Our class went to Metropolitan University for a talk with Sunny Singh today. I had the same soft argument with Sunny as I've previously had with Big A. Sunny and Big A think Ta-Nehisi Coates is being lionized for "doing the bare minimum in speaking out against genocide" while I'm grateful that when so many continue to be silent, he's using his platform and risking his career.
If I'm all cosmopolitanism this and kumbaya that, Sunny leads with a reckoning of "enslavement, colonialism, and genocide." She was dropping truth bombs and later I had to check in with students who were visibly upset and trembling. One of them said that it just hit them that their taxes would always fund genocides they didn't believe in. Devastating.
Later a nice meander through Altab Ali Park, Bangladeshi Brick Lane, and Spitalfields Market to round off our morning of multicultural London.
Pic: A bonus song at the end of Six, when the cast encouraged us to take pictures. It's a weird energy to check out a musical when you're homesick and worried about so many things in the world. But also, I don't know what I'm supposed to do with myself while stranded halfway across the world, doing my job like everything is normal. It's my mom's birthday and I had a nice chat with her--can't say it helped my homesickness or my worry.
21 comments:
Nothing is normal, but sometimes doing your job is all you can do. xo PS hope your mom had a nice birthday!
Did you like Six? I thought it was fun, but felt like seeing it once was enough.
I self-allocate (in my head) all my tax dollars to the public library. In all seriousness, wouldn’t it be great if we could pick the budget lines our particular taxes funded?
Sending love and a Subway sandwich across the seas. ❤️
-Steph
Enjoy.
Wow, your students are really having an experience they'll remember forever! This is what education is all about.
I hope your mom had a nice birthday, and I hope you're enjoying yourself as much as possible. Doing your job like everything is normal is the best thing you can do right now.
What Nicole said.
Taxes are like the First Amendment. We don't get to pick.
Sometimes when I'm enjoying something-- good food, nature, art-- and wondering if I should be, given the circumstances, I stop and tell myself, I should, especially now, when we need all the restoration/strengthening we can get.
Also, I don't think it helps to be critical of people who are speaking out for not doing it in exactly the same way we would. We need to stick together.
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That sounds like a powerful lecture and it clearly made an impact. And the walk to follow -- All excellent for your group. I would have loved to see Six. Did you enjoy?I hope your mom had a lovely birthday and is still very safe. I'm glad you could talk. I'm sure that was good for both of you. Hugs.
How cool to see Six with your students! I have never seen it but some of the 5th graders in the after school program at Paul's school put on a mini production. Some of the other parents at the party last Saturday said they did a surprisingly good job!
I hope your mom had a nice birthday. One more week and you'll be home with your family! I hope the homesickness subsides a bit!
It sounds like she did! Thanks, Nicole!
Same, Steph... I'm glad I saw it, and it was electrifying and hummable, but once was indeed enough.
That would be such a terrific tax reform--to be able to pick where our taxes go.
Thanks for the Subway across the Sea! lol There's a Subway on the next block... I wonder if they do like Teleflora?
Thanks, Gillian!
Thanks, Jenny! I think my mom had a good birthday.
The very things that are great about a democracy are also the things make it difficult, I guess.
Couldn't agree with you more, Steph.
Especially on the second item!
Thanks! Will do.
Jeanie, Six was fine and fun; I'd recommend it. Mum had a good birthday by all accounts. Thanks so much for your kind wishes!
Six was strictly extra-curricular :)! I wouldn't have been able to make it fit into the curriculum... although I could have done something with the multicultural cast? I'm impressed that the 5th graders at Paul's school chose and executed (no pun intended, haha) such a weighty show!
Mom did have a nice birthday, thank you. I'm counting down too!
Unlike Nance, MY tax dollars only go for things I support. Mine all goes to education and feeding people. Let the war mongers pay for that.
Love how fierce you are about all the kind things, J. <3
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