Inspirations
Before my class officially started this project, we did an social experiment where we all had to talk about our different strengths, struggles or weakness to one-another. At first it seemed normal. To me I saw this experiment as getting a chance to know my peers more. After we started the experiment, we then had to answer our strengths, struggles or weakness, but addressing these issues with:
- Racism
- Gender
- Self Identity
- Family
Whistling Vivaldi and other Clues to How Stereotypes Affect UsFor the introduction of this project, my teacher assigned my class and I an reading assignment, for us to know more information and knowledge about stereotypes. In the reading written by, Claude M. Steele. He gave us a background on the struggles of him growing up as an young African-American male. He uses his experiences to share his knowledge on the word, "Stereotype."
Breakfree Concept |
Stereotype Threat ActivityThe next activity that my class had to participate in was, identifying different stereotypes for the specific race. For the entire class it was very uncomfortable and unpleasant. To see how society views a specific race, due to a ignorant stereotype. For me being a African-American women, it was very hard for me to see so many stereotypes (stereotypes I've never heard of), of my race be written. After doing this activity, I eventually knew that there needed to be a tremendous change in how society views one-another by race.
Once we did our research, and challenged our self to face and discussed our personal experiences. We were ready to start Breakfree. Our goal for this project was having people become aware of many different issues that are affecting our society today. Some of the issues we are dealing with: Racism, Gender equality, Discrimination, Immigration, Male Vs. Female Roles, etc. We then had to find our personal self, and breakfree from our own personal experiences by creating an: Art piece, Spoken Word, Music, Ted Talk, other.
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Breakfree Overview
"That Card"
Personal Piece
For my personal piece, I decided to perform spoken word. The reason why I wanted to do a spoken word is because, I never did a spoken word piece before. I wanted to try something different out of my element, and show my feelings and emotions through my words and movements. In my poem I wanted to discuss different political, pop culture, and historical events from black history racism. In my poem I discuss our history of racism from the beginning of time until now in today's era. But when I deliver my poem, all of the different events are from my perspective. From doing this spoken word I am trying to convey and show, that our society needs to Breakfree from racism, and show specifically that all African-Americans are tired of the disrespect when it comes to racism. Before performing this piece, I was very nervous to perform because I didn't know if my message would be clear enough for the audience to understand. Later on, I knew that this poem would be able to grab there attention, and that my message will be heard. I am extremely proud of this poem, and I am glad that I had the chance of being able to perform this poem.
When Is It Enough?
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Maybe we're just too demanding, maybe were just to commanding
Maybe you're just not understanding, that we're living in a world that’s too cold From Prince Rodgers, to King Kunta, were still crying rivers of tears, like the water we was wading from fiji to aquafina, We still waiting for our remorse our respect for our loved lost ones in hurricane katrina Now we never been the ones to dwell on the past but since the slave ships, it still doesn't seem as if this bullshit is gonna pass I mean the rich ain’t even safe, they hawking down Oprah in switzerland shopping for them Goyards, treating her like the butler in the back of those slave courtyards From the cotton gin to the cotton fields our respect has been killed knocking off the black youth like we Jack and Jill Freddie Gray, Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, the hole 9 tick tick tick ..boom can’t forget the little rock 9 Now let's get into this formation, before I start bugging out like the zulu nation Sending threats to the world tour, because Queen Bee speaking the truth police killing us everyday but that doesn’t get to the news, I mean maybe one or two incidents of the youth, but that doesn’t justify the fact the were still living in nooses and these shackles and chains If you got that african in your blood it's like you're living in cages With these minimum wages It's like modern day slavery til we die and hit these front pages Inequality been embeded showing up to the oscars with my head dreaded, now you calling me a rosta, if I’m not mistaken yall the impostors, we built, slaved, and died for this country, and Ru is still dropping jewels on why my black brothers and sisters still hungry We still queens and kings from Rodney to Martin, and no the 911 callings are not our callings We given you creed, you in love with the greed that’s why we boycotting From slave ships, to benzes, to those chariots, will never get the respect that we deserve with the blood of an african.... Wow!! Oprah is me!! King Kunta is me!! Queen Bee is me!! The youth is me Mike brown was a mother’s child laying in that blood on the street I’m sad at the things I see That’s why I hold my head down I get pissed off when I’m in a store being followed around Damn it is 2016 and me and my people still dealing with the same DAMN thing I mean really we are all of the same place The human race We keep going in circles like a relay Let’s stop all this madness So our present and future Can bring a brighter day!! Original Piece written and performed by: Talahni Turpin |
Group Project
For my group project, my group and I were assigned to make social experiment video on Privilege/ally ship. Our goal for this video, is to get people to understand on what exactly is privilege, and how it affects us in our daily lives. For me doing this video was very personal to me, because for my "that moment", I was in a position were because of my race. I wasn't allowed to have any type of privilege in that moment.
Project Proposal
Project Proposal Presentation
Storyboard |
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Introduce the issue- In our video we are introducing the video by having our expert give valuable information on what the term privilege means. Also discussing her personal values on what the word privilege means to her.
Trial 1- For our first trial and the rest of the trials, we wanted to ask our interviewees on what the term privilege means to them. We also wanted to discuss on how their race affects them in every day life.
Introducing the experiment-For our experiment, we are going to have a poster board with different name labels that describes a non-racial stereotype.
The name labels:
1. Beautiful
2. Intelligent
3. Powerful
4. Successful
5. Trustworthy
Were going to have pictures of different races, for the experimenter to choose from. But the “Breakfree moment will be that, the experimenter will be allowed to only choose one picture for each category. Once the experimenter select the person they chose, we want them to elaborate and explain why they specifically chose that person. We are hoping that outcome will be able to show that, what privilege or stereotypes is based on due to society’s point of view. In the end of our experiment were going to allow the experimenter to choose all of the different in a certain category based on their opinion, not society’s opinion.
Reactions- After we have them to the experiment, we want them to elaborate and explain why they specifically chose that person. Also we want them to elaborate on how this experiment reflects the word "Privilege."
Call to Action- In the end of our experiment were going to allow the experimenter to choose all of the different in a certain category based on their opinion, not society’s opinion.
Trial 1- For our first trial and the rest of the trials, we wanted to ask our interviewees on what the term privilege means to them. We also wanted to discuss on how their race affects them in every day life.
Introducing the experiment-For our experiment, we are going to have a poster board with different name labels that describes a non-racial stereotype.
The name labels:
1. Beautiful
2. Intelligent
3. Powerful
4. Successful
5. Trustworthy
Were going to have pictures of different races, for the experimenter to choose from. But the “Breakfree moment will be that, the experimenter will be allowed to only choose one picture for each category. Once the experimenter select the person they chose, we want them to elaborate and explain why they specifically chose that person. We are hoping that outcome will be able to show that, what privilege or stereotypes is based on due to society’s point of view. In the end of our experiment were going to allow the experimenter to choose all of the different in a certain category based on their opinion, not society’s opinion.
Reactions- After we have them to the experiment, we want them to elaborate and explain why they specifically chose that person. Also we want them to elaborate on how this experiment reflects the word "Privilege."
Call to Action- In the end of our experiment were going to allow the experimenter to choose all of the different in a certain category based on their opinion, not society’s opinion.
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Final Video |
Self Reflection of Breakfree
After doing this project the word, "Breakfree." Means to me is that, society needs to break away from discrimination of racism, gender, political values, religion discrimination, etc. Also being able to breakfree from personal heartfelt experiences that a person needs to overcome. When doing this project the most challenging part for me was performing my spoken word in front of a huge crowd. But I was glad that I was able to overcome this obstacle. Also realizing the true meaning of "group work." After doing this project, I feel much aware on understanding on how racism jokes, can be very hurtful. And I know realize that even if a joke towards a race might not seem harmful, it can be very harmful and disrespectful because of "Stereotypical Threats." I hope that the Breakfree trend will become viral everywhere, and that Breakfree will become a worldwide spread issue.
Exhibition at Queen's BeeFor our exhibition, to me the entire venue was decorated and put together in a way were our audience could be connect to us in a very personal way. I really enjoyed that our exhibition was in a venue rather than at school. Because not only could our parents see our performances or art work, but people who were walking by Queen's Bee's became interested in our exhibition.
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