year,the first such activity for my summer break was with the Uplift Education‘s summer bridge program. Bridge programs are an imperative part of the educational pipeline and the “road to college” for ALL students whether first generation college students or students with long legacy of post-secondary education.

My colleagues and I had just a great time with the two groups of Uplift students this morning. We discussed why it’s important to be engaged inside and outside of the classroom in order to be a successful student. We also discussed some of the fallacy’s about college success that really help us understand the difference between high school and college. Some of the students were really surprised when I suggested that even though they’ve been doing it much of their life, they really don’t know how to read – at least not reading to be successful in college.

Do you know how to read?

Click the link above to read the post about college reading, or visit http://www.betheprofessionalstudent.com for more tips on reading, time management and other suggestions for success as an undergraduate and graduate student.

If your program is interested in summer bridge workshops or workshops to help the students in your school, church or community organization prepare for college success send me an email (using the form below), tweet or facebook message. I can’t wait to work with you to create success!

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Why Lauryn was right – “My emancipation don’t fit your equation.”

Beyonce recently released a song via sound cloud entitled “Bow Down/I Been On” that is being highly criticized. I take issues with the criticisms. I firmly believe that the criticisms stem from our patriarchal and self-centered consumption of culture, particularly the cultural work and products of women and girls.

My issues are not because there are criticisms.  I believe we should engage in more constructive criticisms of contemporary culture and it’s materials. Yet, I take issues with the commentary surrounding Beyonce and the single for two primary reasons 1) Because of how she is being criticized and 2) the lack of actual criticalness in the actual criticisms.

The Gaze of Criticism

Much of the criticisms I have encountered center on the language being used, the fact that the song displays (too much of her) hoodness, and that she’s gone too far in her arrogance. Many are displeased with the use of the word bitch and crying foul. Many men and women, mostly women, are upset about the use of the word long deemed derogatory and engaging in debates similar to those surrounding the word nigger. Women of all races and age groups are arguing that she’s contradicting herself and that her image as a role for girls and girl power is now tainted.

She’s just gone and ruined everything!

Hold on, wait a minute. She’s gone and ruined what?

Beyonce has used the word bitch before in popular songs. Moreover, have you ever listened to “Ring the Alarm”? What about “Irreplaceable” or “Crazy in Love” or going back to gurl group days, “Bills, Bills, Bills” Or “No, No, No”? Capitalistic consumption is a tricky beast. Beyonce is a creative genius, pulling the puppet strings and making us dance, while we all think we’re real boys.

Through our purchasing and engagement of artists we create an image of an artist that fits with our beliefs and priorities. Often, an artist with a discography as varied and deep as Beyonce’s is largely appealing for this very reason. Particularly because she rarely explains her work, she simply produces and distributes it.  This unadulterated presentation allows consumers (folks who refer to themselves as fans) to connect as they wish. Thereby, folks are able to create a Frankenstein Beyonce of sorts.

Fans and consumers alike, can piece together the ideas, emotions and experiences of each song they decide to consume and enjoy. This Franken-Bey is of our own creation. It represents ourselves, (our) Beyonce is just like us. She has had our experiences; she has felt the same emotions we have; she believes the same things we believe. How do we know this? Because she sang about it in that one song and we were really feeling it; we know just where she’s coming from.

Oh really, do you?

Let’s talk about that too.

Critiques Absent of What’s Critical

Critical actually means to involve the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. Objective in this case doesn’t mean, without bias, it means based on actual fact. The actual facts are:

Beyonce is from the third ward of Houston. Parts of which went through a process of gentrification late in the first decade of the current millennium, many parts of which did not. I’ve never heard of gentrifying or revitalizing a neighborhood that is already posh and upscale. So for those of you that have only consumed Beyonce as a grown woman, writing and singing about love and making her space in the world, I’d like to let you know that it’s the hood. Beyonce has never hidden this and isn’t ashamed of it, folk just attend to what they wish. But this is the woman who wrote, sang and danced appropriately to Booty-licious ending the video quite well with a fedora and gold tooth. Please also see the video for “Soldier” (listen to the lyrics as well) and listen to the actually lyrical content of “Lose my Breathe.” All of which are her creative works (see what happens when there are no more liner notes to flip through and read – darn iTunes). She met, attracted the attention of, sustained a relationship with, and subsequently entered in the agreement of marriage with Jay-Z, Jigga, Rock-boy. She has never said or indicated that she was your girl next door – nor that she wanted to be.

Additionally, those critiquing the song also neglect to see the lyrical, musical and conceptual overlap between “Bow Down” and MUCH of her other work as a solo artist.  “Bow Down” is much more complex and intricate than these other popular singles. This may be the reason why folks are having a hard time digesting it. I’ve detected 4 or 5 musical layers in “Bow Down.” Many of them are rythmically and tonally similar to layers in her previous work. If you take them apart and, one or two layers at a time, pair them with the swaggerfic-gangsta-arrogant-can’t-nobody-tell-me-nothing trope she’s invoking you will get the following singles:

Radio

Diva

Freakum Dress

Schoolin’ Life

Get me Bodied

Check on It

Upgrade You

Déjà vu

Kitty Kat

Beautiful Liar

Suga Mama

Ring the Alarm

Hip Hop Star

…well you get the point, as many of these were released as singles and videos. If you didn’t pick up what was being putting down, here is the point:

We are only surprised because we weren’t paying attention to her body of work. To her artistry. To her. We’ve been consuming without analysis, true evaluation or actual attention to the critical, i.e. important, threads that have ALWAYS run through her artistry. The products of her craft she has offered to us. Products to which, when offered to you, you did not say, “No, thank you.”

So as Beyonce said, but you didn’t like to admit, “I know when you were little girls you dreamt of being in my world, don’t forget it, don’t forget it. RESPECT THAT…”

UPDATE: RUSH LIMBAUGH’S REACTION TO “BOW DOWN” and FIRE’S RESPONSE via Huffington Post.

 

Blog vibes: “Lost & Found” by Lianne La Havas; “EAsier” by Fred Hammond; “Still” by Yellokake; “The Highway Don’t Care” by Tim McGraw

There’s Always a New First Time (The First Day)

So, I was sleeping until I woke up for no reason at 2:47 AM.

Didn’t have to go to the bathroom or anything. Laying in bed, I checked my phone and had received a message from a friend with a sneak peak of a blog post he was going to make public today. J. Wiggins is one of my dearest and most talented friends. They say that “Familiarity breeds contempt,” yet I know this dude’s government (read: birth name on government documents) and he’s heard me say things I’d turn red about if repeated in public, yet he never ceases to inspire and amaze me. He fascinates me, and shows me things about my self as a person and professional that make me better.

His most recent post helped me explore some aspects of humility I’ve been struggling with, and also, helped me understand why I’ve been anxious about the beginning of this term. I haven’t been nervous about the first day of school since 5th grade when I moved in the middle of the year. It was the one and only time I EVER remember being nervous. Yet…

“So, I was sleeping until I woke up for no reason at 2:47. Didn’t have to go to the bathroom or anything. Laying in bed, checked my phone and you’d sent me the link to this post.

First, thanks for the “sneak peak.” Second, get out of my damn business with your lessons in humility! Third, I can’t believe I get to both know you and call you friend. God’s got something special going with you dude. 

Thank you for sharing with me. I realize now why I was up at 2:47 AM…today’s the first day of the semester. The first day of the second semester of me being a full time professor. Last term I was too swamped with being “new” to be nervous. Yet after a semester of the many of the students enjoying how I engage them in my classroom, and the administration responding to my request to teach two new and different classes based on student interest, I realize that I’m at a new level. After more than a decade of teaching what I’ve been doing won’t be good enough. Figuratively, they’re lined up outside my storefront, based on word of mouth, and I hope the first ones in don’t tell the others to just go on home. They’ve shown up, and I hope to God it’s worth it.”

Blog Vibes: Someone That I Used to Know by Luke Conrad; Diced Pineapples by Rick Ross; Do You by Miguel; Too Close by Alex Care;

Sometimes we miss the point: Thoughts on Bias in the Classroom

picture from google images

I just read an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education about a study done by Darren Linvill and Joseph Mazer, both of Clemson University, on student learning and instructor bias. I believe that the article and some of the folks interviewed about the study and the larger issue it addresses – teaching, learning and bias in the classroom – ironically ignored a larger fundamental teaching and learning issue. The implicit and explicit construction of power that emerges when students are unclear of how it will be judged that they know the content of the course (i.e. their final grade).

Bias is present in all social contexts involving humans – period. Even if they are not expressed by professors we all have our biases. This fundamental fact is at the core of research methodology. In research there are mechanisms that limit the impact of bias. This is also the case in the classroom environment, yet for a myriad of reasons, we do not employ them – which is unacceptable in the arena of research.

Pedagogically, the use of rubrics, the creation of clear and measurable learning objects (that are then incorporated into the rubrics), and the use of student centered learning practices (that focus on said learning objectives) make it clear to the students how they earn their grades in the course. Therefore it isn’t about their opinions on the topic discussed in class or the instructors opinions; its about course objectives. Therefore these communication and debating skills, being recommended by both the study proponents and detractors, can be developed in the classroom and across disciplines – because both students and instructors can speak freely having reconstructed the power dynamic around meeting clearly described learning standards. This is much more effective and productive a strategy, rather than students, and profs, believing grades are associated with something that pleases the professor.

You can read the article that sparked this post here, and find the original study by clicking here.

Another perspective on youth behavior and culture in urban environments…how many missed opportunities will we create. It’s everywhere

We are Ignoring Opportunities: Misguided Means “Missing” Guidance

I am a tad bit granola, so I often take public transit to get around town, particularly getting to and from work. This isn’t typical of folk that can actually afford not to do so in a city like Dallas so I am often aware of the fact that I stick out, especially on days that I teach because I almost always teach in dresses and heels. We can talk about the various gender and class politics involved in this bit of background information another time.

On the days that I don’t teach I’m quite nondescript. Slacks or trouser jeans and a button down shirt, or as the weather cools a sweater. I rarely wear make-up and on most any day I’m usually mistaken for anywhere from 8-10 years younger than I actually am (thank genetics and healthy habits). So on a Tuesday last week when I left campus in the late afternoon to find a more productive place to do my writing for the day, I easily fell into a seat at the back of the crowded bus without the young people (read: adolescents, “kids”) really taking note. Unlike when other adults sit in the back, they didn’t even look at me, let alone stop or temper the topic or tone of their conversation.

They were discussing a recent occurrence in the city of Dallas that had been on the news: A woman had been violently murdered, by her lover. As the story went (as shared by the youth), the local news channels reported that she had called him up to inform him that she was HIV positive. Her lover, her was married with children became enraged and went looking for her, later found her and killed. The young folks, a group of about nine young men and women, then went on to discuss whether the woman killed deserved it, how essentially both the accused killer and the woman killed are now “dead,” what they would have done in the situation, how they would have retaliated, how the children of both the woman killed and her accused killer would be effected, and so on and so forth.

Their language was vile, their responses at time uncomfortably violent and sadistic toward females as a group (and without a flinch from either the girls or the boys no matter who was espousing such ideas). I felt some of their ideas were misguided, yet others weren’t. They were taking the news stories as if they were a holy grail, as if the news wouldn’t lie. They were accurately informed about the differences between HIV and AIDS and the socioeconomic issues that influence treatment and survival. They were also easily rationalizing violence and violent retaliation. They understood the ethics of infidelity and informed consent (i.e. the legalities of knowingly infecting folks with a disease whether, HIV or otherwise, and not sharing this information).

I joined their conversation. I didn’t preach to them. I didn’t even ask them to watch their language. I slid into their conversation. I dropped some hints about my age, but I didn’t chastise them for their profanity. I did however push them to consider that maybe the news doesn’t always tell the full story, or even have it, yet that doesn’t stop them from reporting. I also pushed them to question how the situation was being portrayed. Most importantly, I began to push them on the idea that violence wasn’t the best answer, albeit a “natural” initial response.

The bus ride was short. As we reached the train station, and they continued to press back with logic begetting violence I simply said,

“I understand what y’all sayin’, but I need y’all to come up with another way to deal with betrayal that isn’t violent. That ain’t right.”

They laughed as we exited and a few said, “You right.”

As we all went our separate ways I told them goodbye and to be safe. Some waved or nodded as they went to wait at their respective bus stops and I boarded the light rail headed home.

I share this story with you because I was “schooled” by several elders when I began riding the train to stay away from the “kids.” They’re disrespectful. They’re rude. They’re loud. They misbehave. They may rob you.

These are some of the same types of adult characters in our society, who bemoan the fact that youth are misguided and don’t care about anything of worth. Yet how are folks supposed to not be misguided when you have ample opportunity, yet because of fear and an idea of how someone should be treating you, you refuse to step in and guide.

Although I was uncomfortable with many aspects of the way the conversation was being had. The fact that our youth are paying attention and have nuanced and systematic ideas about their social worlds work is something I’ve always firmly believed. It’s the reason why I do much of the research work I do. It was affirmed on that bus that our young people do care: even the ones that cuss; even the ones that don’t offer an elder a seat; even the ones that are attached at the earbud with their teenage boo-thang of the week.

Young folks are paying attention. They’re brains are working just fine. We are ignoring them.

When you feel like you can’t go on…

This is the time in the semester when many folks, faculty, admin and students alike are harried and just counting the days until the term ends with both intense anticipation and earnest dread. There are goals and deadlines that haven’t been met, as well as moral and motivation to keep up – and this is usually just at school. In addition to these pressures, life doesn’t stop, finances have to be managed (it’s tax and FAFSA season), families have to be engaged (proms & graduations & funerals & open houses and…and…), and sanity has to be maintained.

It can be overwhelming. I often say to my colleagues and students, and even to myself, “Just tuck at roll, let gravity do the work; it’s all down hill from here and will be over for better or for worse SOON.” I was really feeling it this semester; more so than ever before. Then this evening my introduction to sociology students began presentations and these things came out of their mouths…

“To see a different perspective you have to speak less & listen more; even when it hurts.”

“it takes a certain amount of humility to understand a different point of view; this is what sociology is about.”

“poor people are being taken advantage of, not just left behind. You can subsidize rent & food, but where does someone go to subsidize their spirit.”

Teaching makes my heart sing, and the promise of sociology is alive and kicking.

In Solidairty,

Dr. Baranda J. Sawyers

Guest Spot on Shawn Donatella’s A.M.F.

Yesterday I had a the super amazing chance to be a guest on Shawn Donatella’s America’s Finest (A.M.F.) on svmixradio.com . It was great time with some inspiring folks who have wonderful minds and are DOING some fantastic work. Check out our conversation about society, race, hope and action here.