Funny Friday: The Flower Girl Knows...

Lil' DeMarcus, Yo Name is Toby!

Reportedly, a fourth grader teach of Norfolk city public school in Virginia implemented a mock slave auction.  She separated the children by race; white, black and latino.

Yes, yes, I know, how can these 10 year old kids understand enslavement and its extremely dramatic effects on the human psyche and destruction of a culture of people? Shameful we should show kids the reality of the history of our nation at such an early age, right?

Well this teacher is not the only one to have gotten this bright idea.  An elementary school teacher in Ohio also felt this was a great idea.

In this day and age, children at that age are comprehending much faster than my generation (80's babies) could even imagine and much much faster (no offense) than generations before that. But that is because of the world we live in, things can become obsolete with the blink of an eye.


So is this truly appropriate? At what degree of detail do we show our children these realities, if we are to give them a kick of reality in history?

It seems with this generation of adolescent, we are ready to give insert into their minds the realities of sexual conduct but yet don't believe their minds can handle understanding discrimination at the age of 12?  I remember my first encounter of being discriminated against was when I was 10, being called a "Nigger."  I am still not saying what this 4th grade teacher did was right OR completely wrong. But what if she did not separate the children by race at all and simply did a mock slave auction where everyone's ethnicity/race was involved?  Isn't it OK wanting the kids to have a foundation of compassion towards a culture that almost completely stripped and destroyed?

I know many of you still say that an activity like this does not belong in the classrooms but I think this was a good concept with HORRIBLE execution.

I wanted to make this a thoroughly researched topic but instead I'd rather just spark interest of others reading for their own purpose of researching if they want to.  Simple as that.  Now, I will leave you to "Do the Dishes..."

~juskev

Music Monday: 804 Special Edition ~ What's the 411?

Puttin' my high school and city on the map with some truly great local talent to whom are some good associates of mine growing up in high school. And let me tell first how PROUD I AM OF THEM AND MY HOMETOWN!!! SUPER HYPE!

First up:

The Bass Brothers, Michael Millions and his brother and producer NameBrand hit VA's Cap City and the global music scene with their sophomore mixtape, The Color Purple. I must say, if you are from anywhere around the 804 then you already know the buzz around this joint. My favorite joints are "No Place Like Home" (probably cause they talking where i live  grew up and hung around) and "2AM"... GOOD MUSIC...GO GET THAT!

Second up:

My boy Turi, aka Illa Sorceses drops his FreEP, Illavation, TODAY! GO GET THAT! I honestly have been waiting on this one for a minute. If you have followed this music portion of my blog for a minute, then you might of heard his "Devil in a Red Dress" joint which was pretty hot with the sampling...more of that in store on his album.  He def comes smooth with a nice sample on the intro (wont reveal the sources, he got mad when i did that once before, haha), love the joint "Dreamin"...man honestly this is whole "jawn" is my type of album for those who know my old school, hard core liking of hip hop....TOO HYPE!  SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC!!!

Music Monday: Sick Music is Ill

"Sal's Pizzaria" feat. Gods'illa >> DMV stand up! Never heard of these cats, but this joint wasn't bad.



"Crossroads" feat. TP and Phontigga >> Hot off the TP is my Hero mixtape. TP is former UNC Tarheels basketball player, that got his degree, decided to follow his passion and is part of the GREAT and LEGENDARY 9th Wonder IWWM music group.....FEELIN IT.



"R4 Theme Song" feat. Big K.R.I.T. >> if you dont have Big K.R.I.T's RETURNOF4EVA mixtape, I dont know where YOU HAVE BEEN? But you were definitely in a coma....this mixtape is up for mixtape of the year, most definitely. Can't rave enough about Big K.R.I.T. One of the illest out right now.....GO GET THAT MIXTAPE!! NOW!....FEELIN IT!!!!



Definitely a fan the French speaking duo, Les Nubians. This track brings ya back to the "Motherland." FEELIN IT.



"Supernatural" featuring King >> extremely about this singing trio. I was put on to this group by Phontigallo on the last episode of GordonGartrellRadio. INCREDIBLE trio. Please check them out and support this group on itunes, King, The Story. It will be the best $3.98 you have spent in a long time....FEELIN IT!



"So Personafied" feat. Median >> this is straight out of my personal library of music, off Median's freshman album, Median's Relief. I recall exactly when I bought this album in 2007 after I graduated. I remember listening to this album every morning for almost a whole year, haha. Wanted to put you all on. FEELIN IT!!!



"Verbal Intercourse Part 2" feat. eLZhi >> for those who have ready the music from the beginning on my blog know I am a big fan of eLZhi. Caught me as a surprise that he departed from Slum Village's label (not really, lol). His last mixtape, The Leftovers still in heavy rotation for me from 2 years ago...FEELIN IT!.



"Representing Memphis" feat. Sharon Jone, Matt Berninger & The Roots >> I was just feelin this soul music. Enjoy!!



"Give All You Can" feat. Shad >> talk about them Canadians. Drake aint the only one with the tight skills, haha. When I heard his sing, Brother, from a few years back I was hooked right away....FEELIN IT!

Old School Song for the Moment: