Projects Part I

Last Sunday, the 8th of November, I decided to open the email Dr. Sandridge sent and viewed the first two groups’s presentation. I watched and listened to Tupac on Youtube. I also watched The Princess and the Frog in preparation for the second groups

Tupac Shakur “Changes”

On Monday, the 9th of November, I decided to take notes of why I believed Tupac was a trailblazer in the music industry. He advocated in a time where he understood that he was working for the same white people that he was singing about.

On Tuesday, the 10th of November, we discussed as a class the over-glamorization of doing hard work for women. This was related to our discussion of The Princess and the Frog. Tiana refused to accept money from her friend and her transformation into a frog helped her growth in the end.

We concluded that experiencing another environment fosters room for improvement and self-realization. We discussed that, inherently being the purpose of college.

• Tiana mentors Prince Naveen similar to Athena who guides Telemachus. Prince Naveen is materialistic, but Tiana manages to uncover another side of him. She copies her father with how he taught her recipe and does so with Naveen. Her father may have passed on, but she continues ensuring his legacy lives on.
• Does music inspire your leadership?

Music has a heavy influence on my leadership because it teaches me lessons or helps me internalize mottos and lyrics I wish to live by. Music is also an escape from me, but reminds me of my purpose and self-worth at times. It also helps me remember where I come from boosting my sense of identity which all play critical roles in the development of my leadership.

• Name a song that inspires you.

A song that inspires me is by a Jamaican artist, Masicka called “They Don’t Know”. He raps about his struggles growing up and how people only see him at his stage of being famous or successful, so they do not know his story. People see the fruits, but not his labor and all the hardships he had to endure. He talks about sleeping on the floor, being born into a life of poverty, and yearning to make sure his mother and him do not die poor.

They don’t know my story

They just know my songs

They don’t know how far

How far I’m coming from

They don’t know my story

They just know my songs

They don’t know how far

Know how far

How dem a gwaan like me no hungry before

How dem a gwaan like me no stumble before

You haffi mek it when you humble fi sure

Crysp inna cup and a no rum me a pour

How dem a gwaan like say me born inna riches

A weh dem deh when man a sleep ‘pon the floor?

But from me born me say me gone fi the riches

Mummy no worry, me can’t dead poor

• Does music inspire someone else you know either in your personal life/public figure?

Music inspires my mother as well. She is from the caribbean island of Jamaica. Jamaica is also the birthplace of dancehall and reggae, so music is a huge part of her life. She plays music when she cleans, cooks, and relaxes. She is responsible for my admiration of music because I grew up in a household that played different genres for respective occasions. On Sundays, my mom blasts Gospel music in celebration of God since we are Christian. She also plays her R&B or 70s/80s music on Saturday mornings when we clean the house.

• Explain your favorite inspirational song? How does this relate to your leadership development? What behaviors do you exhibit from this song?

My favorite inspirational song as mentioned above is “They Don’t Know” by Masicka. It reminds me of where my ancestors and parents are coming from. I am a first generation American woman from New York. I am living my ancestors wildest dreams by having freedom and attending school in hopes of choosing a career path that I genuinely love instead of one to support my family similar to my parents. They had to settle with their current jobs being immigrants and not attending college to make a living and provide basic necessities for my brother and I. My dad often reminds me that him and his six siblings had to share a bedroom growing up which is why Masicka’s lyrics recalling times he had to sleep on the floor resonates with me. It reminds me that my parents started the foundation of a legacy for my family, and it’s up to my brother and I to continue to build it. When he says, “They do not know how far”, I think of how far my parents migrated from and all my ancestors that were forced off their land in Africa to work as slaves on plantations in Jamaica. Overall, this song serves as a reminder of my purpose which is to fulfill the legacy of my parents. This song motivates my behaviors by encouraging me to remain determined. I play it as I complete my homework or study to remind myself that I made it to college which is not the end, but the beginning. I may still have a long way to go, but I have come far and carry my ancestors with me. My degree is not just an accomplishment for me, but for my parents and everyone else that contributed to me attending college. It is also in honor of my ancestors that never had this opportunity. My own great-grandmother could not even read or write, so I am doing this for her. It inspires behaviors such as perseverance, determination, and dedication for me.

• Explain your favorite inspirational artist? What behaviors of leadership do they exhibit? How do they influence your behavior? Has this artist influenced how you act towards others/ people in your community?

I have many favorite inspirational artists, but I’d say Alicia Keys deserves an honorable mention. She has encouraged the confidence of so many women with her song “Girl on Fire” and her other songs that explore the positives and negatives about love. I love that she continues to defy the societal norms of women wearing makeup. She has stopped wearing makeup since she had an epiphany in 2016. When she shot the cover for her album, she decided to do so makeup free and realized she preferred this version of herself. She has been wearing makeup from the age of sixteen and discussed in a letter how it is seen as a “must” or “requirement” in the music industry for videos, shoots, and appearances. She described how being makeup free made her feel “the strongest, most empowered, most free, and most honestly beautiful that I have ever felt.” She had returned from the gym in a baseball cap and her photographer, Paola wanted to shoot her in that essence. She even made red carpet appearances to the 2016 BET Awards, MTV Music Awards, and the 2018 Grammy Awards makeup-free. She is also a philanthropist and co-founder and Global Ambassador of Keep a Child Alive, a non-profit organization. She is also affiliated with “The Trevor Project”, “Equal Justice”, and “Girl Rising”. She also spent her son’s sixth birthday protesting the Boko Haram kidnappings in Nigeria outside the Nigerian consulate in New York City. Alicia has a strong sense of identity composed of confidence and humility. She is a true New Yorker and sings so beautifully in her song with Jay-Z “Empire State of Mind” that I love !! She also encourages women to be their raw selves as well in this society that hold such high expectations for us. She exudes a sense of optimism when she sings and protests about the issues ongoing in our world. She sang so eloquently in alliance with the Black Lives Matter movement at the BET Awards in September. She is a perfect role model for young Black women like myself. I believe Alicia has inspired women to realize their beauty beyond the makeup. It has become something many minimalistic women have appreciated her for. Most artists nowadays do not do any type of appearances without pounds of makeup. I believe makeup should be an enhancement and instead of a necessity to look or feel beautiful.

• What types of leadership have we studied do you identify in him? (Tupac)

I believe Tupac is similar to Cyrus from The Education of Cyrus because he advocates on behalf of his community. Tupac wrote “Changes” and the lyrics that comprise the song resonate with so many Blacks in America. Unfortunately, it has become a timeless song due to the recurrence of police brutality. In a similar way, Cyrus passes on the grievances his friends and the fathers of his friends have to his grandfather, Astyages. Tupac uses his platform as a prominent musician or rapper during the 90s to discuss the oppression of black people.

• Now, would you say that this applies to you as a leader as well? Have you ever given back to your community?

Yes, I believe my community is responsible for all my success and achievements to date, so I have not even given back to them in the capacity that I hope to as of yet. I try to serve my community by helping the next generation or younger children with various activities. I volunteered at my old elementary school with a dance program which also taught the middle school girls to have confidence within themselves. I also help children learn how to swim by conducting clinics with some of my friends. I eventually want to be a volunteer coach because it is a sport that I am passionate about.

• In what ways do you try to act as a role model and have a positive impact on those around you?

I am always trying to emulate and increase the influences I had the privilege of having exposure to. I do this by mimicking these behaviors of being honest, conscientious, and supportive. I am this way with my friends, families, and even strangers. For example, I try to educate my friends and help them re-center on their purpose or focus in life by asking them the hard truths. I always challenge myself and my friends to stand by our morals. I believe morals are so important to our character.

• Describe what kind of changes you would like to see in your community, and viable ways through which they can be employed.

I would like to see my community re-invest our assets and capital back into our programs for the youths. I believe my community suffers from underfunding in so many departments of the community such as recreation, academic, and athletics. My community of Uniondale is full of a lot of middle class families. The public school system in our area is not as good in comparison to the predominantly white communities. My parents sent me to private school by working two jobs at a time to afford my tuition. Everyone has different obligations or responsibilities and a past, so that is not an option for everyone. I believe there should be fundraisers from the successful alumni from the various high schools among the communities should use that revenue to build better libraries, recreation centers, and the infrastructure on a whole. The appearance of my community is not as attractive as others due to the garbage and maintenance of the buildings. My community and I can help by promising not to litter and holding ourselves accountable. We can also pick up any garbage we see to improve the look.