Drew Attends "Youth Speaks" for MLK Day
Eleven Drew students, accompanied by English teacher Lingerr Senghor, attended the YouthSpeaks: Bringing the Noise event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Read below for their reflections on the event:
From English teacher Lingerr Senghor:
I had the pleasure of attending the MLK YouthSpeaks Bringing the Noise event on MLK Day, alongside Sarah and Isaiah S, Madison C-K, Ariel L, Francesca G, Ana S, Sophia C, Cleo H-F, Paige Q, Zoe W, and Brianna V. We were moved and impressed by the quality of the spoken word and song that we experienced. Young people from around the Bay Area explored topics such as gentrification, race and police brutality, micro-aggressions, heteronormativity, and more.
From 12th-grader Ana:
From 9th-grader Cleo:
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I had the pleasure of attending the MLK YouthSpeaks Bringing the Noise event on MLK Day, alongside Sarah and Isaiah S, Madison C-K, Ariel L, Francesca G, Ana S, Sophia C, Cleo H-F, Paige Q, Zoe W, and Brianna V. We were moved and impressed by the quality of the spoken word and song that we experienced. Young people from around the Bay Area explored topics such as gentrification, race and police brutality, micro-aggressions, heteronormativity, and more.
My takeaway is twofold. It is clear to me, as was stated by the event host, that "we have to believe that people younger than we are can be better than we are," so I continue to be excited at the possibility in our students here at Drew. My other takeaway is that, even as an extremely divisive new president takes power, there is space for unity... something that I felt strongly at the YouthSpeaks event.
From 12th-grader Ana:
The eloquent and poignant voices I heard at YouthSpeaks reminded me of how passionately I am willing to fight for and with the people of color in my life. The poets reminded me to listen for every perspective, and to stay aware; to accept my privilege and to use my voice for good. The stories told were by no means easy to hear, but they were real and valid and eye-opening. YouthSpeaks was extremely powerful, and touching in more ways than one.
From 9th-grader Cleo:
My takeaway from the Youth Speaks MLK event was that young people of color are scared for their lives every day. They are even more afraid of what's to come under Trump's presidency. But they also feel activated and motivated to fight for change. I'm very happy I went. It was empowering, and I learned a lot, like how privileged I am that I'm not scared every time I see the police.
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