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| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at UCLA in 1965 |
For the past several weeks now, we have been reading and writing about, and discussing the potential of art as a powerful and effective tool for protest and resistance. Writers, singers and song writers, fine and street artists use their craft to protest against injustice, redefine stereotypes, create spaces for free self expression, and to defend those who cannot defend themselves.
Many of you have undoubtedly seen the video below. If not, it is a video produced and uploaded by fellow UCLA students compelled by their outrage at the low numbers of male African American students at UCLA. For this blog post, watch the video and think about the various ways in which these students present their cause. Then in 2-3 paragraphs answer the following questions: What are the students protesting and how do they stage their protest? How is spoken word poetry and the internet used as a form of protest? Do you think that their protest was effective or ineffective? Why or why not? Responses must be posted Tuesday, May 27th by 5:00 pm to receive credit.
The students are protesting the limited representation of African American students on the UCLA campus which contradicts UCLA's claim to having a diverse campus. They stage this protest by creating a spoken word video but it is really the symbolism and lyrics used in the spoken word that hits home. I know that every time I watch this video, even I definitely feel less proud to be affiliated with UCLA.
ReplyDeleteThe very first thing mentioned in the video are the assassinations of John Huggins and Bunchy Carter, who attended UCLA when affirmative action was heavily considered and when a lot of activism for empowering African American to acquire higher education was present. I think this frames the purpose of the video and shows that if they were alive today, they would not be happy with the lack of diversity. I think that the thoughtfulness of the video and the meanings that it has through the lyrics and edits are what make it so effective in communicating protest.
Spoken work is effective because it combines a lot of elements that really grab the attention of the viewer: poetry and film in this case. This protest was extremely effective as the youtube video was widely spread through the internet and I even had friends from the other side of the country asking me about it.
The students in this video are projecting a protest against the false statement of the diversity that UCLA is known for. They do so by objecting the limited representation of African Americans attending UCLA throughout the years. The students themselves are of color join together as one to protest and make their opinion stand out in this video. They make statistical statements such as the number of African Americans attending UCLA versus other ethnicity’s and also mention that most of the African Americans that do attend are a part of the Athletic department.
ReplyDeleteThey use spoken word poetry and the internet to attract attention and target those that need to hear their message. Since the media is widely apart of today’s culture, it can be easily used to share and spread their word of their protest so that others can be aware of their cause of action. Personally, I do believe that their message was effective because many people now know of this video and its purpose. It captivated many viewers on YouTube because of its strong elements of spoken words.
Jessica Iniguez
Black Bruins protest about the low number of African-American students admitted into UCLA since affirmative action was repealed. They are internally outraged with the administration high acceptance of African-Americans athletes and low acceptance of non-athlete black students into UCLA. Using a video and social media, Sy Stokes, this academic year's The Word on Wednesday Director, uses poetry as a form of protest. His video, where he shares his spoken word, was uploaded on Youtube. It has hit more than two million views. In this video, Stokes uses statistics to reiterate facts. In addition to the rhythmic sounds of his words, melancholy music plays in the back sounds, appealing emotions. By stating facts on how the system is corrupted, he uses social media to deliver his message through the usage of spoken word poetry. The internet facilitates the distribution of information across the world. Without it, people would rely in different methods to be updated in the status quo. Internet makes this form of protest accessible at all times from any location that has access to service.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, at first, it might seen as if Sy Stokes is playing the victim, he is merely stating facts. For instance, "stop pretending that the wounds of our past have healed. We're not asking for a handout, we're asking for a level playing field. Those with less opportunity are fighting for their position trying to find their place, but those with privilege are hitting triples when they were already born on third base," sounds as he is victimizing himself. But there is certainly, truth in it. One can argue that black families may be also wealthy, and, then, it seems as if they were born on "third base." And an actual fact is, "The number of entering male freshman students was 2,418; only 48 of them are African American." He eloquently suggest the disparities of privilege families and oppressed families (which are usually families of color). But the numbers prove statistical evident to back up such claims. Furthermore, he uses a metaphor to covey the idea of anti-people of color with, "... we wouldn't dare mix anything with brown or black or else our entire creation would be ruined." Essentially, UCLA wouldn't dare to mix with brown or black. These colors are the "melanin" in people of color skins. And, if UCLA were to mix with these color, "[its] entire creation would be ruined.
This was a effective protest. It raised awareness of the discrimination of Black Students at UCLA. Although not explicitly stated, he also promotes Increasing Graduations, Not Incarcerations, Transforming Education (IGNITE), a campaign that the UCLA external Vice-President Office is working on. This video may change the minds of UCLA administration, the university, however, must abide by the articles of Prop 209, which repealed Affirmative Action.
In the Black Bruins spoken word video, students are protesting the absurdly low amount of the black male students that get accepted and graduate UCLA. They are protesting the lack of financial aid, the overspending and abuse of funds by high up UCLA officials, and most importantly that they should be proud to be at UCLA. They stage their protest visually with the removal of their UCLA gear and audibly through spoken word.
ReplyDeleteSpoken word is a beautiful way to express feelings and emotions and with the internet now it is much easier to spread videos and pieces. The ability to reach a wide range of people with the internet has made spoken word poetry a form of protest with a wider reach and impact. Spoken word poetry is used as protest by vocalizing the problems of people today in a way where every word used counts and is meaningful.
I think their protest was effective in that it made me more aware of the problems that black men face at UCLA today. It was effective in that I was moved by what they said; however, at the same time I don’t believe it was completely effective in that I don’t believe it is enough for the changes that need to be made to occur. UCLA has shown time and time again that it is more of a corporation than a university and sadly corporations don’t tend to make big changes over the voices of a few people. UCLA will do what it needs to keep up its image, but unless this gets more publicity nothing will happen.
These students are protesting the lack of support that UCLA gives minority students, specifically the African American community. They sight examples of UCLA caring more about money and prestige rather than the acceptance and retention of African American male students. They protest UCLA acting like this big business corporation through spoken word. These African American male students stand together with one another voicing their protest on the steps of Campbell Hall. Campbell Hall, where in in 1969 Bunchy Carter and Josh Huggins, African American Black Power activists, were killed during a Black Student Union meeting in Campbell Hall.
ReplyDeleteI think spoken word has become a popular medium to express one’s opinions about themselves, and the disparities one sees in the world around them. Spoken word and the power of the internet becomes a form of protest because once publishing a video like it can grow in popularity, like this video did, therefore awareness begins to grow. Students who may not have known what was going on in their own school have found how specific minority on groups feel the school has treated them. It takes one group of students to point this out. I wish to think it was effective, but technically at this point one can argue that it wasn’t. I think only time can tell whether the number of accepted African American males goes up and the retention rate also rises. They give awareness to the issue, but no real ways on how this issue can be solved.
Black students at UCLA were able to powerfully communicate their feelings through the art of spoken word poetry and bring the issue of race to the forefront. Race is a topic people often skirt around by claiming “color blindness,” the idea that race isn’t taken into consideration. Yet, race colors every aspect of our lives and refusing to recognize that not only invalidates unique cultural heritages but also ignores decades and decades of race discrimination. Using the Internet as their platform, students were able to bring light to the issue of race at an institution that claims to be diverse and accepting.
ReplyDeleteAs of today, the video has reached more than 2 million views and has been featured on many news shows. Their video was extremely effective at sparking debates about the issue of race and affirmative action throughout the nation. As Sy stokes said, “nobody talks about these topics in a public way.” A stereotype the video addresses is the idea that a black student can only attend UCLA if they are an athlete, which suggests that they are not smart enough to make it academically at college; they are attempting to dismantle the preconceived notions many of us have.
The students in the video above are protesting what they feel to be an unfair societal standing in the American education sector. Sy Stokes leads this group of African American UCLA students to proclaim the injustices he sees enacted by UCLA. They stage their protest in front of Campbell Hall to make a statement as former UCLA students and Black Panther members, John Huggins and Bunchy Carter, were assassinated in the building in the late 1960s. The protest was expressed under the artistic spoken word form and recorded to be uploaded onto the internet. Sy Stokes and the "Black Bruins" are specifically objecting to the campus' accused labeling of black applicants to their school as a means to bolster the institution's reputation as athletic champions rather than boosting intellectual prestige.
ReplyDeleteSpoken word poetry is the strongest it has ever been as a medium for expression and for protest than it has ever been, partially due to its increasing influence in modern music. It grants all the sentiment and creativity of poetry only expressed through a demonstrative means of performing art. Due to its new-found surge in popularity, it is especially seen to empower the youth in this age. These characteristics it retains as a form of art and protest make it ideal for Sy Stokes declaration for objection. Thus, it's proved considerably effective when all the media attention surrounding it this year is taken into consideration. Sy Stoks has even been on cable news as a result of the attention. The coming year with UCLA admissions will also prove whether or not Stoke's protest has had a huge lingering effect.
The students are essentially revealing to the public just how under represented African American students are at UCLA. Stokes uses the power of numbers and factual evidence in making his argument that African American are not being admitted into UCLA, and those that are admitted are primarily athletes. His facts are alarming as he challenges administration by pointing out that in Fall 2012, “The number of entering male freshman students was 2,418; only 48 of them are African American”. With creative flair he is addressing the diversity problem that is apparent on many college campuses especially at high-performing universities. Stokes’ strategy of using spoken word to voice his point of view is noteworthy because it is an art form that captures the attention of many people. The undergraduate statistics he mentions have been readily available to the public on the UCLA website, but by integrating these statistics into his poetry he makes his point of view seem much more credible and powerful because he himself is considered African American. Spoken word alone is a very powerful outlet in voicing opinions and sharing stories and Stokes formulates his words in a way that is easy to follow and understand. Poetry doesn’t need to have an extensive vocabulary; all it needs is a good topic because the right words will get the argument across.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I do think Stokes argument was effective whether or not people choose to believe his opinion or not. Some people argue that it is not the university’s fault but rather the African American race’s fault for not performing at a caliber necessary at UCLA. Whatever the opinion, Stokes raised questions and brought to the public an important topic that cannot be ignored much longer. His point of view was well executed and backed up by real statistics. The fact that his video was uploaded to YouTube also represents the power of Internet because his video went viral soon after and became available to the mass public because just about everyone nowadays has access to Internet.
The students are protesting the lack of African American males that are representing UCLA through artistic delivery. Using the analogy of the paint color spectrum to that was learned at a young age, implying that this ingrained in youth through our education institutions. The male in the forefront speaks with passion to portray a manner of seriousness along with the males in the background who stand with no voice. The males in the background standing there represent the lack of the African American voice, as there are very few entering or graduating from UCLA. This is used as a form as protest because he speaks of a controversial issue that is usually not actively spoken, just observed. And the Internet is a convenient way to spread awareness of what is happening. This is how we were able to see the video today and can actively share it with others.
ReplyDeleteI think the video was very effective in illustrating how UCLA has very little African American males. And yes it is very obvious that most are athletes. It was effective in what it was trying to portray, using numbers as proof, which helps a lot in its effectiveness. Even the words used in the video spoke with a disconnect, almost as though the only black population at UCLA that exists is a “black bruin”, bruin referring to athletes not students.
SV