Talking About a Revolution

Recently, it seems that we have been surrounded by examples of youth taking action, lending their voices to fight for change; and the media, comprised mostly of adults, have taken notice. 

Over the past few weeks, we've had the rare opportunity to watch as a revolution in Egypt took place before our very eyes.  The 30-year dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak has ended and, according to the New York Times, the young people of Egypt played a significant role in peacefully toppling his repressive rule.

The Times reports,

Dr. ElBaradei, a Nobel prize winner, has been the public face of an effort to reinvigorate and unite Egypt’s fractious and ineffective opposition since he plunged into his home country’s politics nearly a year ago, and he said the youth movement had accomplished that on its own. “Young people are impatient,” he said. “Frankly, I didn’t think the people were ready.”

But their readiness — tens of thousands have braved tear gas, rubber bullets and security police officers notorious for torture — has threatened to upstage or displace the traditional opposition groups. 

Dr. ElBaradei now seems to believe in the power of youth to effect social change, in the article he went on to say that,

The youth movement “will give them the self-confidence they needed, to know that the change will happen through you and not through one person — you are the driving force."

It remains to be seen how this revolution will unfold and who will carry the movement forward.  There is cause to be optimistic, yet Egypt still has a long way to go.  Read the full article from the Times here.

Closer to home, The Notebook reports, on February 11th close to 100 West Philadelphia High School students walked out of their classrooms at 1 PM.

Borrowing a tactic from the long history of student activism, students say they organized a walkout as a statement to the District about their disappointment and concern with the ongoing reforms at the school.

Junior D'atwan Nelson, an organizer of the event, said students' voices were being ignored at the school.

Students chanted, "No education, no life."


According to The Notebook and The Philadelphia Inquirer, students feel that the school is disorganized and are frustrated by the number of expulsions, and even arrests, of students for minor infractions such as wearing sweaters, as well as by school police who are "disrespectful of teens."  Not only that, but the school may be letting go of over half of its teachers next year because of plans to overhaul the school as one of the district-run "Promise Academies."  Students are troubled by the fact that many of their teachers will have to re-apply for their current jobs.  You can read the full list of student demands here (scroll down).

And, lastly, in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry we've begun to see several of our characters stand up for their rights.  Cassie finally spoke to Papa about the incident with Lillian Jean in Strawberry, and he had this to say:  

"There are things you can't back down on, things you gotta take a stand on.  But it's up to you to decide what them things are.  You have to demand respect in this world, ain't nobody just gonna hand it to you.  How you carry yourself, what you stand for -- that's how you gain respect.  But, little one, ain't nobody's respect worth more than your own" (Taylor 176).

Students,

For this week's blog prompt, I'd like you to consider the theme of social action in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and make connections to yourself, and our world.  Please answer all parts of the following questions in 2-3 paragraphs using complete sentences.  Remember, your response should be able to stand alone; your reader should understand what you're writing about without needing to read the blog prompt.

**Quality commentaries are composed in a google doc before posting and are proofread for CUPS

• What do you think about the incident between Cassie and Lillian Jean?  Do you think Cassie handled the situation well?  Why or why not?  
• Is it ever OK to do use violence if you feel you've been treated unfairly?
• Papa says in the above quote that "There are things you can't back down on, things you gotta take a stand on." What "things" is Papa referring to?  What things do you think Cassie must take a stand on? Why?
• Have you ever felt the need to "take a stand" on something?  What cause would get you out in the streets like the West Philadelphia High School students, and the protesters in Egypt?
• What other examples of characters "taking a stand" do you see in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry?
• Do you think these characters are right to take a stand?  What are the risks involved?  Do the potential benefits outweigh the possible dangers?