Reading Response 2

Resources Used:

• Making the Journey Christenbury and Lindblom Chapter 11
• Freedman, Joel M. “Echoes of Silence: Empathy and Making Connections Through Writing Process.” English Journal 98.4 (2009): 92-95.
• Kelly, Lauren. “Hip-Hop Literature: The Politics, Poetics, and Power of Hip-Hop in the English Classroom.” English Journal 102.5 (2013): 51-56.

My Response

In “Hip Hop Literature,” Kelly addresses the power of introducing hip hop songs in a class setting for students to analyze and discuss. Through this assignment, teachers are able to bring a more modern touch to education, as the students’ cultures and tastes are mixed into their everyday education. The educator’s role in the classroom is to provide a free and open environment where students are able to learn and strive with their peers to understand literary texts and topics. An educator needs to be able to create and maintain this space to positively affect students from inside and outside the classroom. Kelly continues to bring up the power of hip hop to connect to minorities in a classroom and make them feel a part of the class. This can give students the opportunity to learn about others as well as connect globally with others on a personal and academic level. It can encourage students to take ownership of their own education as they can contribute and offer material and songs they want to analyze with their teacher and class. The concept of social justice in Kelly’s classroom is that rap can be used as a tool to erase the negative stigma surrounding hip hop culture and instead highlight the growth through human dilemmas and experiences played out in song form by literary analysis and critique. Kelly points out that the truth of popular culture will continue to shape students regardless of what happens in the academic environment, so instead of erasing it from the classroom completely, teachers should morph it into a teaching tool for students to learn about the positive ways rap can help them. Inviting students to challenge rap lyrics, educators create a space where they can question the same offenses in their community and society. Through critical thinking, students are able to open themselves up to new experiences and create motivation for their schooling.

Meanwhile Freedman discusses how to create an assignment that connects the classroom instruction to current events and political action. Here, Freedman brings in the act of a day of silence to his classroom. He brings up the importance of how students are energized and enthusiastic to imagine that they are a part of a movement. Through acknowledging students with diverse backgrounds and important topics in a safe setting, students are able to connect to cultural problems that people face and how to analyze a piece of literature that go beyond the class setting and into real world teachings. As an educator, respect plays a vital role in having students feel comfortable to speak in a classroom, and by maintaining an equal balance of respect from both students and teacher, the class can be sensitive with one another and learn about other cultures together in a positive manner.

I believe that Kelly and Freedman would agree on the importance of introducing real world topics into the classroom as a way to inform students on how to properly analyze cultural issues as well as gain tools to bring along with them after leaving the classroom. Christenbury and Lindblom bring up the importance of not shutting out students as the theory of a School-to-Prison Pipeline could become reality for some students. As educators, it is our responsibility to make sure that all students are protected and listened to in the classroom, and by having a healthy relationship with students, teachers can build upon their lessons and help students strive to educate themselves. Through educating them with topics they feel are important, such as rap and cultural events, students are more inclined to be motivated to push themselves to achieve more from the class. Twenty-first century educators can use their ideas as building blocks to create their lesson plans by connecting a classic novel with pop culture references and current events. Through this connection, students will feel more inclined to connect to the literature and understand literary techniques.