While I was in NYC these past few days, I was lucky enough to mingle with a very spirited group, young at heart you might say, called the Raging Grannies!
Who are these ladies?
"We are out in the streets promoting peace, justice, social and economic equality through song and humour."
They can be seen in outlandish costumes, singing, and showing up across the country anywhere they think they can help.
I came across them as they caroled in front of Toys R Us for one of their big campaigns, No War, No War Toys. The idea is to put pressure on and call attention to stores who carry large amounts of war toys in an effort to make "war" a less glamorized and seemingly acceptable event in our culture. The grannies understand the power of play, and how it has the potential to influence people long after they leave behind their childhood play games.
So far the Raging Grannies, along with a handful of other grandma-powered groups, have caroled from Coast to Coast and Canada (where they started) getting their message out with no more than funny songs.
An example of their lyrics:
JOY TO THE WORLD, LET'S END EACH WAR LET EARTH, BE PEACEFUL, ONCE MORE! LET ALL THE GIRLS AND BO-O-YS, BUY NO MORE WA-A-R TO-O-YS. AND ALL OUR TROOPS COME BACK, FROM AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ. OHH, WA-A-R IS NOT THE WAY, TO LIVE OR PLAY.
And how do these people become Raging Grannies?
"First, bring together a group of women who are deeply concerned about the manner in which the world is evolving, and are not afraid to show it! (Being a grandmother and being a good singer are not necessarily prerequisites)."
To follow their antics on the grannyjukebox or to get your G-ma to go out and form her own raging group of socio-economically conscious carolers with the Raging Grannies starter kit!
I went to New York City this weekend to hang out with my family and to witness some serious East meets West Coast Clash!
(While I have been to New York before I never actually spent more than a day in New York City, and it was mostly all business.) Other than the fact scalpers are selling Nicks tickets on the corner instead of Lakers, there were some other differences: New York City is alive with people!
People playing, biking, hailing taxis, enjoying the air on the ferry, riding the metro, and yes, even ice-skating. A street in The Bronx was even renamed Stickball Blvd as a tribute to all the stickball (evidently the street version of baseball) ever played from the 1930s till now in the streets of New York. NYC also hosts the Millrose Games, and the Amateur Boxing Golden Gloves are here every year at Madison Square Garden. New York City also has the worlds largest marathon.
I know the peeps reading this in New York City know all this, but it was news to me. And it was great!
No wonder New York City has been called "The World's Biggest Urban Playground!"
Because of the huge emphasis placed on college admissions tests like the SAT or ACT, an equally huge test prep industry has sprung up, catering to students who want to raise their scores those crucial few points. But now, because obviously that industry doesn't have quite enough clients, they've expanded their reach to a different group of students
Incoming kindergarteners.
In New York City, a set of reasoning and knowledge tests was recently made the determiner of admittance to the gifted and talented kindergarten program, spawning preparatory programs geared to increasing 3- to 4-year-olds' performance on these tests.
One such company, Bright Kids NYC, offers tutoring sessions for $145 a session and $90 prep workbooks. They're currently tutoring 200 children, and have 80 on a waiting list for an intensive weekend "boot camp." A general test prep company, Exclusive Education, stated that a few years ago, 2% of students served by the company were under six. Now, it's closer to 10%.
Parents enrolling their preschooler in tutoring see this as a way to "even the playing field" when it comes to the tests. They also feel that by increasing their child's test scores, the child is more likely to get into a gifted program, and therefore will supposedly receive a better education, without the high tuition of a private school.
Tutoring does seem to increase scores, even if it just teaches young children to sit still for the amount of time needed to take the test. One of the tutors commented, "Some kids can do well without preparation, but children who are familiar have an edge." Partly due to the rise in test preparation, enrollment in the gifted program has increased by 45%.
However, this setup is hardly fair for the families who can't afford tutoring or simply do not want to put the additional stress on their 4-year-old. Anyone who is not prepping is already at a disadvantage, just because they're less familiar with the format. Furthermore, it's doubtful that being trained in rote learning and repetitive testing is good for small children, who, studies have shown, learn best through imaginative, interactive play. Placing this much emphasis on a test also makes those who simply can't adapt to the counterintuitive ways of the bubble sheet the "slow learners," a label that can stick with a young child for the rest of their life.
It's a continuation of what has already happened with the SAT and ACT. Only this time, it's part of the public school system and involves people who are young enough to be deeply affected by it, to be discouraged from learning because they're just not smart enough, when in reality, the only ones who can succeed are those who test well or who can afford prep materials and courses.
Next time you ride the New York City subway, take a peak at the back of your MetroCard. You might just get a little surprise in the form of a bold, simplistically typed word reading “optimism.” Throughout autumn, seven million MetroCards have been printed with the inspiring message on their backsides. The inception of the project, with agreement from the transportation authority, came from graphic artist Reed Seifer, who himself lives in New York City.
As far as citywide art installations and projects go, I think this one is pretty cool. Seeing that seven million MetroCards are involved, it is certainly a vast project. However I like that it is also very personal. It is up to each individual rider to find the treasure awaiting them when they flip their MetroCard over. I didn’t even know about the project until I read it in the New York Times today, and I have not gotten one of the lucky cards yet. Did anyone in the New York City area know about this? Has anyone gotten one of the Golden Tickets? Any ideas about the artist’s original intentions?
Posted on: 11/09/09(0 ratings) Author: TaraLConley
Almost a year ago to the date, I had the opportunity sit and listen to activist, Liepollo L. Pheko of The Trade Collective, speak about racial justice in a global economy. Throughout her speech, she referred to those that are largely deemed invisible by a majority as "The Many." These, We, The Many, she said are otherwise known as The Other, but in numbers, in potential, and in the spirit of the collective, We, The Many - despite being Otherized, are gifted, powerful, and necessary.
As James reported on Sunday, the prelims of the 2009 Knicks Poetry Slam was held on Saturday, November 7th at The Manhattan Center in New York City. Along with James and other Play City folk, I had the opportunity to witness what I deemed as The Gifted Many. Brooklyn's, Harlem's, Queen's, the Bronx's, Manhattan's, Jersey's, and Philly's finest were definitely in the building. A showcase of young poetic, dance, and musical genius commanded the audience's attention over the weekend. I was forced to not only reminisce about my fleeting youth but also wonder in amazement at how these young minds can be so entirely insightful, intellectual, and exuberant.
Like, for example, Alexis Marie. This young queen took to the stage armed with some of the most powerful words I've ever heard uttered from a teenager's mouth (mind you, I used to be a middle school teacher). Her poem was about womanhood, strength, struggle, courage; "things" you'd assume a young teenage girl wouldn't have any clue about. But while listening to Alexis I got a sense that she's encountered some very deep and soulful life experiences that inform her ability to express herself through poetry. Alexis exhibited an astute awareness that spoke to who she is and who she is to become as a woman of color. Her performance was simply stunning.
Equally as powerful was another spoken word performance by two young boys from NYC. As soon as they were introduced, teens rushed to the front of the stage. At that point, I kinda knew something amazing was about to happen. The young men stood side-by-side as they recited, in sync with one another, the beginning of their poem entitled Switch. As they continued, their voices split, like a call-and-response with separately distinct voices. As I listened, I began to understand that Switch was a poem about a young black boy's struggle with being homosexual. The young boys took the idea (and gesture) of "switching" and turned it into social commentary. I'm not quite sure if this idea of switching also spoke to the way in which marginalized people have learned to "switch" language, mannerisms, or consciousness as a way to (temporarily) assimilate into a situation largely controlled by a dominant group. (See: W.E.B. DuBois double consciousness and Gloria Anzaldua mestiza consciousness).
In any event, the performance left me in awe, so much so that when it was over, I looked at James and the only word I could muster was simply "Wow."
In addition to the performances, students were given the opportunity to learn more about participating colleges and universities at the event. Syracuse University, the University of Wisconsin, Mercy College, among others were in attendance. Each student was welcomed to obtain more information about higher education throughout the day.
In looking back, I can better understand the importance of Saturday's event. It was a time when youth of varied colors, ages, sexualities, and abilities can all at once be recognized for their unique talent and be encouraged to use these talents to advance in education and situation. More often than not, these same youth are the ones overlooked or taken for granted despite talent, creative genius, and sheer numbers to influence the communities around them.
Thanks to The New York Knicks, Nike, the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation, and participating colleges/universities for acknowledging these kids; The Gifted Many.
Oh, and did I mention that there was an awesome beatboxer by the name of Anointed S AND and contortionist in attendance on Saturday?
