Mrs. B created an assignment in which they listened to a few songs by Marvin Gaye. She asked: What things that Marvin Gaye protested against in 1971 are still problems today?
Here are some responses:
"I think Marvin Gaye was saying 'Stop the violdence.' Nowadays, people are killing for the fun of it."
"Things are still the same--hatred, killing robberies. I think things are never going to change"
"Marvin Gaye is trying to set things right. He's trying to like send a message tothe parents and children to let them do the right thing."
"Marvin Gaye was right. Too many people are dying. I think the boy was wrong, trying to take somebody's life away."
The fact that children were able to draw lines connecting the song to their lives is progress. It moved me that they recognized that the violence was only hurting them, their family, and friends. It is tragic that one student wrote "I think things are never going to change." There is no hope in some parts of Chicago; they think change is impossible. Children of America are instilled with fear and this exposure of violence only worsens the effects. These children are used to the violence and "killing for the fun" causing them to also act outwardly with violence. Violence becomes a way of life. They don't like living like this, yet they don't act and try to change their way of life. They don't understand that "it takes a real man to walk away from a fight." It takes real courage to fight back passively. It pains me to read about the truth and the reality, the lives of these kids. My life and their life are polar opposites. I would do anything to help them fight the violence and evil they are exposed to.
No comments:
Post a Comment