I speak of promise limbs soil is soft as Mama’s hands running water standing
Mama’s hands running water standing
Mama’s hands running water standing still endless fields of chamomile and
still endless fields of chamomile and
still endless fields of chamomile and daffodils rice under black beans I
daffodils rice under black beans I
daffodils rice under black beans I walked into Apple with cracked screens
walked into Apple with cracked screens
walked into Apple with cracked screens and told prophetic stories of freedom
and told prophetic stories of freedom
and told prophetic stories of freedom found warmth in a black queen for when
found warmth in a black queen for when
found warmth in a black queen for when they get cold like Nat King I’m doing
they get cold like Nat King I’m doing
they get cold like Nat King I’m doing the dad thing
the dad thing
the dad thing I speak of wondrous unfamiliar lessons
I speak of wondrous unfamiliar lessons
I speak of wondrous unfamiliar lessons from childhood make you remember how to
from childhood make you remember how to
from childhood make you remember how to smile good my name is Lauren I work in
smile good my name is Lauren I work in
smile good my name is Lauren I work in higher education and I like hip-hop
higher education and I like hip-hop
higher education and I like hip-hop hip-hop has been traditionally a
hip-hop has been traditionally a
hip-hop has been traditionally a reflection of black identity and
reflection of black identity and
reflection of black identity and blackness and centers the experiences of
blackness and centers the experiences of
blackness and centers the experiences of people who tend to get left out of
people who tend to get left out of
people who tend to get left out of mainstream narratives I opened with
mainstream narratives I opened with
mainstream narratives I opened with lyrics from the reprise of chance the
lyrics from the reprise of chance the
lyrics from the reprise of chance the rapper’s song blessings which was
rapper’s song blessings which was
rapper’s song blessings which was featured on his beautiful iconic and
featured on his beautiful iconic and
featured on his beautiful iconic and magnificent project coloring book it
magnificent project coloring book it
magnificent project coloring book it evokes happy reminiscing and hopeful
evokes happy reminiscing and hopeful
evokes happy reminiscing and hopeful ideas and speaks to who chance was at
ideas and speaks to who chance was at
ideas and speaks to who chance was at that moment it speaks to who many of us
that moment it speaks to who many of us
that moment it speaks to who many of us are today
are today
are today well we think about hip-hop I think we
well we think about hip-hop I think we
well we think about hip-hop I think we limit ourselves in the capacity which we
limit ourselves in the capacity which we
limit ourselves in the capacity which we do because it gives us new lenses to
do because it gives us new lenses to
do because it gives us new lenses to explore the world around us and when we
explore the world around us and when we
explore the world around us and when we go through these process of thinking
go through these process of thinking
go through these process of thinking about what we love I begin to wonder
about what we love I begin to wonder
about what we love I begin to wonder about how we can better incorporate it
about how we can better incorporate it
about how we can better incorporate it in the ways in which we learn and the
in the ways in which we learn and the
in the ways in which we learn and the ways in which we educate when I think
ways in which we educate when I think
ways in which we educate when I think about hip-hop too I think not only about
about hip-hop too I think not only about
about hip-hop too I think not only about these stories but about the ways of
these stories but about the ways of
these stories but about the ways of which storytelling has roots in the
which storytelling has roots in the
which storytelling has roots in the African tradition of the African griot
African tradition of the African griot
African tradition of the African griot who used storytelling to teach their
who used storytelling to teach their
who used storytelling to teach their communities and tribes and that’s where
communities and tribes and that’s where
communities and tribes and that’s where I’m seeing which the art of rapping
I’m seeing which the art of rapping
I’m seeing which the art of rapping comes from so when you think about it
comes from so when you think about it
comes from so when you think about it storytelling education and hip-hop are
storytelling education and hip-hop are
storytelling education and hip-hop are all very similar because they move
all very similar because they move
all very similar because they move communities closer to this
communities closer to this
communities closer to this idea of freedom whether it be freedom to
idea of freedom whether it be freedom to
idea of freedom whether it be freedom to choose a career or a major freedom to
choose a career or a major freedom to
choose a career or a major freedom to decide the kind of lives you want to
decide the kind of lives you want to
decide the kind of lives you want to live or the freedom to simply exist
live or the freedom to simply exist
live or the freedom to simply exist safely and in peace everyone everywhere
safely and in peace everyone everywhere
safely and in peace everyone everywhere wants some kind of freedom in a
wants some kind of freedom in a
wants some kind of freedom in a different song chance the rapper asked
different song chance the rapper asked
different song chance the rapper asked who are you to tell me I don’t want you
who are you to tell me I don’t want you
who are you to tell me I don’t want you the way flesh wants freedom because for
the way flesh wants freedom because for
the way flesh wants freedom because for some of us freedom is not just something
some of us freedom is not just something
some of us freedom is not just something we’d like to have is something we yearn
we’d like to have is something we yearn
we’d like to have is something we yearn for in his album 2014 Forest Hills Drive
for in his album 2014 Forest Hills Drive
for in his album 2014 Forest Hills Drive J Cole asks do you want to be free do
J Cole asks do you want to be free do
J Cole asks do you want to be free do you want to be happy free to look back
you want to be happy free to look back
you want to be happy free to look back and say look where I came look how far
and say look where I came look how far
and say look where I came look how far I’ve done came they say the dreams come
I’ve done came they say the dreams come
I’ve done came they say the dreams come true well when they do that there’s a
true well when they do that there’s a
true well when they do that there’s a beautiful thing I love Jake all y’all
beautiful thing I love Jake all y’all
beautiful thing I love Jake all y’all and so we think about it if I began to
and so we think about it if I began to
and so we think about it if I began to wonder when I got into this field of
wonder when I got into this field of
wonder when I got into this field of Education how I could use hip-hop to
Education how I could use hip-hop to
Education how I could use hip-hop to better connect to students and engage
better connect to students and engage
better connect to students and engage them in that because when we think about
them in that because when we think about
them in that because when we think about higher education we’ve positioned it as
higher education we’ve positioned it as
higher education we’ve positioned it as a means to get freedom at least in an
a means to get freedom at least in an
a means to get freedom at least in an economic sense we’ve looked at it as a
economic sense we’ve looked at it as a
economic sense we’ve looked at it as a sort of passport for people to get
sort of passport for people to get
sort of passport for people to get opportunities and careers but when
opportunities and careers but when
opportunities and careers but when educators are thinking about education
educators are thinking about education
educators are thinking about education we’re noticing that in a lot of ways
we’re noticing that in a lot of ways
we’re noticing that in a lot of ways traditional methods of reaching students
traditional methods of reaching students
traditional methods of reaching students and engaging them don’t always work very
and engaging them don’t always work very
and engaging them don’t always work very well we’re also noticing that yes while
well we’re also noticing that yes while
well we’re also noticing that yes while students are going to college and
students are going to college and
students are going to college and they’re learning how to approach these
they’re learning how to approach these
they’re learning how to approach these various career paths
various career paths
various career paths they’re also racking up thousands of
they’re also racking up thousands of
they’re also racking up thousands of dollars in debt and leaving these places
dollars in debt and leaving these places
dollars in debt and leaving these places without having put much thought into who
without having put much thought into who
without having put much thought into who they are we have a whole generation of
they are we have a whole generation of
they are we have a whole generation of college students who don’t know how to
college students who don’t know how to
college students who don’t know how to to bind themselves for themselves and
to bind themselves for themselves and
to bind themselves for themselves and when we think about education that too
when we think about education that too
when we think about education that too is an important lesson to learn and then
is an important lesson to learn and then
is an important lesson to learn and then I think more about the different things
I think more about the different things
I think more about the different things you can learn about yourself
you can learn about yourself
you can learn about yourself and I think about dreams and goals and
and I think about dreams and goals and
and I think about dreams and goals and aspirations and I love asking students
aspirations and I love asking students
aspirations and I love asking students about their dreams and goals and
about their dreams and goals and
about their dreams and goals and aspirations but what I’ve noticed is
aspirations but what I’ve noticed is
aspirations but what I’ve noticed is when I asked college age adults about
when I asked college age adults about
when I asked college age adults about their dreams and goals and what they
their dreams and goals and what they
their dreams and goals and what they want for their lives it’s very different
want for their lives it’s very different
want for their lives it’s very different from when I asked young children because
from when I asked young children because
from when I asked young children because young children dream so big and in
young children dream so big and in
young children dream so big and in comparison college age adults as young
comparison college age adults as young
comparison college age adults as young as they are dream so small it’s almost
as they are dream so small it’s almost
as they are dream so small it’s almost as the reality and their dreams because
as the reality and their dreams because
as the reality and their dreams because of reality their dreams have been
of reality their dreams have been
of reality their dreams have been watered down and dismissed so much that
watered down and dismissed so much that
watered down and dismissed so much that they forgotten how and so I use hip-hop
they forgotten how and so I use hip-hop
they forgotten how and so I use hip-hop to try to re-engage them in that process
to try to re-engage them in that process
to try to re-engage them in that process because we know it works because
because we know it works because
because we know it works because educators and researchers around the
educators and researchers around the
educators and researchers around the country are using what we call hip-hop
country are using what we call hip-hop
country are using what we call hip-hop pedagogy to better engage students and
pedagogy to better engage students and
pedagogy to better engage students and classrooms all over but also because the
classrooms all over but also because the
classrooms all over but also because the students are already doing it themselves
students are already doing it themselves
students are already doing it themselves groups like oh you unheard use the song
groups like oh you unheard use the song
groups like oh you unheard use the song glory by common and John Legend to
glory by common and John Legend to
glory by common and John Legend to attract people not only to the work they
attract people not only to the work they
attract people not only to the work they were doing before and after members of
were doing before and after members of
were doing before and after members of SAE fraternities saying a hateful song
SAE fraternities saying a hateful song
SAE fraternities saying a hateful song on a bus but also to the information
on a bus but also to the information
on a bus but also to the information they were giving a fierce group of women
they were giving a fierce group of women
they were giving a fierce group of women of color activists called the
of color activists called the
of color activists called the revolutionary bodies used to launch
revolutionary bodies used to launch
revolutionary bodies used to launch Noel’s recent album a seat at the table
Noel’s recent album a seat at the table
Noel’s recent album a seat at the table to celebrate and uplift and support
to celebrate and uplift and support
to celebrate and uplift and support black women and also teach women of
black women and also teach women of
black women and also teach women of color how to engage in self-care because
color how to engage in self-care because
color how to engage in self-care because they felt like it had just been one of
they felt like it had just been one of
they felt like it had just been one of those weeks and it’s what the community
those weeks and it’s what the community
those weeks and it’s what the community needed by by using that album and
needed by by using that album and
needed by by using that album and because of the way it resonated with
because of the way it resonated with
because of the way it resonated with people of color particularly black women
people of color particularly black women
people of color particularly black women by the time people got to the event they
by the time people got to the event they
by the time people got to the event they already felt supported they already felt
already felt supported they already felt
already felt supported they already felt engaged and they felt love so when I go
engaged and they felt love so when I go
engaged and they felt love so when I go back to these dreams and these goals
back to these dreams and these goals
back to these dreams and these goals that I’m sitting there talking to my
that I’m sitting there talking to my
that I’m sitting there talking to my students about I try to start off just
students about I try to start off just
students about I try to start off just by getting them to dream a little bigger
by getting them to dream a little bigger
by getting them to dream a little bigger than they normally would because they’ve
than they normally would because they’ve
than they normally would because they’ve narrowed themselves down and so
narrowed themselves down and so
narrowed themselves down and so we have to have conversations about even
we have to have conversations about even
we have to have conversations about even though you think that these people who
though you think that these people who
though you think that these people who have made it have always made it they
have made it have always made it they
have made it have always made it they too had experiences and dreams that
too had experiences and dreams that
too had experiences and dreams that somebody said weren’t realistic like
somebody said weren’t realistic like
somebody said weren’t realistic like biggie when he said it was all a dream
biggie when he said it was all a dream
biggie when he said it was all a dream I used to read Word Up Magazine salt and
I used to read Word Up Magazine salt and
I used to read Word Up Magazine salt and pepper and Heavy D up in limousine
pepper and Heavy D up in limousine
pepper and Heavy D up in limousine hanging pictures on my wall every
hanging pictures on my wall every
hanging pictures on my wall every Saturday Rep attack mr. magic Marlon law
Saturday Rep attack mr. magic Marlon law
Saturday Rep attack mr. magic Marlon law and then when we once we talked about
and then when we once we talked about
and then when we once we talked about dreaming we talked about the fact that
dreaming we talked about the fact that
dreaming we talked about the fact that you can’t just follow them you have to
you can’t just follow them you have to
you can’t just follow them you have to chase them and I think about Nicki
chase them and I think about Nicki
chase them and I think about Nicki Minaj’s burst on Kanye West’s song
Minaj’s burst on Kanye West’s song
Minaj’s burst on Kanye West’s song monster where she said you could be the
monster where she said you could be the
monster where she said you could be the queen you could be the king but watch
queen you could be the king but watch
queen you could be the king but watch the Queen conquer because you can’t just
the Queen conquer because you can’t just
the Queen conquer because you can’t just go after them you have to attack them
go after them you have to attack them
go after them you have to attack them with tenacity and then I bring it back
with tenacity and then I bring it back
with tenacity and then I bring it back to the classroom when you’re in the
to the classroom when you’re in the
to the classroom when you’re in the classroom you’re looking at it as a a
classroom you’re looking at it as a a
classroom you’re looking at it as a a box that needs to be checked I just have
box that needs to be checked I just have
box that needs to be checked I just have to get through this class get through
to get through this class get through
to get through this class get through this week get through this semester and
this week get through this semester and
this week get through this semester and then I’ll graduate but when you start
then I’ll graduate but when you start
then I’ll graduate but when you start thinking about the ways in which what
thinking about the ways in which what
thinking about the ways in which what you’re learning in the classroom can
you’re learning in the classroom can
you’re learning in the classroom can supplement whatever we decided your
supplement whatever we decided your
supplement whatever we decided your goals and dreams are up here it takes
goals and dreams are up here it takes
goals and dreams are up here it takes that from a check a box that needs to be
that from a check a box that needs to be
that from a check a box that needs to be checked to a step toward a goal that’s
checked to a step toward a goal that’s
checked to a step toward a goal that’s important to you and then the students
important to you and then the students
important to you and then the students begin engaging in that even more and
begin engaging in that even more and
begin engaging in that even more and then once we’ve talked about that I
then once we’ve talked about that I
then once we’ve talked about that I explained that it’s not enough to just
explained that it’s not enough to just
explained that it’s not enough to just chase them you also have to be willing
chase them you also have to be willing
chase them you also have to be willing to sacrifice for those dreams and goals
to sacrifice for those dreams and goals
to sacrifice for those dreams and goals too and I think about Meek Mill song
too and I think about Meek Mill song
too and I think about Meek Mill song dreams and nightmares I used to pray for
dreams and nightmares I used to pray for
dreams and nightmares I used to pray for times like this to rhyme like this so I
times like this to rhyme like this so I
times like this to rhyme like this so I had to grind like that to shine like
had to grind like that to shine like
had to grind like that to shine like this and throughout the song he
this and throughout the song he
this and throughout the song he discusses the ways in which he has
discusses the ways in which he has
discusses the ways in which he has sacrificed for these dreams and goals
sacrificed for these dreams and goals
sacrificed for these dreams and goals and he has no plans of letting it slip
and he has no plans of letting it slip
and he has no plans of letting it slip through his fingers ill-advised Twitter
through his fingers ill-advised Twitter
through his fingers ill-advised Twitter B for Drake notwithstanding but you know
B for Drake notwithstanding but you know
B for Drake notwithstanding but you know hate each zone and then finally I have
hate each zone and then finally I have
hate each zone and then finally I have conversations about how unfortunately
conversations about how unfortunately
conversations about how unfortunately sometimes chasing your dreams is lonely
sometimes chasing your dreams is lonely
sometimes chasing your dreams is lonely because you might think that there are
because you might think that there are
because you might think that there are people all over that will have your back
people all over that will have your back
people all over that will have your back and supports you but you’ll find that
and supports you but you’ll find that
and supports you but you’ll find that everyone doesn’t but if it’s important
everyone doesn’t but if it’s important
everyone doesn’t but if it’s important to you you always see yourself to pursue
to you you always see yourself to pursue
to you you always see yourself to pursue it anyway and I think about while a song
it anyway and I think about while a song
it anyway and I think about while a song from his mixtape more about noting where
from his mixtape more about noting where
from his mixtape more about noting where he says and to all those who hate it
he says and to all those who hate it
he says and to all those who hate it please continue to inspire the fire that
please continue to inspire the fire that
please continue to inspire the fire that is my rededication to greatness and I do
is my rededication to greatness and I do
is my rededication to greatness and I do this because when I look at black
this because when I look at black
this because when I look at black students in the black community I see a
students in the black community I see a
students in the black community I see a need for dreamers because when dreamers
need for dreamers because when dreamers
need for dreamers because when dreamers learn how to turn their dreams into
learn how to turn their dreams into
learn how to turn their dreams into action it produces vision and vision
action it produces vision and vision
action it produces vision and vision gets us ever closer to this elusive
gets us ever closer to this elusive
gets us ever closer to this elusive concept of freedom now I know if some of
concept of freedom now I know if some of
concept of freedom now I know if some of you are saying but Lauren hip-hop so
you are saying but Lauren hip-hop so
you are saying but Lauren hip-hop so vulgar what about the language and the
vulgar what about the language and the
vulgar what about the language and the way they talk about women and those are
way they talk about women and those are
way they talk about women and those are valid critiques I would argue that
valid critiques I would argue that
valid critiques I would argue that hip-hop is not the only genre of music
hip-hop is not the only genre of music
hip-hop is not the only genre of music that discusses vulgar topics I remember
that discusses vulgar topics I remember
that discusses vulgar topics I remember a song by Willie Nelson about something
a song by Willie Nelson about something
a song by Willie Nelson about something about roll me up and smoked me would not
about roll me up and smoked me would not
about roll me up and smoked me would not die I don’t really know that song but
die I don’t really know that song but
die I don’t really know that song but also I argue that hip-hop is a
also I argue that hip-hop is a
also I argue that hip-hop is a reflection of society and it’s almost
reflection of society and it’s almost
reflection of society and it’s almost human in its imperfections and when
human in its imperfections and when
human in its imperfections and when educators don’t shy away from it the
educators don’t shy away from it the
educators don’t shy away from it the music offers up these topics on a plate
music offers up these topics on a plate
music offers up these topics on a plate so that we can tackle these issues of
so that we can tackle these issues of
so that we can tackle these issues of misogyny of homophobia of drug abuse and
misogyny of homophobia of drug abuse and
misogyny of homophobia of drug abuse and sex but if we’re going to tackle sex we
sex but if we’re going to tackle sex we
sex but if we’re going to tackle sex we also need tackle of reproductive care
also need tackle of reproductive care
also need tackle of reproductive care and reproductive rights but that’s a
and reproductive rights but that’s a
and reproductive rights but that’s a whole nother conversation somebody needs
whole nother conversation somebody needs
whole nother conversation somebody needs to have it
thank you but will we tackle these
thank you but will we tackle these things we can help students digest how
things we can help students digest how
things we can help students digest how they themselves internalize them and
they themselves internalize them and
they themselves internalize them and perpetuate them and hopefully then help
perpetuate them and hopefully then help
perpetuate them and hopefully then help students learn how to dismantle them
students learn how to dismantle them
students learn how to dismantle them because when we dismantle these systems
because when we dismantle these systems
because when we dismantle these systems they don’t serve any of us we move our
they don’t serve any of us we move our
they don’t serve any of us we move our communities even closer still to these
communities even closer still to these
communities even closer still to these concepts of freedom by positioning
concepts of freedom by positioning
concepts of freedom by positioning hip-hop as an additional lens for
hip-hop as an additional lens for
hip-hop as an additional lens for students to engage and make meaning out
students to engage and make meaning out
students to engage and make meaning out of their experiences it allows us to
of their experiences it allows us to
of their experiences it allows us to help them make better sense of the world
help them make better sense of the world
help them make better sense of the world around them not by allowing their lives
around them not by allowing their lives
around them not by allowing their lives to imitate art but by finding the art
to imitate art but by finding the art
to imitate art but by finding the art that speaks to their lives because we
that speaks to their lives because we
that speaks to their lives because we need students who can come alive in the
need students who can come alive in the
need students who can come alive in the learning process because it helps bring
learning process because it helps bring
learning process because it helps bring authenticity to their experiences in the
authenticity to their experiences in the
authenticity to their experiences in the classroom and makes them more real so
classroom and makes them more real so
classroom and makes them more real so dress it up and make it real for them
dress it up and make it real for them
dress it up and make it real for them whatever that freaking means
whatever that freaking means
whatever that freaking means [Applause]
”
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