Both jobs are in full swing this week. I have to remember to
take my vitamins.
Last term, my class read The
Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano (the actress we know from Sesame Street). It takes place in
Spanish Harlem (El Barrio) in 1969. I learned so much along with my students.
We went to the Bronx Museum of the Arts to see the Young Lords exhibit. We went
to the computer lab in the school to watch a video of Pedro Pietri reading his
poem, “Puerto Rican Obituary.” It was a stimulating learning adventure. I was
proud of us. Though we don’t have classrooms that are exclusively our own, I
find wall space in the office to display a sampling of our term’s work
together.
One of the most profound moments was when an African-American
student of mine shared with the class after hearing Pedro Pietri (whose work is
still helping though he has passed over), “I feel like I felt when we were at
the museum. That it’s not only us.”
I wish everyone had such a life-changing effect from our
learning together. Maybe more did, but this woman was able to put it into
words.
At my evening job, we had a smaller version of this experience
(no trips; no drawings; not as many writings). Still a woman declared, “I do
not like to read, and I bought this book! I read it when waiting in the clinic.
I was laughing. This is the neighborhood I grew up in!”
I hope to inspire as well this term. It’ll be a combo of some
former students and some brand new students. When I’m on break, I find it hard
to believe that I do this and will do this again. But I will.
This Friday, January 15th, I am one of a number of
featured readers at the 4 Horse Poetry Reading (a Bob Quatrone production) at
Cornelia Street Café in the village. $9 includes a drink. 6pm. Always an
enjoyable reading.
Next Friday, January 22nd, is the Divorced Divas of
Comedy show at the Starving Artists Café on City Island.
I also saw the exhibit, with my older sister. We both marched with the Young Lords. It was a bitter sweet experience seeing the exhibit and knowing what went down.
Oohh...
My 1st apartment was in a Spanish Harlem building run by the Young Lords.