I'm Me

B.$myth

Topics In Media Class

In this class, we have covered a broad spectrum of topics. We discussed stereotypes, portrayal of women, the portrayal of inner city school children, school violence and its causes and the incompetence of our government. This class changed my perspective of the things I view. Now I put a critical lens to everything I see. For instance, upon watching the seemingly harmless movie "Ironman", the portrayal of the "Afghanistan Freedom Fighters" was extremely stereotypical. The viewer automatically had sympathy for the American soldiers killed in Afghanistan (though ironically enough their purpose for being in that country was never elaborated). Now, the children are learning that the "freedom fighters" are antagonists and a far more superior, American icon comes to the rescue and save the people from being brutally tortured by the insurgents. In all actuality, America has invaded another country for reasons I still haven't wrapped my head around. WE are the antagonists in real life, but the movie (which was meant for kids and young adults) portrays us as heroes. Before this media class I would have just let that very important observation blow pass me.

Media Class's Influence

I've learned much about media then ever before. The discussions that took place in the class room were about real important issues that shape the world we live in today. Issues like stereotypical behavior, stereotypes, racism, classism, politics, how women are being portrayed in the media, music videos message and view about women, and many more. We attack these issues and try to find a solution to them as best as we can. In my opinion these shapes us into leaders rather then followers. I can't look at a movie or even a music video without questioning the issues that they are feeding into. How can we ever move forward if we keep taking steps that lead us backwards? I feel the "YES WE CAN" speeches was the best project we've done so far because we gave our own opinions, our own insights of issues that affected us. We talked about how we would make that problem a solution for all people. In conclusion I now know I have a voice and I can use that voice to help others in need, uplift those who are down, abolish stereotypes that portray many people. I have a voice and media class is my influence.

The Wire

In media class we viewed a clip from the HBO series THE WIRE. In this clip we viewed many stereotypes being perpretrated. For one, many young black males were being portrayed as criminals, drug dealers, and even robbers. Hispanics as well were portrayed the same way. We even seen the negative portrayal the media has given all inner city school kids. If your an inner city school kid your subjected to violent and disrespectful acts. Other then that we also saw how some of the kids interact with one another in such a negative environment. We looked at two girls in particular. One of those girls was being bullied and in retaliation to the bully she cut her face. This gives us a thought in the back of our minds whereas we have to think about how others feel before doing anything.

The Wire

In class we watch the wire and an inner city school in Baltimore. This particular clip displayed inner city youth as violent unruly and having no sympathy or compassion for others. It showed old desk paint peeled walls and wild and rambunctious children. The classes were crowded and hard to control along with the students not taking the new teacher seriously. This shows how schools are now and also perpetuates that films only depict African American inner city schools in one way.

Themes Learned This Semester

This semesters themes were politics including Barack Obama's Yes We Can Speech and the conflict with reverend Wright, stereotypes portrayed by the media against women and African Americans, violence in inner city schools and racism as still a powerful issue in the world. These themes have opened my eyes to a more in depth way of thinking as well as a new way to carry myself. They have made me try to break out of societies usual stereotypes and standards. If I have learned anything thing from media class its don't let the media display who you are just be yourself.

Topics in Media Class

the topics disscussed in this class i have never discussed with people before. to be honest, i never really cared about it before this class. this class, my peers, and ms. roth helped me question the way i thought about alot of things. i am glad i had this class so that i cannot be fooled by the media anylonger. strrotypes, racism, and the portrayal of my gender, race, and teen peers have opened my eyes to how bad the media really is and how it can be. if it wasn't for this class, i would not interpret my music, question television, or watch politics like i do now.

the wire

I thought it was very interesting to veiw this series for te 2nd time. i think this show is a little extreme because of how the girl displayed her authority in the classroom. i also believe that the people who directed this series actually believes that inner city minortites are like that. it was like black people either had a weapon or were feared by other people. sometimes it is true but most of the time it is not. this show deserves all the academy awards or whatever it may get but i think it is a little extreme. it is propaganda to the people who don't live like this .

My media portfolio(Rough cut)

B. Smith
Media

Portfolio Project

Film products:
Pictures of different things we’ve talked about (O'bama, Females n the media, injustice, stereotypes)
Small footage of people talking about the problems (1 or 2 interviews of my friends, news broadcast clippings, radio edits, film clips, rap videos, etc.)
“Yes We Can” speech while more b roll (pics and footage) plays in the back.

Plot
I plan to show all of the stuff we’ve learned during this semester in a short film. It will contain the various topics we’ve covered with music and film. The goal of this film is to let everyone know that life has its ups and downs but together, we can overcome the problems of modern day society. It contains pieces of work that I’ve completed in the past semester and more. This is just the beginning so enjoy and look out for more.

B. $myth

YES WE CAN SPEECH

THE DAY STARTS OFF WITH A BANG, SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT IS A GOOD THING BUT NOT WHEN THAT BANG IS A GUN SHOT. POW POW DUCK NOW!!! EVERYONE TURNS WHAT DO THEY DO NOW...RUN SCREAM..THE MEDIA WOULD BE QUICK TO JUDGE WITHOUT A SINGLE QUESTION ASKED, BUT WHY? THEY WANT TO STEREOTYPE, PORTRAY PEOPLE IN WAYS THAT NO ONE WANTS TO BE SEEN OR BETTER YET NO ONE UNDERSTANDS

YES WE CAN OVERCOME
YES WE CAN PROVE PEOPLE WRONG
YES WE CAN GO ABOVE AND BEYOND
YES WE CAN TURN NON BELIEVERS INTO BELIEVERS
YES WE CAN STOP AND THINK
YES WE CAN MAKE A STAND
YES WE CAN DO WHAT IS RIGHT

I STAND BEFORE YOU SCREAMING
YES WE CAN!!!!!!

We need to take a stand
We need a plan, we can't continue to attack each other for minor reasons. I feel that we all have the power in us to create a peaceful environment with a limited amount of problem, because we have to face that we will receive certain challenges but we can't let that change negatively and cause us to act uncivilized. So enough putting ourselves down, listen to things that lifts you up. We need to hear things such as:

Yes we can come together as nation and face any difficulties

yes we can survive tragic situations

yes we can be the best that we be without going to the army

yes we can stop all the unnecessary killing and gunplay

yes we can have a black president

yes we can work through struggles

yes we can feel safe without a lot of cops with guns

Yes we can fix our community and make sure we are able to grow in them

yes we can allow black males to get jobs

Yes we can keep blacks out of jail

yes we can give second chances

yes we can do positive things to better ourselves

yes we can change

yes we can

Yes we can

Taquaia Ferguson
4/15/08




Yes we can learn to love

One another

But can we succeed?

The hands of history

Keeps pulling the chains

That holds us back.

So can we really change?

Yes we can!

We will fall through the cracks

And have no idea

Of what to fear

But can we move on

Yes we can!

We can become

More of what we

See in these mean streets!

And not fear of becoming doctors and lawyers

We will come out the jail and burn out the Ghetto’s

And will cross the new life of change and become more!

So can we change?

Yes we can!

The change starts with you the chains that dangle our feet ends with you!

What you decide to do with “the change”

Is your choice.

But remember the new generation

Are depending on you we

Stand over the people who

Sacrifice there lives.

And that is the dept that we shall some how need to repay.

So can we change?

YES WE CAN

Michael's Yes We Can!

Here he is....Presidential Candidate 2220!!

BK-Prep
Marllory Perez

Yes I Can
Everyday, all around me, I hear all sorts of stereotypes that makes me sick to my stomach. That I will get pregnant before I turn 19, that I wont be able to finish high school, that I wont make it to college.
As hard as I may try, I wont ever be able to stop these thoughts from going into people’s heads, but together as ONE, we can.
We need to stop blaming our failure on other people, we need to stop bringing each other down. We need to join together as one, and succeed……… because together, we can

MichaelSpeech

We as American citizens are gathered here together as one to answer to one of America's many problems Classism. Classism is the systematic oppression of people being placed in a lower class, rank, or position by the dominant class. It includes individual attitudes and behaviors, systems of policies and practices that are set up to benefit the upper classes at the expense of the lower classes. Classism explains how people are ranked according to socioeconomic status, family lineage, and other class related divisions. This system leads to a drastic income and wealth inequality.
This inequality is what we need to focus on. We're at a point right now where we need to come together as one, fight as one, and solve every issue like this one as one. The unfair distribution of wealth prevents our society from enjoying full financial benefits. This unfair distribution of wealth causes nothing but misery for the working class and poor people. I've seen working class people give a helping hand to those who are poor and of higher class. Now why is it that I've never seen a person of higher class ever help those in the working class and even poor people. Why is it that those who are in the higher class recieve special attention, better health care, better food, a better chance of doing anything. It's a cycle for the higher class, if your wealth is great you only help those who have greater wealth. This keeps us, "the people," from breaking that wall that seperates us from them, the poor from the rich, the lower class from the upper class. I feel we can break that wall and come together. Spread the wealth to those less fortunant rather then turning away because of his or her class rank. This seperation only feeds the saying " Survival of the fittest" well I feel it's time we come up with a new saying for a new plan that promises a new way of living.

When you see or hear that theirs 31 million poor people in America thats when we the people have to stand up and say this isn't right we need to figure something out in order to fix this problem. I remember as a young child attending Brooklyn Prepatory High School observing classism first hand. These two young boys were disrespecting this young lady because of the way she spoke. One of the boys was lower class and the other upper class but still were friends. When both of the boys were caught and sent to the principals office their parents were notified and told of the disrespectful act they each committed. Now each of the boys parents showed up to the school. Now to make the story short the boys were given seperate punishments due to their class rank. The upper class boy recieved a low punishment. He had to sit in the office 10 minutes after the school bell rang because of his "rank." While the lower class boy recieved 4 weeks of detention. I feel that we all should learn from this it shouldnt matter what class rank you have you are not better then the other we all share pain we all share happiness we all share problems. A problem is a problems no matter what and when faced with a problem we do whatever it takes to solve it. Thats what we're going to do cause we can as one.

Yes We Can

Im so proud that we were all able to make it here
Glad that we were able to receive a certificate that shows our acheivements
Many people were told that they would never make it here
But we fought and told them Yes We Can
I knoe it wasn't easy for some of us
It was times when we just wanted to give up,
Sometimes we slipped up
Luckily, we have teachers who care who told us Yes We Can

Now as we venture off and go about our lives
We would face the difficulties of the real world
Some of us may go off to College
Others may choose their career right after highschool
But the fact is Yes We Can do whatever we put our minds to

Yes We Can be young black men and women going to college
Yes We Can get into a higher institue of learning
Harvard, Yale, Princeton we could do it all
Yes We Can go without getting pregnant
Yes We Can finish and not drop out
Yes We Can be at the top of our class

It is a shame that when growing up they tell us
its literally impossible for us to make these acheivements
Well, our job it to go out there
and make the impossible possible
Show them that no matter how hard they try to look down us
We will try even harder to acheive our goals in life

So when they tell No we Can't
Always Remember
Yes We Can

yes we can

Tavia Kenton

From the time we have all been a kid, most of us has always heard “you can do anything you set your mind to.”
If that’s the case, why do most people depend on others even the government for support then later still complains?
If we can do anything we set our mind to why is so many people living without a job?
Our ancestors, no matter what race you belong to, had fought for us just so we can have a better life.
Why do so many people make race a major issue? Is it?
Aren’t we all ‘equal’?
Aren’t we all people?
Black/ White/ Rich/ Poor/ Female/ Male
Does it really matter?
Shouldn’t what really matter is the type of person you are on the inside?
Giving up/ dropping out of school
Why leave the one major thing that will get you somewhere in life?
Turning to drugs/ the streets
Is that really the right way to go?

Bullying in school
Letting your peers down
Are you serious?!
Why not stand up for each other?
Why not stick together?
R.I.P Maria
A young soul that is now gone
All because of cruel intensions.
What will her mom do know?
Her only child gone forever all because of what?
Of her peers who are suppose to be the world new generation?
What will become of future years to come?
Will this negative trend continue?

I say YES WE CAN
As individuals yes we can come together and make this place a better place.
Yes we can
Do whatever it is we set our mind to.
Yes we can make something meaningful of each of our life.
Yes we can live above the influence.
Yes we can
Live as one.
Yes we can
Yes we can
Yes we can become leaders of tomorrow.

Sean Bell Case

As We all know, sean bell's murderers were let off free of all charges. Was a cop that shot at him black. All is unsure and unclear to me. all i know is that i participated in a protest covering jamaica ave on friday night.
destroying our neighborhood really didn't solve anything but it relieved some of the agression people felt. The cops arresed a person for wearing a "Fuck The Police" shirt. I was suprised no one cared about it. i didnt even see it on the news.....

HIllary Won!

Hillary clinton won pennslyvania. Do you think she has a definate chance of winning now? Who knows until the election of 08

Yes We Can

B. Smith
U in the Media
Yes We Can


Racism, Classism, putting people down,
Not 6 ft. under, but we lower than the ground,
Crime, oppression, don’t blame it on the man,
They say we can’t make it, Yes We Can,
The system is the enemy, the problem is the power,
The media’s the instigator, happens every hour,
Writers and producers just tryna get a check,
Gotta feed the kids, so they caught up by the neck,
All you hear is gossip, or the war in Iraq,
But they keep pushing back, on the dealers with the crack,
And the bums downtown, while the higher class smiling,
If they just look around, see 100 million frowns,
(Yes We Can) break outta the violence, stop moving in silence,
We gotta be known, it has to be shown,
One nation under god, better yet the thought,
Or the belief of a better day, many people fought,
MLK, JFK, Honest Abe, need I say,
Everyone who’s tryna help tomorrow, or just today,
Because yesterday, well the past, life in America was injured,
And still walking on glass, still holding up the mass,
(Yes We Can) all the people have to do is take a stand,
Hold each others hands, and demand, all in sync, like a band,
Man damn, yo we need to prosecute,
Not jus the drugs, dirty money, and the prostitutes,
Life’s a female, society’s tryna kick her,
Legally, with all the cigarettes and liquor,
Some people ignorant, don’t wanna see the truer side,
The main thing that kill us is drugs, sex and suicide,
(Yes We Can) become more than a statistic,
More than entertainment, cuz we not a quick fix,
U-N-I-T-Y, stop the mixes,
The races, the classes, the living in the past tense,
So, if you feel ashamed for this man,
Named America, please try and get off the stand,
Drop the knife and put the mic in ya hand,
Say Yes We Can, Yes We Can, Yes We Can!!!

Yes We Can Speech

Brooklyn Prep Carl Parker
Ms. Roth – U in the Media April 14, 2008
Yes We Can

For starters I’m not here to blow you over with gratuitous use of large words or flagrant speech and voice fluctuations to catch your attention. In fact, this speech may not be eloquent at all. Instead, I sacrifice those things for the blunt truth. The truth is hope is fading. Gaps are growing; between the morals of two generations, between the pockets of the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor, between what is expected and should happen and what is actually occurring and worst of all, between us Americans who once shared the same idealistic dream.
The degree of separation is so bad that no longer can I personally share ideas and beliefs with my colleagues without criticism. Our world is separating. What began with twelve disciples led by one man has turned into thousands of branches of Christianity and millions of different ideas and interpretations of one book. What began with one movement of an ethnic group for equal rights has split into a spectrum of beliefs from “non-violent” to “by any means necessary”. What began with 13 colonies that unified under the belief of freedom has turned into a corrupt form of government that’s centered more around money then its original ideas of “liberty and justice for all”.
My list can go on until you realize that all I am saying is monotony. Now is the time for change, not because I am idealistic of the future, but because I feel it’s now or never. American culture is so immersed in stereotypes, violence, sex and drugs that the once ever-blazing flame of hope has now calmed down to a silent flicker. Well I believe now is a time to stop this silence and speak before the flame goes out. Within Carl Parker lies the blood of a Panamanian-American and an African American. Among them are many shades, forms and sizes of people but all under the same suffix…American. So lets rise, not as an individual group or race, but more so as Americans. Lets unite ourselves under one composition of morals and beliefs. Lets put an end to separation and start a new, fresh beginning entitled “The American People” not “The African American” or “Latino-American People”.
As long as there is the small flicker of light, that dim shade of orange, that minute source of heat that we call the flame of hope, I can say…Yes We Can.

A Speech For All

It is a time for change. Mistakes in our past have prepared us for this future. To say that this society is perfect or even close to it is blasphemy. it is a time for us to make sure that our ancestors visions wil not die in vein.
It is time for er as a people to do away with the corruption that obstructs the democratic government of america. it is a time for young minds to stop wasting senseless acts of violence. it is time for teenaagers to stop trying to be down and trying to graduate.
It is time for us as a people to stop becoming zombies to the systems. It is time for people to stop feeding into the media. It is time for ud to stop blaming Bush adminstration and do something.
It is a time in this history where we as a people to move out of this oppression and the barrier that obstructs the middle-class. It is time to stop the racism, facism, and live to make it better for the generation of tomorrow.
Yes We Can.

Yes we can Speech

Yes we can make change
Changing the way we feed into the usual stereotypical types
Yes we can
Try to stop our friends from using the “N” word so much
Yes we can
Let them know what that word means and what is has been used for
Yes we can
Teach and show the our siblings the right from wrong, and not let them follow in the wrong footsteps
Yes we can
Change the way we speak & judge other people because of their race & appearance
Yes we can
Encourage our friends & classmates to go & vote, if their 18 by when election time comes around
Yes we can
Change the way we live & think. We will have plenty of help soon when Obama gets elected as President. Yes we can.

Yes We Can

First things first i am not a poet and not that great at getting my point across. Coming to you not as an African American female but as a teen in America. There is something happening to our generation. The media is using our race and categorizing us by where we live, how smart we are ,and even how much we have to offer society. Being able to speak my mind on this issue is overcoming one of the media's standards of that "little black girl who resides in Brooklyn". Using the education that i have and that is soon to come I can take each opportunity thrown. This will allow me to prosper and become a better me. Not only i but we as generation Yes We Can be lawyers, doctors ,and cooperate CEO's. Yes We Can advance in life using our most precious item our mind and Yes We Can not i but we as almost voters can change the world.

MLK Speech about N****$

This is when martin luther king has risen from a coma and sees the world and how it is today. He talks about how much he went through and how it all went to waste.

I am my brother is a program I am in and I am going through my rite of passage. I'm posting this to let anyone who sees this know something about me that they would've known by seeing me.

Life is gift. You choose how you want to live it. It's kind of like how actors act in a movie or a T.V show, they live a certain lifestyle and act a certain way.Only thing different is life is the real deal,so you have 2 make it count. To me I feel that we live life over and over again to fix mistake you made before. I also feel that eventually you move onto a different way of living, because there is such thing as a spirit world I believe. you probably go to the spirit world first before being reborned. But life is about making choices and living with the outcome, only the strong ones survive

I think that the black detective is hurt from how his mother is blaming him for her sons lost. I feel that it like how all older siblings feel when a new born comes, they lose all the attention. I could see it in his face that felt he was hurt. this sence really stuck in my head because I can relate to what he goes through as far as how his mother doesn't give him credit for what he does. He probably had to deal with his whole life, thats why I left them alone and went on with his life.

Opinion on Trya Bank Show

I feel that this family doesn't know how black people or Jews act today. they probably feel the way they do because of rumors or because of their parents and their grandparents. I was disgusted to hear how they felt and what they were going to do with the others races that weren't like their. But I'm glad I saw that, because it made me realize there are still racist people out there to look out for.

before and after

All i have to say is WHY does things like this have to happene????

THIS IS TH3 FIGHT THAT W3 SPOK3 ABOUT IN CLASS WITH TH3 GURLS AND TH3 TWO BOYS LOOKING OUT....I THINK IT WAS R3ALLY STUPID OF TH3 GURLS TO DO SOM3THING LIK3 THIS AND TH3Y N33D TO DO SOM3THING B3TT3R WITH TH3IR TIM3 AND DOCTOR PHIL JUST N33DS TO STAY OUT OF IT Y WOULD H3 POST BAIL FOR SOM3ON3 WHO DID SOM3THING LIK3 THIS

THIS VIDEO CLIP IS ABOUT TWO GUYS WHO BOMBED A PLACE THEN ALL THEY DID DURING THE INTERVIEW WAS TALK ABOUT THEIR HAIR....I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY WEIRD

HOW DO I UPLOAD A VIDEO???

Homies Over Hoes

This lil video from da boondocks has expressed so much we have discussed in class. From women in the media to violence. But it is funny though.

Streotypes

i think to be sterotyped by your own race is the worst. Wouldn't you think that?
one day i was with my friends, n we wass gettin on the bus. it was four of us n i got on 2nd. i was holdin the door open because my friends were takin their time(like idiots. of couse the bus driver got mad closed the door n drove off. i politely asked him can you stop and hold the door of let us off. his reaction to that was i hate yall mutha f*****, dumbass black kids throwing their life away. im guessin due to that or the way i dressed i was sterotyped in that way. im black, hes black and he sterotyped me i think its a shame.

how the media brain wash people

While watching tanaya's video of the racist famile gave me a curiosity to explore other racist actions that goes on around us. While watching those racist and disturbing videos i found this video which stood out for me bacuse it has something to do with the media and what it portrays people has.

Discrimination in NYC

Last friday, March 28th, the juniors all had a trip to either Hunter or Columbia University. I went to Columbia. During our tour around columbia campus one of my peers was dancing. Playing around really. It was nothing big or neither anything inappropiate. Another tour group that happens to pass us made a statement to one of our teachers. The statement that she made is "I'm scared of the safety of my kids." the reaction had was shocked. Her kids was much older than us none of us was acting in any misbehaving manner where someone should be scared of us. I didn't understand what was going on. It took me a couple minutes to understand i had just experience discrimination. The most suprising thing about all this was that it happened right here in New York City. What a shmae!!!

Terrorism

This is so funny but actually has a message about how the fear of terrorists is being sighted and used to control the country.

Political views from the other side

These are a few videos that show how people view the war. This is exactly what Howard Zinn said in his essay What War Looks Like. He said we need to depend on the artists, peots, musicians to carry out the message.

Racist Family

Wow watching this video makes me realize how much racism still exist. How can it be that in the 21st century will have people who still have this much hatred. Things like this makes me wonder if America is ready for a african american President(Barack Obama).

Valley teen killed at party is mourned

CHATSWORTH - Students, friends and faculty on Monday mourned the death of a 16-year-old Stoney Point High School student shot at a weekend birthday party.
Michael Fabian died early Sunday after a fight broke out at a Northridge birthday party with about 150 people that gang members might have crashed, police said.
Stony Point High officials paid tribute to the quiet Winnetka boy who transferred from Taft High School in September to catch up on his studies.
"It's just really hard," Stoney Point Principal George Padgett said. "We need to be conscious of everybody's feelings - not just the students, but the staff. It's so tragic that, all around the Valley, students are being killed."
On Monday, the Los Angeles Unified School District dispatched grief counselors and psychologists to help students and faculty members. In addition, parents were being notified of the shooting.
Michael died in an alley behind a home in the 8500 block of Corbin Avenue after trying to keep people from getting involved in the fight about 12:45 a.m., said Detective Mike Fesperman of the Los Angeles Police Department's Devonshire Division.
It's unclear what started the altercation, but it apparently involved someone who might be a gang member, Fesperman said.
Words were exchanged inside the home, and then partygoers spilled into the alley, where Michael and another person were shot.
The second victim, whose name was not released, was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the shoulder and is expected to recover, Fesperman said.
No description of the shooter was provided other than "Latino male."
Michael was a genuinely good kid who just got caught in the crossfire, officials said.
"He was not a gang member of any kind," Padgett said. "He was a nice young man, very quiet, definitely doing what he could to catch up on his credits."

This is a clip from the show Scrubs. It's making a stereotype of how black people would act in the hospital when a family member was admitted there. I know it's suppose to be a little joke, but is it really funny??

Politics... laughing or joking matter?

As I listened to the radio last week, they had a guest on there who was Senator Barck Obama. He talked about his campaign and of course Hillary Clinton. However everything seemed as a joke to him. He mentioned that she asked him to be her vice president. He then proceeded to ask sarcastically "How can the person thats in second ask the person in first to be his vice president?" He basically tried to say that he would win so she silly for making the offer. As the radio show went on Obama made many indirect comments. This took me by suprise. I thought the president of united states was suppose to be serious. They are making the political race into a gamn to see who can come out the winner, instead of choosing who's best.

Politics... laughing or joking matter?

This is a video made by a pitbull fan on U tube. The original song that was before Pitbull made the remix was sparkling clean not one curse word. Me and my grandmother used to sing it, thats how clean it was. Relpy to this If you need the translation of the spanish words just ask.

TYPES OF STEREOTYPES

Stereotypes are over simplified images of people or groups of people, based on race, gender, occupation, or age. You are probably familiar with a number of stereotypes. To begin we're going to look at an obviuos stereotype: "HOW MANY BLONDES DOES IT TAKE TO SCREW IN A LIGHTBULB?" this jokes furthers the stereotype about blondes being dumb. How many jokes have you heard about blondes or how many times have people said Hey I got a blonde joke.What stereotype is associated with blondes

1) Blondes are usually nerdy, Brilliant, awkward women
2)Blondes are dumb helpless women
3)Blondes are jocks
or 4)Blondes challenge men for there traditional role

what do you think?

Framing

If you look at me what do you see, An hispanic whose committed numerous felonies, Why am I being criticized and classified as a drug dealing criminal through your wandering eyes I desipise those lies and strive for a life of fortune and not a life of crime. Don't judge by culture, ethnicity, or color what if you were treated wrongly due to the stereotypes around...I wonder? I'm leading the new school of political leaders, business men & women, teachers, doctors, lawyers,& company owners I'm told because I'm hispanic I'm always drinking never thinking about staying sober,...I should be doin dishes I dont know how to speak proper english I should be jumping fences I'm not allowed to have anything expensive I start riots I'm loud never silent always starts fights a thief who uses slang when he's out and about with a Gang. Why say those things now when you look at me what do you see?

Pix: wat do u see???

If i dre$$d up more and used less slang, would i be seen as a more intelligent individual??
Or wuld i b shown as that same black boi from tha ghetto???
Let me know

So is this how society see African Americans? Poor..alwayz stoned up? I google balck neighborhood and there is tons of picture similar to this one. Others were of getho houses that looks broken down and dirty. Why are blacks mostly viewed in the media and society this way? Just because someone lives in the projects does that mean that they are ghetto with no behavior? Well I live in Linden projects and I am no where near being ghetto. I happen to get good grades in school, stay out of trouble and many other non ghetto things. So why some people think just because you live in the projects you are ghetto bad etc???

how women are view in the media

i posted this video because of our discusion earlier this markin period. Although this video states that women are independent and can do what they want is this video actually viewing women in a right way? The lyrics are good but my main question is why women have to be exploted with there figure and their body showing?

Frame...

I've been framed so many times that its really not that hard to chose one to talk about. Okay, this one time I had just recently moved down south from Long Island. I had clothes nobody had ever seen before and all the teachers thought I dressed so well to be only in the 5th grade. My new school was having a spelling bee contest, and all the teachers thought it would be a good idea for me to go up and try it. One, because I loved to read and second, because I loved writting. But personally I think it was because they figured I was ahead of the rest of the other children since I was from NY. So when I got up there and couldn't spell all the words right, the teachers looked shocked. And when I was walking down from the stage, I heard one of the teachers say "Oh she is just like the rest of them, no different."

Frame

I have been frame so many times!!!!! when i go to 5th ave with my mother in airports, hotels, and school. I really dont care what people think of me sometimes, but it hurt when someone judge you of the color of your skin. Someone is always going to say somethinmg about you if u look diferent from them.It could be the way u dress, ur hair color, ur skin or the shape of ur body. I can remember when i was in school and i had got into a fight and my teacher automatic thought i was the one who started the fight because where i had came from.

What Does this pic mean?

When you see this photo, What comes to mind? To most they might think Oh look she probably ghetto look at her earrings or she probably a weirdo who stay taking new myspace pics. This photo portrays me as a anything a person wants it too...from a ghetto girl...to one of those teens who are trying to still live in the 80z. Who knows what everyone thinks minds in there crazy,Hey I don't even know why I took this pic like this..it was just a boring afternoon n i decided to take flicks.I guess we can find different ways to look at it thats what make these kind if stuff interesting.

Freeze!!! Frame

Aisha leaves her house FREEZE!!!! psstt Look at that girl over there she must be ghetto,hood,a teenage mother, she lives in the projects. Aisha gets on the train FREEZE!!!!pssst Do you see her?? She must be a thief,high school drop out,smoke weed and always on her back if you know what I mean. Aisha arrives at school FREEZE!!! psst Do I have to look??? She must be getting into a fight today,loud, and not intelligent. Are they her boyfriends? How many more days until her suspension is finished? Aisha arrives home FREEZE!!! Look at her!! Daddy's lil gurl mommies lil pain. Aisha gets in her bed FREEZE!!! GOODNITE

Parents!!!!

My Parents!!!!! The media portrays black teens as having one or no parents. They usually have to work two or three jobs to make ends meat. With not enough money for a house the family is most likely in an apartment building. Well my parents are just the opposite.They have always been there no matter what.I live in a house with three floors and my own room. Not only providing for me but my brother as well with not 2 or 3 jobs. Each of them has one job. I not rich but I'm dam sure not poor. I guess you could say they're acting "out of character".

Response to da people (The Real Me)

I don't sell drugs, i don't smoke cigs,

I'm not tryna rob you from your store or your crib,

I'm not doin crimes, im not bout 2 do a bid,

im out here makin money, doin music, makin vids,

Doin sumthin positive, n negative communities,

people keep assuming, makin asses out of u & me,

stereotype followers, makin us disgraces,

judgin not by their actions, but by appearances & races,

people out here classist, judgin by the masses,

how u know wats in my pocket, ya dumb asses,

but its funni cuz, if u dont no me,

and u watchin tv, thinkn they show me?,

lol, lma0, people get it straight,

im not ya entertainment, im not the mass u gon dabate,

so, i will leave the people with this last question,

y u gotta judge me straight offa first impression?.

y ur mind gotta stick wit everything thats wrong?,

That's the questions that inspired me to make this song.

If u don't undastand then leave a comment letting me know.

B. $myth

Mothers Of Today

The strengths of Urban schools Part 2

Although America’s cities are "the strongest they have been in a decade," according to a 1998 State of the Cities report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, poverty remains more concentrated in distressed urban areas and affects a disproportionate share of minority families. "When asked why people are leaving cities," the report relates, "two answers most commonly cited are the poor quality of urban schools and the relatively high rates of urban crime."
Without ignoring these challenges, however, more and more educators are asking a question intended to help all city kids, whether they go to school in Detroit or Portland, New York or Anchorage: What can schools do to help students thrive in the urban neighborhoods where they live and learn?
Researchers at the Center for Education in the Inner Cities (CEIC), a project of the Laboratory for Student Success at Temple University, are focusing on educational resilience as a key to helping urban students succeed—even if they live in neighborhoods beset by social and economic woes. "Although not forgetting for a moment the details, complexity, and history of the problems cities face," relates the CEIC impact report, Next Steps in Inner-City Education, "researchers focus on the ‘positives’ of inner-city life, the vast resource of the cities, and, most important, the resilience and potential of inner-city children and youth."
Bonnie Benard, who has written widely on the topic of resiliency, reports that "new rigorous research" supports nurturing the strengths of urban youth rather than targeting services to overcome their deficits. Teachers have the power "to tip the scale from risk to resilience," she writes in Turning It Around for All Youth, a 1997 ERIC Digest. Benard cites three school-related factors that have the power to transform city kids’ lives:
Caring relationships with teachers who demonstrate kindness, respect, and understanding
Positive and high expectations, which can challenge students beyond what they believe they can do and help them not see setbacks as pervasive
Opportunities to participate and contribute, which allow students to express their opinions, solve problems, and help others

The strengths of Urban City Schools

When people think of an Urban City School they automatically give the assumption that all the kids are drug dealers,gang members, drop outs etc. This assumption is not entirely true because Urban City Schools produce kids who are intellectual and capable of doing something with there lives.Building on the strenghts of city kids, rather than tallying up their weaknesses, takes a fundamental shift in thinking about urban education. This article explains a little more:More than 150 languages are now spoken in America’s public schools, a reflection of recent immigration trends. City schools enroll the lion’s share of these newest Americans. Is this diversity a strength or an obstacle to learning? If seen as a deficit, immigrant students’ limited English skills can look like one more burden for urban districts to bear. Taken as a talent, however, children’s "multilingual abilities may one day give them a distinct advantage in the global marketplace," points out R. Craig Sautter in CITYSCHOOLS, a publication of the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. Urban schools, concludes Sautter, "need to develop strategies that build aggressively on the real capacities, experiences, culture, and linguistic attributes of city kids." Such strategies start by thinking of urban children as "of value" rather than "at risk," suggests former Philadelphia superintendent Constance Clayton in City Kids, City Teachers: Reports from the Front Row.
For decades, researchers have been documenting the deficits of urban students and the social ills of the inner cities. Across the country, including the largest cities of the Northwest, achievement gaps remain especially glaring for low-income minority youth. Complex social and economic reasons have left many of these children increasingly isolated from middle-class students and from successful schools, according to Trends and Issues in Urban Education, 1998, a report from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education. City kids attending high-poverty schools, according to the ERIC report, tend to have limited exposure to rigorous coursework and experienced teachers—two key factors for boosting achievement.

Poverty Versus The Military

This article gives brief info. on how the military looks on urban cities and the people who inhabit the urban cities."The U.S. Department of Defense sees urban schools as ones of its biggest recruiting obstacles. Not because leftist teachers in some of those schools try to keep recruiters out, but because so many potential recruits have to be turned down because of the poor education they have received in those schools. While only 21 percent of Americans live in rural areas, 44 percent of the qualified recruits come from these areas. What's strange about all this is that the rural areas spend much less, per pupil, on education, but get much better results. Part of this can be attributed to differences in cost of living, but a lot of it has to do with simply getting more done with less. Per capita, young people in urban areas are 22 percent more likely to join the army, than those of the same age in urban areas.
The rural recruits are also a lot easier to train, and generally make better soldiers. The urban recruits often have a bad attitude, as well as a difficult time getting along with others, and following instructions. The urban schools deserve some of the blame for this, while rural schools tend to be far more orderly, and put more emphasis on civil responsibility. Many of the urban recruits are aware of these problems, and joined the service to learn useful (for getting a job) social skills. Those skills are more often found among rural recruits because out in the boondocks, people are more involved with local government, and more involved in general. This has been noted in urban neighborhoods, and for decades, many urban parents have sought to send their kids, "to live with kinfolk in the country" to get the child away from the bad influences of urban life.
Over the last decade, there's been a movement back to the rural areas. Urban areas may be more exciting, and offer more employment opportunities, but they are a tough place to raise kids, or find suitable recruits for the military."

More Stereotypes.......Shadow Tha Hedgehog

Sonic the hedgehog has been out since before i could remember. In 200_, a new character was introduced to the franchise as Sonic was returing for a sequel to the dreamcast. His name is Shadow. He is Sonic's alter ego and the newest villian since Eggman. He is the "lone wolf" of his pack. He had his own solo game which was released not too long ago.

The Thing is....

How come he is the only one in the Sonic series that used a gun? He was imprisoned in a base until Dr. Eggman broke him out. He only fights cops and good guys. He is just as fast as Sonic but, he is given a motorcycle. If it's a children's game, why does Shadow have uzis & rocket launchers? Sonic has never touch a gun throughout the series and is appealing to everyone. Who are they trying to appeal to?

Cartoons an the messages it sends us.

If you think about it in every cartoon you've ever watched or even observed you can notice that there's only one African American in it. Their maybe none even. Cartoons like "Hey Arnold, Jimmy Neutron, Fairly OddParents and even Family Guy." These cartoon show one African American male or female. Why is that? why does one race rule over the other? One good example of no African American being showed in a cartoon show would be "Doug." You see no African American teens in there and I feel that isn't right. Do you?

Hillary Clinton & Barrack Obama

We all have heard lately in the news the debates going on between the two canidates up for Democracy for the presidency of '08. Mad TV has decided to take this issue in turn it into something unappropiate. Watch this Video clip and you decide wether you think they should or should not be allowed to show this on television.

City Of God: The Movie To City Of Men

This is the movie that was made before The City of Men and it has some characters from the City of Men. You can watch the whole movie on youtube.


After watching the video what do you think? Is this really Brazil?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScyWcFDQBZ0

City of Men

I thought the show that we watched in class today was very interesting. I didn't know Brazil had areas that were so bad. I knew various islands in the West Indies had poor areas in them, but I never thought there would be one that would look and be so bad. The part that jumped out to me the most was the fact that young men and young boys were the protectors of their part of town. I feel like it's ridiculous that they are able to walk around town with weapons like that. What is their country really doing? They are only thinking bout the wealthy people or forgetting or ignoring the poor folks that really need some kind of help.

Brock Tribute

Poke' Mon from a different view

Eveyone has seen pokemon at leat once in there lifetime. This class has made me seen it a little different. On pokemon the character named Brock is a gym leader from pewter city.
The thing is...
Why is he the only character that has been there since the first season other than professor oak and ash's moms? Why is he always trying to get with every girl he see but everyone is laughing at him?
Brock is the only black character in the series. He was raised only by his mother. his father left out of his life when he was young. His mother died so now he has to take care of his siblings. He has many younger brothers and sisters. Don't this sound familiar? Like a bunch of stereotypes that are heard about black families? Since his father left when he was young, wo is the father of the other children?
Comment on this if you understand iight

skool meat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0v-OUglDA4 this is a video that really shockd me, and i wanted to know if they were really going to band beef from school lunch

Obama may face grilling on Patriotism

WASHINGTON (Feb. 23) - Sen. Barack Obama's refusal to wear an American flag lapel pin along with a photo of him not putting his hand over his heart during the National Anthem led conservatives on Internet and in the media to question his patriotism.Now Obama's wife, Michelle, has drawn their ire, too, for saying recently that she's really proud of her country for the first time in her adult life.

What's Your Take?
Conservative consultants say that combined, the cases could be an issue for Obama in the general election if he wins the nomination, especially as he runs against Vietnam war hero Sen. John McCain."The reason it hasn't been an issue so far is that we're still in the microcosm of the Democratic primary," said Republican consultant Roger Stone. "Many Americans will find the three things offensive. Barack Obama is out of the McGovern wing of the party, and he is part of the blame America first crowd."Opponents of Sen. John Kerry proved in the 2004 election that voters are sensitive to suggestions that a candidate is not sufficiently patriotic. The Democratic presidential nominee's campaign was torpedoed by critics of his Vietnam War record called the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, even though he won multiple military honors and was lauded by his superiors.The Swift Boat campaign started as a relatively small television ad buy that exploded into an issue that dogged Kerry for months. The Massachusetts senator has conceded since losing to President Bush that the campaign and his lackluster response to unsubstantiated allegations he considered unworthy of a reaction likely cost him the election. And the term even became part of the campaign lexicon - swift boating.Obama already is the subject of a shadowy smear campaign based on the Internet that falsely suggests he's a Muslim intent on destroying the United States. Obama is a Christian and has been fighting the e-mail hoax, which also claims he doesn't put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance, and he's been trying to correct the misinformation."Whenever I'm in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America," Obama frequently tells voters."I've been going to the same church for 20 years, praising Jesus," he adds.Retired Major General Scott Gration, an Obama military adviser, said he expects the attacks will only increase if Obama wins the Democratic nomination."People are projecting things and taking things out of context," Gration said. "There's absolutely no question in my mind that Michelle and Barack are extremely patriotic, appreciate our freedoms and our values and everything else that the flag represents."

Obama and Celebrity Endorsements

What are your thoughts after viewing this? Do the celebrities who endorse Obama matter?

Are We Really Like This????

Are we really like this??? As black teens we should have better conduct on the train. This is exactly the reason media labels us as "ghetto" or "hood". I admit I don't have the best behavior on the train but it is know where near as hostile or as violent as this. Don't let the media's standards hold us back.

Females In The Media

This is a presentation that shows how women are viewed in the media and how they can be shown equally

The Wire-Portrayals of Education in the Media

I am curious as to how you have read how "The Wire" portrays inner city education...here is a clip just outlining its potential goals. It is one of the first programs to attempt to truly document how students negotiate between home, the streets, and school.

Welcome!!!

Hello all,

I would like for this to be our opportunity to continue our conversations from class, start new conversations, and create a virtual SPACE for us to analyze, question, and critique images from the media.



I look forward to seeing what you all find intriguing, interesting, and/or provocative. Post away!