Overview:
Identity is complicated, and changes depending on who you are and where you are. In our country, identity is directly tied to power and some are afforded privileges and others have disadvantages. This course will study identity as a social construct , and will go into further depth on race. Students will study the complications and nuances that go into the formation of identity and race, historical injustices and responses tied to it. We will study redlining, and a specific chapter of history, the South Bronx in the 1960’s. Rap music is currently the most successful music genre, even having small ripples in the country music world. Its origins, often overlooked due to the multi-faceted nature of the music, is a culture with a rich history rooted in social justice, giving a voice to the voices that were silenced. Its origins in the South Bronx, and its usage as a platform in response to social inequity, is often overlooked. Rap is a platform used worldwide to express a specific message. However, its role in academia, and in music in general, is often polarizing. We will do a specific study in rap as a form of response to systemic racism. By interacting with this curriculum, students engage in ethical reflection, in a safe space, finding a platform for their voice, learning content that’s relevant to current day. They will engage in informed conversations about race and equity, producing creative and analytical writing, while significantly improving their analytical reading and writing skills
Essential Questions:
What is an American and what is the criteria for membership?
In society, what is our obligation to each other?
What are the social identities that make up and individual, and to what extent can they change?
What are the different types of racism, and what is the importance of understanding the working definitions?
What is the purpose and functions of music, and what can we learn from analyzing it?
What is the connection between Hip Hop and Activism?
Enduring Understandings:
The American label is tied to whiteness, and the criteria shifts based on whomever it benefits. In a society, we each have an obligation to each other, yet our agency shifts pending on proximity. Ultimately, a society that does not look out for the strangers around us crumbles. There are many identities that make up who we are, however, these categories change/ disappear depending on where you are. Racism is an ideology and set of practices, beliefs, that support the structure of a racial hierarchy, producing and reproducing system of advantage and disadvantage.2 The most popular definition racism is the mere treatment of another individual based on their skin color. Operating of such a simplistic definition of race dismisses the impact of racial hierarchy, and produces colorblind ideology. Music is used by many for its soothing aesthetics, however, it can be used as a document unlocking knowledge of history, a platform for activism and unity, and also, a way to express perspective. Hip Hop, specifically, was born in the South Bronx as a response to injustice, giving a voice to the marginalized population. It was, and still is, a platform used to illuminate injustice and give platform and agency to activism.3
