I am extremely proud of this assignment. I feel as though all of the work that I put into this assignment means so much more because i know that the people who will watch the video will have a chance to change their minds about their outlook on life and their personal goals. This was the perfect project for me considering I was able to really express what I wanted people to realize about students of color not wanting to conform to society’s views. The reason for me using the students in SMASH, besides the convenience, was the fact that we truly embody the idea of breaking the stereotype. We have made it our goal to become successful individuals in everything that we do because we believe that we have the capability to always strive for excellence.

Something about this video made my interest of wanting students of color be involved in whatever they desired explode. As I worked on the project more and more I had even more of m drive come to light. This allowed my inspiration to manifest to attack the issue head on of society characterizing students of color. It was then that I decided that I would go about the assignment using actual students to show other students that it is alright to go against the norm and reach full potential. Through this hopefully students are able to see that there are others that have a common goal of doing what they want in life. In addition to my audience being other students, my goal is to reach out to people who have embedded this idea in their heads that students of color must act a certain way or do certain things in school in order to be characterized as a “teen of color”.

This project was actually fully done by myself. It took a lot of effort to really get it to the level that I wanted to present it in. Filming was the easiest part for this project because i did not have people talking into the camera but rather I just showed bits of people in their element to demonstrate what they recorded for the audio. The audio at times was hard to work with because I in the beginning I had problems with what to record the students with but eventually I decided that I was best to use the mic embedded right into the computer. I do not believe that I would have changed much if I would have had much time although I do believe that I would have worked on the clearness of the audio so that there would be no spots where it sounded foggy. It came out great and I am truly proud of my work.

This video took so much effort to make. It is not until one makes a music video do they know how hard it is to really go about making one. This project done by myself and De Vonna Jacobs helped us to have even a closer bond as sisters. Enjoy!

I am very proud of this project because is the first time that I have put one of my poems into a piece of work for the program and really anything in general. I feel that this video has the capability to open the eyes of many people who still have not been exposed to a real strong black woman. 

For my final assignment I am going to focus on the stereotypes that are given to teens of color. I want students to say something that they have experienced someone else think about them and then counter it with something positive about them. In the beginning of the presentation I will have words flash up to depict and stress what a teen of color must go through in order to be successful.

Desiree: They looked at me and said I needed to be in Pre Algebra. Last week I got an A on my Calculus final.

Fionnghuala: They asked me what was my favorite drink when I want to party. I’ve never tasted alcohol in my life.

They asked me did my parents separate. My parents have been married and supported me all of life.

Vivian: hey asked what I was mixed with because they saw my good grades. My family is from

Sean: They asked me when I was going to enroll in the Navy. I got a full ride to U.C. Berkeley.

Arin: They asked me how is like to live in the ghetto. I’ve lived in the suburbs all my life.

Each student will then say, “you know what we have in common?”

I will say: “Someone judged us because of the color of our skin, so it is up to us to continue to break the stereotype”

Everyone joins in on “break the stereotype”

BREAK THE STEREOTYPE is my call to action statement an I will come up with a logo to have with the statement along with an organization.

Subject:Women empowerment: Definition of a strong Black woman

POEM/SPOKEN WORD:
Title:Strong Black Woman (self written)

 I ask you this: What is a strong black woman?

Is she a mere figure in society perplexed by the notion that not all women are created equal?

Is her chocolate brown complexion only there to stir up insurrection with every twist and jerk of the hip as she speaks intelligence through her voluptuous lips?

What is a strong black woman?

She doesn’t have to worry about a materialistic guard because as Maya Angelou put it she got oil wells pumpin’ in her backyard

When she enters the room everything seems to stop

All eyes are on her

Her presence sets the atmosphere

You can hear an eyelash drop

Love secretes from every gland as she caresses you with her elegant hand sayin, “baby its gon be okay!”

Knowin good and well that it would be nice if she had a pat on the back for the problems she had to conquer in the day to keep her out of disarray

But she doesn’t need it

Tears do not flow from her eyes

Or at least she wipes them before others can see what can symbolize weakness

Tears would only soften the thick skin she has worked so hard to build up

Cuz best believe, even though she would love to, she aint always gon come home drinkin out of a silver cup

See life aint easy for a strong black woman

Sometimes giving a lot only gets back a little

And then that last dollar starts getting brittle and…

She wants to break down

But she still upholds her crown

That golden crown perched upon a royal thrown

So she’s gon get her own

Not waiting for a man to supply her need

Not letting the stereotype that a black woman can only be strong if she has three kids with a dead beat dad that can’t pay a lick of child support be her means of perseverance

A strong black woman may at first get offered a position that does not match her intellect

Askin’ to settle for wages that causes this woman to interject

Then with every word that flows through, minds are changed and every word after brings her up that much more

Cuz yea she got a dream like Coretta Scott King

Never to be shattered, broken, destroyed

Always to be upheld with dignity, confidence and pride

What is a strong black woman?

A queen

You

Me

 

Have multiple shots (some still and some panning over) of black women. Some of the shots will be portraying young women in the making, the hardships that a black woman must face and the stereotypes that may rise. The stereotype aspect of the presentation will be shown with signs posted up, an application for a position of a job that a woman wants versus one that she will probably get and advertisements at beauty salons. I also want to have a couple of shots with someone having their feelings hurt and not crying until they get home. Then I will have close-ups of women with a tear and each one being shown wiping them.

GET YO’ CAMERA OUT AND SMASH IT!

 I am extremely proud of this assignment. I feel that I put a lot of effort into this short film and it shows my progression with technology. In this video is Richard Payan, Noel Youhannes, and of course ME! As a group we asked each other questions pertaining to media dealing with talents that could be displayed on film, people being on film and what kind of show SMASH could be turned into. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed making it.