Cappuccino Soul™

I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:41:00 +0000

by Alicia Benjamin

If you are concerned at all about the decline of public school education in America, you’ll want to see the documentary I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School. But beware. You’ll feel great sadness as you guess that many of these radiant children in North Philadelphia will not graduate from high school—not because they can’t do the work—but because the madness and trauma of their everyday lives will prevent them.

The film, which won an Academy Award in 1994, features M. Hall Stanton Elementary School students and principal Deana Burney. Shot in the early 1990s, I Am a Promise, a film that is still sadly relevant today, vividly shows Stanton’s gritty and crowded neighborhood. Abundant trash and boarded up homes decorate the area and sloppy graffiti is painted everywhere. This was the last phase of the tragic crack epidemic and lots of people are aimlessly walking the streets and hanging out on the corners.

The area is littered with crack vials and used hypodermic syringes that the students, 4- to 10-year-olds, pick up sometimes on their way to school, on the playground and inside the school. Stanton officials have instructed the children to give the drug paraphernalia to the janitor.

All of the 725 students are African-American, 90 percent live in poverty, most live in single-parent homes, and a large percentage of the parents have drug or alcohol abuse problems.

Burney, who is white, is hard-nosed, yet compassionate, and talks vigorously to all of Stanton’s students in the auditorium on the first day of school. “What kind of students are you?” she asks. “Talented, intelligent and gifted,” they reply in unison. “We call you that because we know you are genius children,” Burney says.

But the positive message and feel-good imagery of Burney’s morning speech is shattered when Raymond tells us “a good part of each day is spent by the principal dealing with discipline problems.” Cut to Burney moderating an argument between two boys who were caught fighting. Cut to the school nurse wrestling with Cornelius as he’s fighting one of his classmates. Cornelius is described as a bright and intelligent third grader who takes Ritalin twice a day to control his hyperactive and aggressive behavior.

Burney, who has a tactile hands-on approach with her students, comes to school at 6 a.m. most days and leaves at 7 p.m. on many nights. She often stands outside the building when school is dismissed to watch the children walk home. As we see her touching her students gently and directing them across the street, we also see police cars passing by and hear sirens loudly ringing.

“I pray every day that nothing ever happens at dismissal time or in the morning,” she tells Susan Raymond, director of the film. At the end of one day, school officials try to allay the fears of a father who is afraid his 9-year-old daughter has been raped. Police report that a child, indeed, has been sexually assaulted but nobody knows the child’s identity. After frantic phone calls to the local police precinct and the girl’s hangout places, the father learns that his daughter is at a friend’s house.

But hope does periodically peek through the gloomy climate of the film.

John Coats, a committed African-American male teacher who has been given an all-male class to shape, was assigned 19 boys who were designated as discouraged learners in kindergarten.

As he talks to the boys about issues that they themselves bring to class—racism, alcoholism and drug addiction—Coats often places his hand gently on their heads. “They want to learn, but before they are able to learn they want someone to understand them … not so much to pamper them, but to show that they care and love them,” Coats says.

Nadia, another of Stanton’s jewels, is a member of the school’s mentally gifted program. When life with her crack-addicted mother and father became too chaotic and dangerous, Nadia, a fifth grader, asked an elderly neighborhood man if she could live with him. The man, who she calls her “grandfather,” agreed.

As Raymond talks to Burney at the end of the school year, the principal holds back tears when Raymond asks her what lies ahead for the graduates. “It’s depressing that I don’t have any control and I know there’s massive indifference to kids in the inner city,” she said. “There’s such inequity,” she said.

Burney soon burns out. She left Stanton shortly after the documentary was shot. But during the commentary section, recorded more than 10 years after the film’s release, Burney’s voice is filled with love for the students. “This is a very strong community,” she said. “I received a lot of support from the parents and the community. … I saw myself as the gatherer of gifts. The students brought the gifts of wanting to learn.”

I Am a Promise is alarmingly relevant today and poignantly points to the obstacles that many children in America must face to get a quality education.

Expungement Help in Charlotte: Erase Criminal Convictions

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:16:00 +0000

The Crisis Response Subcommittee of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee is working to help as many people as possible in the Charlotte area to get criminal convictions erased. With help from pro bono attorneys and other organizations, the subcommittee has expunged hundreds of convictions so far. Call the Expungement Hotline if you want help with expungement, 980-216-8809.

Breakin' Convention: Bringing Unity, Love, and Creativity to Charlotte

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 14:47:00 +0000

I witnessed this explosive event. It was inspiring, groundbreaking, and elevated hip hop even one step higher.

Netflix: She's Gotta Have It!

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 21:13:00 +0000

Wow, wow, and wow! Three wows for Nola Darling's three lovers. I'm anxiously waiting for this new series by Spike Lee to premiere on Netflix.

"Netflix has given a 10-episode series order to “She’s Gotta Have It,” a remake of Spike Lee's 1986 debut film, Variety has confirmed. Lee will direct each half-hour installment and serves as executive producer on the project with his wife and producing partner Tonya Lewis Lee.

The series centers on Nola Darling, a Brooklyn-based artist in her late twenties struggling to define herself and divide her time amongst her Friends, her Job and her Three Lovers: The Cultured Model, Greer Childs; The Protective Investment Banker, Jamie Overstreet; and Da Original B-Boy Sneakerhead, Mars Blackmon." -- Variety, 9.15.16

Grateful Garment: Helping Victims of Sexual Assault

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 19:24:00 +0000

Grateful Garment helps sexual assault survivors leave the hospital with new clothes and their dignity.

Click here to learn how you can donate to help Grateful Garmet support victims of sexual assault.

Liberation

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 16:41:00 +0000

"You can't get liberated with money -- it comes from inside." -- Dick Gregory

Detroit Training Academy Grows Boys to Men

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 21:09:00 +0000

If I had a son, I'd be tempted to move to Detroit, just so he could attend this phenomenal academy that trains African American boys to become disciplined, strong, and emotionally healthy men -- something we desperately need more of. Power to Sharath Jason Wilson and the other leaders at the The Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy.

From the Academy's Youtube page:

During these perverse times, it's truly vital that we, the men and fathers of this generation, do not allow our boys to grow up with a false sense of masculinity like many of us did. As a result, we have a mass amount of emotionally unstable men walking in unresolved anger, confusion and depression, instead of power, love and discipline. So we place strong emphasis on allowing our recruits to openly express their emotions, so that we can teach them how to use those emotions to their benefit, and become a comprehensive man of God.

Watch how this teacher so masterfully instructs, consoles, and encourages this student:

Click here to donate to the academy!

Actions and Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 08:28:00 +0000

For peaceful living, we must consistently remind ourselves how our actions affect other people's well being. -- alicia

Help, Don't Hurt Others

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Fri, 08 Jul 2016 20:17:00 +0000

"Our primary purpose in this life is to help others. If you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."
-- Dalai Lama

Loyalty and Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 14:38:00 +0000

"Some people aren’t loyal to you, they are loyal to their need of you. Once their needs change, so does their loyalty."
-- Savage Angel

Working on Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:47:00 +0000

"When you've had a lot of bad work done to you, it's important to do a lot of good work on yourself."
-- alicia

Pay Attention

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 18:54:00 +0000

"People may not always tell you how they feel about you, but they will always show you. Pay attention."

-- Kim Garst

Believe, directed by Alicia, featuring Gigi

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 19:04:00 +0000

The video features a vocal performance by Gigi.
Believe directed by Alicia Michele Benjamin

You Don't Have to Learn

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 14:02:00 +0000

"You don't have to learn from experience; if you don't mind repeating the course."

- Tim Fargo

Jesse Williams Brought Magic to the BET Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 04:35:00 +0000

Jesse Williams y'all. This is a MAN right here. Can I say how taken aback I was by his honesty, power and truth when he delivered his acceptance speech for getting the Humanitarian Award from BET last night? And OF COURSE, I LOVE the way he started his message off by thanking all the activists, fighters, parents, teachers, etc. out there on the Front Lines.

And then he gave us this:

"This is also for the Black Women, in particular, who have spent their lifetimes dedicated to nurturing everyone before themselves. We Can and Will do better for you."

That's like Music to my EARS J -- MUSIC to my ears!

You MUST listen to this ENTIRE speech. And he ended it with a line that really could be part of a poem. He just needs to write it.

"Just because we're magic doesn't mean we're not real."

Compassion Course Online: Extended registration through June 29

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 18:12:00 +0000

Compassion Course online. Go to: compassioncourse.org . Sign up! Extended Registration through June 29.

Experience more connection and compassion

A Guided Meditation for the Realities of Today's World

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 15:14:00 +0000

Definitely feeling this. Warning: Explicit language.

Getting What You're Getting

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 18:37:00 +0000

If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting.

Courage and Discipline

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 18:57:00 +0000

"May you have the courage and discipline today to do what is needed instead of simply what is convenient." --Thema Davis

Compassion Course Online

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 14:54:00 +0000

Tavis Smiley's Interviews with Prince

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:35:00 +0000

The song at the end is simply precious.

Remembering Prince the Humanitarian

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:08:00 +0000

Nate Parker's The Birth of a Nation

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 20:36:00 +0000

Nate Parker snatched the title "The Birth of a Nation" right out of D. W. Griffith's mouth. The Birth of a Nation has a new life. I'm definitely feeling this one. Can't wait to see it!

To Be Greeted by a Turtle

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:47:00 +0000

Look what greeted me as I stepped outside my front door this morning.

Meaning of the Turtle

Anne Frank's Words

noreply@blogger.com (Cappuccino Soul) — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 20:56:00 +0000

I can't believe I've never read The Diary of Anne Frank, but I've just finished the play version. Of course, I'm speechless, that such a diary of a teenage girl who was eventually killed by the Nazis exists. She was such a fighter.

One of the last words of the play is certainly worth remembering: "In spite of everything, I still believe people are really good at heart.