Teach Out Project

 CHOOSE A TEXT:

One text that has really stayed with me is the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show, along with the Facebook post we analyzed in class. I had a lot of strong feelings engaging with both, especially because they highlight themes connected to Puerto Rican identity and political realities. The Facebook post does a very good job breaking down the performance, explaining symbols, and cultural references that someone unfamiliar with Puerto Rico or who does not speak Spanish might completely miss. I think a lot of meaning can exist beneath the surface of something that might seem like just entertainment, and it is very important to have context in order to fully understand it. 

Another text that connects to this theme is Rethinking Schools on ICE. I have yet to complete the reading, but I am interested in how it will deepen my understanding of issues affecting my community. Based on the quick skim I did on the reading, it talks about how fear of ICE can directly impact students' sense of safety and their ability to learn. I think reading this alongside Bad Bunny's performance will be especially meaningful because both texts, in different ways, highlight the lived experiences and struggles of the Hispanic community. 

WHO DO YOU WANT TO SHARE IT WITH?

As of right now, I want to share these texts with both my brother and my best friend because they each bring different perspectives that would make the conversation deepen in meaningful ways. 

My brother is both Hispanic and Asian. He doesn't have a deep interest in anything political related beyond the many rants I have when talking to him. However, being an immigrant, I think his personal identity and lived experiences would make his perspective especially valuable. The first texts (Bad Bunny's performance and the Facebook post) would resonate with him culturally. However, I am more curious to see his reaction to the second text (Rethinking Schools on ICE) because he is not in the field of education. 

My best friend is an English teacher at a public high school in Providence. She is Asian and deeply connected to the Hispanic community. Because of her role as an educator, I think she would engage with both texts more pedagogically, meaning thinking about how these issues show up in her classroom. 

WHAT FORMAT MIGHT WORK FOR YOU?

The format that would work best for me in an individual interview. I would want to conduct two separate interviews and then compare their responses. I think this approach would allow each person to share their thoughts openly without being influenced by the others.