It has been a few weeks, so I have some catching up to do. Here we go...
Dancing in the Streets!
Summer in St. Louis is slowly winding down. The weather is still mostly warm, but you get a hint of brisk fall weather sometimes (especially when walking to the metro station at 6:30am). The last few weeks of September I think we all got a pretty good taste of this crazy city. One Tuesday evening we packed a picnic dinner and trekked to Forest Park (right near our house) for one of their free summer concerts in front of the History Museum. I expected a gathering of St. Louisians chilling on blankets and lawn chairs tapping their feet to some light, casual jazz or blues. I did not expect half of the city's population to cover the entire lawn surrounding the stage on the steps of the museum. Nor did I expect full-on barbeques taking place or the incredible, uplifting Soul tunes that were being belted by the “Motown Review” all night long. On a weekday evening, we all danced like crazy with tons of other people to amazing music (Rollin' on a River was my fav). I danced with Gabby, Ari, and Dayna; I danced with some random moms; I danced to “My Girl” with a man with one-leg. It was so fun! The music kept on coming and we kept on dancing with everyone else. It's like St. Louis is that one friend in college that wants to go out and celebrate everything: “come ooooon, guys! It's Tuuuuesdaaaay!!!!”
Afterwards, as we walked back in sweaty and exhausted bliss, we talked about how powerful the joy in the community in St. Louis is. There is always some excuse to go outside and dance and party. Even at 9pm on a Tuesday night in September.
FIESTA!!!
St. Cecilia's (where Chino teaches PE) had their annual fiesta! Aside from being silly-stringed by 6th graders, it was super fun!
Fr. G in da Lou!
The last week of September, my hero came to St. Louis: Fr. G of Homeboy industries. Needless to say, this was a huge present from God. Ever since I had the opportunity of going to East LA with a wonderful group of people during spring break, I have known that someday I want to be a part of what Homeboy does. For those of you who don't know about Homeboy yet, I will spare you my lengthy praises and give you the Homeboy Industries website: http://www.homeboy-industries.org/
I went to St. Joan of Arc parish on Wednesday to hear Fr. G speak and I ended up chatting with him for a bit afterwards and I got his cell number! Then, Thursday night Chino, Mary, Gabby, Ryan and I sneaked our way into the fancy shmancy hors d'oeuvres and wine benefit for Marian Middle School for free to hear this incredible Jesuit speak again. I am so happy that some of my community members finally got to witness the person that speaks to my soul with every word he says and drives me to do what I feel called to do. They each purchased his book at the end and we got a chance to say hello and talk for a bit before G was surrounded by eager board members and donors.
I love Fr. G so much. When he speaks about the concept of kinship and how we are all called to belong to each other, he makes everyone realize what exactly that would mean for our world. I can't start talking about this or I won't stop and my lesson plans for the last week of the quarter will never get finished. However, I will leave you with these thoughts and some pictures of past Homeboy escapades...
“If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” -Mother Teresa
“We are a whole lot more than the worst we've ever done.” Fr. G
“And the Soul felt its worth...” -Oh Holy Night
FREE MARNEZ
When Marnez Crawford poked his head into my classroom on my first day, battered hat pulled low over his dark eyes and grin playing at the corners of his mouth, I hoped I would get to know him better. It turned out Marnez was in my Essay class, second hour, but he always popped in to say good morning at about ten to nine.
Me: Good morning, Marnez, how are you?
Nez: Oh, I'm straight.
Every morning.
He was known for being the writing talent of Vincent Gray. One of his essays and his poems had already been submitted to a national contest last year and he had won something for both. His first essay for my class, a narrative, was amazing. I almost felt silly correcting his minor spelling and grammatical errors because he was so beyond everyone else in the class. He roped you in with the way he told his stories. Marnez was under house arrest for something he and his cousin had done the March before. He was constantly missing school for court dates, every time heading a little bit closer to prison. It was hard for me to see him slowly stop caring about things, particularly school. Instead of working on his argumentative essay during class time he began just sitting there. He wasn't even sure if he would be able to finish the quarter. I pulled him aside a few times to check in. He would give me the latest update on his situation, explain why he didn't want to work, and apologize. His journal entries and free writes were angry and stressed, obviously.
It turns out, the very just justice system didn't let Marnez finish the quarter (the last quarter he needed to graduate). They took him to prison on Sunday, October 3rd. He went out fighting with some of his friends (other students at VG) and came in the Thursday before with bandages on his face, but looking better than I had seen him in a while. He was running around and jonin' with everyone. He came to his classes, knowing that he wouldn't finish. On Friday after class he poked his head (with the pulled-down hat) into the room where the teachers were gathered for our staff meeting. He said goodbye and thank you and walked away, to a prison cell for six to ten years.
I wish I could have gotten to know him better. I hope he keeps writing. He loves to read, so I might find some novels and have them sent to him.
The next week the students couldn't focus on anything. All the talk was about Nez and prison and how he was gonna do. Marnez's girl, Alexis, journals about him every day, wondering how he is doing. She knew it was coming though, and said she felt like he was asking for it sometimes. She and some of the other girls are designing “Free Marnez” sweatshirts.
Mark, Marnez's little brother, is in my poetry class. He has his days, but having his brother, his number one, locked away for such a long time is obviously a blow to him. We talk. Some days he is more open about it and sometimes he just mumbles and puts his headphones on.
Nez will be missed. I hope the detriments of prison don't pull him down. If he becomes a writing instructor like some say he should be, I would gladly enroll my kids in his class.
Some news about the controversy of Marnez and his cousin and their individual punishments:
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=171114
http://www.bnd.com/2010/09/29/1419555/ihsa-investigating-residency-of.html
http://www.bnd.com/2010/09/28/1416903/player-can-go-to-prom-despite.html
Juan v. Kearron
My Lit. class was slowly narrowed down (by drops, court issues, etc.) to these two wonderful boys. They were my comedic relief every day at 11am. Their checkers matches were fun to watch. One this day they both accidentally wore the same kind of sweater. I found it adorable.
From my Students
Chica: “Oh, girlfriend, your man be cheeeatin' on yooou.”
Derek: “Miss Millie, you is mean. You smell nice, fo sho, but you be meeean.”
Eric: It was so fuckin' funny, 'scuse me Miss Millie, and I told them he was full of shit, sorry, Miss Millie, and he was just fuckin', sorry, Miss Millie, it keeps slippin'...
Mark: Naw, I would never be wit no white girl. White girls be crazy, right Miss Millie?
Lala: I like you, Miss Millie, but you is a square.
Juan: Don't you listen to what I be sayin', Miss Millie. You as a Catholic, you wouldn't like it...
TT: I finna write you a poem, I swear! Do you have texting?
Juan: Can I leave my bag in here during lunch?
Me: Aren't you afraid I'll steal your stuff, Juan?
Juan: Ain't nothin' in that ol' bag...'cept love letters to Miiiiiss Miiiiilliiiiie, whaaaaaat????
Brianca: Imma come visit your house, Miss Millie. Imma eat some of yo' salads an' shit.
Me: How are you, Tiffany?
Tiffany: See!? SEEEE!? You is ALWAYS on my case! Always harrassin' ME!
Favorite mental image so far
Juan diving into my classroom, arms first, knocking over the fan and the garbage can, just as the last bell is ringing.
