Winter Edition January 2015

The Chill Happy New Year!

We hope you all enjoyed your holiday break and are ready to take on the new-year, 2015. In this winter edition of The

Chill we will discuss and reflect upon aspects of Identity. We will explore the elements of our environment and life

experiences that make us who we are.

GSP’s Wellness Newsletter

What is Identity? Identity is a set of characteristics that define a person or a thing. It’s a distinct personality by which a person is recognized or known. Our personal identity is defined by the characteristics and qualities considered essential to our self-awareness.

We are born with some of the things that make us ‘who we are’ such as our eye color, race, gender etc. Others things develop and change over time such as our personality, interests, and beliefs. Identities are made up of different characteristics and multiple layers i.e. religion, nationality, gender etc. There are lots of things that make us who we are! We are born with some of these things, but others develop over time.

While we all may share lots of characteristics in common, we should all be proud of our own unique identities.

Our differences make us unique and special!

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Coming up with a list of new-year resolutions can be tough. So, we’ve put together a guide to help you start thinking of your goals for 2015 and tips for

success!

In this Winter Edition of The Chill… Pg. 2

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What’s your Identity?

A letter from a GSP student expressing her identity & what it means to be Queer!

“Is it because I’m black?”

Thoughts from Jafari Ross and

Dinzell & Darreus Frazier on their identity as a young, Black male.

Write your own Identity Poem!

Read and follow example poems

written by the 8th grade girls group!

Where I’m From…

GSP 9th & 10th graders express their identity and where they come from.

Making resolutions for 2015?

Aye Bruh!

Get advice for tackling life’s challenges.

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Identity By Whisper Torres, 9th grade

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Identity is one of the rare yet beautiful

things in our world of destruction. There are a lot of us that deprive someone of his or hers. Others diminish someone’s. Some are deprived of their identity because of a religion, because its different, because f society it’s self. Identity can’t be made or bought or written. Many of the strongest identities that live today are in the strangest of places. The people that possess such powerful beauties are locked in their rooms crying in the middle of the night because all they have is their identity and its being ripped from their hearts and souls. Those that posses the rare endowments are afraid to show this to our world. You do not choose your identity, it chooses you. Some of the most

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powerful and beautiful identities are closed with the chains of our cruel world. Identity cannot be defined with words or actions but by people. Our world complains that the world’s beauty is beginning to diminish, but we have set our self to our own doom. We hit the self destruction button over and over again each and every time we judge someone who’s identity isn’t a reflection of our own.

*10 minutes left* Each and every time we bully and try to beat the identity out of them *8 minutes left* Each and every time we force someone to change who they are because of a religion.

*4 minutes left* Each and every disdained look *2 minutes left* Each and every time we try to make our world beautiful with having everyone and everything be the same *BOOM* We have extinguished all the natural beauty in a matter of seconds, in a matter of words, in a matter of actions. The Same way identity has only one form of expression, destruction does too, they are the same. People, help become the fire that ignites our world’s beauty, or become its destruction. But remember, whatever you choose, YOU chose to live in the world.

“Dear Students at GSP”…by Asia Stanley, 7th grade

“My name is Asia and as you read this some of you may not know me. I’m that girl that has the red hair, the red glasses. I’m tall and if you’re wondering, yes, I’m bisexual. It’s no a crime its life. I’ve been bisexual my whole life. I’ve

told a lot of people starting off with close friends. At first, they took it very shockingly. Then, some thought I liked them so they stopped talking to me. Then, things got better and they started talking to me again. The more and more I felt good about letting it out, the

more and more I told people. They were shocked but then they got used to it. Now I’m telling everybody but not my family. It’s sad how I can’t tell tem but then again it feels kind of good. At first I thought I was confused but then, I knew

who I was. I knew that I was bisexual. I knew that I was probably going to loose all my friends and I knew that some people were going to bully me for it. But, I don’t care anymore. It doesn’t matter if someone picks on me for it cause that’s

him or her feeling empty inside, not me. I tell people that I’m bisexual for a reason and that reason is to make me feel better about myself because if I’m keeping it in, I’m basically lying to myself for keeping my real self in. And if you are bi,

lesbian, gay, pansexual etc., you should be proud. If anyone judges you for that, that’s them having problems, not you. Being Queer is OKAY!!”

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What does identity mean to you? How

do you define yourself?

Dinzell: Identity means how people see you and how you see yourself. Your race, gender, background. I define myself as a hardworking down to earth, hippie-like, fun and laughing, but also do what I need to, growing person. I define myself off the assets I have, but my identity is given to me. I didn’t choose it. I get to choose what I make out of it.

Jafari: Identity means what you represent who you are. Like when people are seeing you presented, what are you presenting for people to see? I see myself as a leader, but that’s only because that’s what people tell me. Ever since I was young in the school system, people been telling me that I have this potential. I didn’t start believing it until a year ago. Now I see myself as a black American. I have a duty to represent Oakland and the struggle that my mother went through to get here.

What is your identity?

Dinzell: Black, being raised in poverty. Single mom. Tall. Athletic, or people see me as that. And very joking.

How does your identity affect your

life? The way you live?

Dinzell: My identity affects my life because the identity that was given to me has caused me to live in poverty and get looked at as a person that’s not supposed to be successful. I automatically have a chip on my shoulder. My momma says every black man is born with 2 strikes. I feel like if I don’t make it, be

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successful in college, then I’m a failure, just another black man.

Jafari: I feel as if people who get to know me people may have a preconceived notion . I have to deal with that. My leadership qualities, I feel like if I see a person doing something they shouldn’t be, I try to use my skills to prevent them from making those same mistakes I was once making. It’s made me a guide for people, even though I still need guidance myself.

Why go you think you made some

mistakes?

Jafari: I felt as though I wasn’t as motivated or as educated until about a year ago. I feel like learning my history really changed how I was. Learning about the story of Malcom X showed me that I can make something of myself, and people like me can.

How does your identity affect your

goals?

Dinzell: My identity is getting me to want to go to college. Seeing my mom struggle and my people struggle motivates me to want to go to college. I want to change the world and the only way is through being wise & education.

Jafari: I can’t fail. Put a period on that. Especially going back to my mother. She has been through a lot. Having that in my genetic coding, to work hard, I can’t fail. And I feel like I have a duty to represent Oakland and show people that we can produce great things and it doesn’t necessarily have to be in classroom, although that’s where I prefer to be.

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We can produce great things, we can produce great people. And that’s not shown.

Do you think that the racism of the

past is still here?

Dinzell: Yes, because of our past, slavery and segregation I feel that it is here, but just not blatantly. Yes, of course, I feel like it’s segregated. There’s a reason a lot of people don’t live in Lake Merritt.

How do you think people view you

because you are Black? What

expectations do you think they have?

Dinzell: I think they view me as a person with a different mindset than they have. A different way of thinking than they have because of where I come from and my race’s past. I think they assume that my only intention is to worry about myself. They view us as so many different ways at different ways at different times, basically based on the situation. Like Obama, they view him as a person who is trying to help his race first, not as a president first.

Being a Black Male. Despite civil rights success throughout history,

African Americans continue to face racial stigmatization and discrimination. Recent events

have exposed how black men, in particular, are being marginalized by our justice system. GSP’s Dinzell Frasier and Jafari Ross got together to

talk about thoughts and feelings about their identity as a young Black male.

“I live in a constant state of

paranoia knowing that I could

get shot at any moment, not

because of any affiliation I have

but because of wrong place

wrong time.”… -Jafari

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Another example is MLK, Jr. They look at him as a historic person because he was able to see what others weren’t because everyone else was biased. Like Obama, he is doing what no one expected a black person to do.

Jafari: Yes, I feel that in general whether it is because of police goals, objectives to incarcerate people, or the notion that black people are more criminal, they get looked at negatively more often. I feel as though, even though Latinos are a big part of the community here, Black people get looked at more simply because of our history in America and how we rose from a position of sub-servantry, a position of being owned, to where one of us can be president, we still get thought of as criminal.

Have you ever had an experience

where someone judged you because

of your skin color? What happened?

Dinzell: When I go to work at the rec center the white people there assume that I’m there only for the money. There was a ref at one of the games I was watching and he kept saying, “Oh, for the money right? You’re doing this for the money?” I love to help kids and working with them and that’s why I do it. He never thought that.

Jafari: For people that know me, there is more expected of me intellectually. People expect me to be this great academic student. They know how smart I am, they expect it to just translate to the classroom. And it’s not that easy. The way I am, is that I can’t really do something that great if my hearts not in it. I really don’t know how people who don’t know me feel, people to just expect something of me because I’m Black. I really can’t say. People say that I walk around angry and I look mean. But my anger is coming from a place of motivation because I know I have work to do.

Have you ever had an experience at

school where you were treated

differently because of your race?

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Dinzell: I never encountered an experience at school where I was judged because of my race. If one of my friends who is not my race calls me the n-word, I know it is in a friendly way.

Jafari: Right now nothing that I can recall because of my skin color. Strangers might see me, especially the way I dress, and think something. Strangers meet me and ask if I play basketball, but that’s probably the closest thing I’ve heard. People don’t judge who I am as a person based on my skin color, not that I’ve seen. One time a student was calling me the n-word as a joke, but it really sounded racist. I don’t like to be violent, but it bothered me. He’s coming out of a place of ignorance. He didn’t feel like he was being racist, but I really wanted him to know that if it wasn’t me, if he was on Bart for instance, his life would have been in danger.

How does it feel to be Black in

Oakland?

Dinzell: It feels like a free for all match on Call of Duty. Every man for himself. It feels like you have so many doubters and so many people who don’t want to see you do good. Every person I talk to in my neighborhood has told me that their teachers and parents have told them to settle for what they are doing now, and to not expect more.

Jafari: There are times when it feels nice, to know the culture that we have. Oakland is beautiful, but it has more potential. I live in a constant state of paranoia knowing that I could get shot at any moment, not because of any affiliation I have but because of wrong place wrong time. Or If I see someone who I don’t know, and I look at him wrong, and he happened to have a gun on him, my life could be over.

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How does it feel to be Black in light

of all of the injustices happening?

Dinzell: I feel like I can get shot by a White person and it wouldn’t be taken as heavily. I’m not scared, but I’m paranoid to make the wrong move. I feel like the protests are not gonna do anything. I feel like they’re trying to change things in a fast manner and I don’t thinks it’s gonna work. My way is to become the system, so that you can change the system.

Jafari: Right now I feel this is the person time to be black because there are certain civil rights events going on and forcing us to see injustice. African American, Latino, and even White teenagers who might come from a place of poverty, I hope it motivates them to see that there is work to be done. The whole gang sh-- needs to stop. The only way it’s gonna change, all of Oakland needs to come together to stop this. This is the only way we are gonna get significant change to happen. We have to get off the freeways in protests and get into the communities and start changing amongst ourselves. We need to unite. We have potential, the Black Panthers were born here. And that just came from two dudes at Merritt College reading people their rights when cops pulled them over. We gotta come together.

What do you like about being

Black?

Dinzell: I like being unique. I like having some kind of taste of being who I am. I like proving people wrong and feeling powerful because I am not doing what a “typical” black person does and I’m trying to go to college and become part of the system to improve the system.

Jafari: I think I like the challenge. I like how the reason why even though it sucks that we aren’t in positions of power, when one of us succeeds the entire community is proud. Like if me and Dinzell met Obama, we’d give him some dap instead of a handshake.

Being a Black Male Continued…

“My way is to become the system, so that you can change the system...” -Dinzell

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How does it feel to be Black at GSP?

Jafari: It’s pretty cool. I feel as though as Black people we bring a different aspect to the culture. To have Black people here we are part of the mix we keep it from being strictly a Latino school, we add another ethnic group and we help mix communities together. If this were another school you probably wouldn’t see the small group of Black students hanging out with Latinos, there’d probably be racial tension. Since going here, I’ve learned Spanish…not just because of class, but because of my Mexican homies speaking Spanish to me. And in return, I be myself and be cool.

Dinzell: I feel comfortable. I feel special I guess. I feel equal as everybody else.

What do you think people should know

about Black people?

Dinzell: I think they should know that we are only the way that we are because people have forced us to be the way that we are. In poverty, They expect us to be normal and happy interactive with each other when we have to fight over food and jobs, you know, we don’t have to fight over, but in our brains we think we have to do whatever it is to survive. Some people think money is a way to survive, some people think females is, etc. To me, it’s all mind games and brainwash. I’m privileged. I know I am. I don’t have to think about my mom doing drugs, or brother hanging out with the wrong people. I can come to school with a clear mind and really think and observe society because my mom has carved my brain into thinking a certain way. She’s a lot of the reason that I think the way I think, outside the box. I don’t have to worry about my survival in the same ways as other Black people might.

Jafari: That Black people are strong. Even if the individual isn’t, it’s in our genes from our ancestors to be strong and great people. We have a duty to our ancestors who worked hard and been oppressed, to not mess that up. Even if we have someone in our history who didn’t do as well as they could, you gotta change that. We owe it to ourselves. Why not get that degree, take a chance. Even if you fail, you gave it your best shot, and you can still try again. The greatest people in the

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world, like Michael Jordan, he didn’t just wake up and be great, he was in the gym practicing every day. Ronaldihno, one of the greatest soccer players ever, he worked hard and practiced his skill in order to become one of the best soccer players in the world. We have to stop idolizing rappers and start idolizing revolutionaries.

What problems are Black people facing

and how are these issues

impacting/affecting the Black community.

Dinzell: I don’t want to say the typical stuff like drugs, because it’s more in our mental state. A lot of black people have to be focused on their survival. I can think about my future, long-term. I can think about planning my future for my daughter and myself.

Jafari: Systemic oppression. After slavery and all that, the government basically like… well drugs came into Oakland through the government. The government put guns in the hood, put drugs in the hood, just to make money. I think the effects of that are the biggest problems. I mean think about it. People are walking around Oakland with AK-47s. Where do you get that? There are no stores to buy that. We have to get away from that because we are better than that.

In ten years, when you’re 27, do you think

the same issues will be impacting Black

people? Do you think things will have

improved/gotten worse?

Dinzell: If we don’t eventually become the system, it’s gonna get worse. If we don’t become what we are living---the police, the people in power---than it’s gonna get worse. If we keep giving other people money, like companies, Jordan’s, McDonald’s, it’s keeping us from putting that money towards our education. They (some black people) more focused on being the boss in Oakland (in the streets) instead of a boss in the United States.

Jafari: I want them to get better, but they won’t get better unless we get together as a community and better ourselves. That’s life, you have to work for it. You have to earn it. And until we do that, things are gonna be the same. So you gotta work.

Continued…

Dinzell: Why do you say “is it because I’m black?”

Darreus: Strictly for fun

Dinzell: Why do you think that Black people get looked at differently than other ethnicities and races?

Darreus: Because they was always looked at us worthless

Dinzell: How do you think people view because you are Black?

Darreus: People think that all Black people are talented and have some type of special ability

Dinzell: Have you ever had an experience where someone judged you because of your skin color?

Darreus: Yes, some white dude blamed me for breaking his window and yet I never seen him or his window ever

Dinzell: How does it feel to be Black in Oakland?

Darreus: I feel pressure and that I could be killed at any moment.

Dinzell: How does it feel to be Black at GSP?

Darreus: It feels very prejudice

Dinzell: What do you like about being Black?

Darreus: The genetics, being tall, athletic, etc.

Dinzell: What do you think people should know about Black people?

Darreus: We’re the same as other races, only difference is the personality!

Real talk with the Fraziers

“Is it

because

I’m

Black?”

An interview with Darreus Frazier by Dinzell

Frazier.

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Try it out!

Follow this format and write

your own poem to speak

against the stereotypes!

Just because I’m____.

Doesn’t mean____.

Doesn’t mean ____.

Doesn’t mean___.

I am___. I

Just because...

Just  because  I’m  black  Doesn’t  mean  I  have  short  hair  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  ghetto  Doesn’t  mean  I  eat  chicken  I  am  a  living  human    Just  because  I’m  a  little  sister  Doesn’t  mean  I  don’t  have  responsibility  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  a  little  kid  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  not  as  smart  as  my  older  siblings  I  am  a  responsible  person    By:  Anonymous    Just  because  I’m  a  girl    Doesn’t  mean  I  have  to  look  nice  Doesn’t  mean  I  have  to  impress  anybody  Doesn’t  mean  have  to  do  girl  stuff  I  am  myself.    Just  because  I  was  raised  by  an  Arab  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  Arab  Doesn’t  mean  I  have  to  cover  up  Doesn’t  mean  I  have  to  marry  at  a  young  age  I  am  Independent    Just  because  I’m  quiet    Doesn’t  mean  I  don’t  have  an  opinion    Doesn’t  mean  I  can’t  stand  up  for  myself  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  not  outgoing  I  am  my  own  person.    Just  because  I’m  honest  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  rude  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  being  mean  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  not  kind  I’m  just  being  truthful  By:  Anonymous  

Identity poems by members of the 8th grade girls group

Just  because  I’m  black  Doesn’t  mean  I  eat  fried  chicken  Doesn’t  mean  I  have  short  hair  Doesn’t  mean  I  kill  white  people  I  am  a  regular  person!    Just  because  I  am  a  teen  mom  Doesn’t  mean  I  am  a  whore  Doesn’t  mean  I  am  rude  Doesn’t  mean  I  am  irresponsible  I  am  a  student!    Just  because  I  am  quiet  Doesn’t  mean  you  can  push  me  around  Doesn’t  mean  I  don’t  speak  my  mind  Doesn’t  mean  I  am  the  nerdy  kid  I  am  a  friendly  person!    Just  because  I  am  truthful  Doesn’t  mean  I  am  mean  Doesn’t  mean  everybody  hates  me  Doesn’t  mean  I  am  a  bully  I  am  a  person  of  truth!  

 By:  Anjel-­‐  Marie  Hale    Just  because  I’m  a  daughter    Doesn’t  mean  I  have  to  follow  in  my  brother’s  steps  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  always  going  to  have  good  grades  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  always  going  to  be  a  great  example  I’m  a  human  being    Just  because  I’m  skinny    Doesn’t  mean  I’m  weak  Doesn’t  mean  I’m  always  going  to  be  like  this  Doesn’t  mean  you’re  better  than  me  I  am  Angela  Lerma    Just  because  I’m  a  girl    Doesn’t  mean  I’m  going  to  be  a  housewife    Doesn’t  mean  I’m  going  to  let  go  of  myself  I’m  always  going  to  be  me!    By:  Angela  Lerma-­‐Olivera    

How you feel about yourself today has partly to do with the messages you receive from your family, friends, the media, and even yourself. The way you interpret these messages help you feel good or bad about who you are.

When you identify, explore, and evaluate these messages, you can decide which you want to keep and which you don’t. You can learn ways to talk to yourself

that help you develop healthy self-esteem.

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Poems by GSP’s 9th and 10th graders

“Where I am from…”

The Chill Winter Edition, January 2015

Aye Bruh,

I’ve been feeling weird lately. It’s like I don’t know who I am anymore. I just want to fit in with my friends but I want to be my own person too. What do I do? From, Lost Bruh

Need Advice? Write down your questions and bring it to Ms. Liz at the front office to put in the “Aye Bruh” secret folder. REMEMBER- No Names! All letters should be kept anonymous!

Dear Lost Bruh,

You are not alone. Defining who you are can be complicated. There are difficult and confusing choices at every step of the way, such as trying to be unique while still being accepted and “fitting in”. First thing you can do is to ask yourself this: Who do you want to be? How do you want others to think of you? As an adolescent, you now have the ability to explore and establish your individual identity. While it will always feel good to gain approval from others, it is also important to set one’s own goals and find pleasure and feelings of accomplishment in reaching them. Think of characteristics, morals, and values that define you and use them to help guide you through exploring new opportunities! Have fun and remember: “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You”- Dr. Seuss.

Aye Bruh!

Beginning a new year can be a great time for all of us to revisit

our commitments and goals. This is a time where many of us

make resolutions in hopes of getting rid of bad habits and

making positive changes in our lives. Here are some tips to help

you create your own resolutions and how to put them into

action for success!

DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT TO

ACHIEVE: Evaluate your activities to

determine what you want to accomplish

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2.

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SET SPECIFIC, REALISTIC, AND

MEASURABLE GOALS: Identify who, what,

when where and why. Setting realistic and

measureable goals will help you work towards

achieving them.

STAY POSITIVE: Changes wont happen

overnight. Maintaining a good attitude while

accomplishing your goals will help you to stay

motivated.

What are your New Year Resolutions?

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My resolution is to write notes to my family and friends for no reason to let them know that I care about them. –Ms. Sabia

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1. Dance. I would like to learn a new dance form/technique this year

2.) 2. Travel. I would like to travel 2 places in the country and 1 place outside of the country by Dec 31. 2015

3.) 3. SAVE!!! I would like to see growth in my finances this year.

4.) 4. Love. I expect to love everyone selflessly & sincerely.

5.) 5. Be the best version of myself possible. 6.) 6. Build my brand Nekki B. styles and a consistent

clientele in California – Ms. Boult -­‐M  

My goal is to follow through on every commitment I make, and to make realistic plans. I’m late a lot J -Mr. Nolting