Oakland Coach, Lisa Awrey, shares her experience of watching the 10th grade students perform their Epic Poems in December.
I wish you could have been with us last Friday (12/17) at Media to see Ms. Totten-Harris’ 10th grade classes perform their epic poems. [The Epic Poem Assignment is based on the students’ reading of Rodolfo Corky Gonzalez’s poem Yo Soy Joaquin, and their subsequent creation and performance of their own autobiographical and historically-based epic poem.] The performances have grown, become more organized, and have welcomed more and more students from outside of Ms. Totten Harris's sophomore class in the audience. Principal Ben Schmookler and other Media teachers and administrators were there, too.
Students, some of whom appeared to be gang members or personally affected by gangs, wept as they recited their poems in the packed performance space. They proclaimed their identities as students, sons, mourners, descendants of Pancho Villa, and as Oaklanders. It was the most moving performance and proof of the impact of the work we do at Media and elsewhere as WriterCoach Connection volunteers.
Case in point: a withdrawn reticent young girl named Juanita (name has been changed) who I had coached the week prior and who – at that time— had nothing written down for the assignment. During the coaching session we talked about her desire to go into her fears, to write about something she was afraid of (advice she had received from a fellow student who had written and just shared with the group a powerful poem). She confided in me that her mother had died of cirrhosis of the liver when she was eight, but that she didn't want to write about that or anything personal because it would make her cry.
The morning of the performance, Juanita insisted on being the first to read her poem. To my surprise, she eagerly rushed to the podium and as soon as the audience quieted down, she belted out the words: "I am Juanita _____. I am the girl who, after her mother died when she was eight years old, wanted to give up. “ She continued with personal examples of how this death caused her to make choices that were not in her best interst.
On and on she went, calling out very personal accounts of a troubled and tragic background whilst proudly claiming her place in the world and demanding a hopeful future.
Several more students followed Juanita; each stood at the podium before their fellow classmates and teachers and proclaimed who they were. Many of the students described tragedies and circumstances that most of us will never experience, certainly not at such a young age. Many, both boys and girls, had to stop as they read, interrupted by their emotion, and attempt to fight back tears. As each struggled at different spots in their performance, the audience remained quiet. Sometimes someone at the back cried out, "You've got this!"; another audience member would echo the vote of confidence and then the student would continue, wiping tears from their face as they read. Not one was laughed at.
I am not coaching Ms. Totten-Harris' tenth graders this semester. Mandela has a greater need for coaches, so I'm filling in there on Fridays. I only happened to be at Media the day two weeks ago when [Site Coordinator] Karen said they needed extra coaches to help student working on their epic poem assignment in the library. An assignment I remember well from previous years, I was glad to sit in. After our coaching session, Juanita asked if I was coming to the performance the following week. Without thinking, I said "Yes.
I'm so glad I did.
Thank you for all you do to help make WCC a reality and to continue to grow and reach more students like Juanita.
Happy New Year! Oakland Coach Lisa Awrey