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In interviews, Jason Reynolds has emphasized the connectedness of black communities and neighborhoods. As a young person, Reynolds was influenced by the music Queen Latifah, specifically her 1993 album Black Reign. One song in particular, “Just Another Day,” recounts a seemingly average day in Latifah’s neighborhood, which she refers to as the “hood”. The lyrics of “Just Another Day” acknowledges the dangers of “the hood” while at the same time celebrating with a sense of pride the people and community who call it home.
Reynolds was able to relate to rap music because it related to his lived experiences: to a community with gun violence and police presence that is still called home. Both Latifah and Reynolds remind us that we need to discuss neighborhoods and communities without the labels of “good” or “bad”. The discussion needs to begin with how communities influence people, their choices, logic, and perspective. Day One-PRIMARY BLOG ENTRY-After actively listening to Queen Latifah's song, please consider her and Reynold's thoughts on home and community. Then, respond to the discussion question (the title of THIS blog entry) in your Primary blog entry:
Day Two-SECONDARY BLOG ENTRIES-Scan through all of the Primary Blog Entries and pick TWO (ONE form each of the OTHER two topics). For EACH Secondary Blog Entry you may respond with your choice of the following types of responses:
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 https://apnews.com/video/kendrick-lamar-performs-not-like-us-at-super-bowl-halftime-show-00000194ed9cd405a3d5ef9e000a0000?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share In Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX halftime show, Samuel L. Jackson appeared as "Uncle Sam," an iconic symbol of the United States. Throughout the performance, his character provided commentary, at times appearing to moderate Lamar's message.
-What do you think the inclusion of "Uncle Sam" symbolizes in the context of Lamar's performance? -How does Jackson's portrayal of this figure influence the themes of power, control, and artistic freedom? -Considering Lamar's history of socially conscious music, how does this performance challenge or reinforce the expectations placed on artists to navigate personal expression and national identity? Use specific moments from the performance to support your ideas. Day One-PRIMARY BLOG ENTRY-After actively listening to the linked video interview with Jason Reynolds, please consider these three topics. Select ONE of these three topics to respond to in your Primary blog entry. In this Primary blog entry:
1. The Power of Storytelling: Jason Reynolds talks about the importance of storytelling and who gets to tell stories. Why do you think stories, especially those about real-life experiences, matter? How can storytelling create change? 2. Writing for Young People: Reynolds often says he writes for young people because their voices are powerful. Why do you think he focuses on writing for teens? How does Long Way Down connect with issues that young people face today? 3. Breaking the Cycle of Violence: In Long Way Down, Will has to decide whether to follow "The Rules" or make a different choice. Based on what Jason Reynolds says in the video, why is it important to question traditions or expectations? How does this connect to real-life situations? Day Two-SECONDARY BLOG ENTRIES-Scan through all of the Primary Blog Entries and pick TWO (ONE form each of the OTHER two topics). For EACH Secondary Blog Entry you may respond with your choice of the following types of responses:
Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 75-100 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm TONIGHT! Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 75-100 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. In these replies, you can contribute, agree, disagree, support, elaborate, challenge, clarify, and/or connect. Please use the PEN NAME that you were assigned in class as your PEN NAME and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59 pm on Friday night!  Introduce yourself by composing a paragraph that is written in the TONE that your pen name persona would use. Get creative! You should identify your musical specialty, your home turf, what spoken word piece you are most famous for in order to help people learn about who you are. Finally, find a weird or interesting fact to add some depth to your character. If you have a website, add it to your post. Have fun!
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Blog Requirements*your blog must clearly relate to the prompt. Blog RubricWant to see how you will be assessed? Please click the link below.
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