Checkers
Monthly Archives: February 2020
Roy DeCarava
Sherry Turner DeCarava
Book Signing
Book Signing
Did you ever meet someone you clicked with right before moving on to another dimension in life?
This is what happened to me before I graduated Fordham. I met wonderful artist and professors at the other campus- Lincoln Center. I met my mentor, who still mentors me and Joe who never fails to invite me to the dark room.
I also met a lot of my ancestors and professional artist through them.
Somehow, I’ve stayed in contact with them and them with me.
Back in October of last year, Casey texted me to check out Roy DeCarava at Zwirner and I told her I’ll go.
I arrived the last day and it was packed. I ran into Terrance and met some of his buddies. I was told Mrs. DeCarava was there- which it was a honor to meet her and while standing in line, I was excited to see my Professor, Joe.
At the Zwirner viewing Roy DeCarava, ran into Joe!
Somehow I learned about photographer, Roy DeCarava, a month before he died. It was really awkward. I was in the computer lab looking for someone to write about and his story stood out to me. I remember typing his name into google to see if he was still alive and he had just died a month before, that October. Well, he’s another legend I can’t meet I remember thinking. Just like Gordon Parks.
DeCarava was born in 1919, in New York where he lived and started his career. He came from a single parent home. His mother migrated from Jamaica and placed her son into the programs in the neighborhood. He was a first black in some areas, like the first to integrate the New York City Textile High School and the first to win the Guggenheim Fellowship.
Gordon Parks was and still is my favorite photographer but what I enjoyed when reading about DeCarava was how real and close to home his struggle was. Firstly, he grew up in New York and experienced segregation. New York isn’t in the south! However, he was the first to integrate his high school! His story speaks to the real New York and how it is- even now!
Secondly, in the late 1940’s, his subject was Harlem. And, he showed Harlem as he saw it. His work is raw and gritty. As he said, ‘[I aimed for] a creative expression, the kind of penetration insight and understanding of Negroes which I believe only a Negro photographer can interpret.” Looking at his images, you are drawn into a world of segregated Harlem, where only Blacks dwelt. A Harlem where children are happy despite poverty and adults are struggling to create a better life.
His photo titled ‘Graduation’ shows a young girl in a white dress surrounded by rubbish. It shows the fluidness of the life his subjects were living; the ability to switch into wanting to live the American dream and at the same time seeing the reality of living as a black person in America.
Needless to say, I was very grateful that day to run into his wife, Sherry Turner DeCarava. I may not have met Roy DeCarava but it was a blessing to meet someone who worked along side of him. And it just so happens that not only did I meet his wife but I learned that my professor, Joe, also worked with Mr. DeCarava.
Joseph
Coconut Water
My trip to Salvador, Bahia
During the summer of 2019 I visited the country of Brazil. I stayed in Salvador, Bahia at a small hotel across from the fisherman’s beach. Every night the sounds of the water rocked me to sleep and in the morning was there to greet me.
It’s A beach town someone told me.
Oh, that’s the place in Brazil many Blacks live, another person said.
Descendants of slaves, some like to say.
My first day there Kayanara met me at Guarulhos airport. We took a taxi to Bahia. After I freshened up, Kayanara took me to Teatro Miguel Santana.
She showed me the stone church built in the 17th Century for and by the Blacks. In the same area is where Michael Jackson performed “All I wanna say is they don’t really care about us” which is now a tourist attraction. That’s where I spent my money on a tee for Daniel and Ashley.
The Beach
Visiting the Forts
We visited Espaco Pierre Verger da Fotographia ,one of the ten forts built to protect the city from the Dutch in the 17 Century.
This day, I was the only visitor in the museum. Aylana, Gabriel and Keila took their time explaining their history to me.
After we spoke about the art, they asked me questions about America and I asked them questions about Brazil. When Keila realized I was a believer, she ran down her list of Hillsong, asking me if I knew Christian songs. Before we parted, we just about had church in the museum.
Black History: Iconic Abolitionist Used His TriBeCa Home As Part Of Underground Railroad — CBS New York
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — On a corner in TriBeCa, hundreds of people sought refuge on the Underground Railroad. The house belonged to a young black abolitionist and publisher who mentored the likes of Frederick Douglass. Yet, his story is hard to find in most history books. CBSN New York’s Aundrea Cline-Thomas recently learned more about…
The Dorms
My friend, George, took this photo…while the rest of us were probably sleeping.
I thought I could keep up with him, but found out he was a bit more adventurous when he insisted that we find the sundial on campus and watch the stars in the night sky- after we visited four states and got back around midnight.
Celebrating MLK, Jr. Day
My third graders were anticipating a lesson on Martin Luther King, Jr. with the day right around the corner and I was too. I wanted to do something different than the typical “he was a civil rights leader and lets listen to his speech”. The lesson didn’t come to me until early in the morning right before it was time for me to run out of the house.
I would teach them about Freedom Songs and the place music had during this time.
We began by reading I Have a Dream: Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr. with paintings by Kadir Nelson.
We pulled out important vocabulary words and spoke about their meanings.
Then we watched parts of the speech on youtube.
Oh my gosh, look how many people there are, Ms. Hurley
Yeah…wow. And notice class, no one has a phone in their hands…why is that?
Next, we spoke about how the speech was planned and how Dr. King and his friends wanted to entertain the people so music was necessary. We spoke about how much money they had to use to set up a system just for it to be destroyed by someone who didn’t agree with Dr. King.
We call those people haters, Ms. Hurley
Thank you, haters then.
Finally, we watched a video of Mahalia Jackson.
You notice how everyone is singing and swaying? You think she’s making the people happy?
We watched Peter Paul and Mary.
Ms. Hurley, which one is Peter?
I am not sure. But at least we know Mary.
Finally, we watched Odetta and lastly, the Freedom Singers.
After that, they were given the following writing prompt: Imagine you are a musician and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked you to sing a song for the March on Washington. What would you sing? Write your own song.
They came up with amazing lyrics and the lesson took more time then I planned because all of them wanted to sing their freedom songs. Below are some of their songs:
Chloe’s Song:
I would sing a song called Blacks and Whites. It would be about how Blacks should be treated. My song would be about Blacks and Whites and how they should be together like brothers and sisters. They should be able to use the same things and be able to be treated the same way.
Blacks and Whites
Blacks Blacks Blacks
should be be be
treated the same way as everybody else they should be
free free free
yes,
Blacks, Blacks, Blacks.
Whites Whites Whites
should be be be
treated the same way as everybody else they should be
free free free
yes,
Whites, Whites, Whites
Kourtney’s Song:
If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked me to sing, I would sing, I will stand up.
I will stand up
I will stand up for Blacks and Let freedom be
We should get the freedom in here
We should get some
So much
So do not get no color and white schoooooooool
And be kinnnnnd
Kylie’s Song
I would sing, Let Freedom Ring. My song means freedom should ring no matter where we are.
Let Freedom Ring
Freedom should ring around the world
Freedom should ring around the world
Even if we’re black or white
We’re all beautiful in sight
No matter were we are freedom should ring
Freedom should ring around the world
O’Launi’s Song
If Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked me to sing a song for the March on Washington, I would sing the song I made up called, Our Freedom Must Prevail. My song means everybody should always have freedom and that the freedom must prevail.
Freedom Must Prevail
Our Freedom must prevail in the peace of harmony
Our freedom must prevail in all of liberty
Everyday I think of the slaves on how they were set free
I think of our ancestors and the name of the leaders of our black nation helping us along the way
Our freedom must prevail today, today, today
Our freedom must prevail oooooh oooh
Our freedom must prevail.
Olivia’s Song:
I would sing a song called Freedom. My song Freedom is about honoring slaves and our ancestors.
Verse
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom is the case for every single day
Slaves should be free
Our ancestors should have been free
Freedom, freedom, freedom is the case for every single day
Chorus
La la la we could all be free at once together
We all could fight through this together.
Zyon’s Song
Get Together
Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm Black people had to fight for freedom
Black people said something and white people said what?
And hit, hit, hit
Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm Ummmmm Black people had to fight for freedom
Black people fought and fought and fought
And won, won, won
Their freedom
Amare’s Song
When Freedom comes, any day, I hope we say, hooray!
Let Black people be free!
Black people should not be killed in a tree.
Black people should not be burnt in a fire.
They are very tired
Because white people treat them like dirt.
They even gave them wrinkled shirts.
Black people know their rights
so why can’t there be light
and when freedom comes any day, I hope we say hooray!!
Parice’s Song
If I was a musician and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked me to sing a song for the March on Washington, I would sing, Lord O Lord.
Lord O Lord
Lord O Lord let freedom come
Save our land
Help people fight for their rights and not judge by skin
Let us be free, be friends, be family
To know make Lord Happy.
Lord let us make you happy
O Lord up Life are heats
Let freedom come
Anuli’s Song
Ring Us Till Freedom
Ring us till freedom so we could stop segregation.
After I say these words, I want everyone to hold hands
Don’t be afraid
Just come on with me
I want you to repeat what I say
Stop segregation!
Come on everybody!
Stop segregation!
Olivia’s Song
The name of my song is March for Freedom. It goes like this:
March for freedom
I want it.
Do you, you, you?
March for freedom
Hundreds of people want it too.
Freedom is spelt F-R-E-E-D-O-M
Freedom is when you are free from segregation.
F-R-E-E-D-O-M. We don’t want segregation to come again.
M-A-R-C-H We are filled with love and not hate.
March for freedom.
I want it.
Do you, you you?
March for freedom
Hundreds of people want it too.
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