'Social toxins' infect black males
Ginwright touts positive impact programs for youths
Tracey Tate
Issue date: 11/12/09 Last update: 11/12/09 at 11:21 AM PST
Section: News
These three elements comprising the "Urban Trifecta" which are barriers to academic achievement and well-being, continue to plague youth in Oakland. To change the face of the community, Ginwright suggests "Radical Healing" to foster well-being among youth.
The four "C's" to "Radical Healing" are caring relationships, consciousness, community and culture. One way in which "Radical Healing" has been introduced to the youth of Oakland is through Leadership Excellence, a program for African American youth 5-18 years of age.
A benefit of being involved with Leadership Excellence is attendance at Camp Akili, a six-day residential program that transports Bay Area Youth to Santa Cruz. "Black youth are not being served by traditional camps," noted Ginwright. Each day of the program at Camp Akili, youth are forced to face unresolved trauma. With the goal of healing the community, each day's activities become more intense.
Ginwright played video from a day at Camp Akili that focused on sexism. Young men and women first met in a group setting to discuss sexism and then were separated to facilitate opening up about the pain they have suffered at the hands of sexism.
When the segregated groups met again, the young men had to endure the abusive verbal sexist taunts that they heaped upon the opposite sex. The young women formed two lines and the young men had to walk "the gauntlet" while the young women vocalized their pain by repeating the very words men spewed at them over the years.
While it was a liberating experience for the young women, the young men felt the impact of such degrading speech. Their posture changed, they lowered their heads and some were even brought to tears. According to Ginwright, the young men are "shocked into consciousness."
The participants also re-enacted the middle passage during one day of their program at Camp Akili. One young man admitted that hearing how the slave master used the "N word" completely changed his perception about its use.
After his presentation, Ginwright autographed copies of his latest book, "Black Youth Rising: Activism and Radical Healing in Urban America," which is available in bookstores nationwide.
The four "C's" to "Radical Healing" are caring relationships, consciousness, community and culture. One way in which "Radical Healing" has been introduced to the youth of Oakland is through Leadership Excellence, a program for African American youth 5-18 years of age.
A benefit of being involved with Leadership Excellence is attendance at Camp Akili, a six-day residential program that transports Bay Area Youth to Santa Cruz. "Black youth are not being served by traditional camps," noted Ginwright. Each day of the program at Camp Akili, youth are forced to face unresolved trauma. With the goal of healing the community, each day's activities become more intense.
Ginwright played video from a day at Camp Akili that focused on sexism. Young men and women first met in a group setting to discuss sexism and then were separated to facilitate opening up about the pain they have suffered at the hands of sexism.
When the segregated groups met again, the young men had to endure the abusive verbal sexist taunts that they heaped upon the opposite sex. The young women formed two lines and the young men had to walk "the gauntlet" while the young women vocalized their pain by repeating the very words men spewed at them over the years.
While it was a liberating experience for the young women, the young men felt the impact of such degrading speech. Their posture changed, they lowered their heads and some were even brought to tears. According to Ginwright, the young men are "shocked into consciousness."
The participants also re-enacted the middle passage during one day of their program at Camp Akili. One young man admitted that hearing how the slave master used the "N word" completely changed his perception about its use.
After his presentation, Ginwright autographed copies of his latest book, "Black Youth Rising: Activism and Radical Healing in Urban America," which is available in bookstores nationwide.
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Jack
posted 11/12/09 @ 3:10 PM PST
The witnesses that encouraged, approved of and recorded this savage rape and beating are guilty of the same mentality that led to the horrific attack on the poor girl. (Continued…)
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