Beyond the Bricks

This event was AMAZING.
It was a documentary following three young black men. One student was 15, the other 18 and the last I believe was 19 years old. The documentary explained statistics and the lack of role models that young black males have. It shows their struggles as well as them overcoming those struggles.

After the documentary was over, there were four panelists.
Many of the panelists discussed the importance of role models, love, and the need for high expectations. They also discussed the importance of teachers getting to know the culture of their students by going into their neighborhoods and experiencing what the students go through everyday. They also discussed how Black males are always associated with failures and negativity such as Black males are more likely to be incarcerated. But they are not associated at all with positive.

Another main theme that showed up was the idea that a village raises a child. They discussed how important it is to have a community that is supportive of their children who are our future.

One of the most empowering things throughout this event was listening to students (from high school who attended this event) there was one particular young man who was from an alternate school. he stood up and explained that everyone see his school as a transfer school and as a place where "bad" students go. He then said, that his school was not that, but because of teachers like his (pointing at his teacher) they call their school the school of TRANSFORmation. This was a first hand account of young black men, getting the education, leadership, and love that they deserve, and it was clear that it empowered the student not only academically but socially, emotionally, and mentally.