In this powerful spoken word, poet Clint Smith, who is also a teacher in Washington D.C., tells the stories of some of his students. It puts names and details to the struggles of young people trying to thrive in an urban environment that is all too often indifferent to their survival.
Via Upworthy.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 13
guest — November 10, 2013
no such thing as a food desert
Japaniard — November 10, 2013
So I googled food desert, and since it sounded like an interesting concept I tried searching for a food desert in Miami and found this recent article http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Relief-Coming-For-Food-Desert-in-Overtown-147670485.html This really confused me as a simple google maps search shows that there are plenty of food markets in the area. In fact, here is my list of fully stocked grocery stores complete with a fresh produce section in the supposed food desert that is NW 3rd Avenue and NW 14th Street. These aren't necessarily the closest ones, just the ones I am familiar with as someone who doesn't live in overtown.
* North: a Price Choice at NE 2nd Ave and NE 18th St (0.9 miles)
* East: a Publix at Biscayne Blvd and NE 17th Ter (0.9 miles)
* West: a Winn-Dixie at NW 11th Ave and NW 11th St (1.0 miles)
* South: Another Publix, although admittedly 1.7 miles away at the other side of the river (but again, I don't live in the are, so there might be a closer supermarket)
These are location that I can think of off the top of my head, and most likely there are some closer stores (especially to the south, as that is an area I don't know very well).
I guess I don't understand how areas like this can be classified as "food deserts". If you have three different fully stocked grocery stores within a mile of you, is that really "barren" enough to qualify it as a food desert, especially when there are lots of local markets to pick up staples like bread and milk? I realize not everyone has a car, but how much closer can everyone live to a super grocery story than 1 mile? Where in the US can you find a Publix every half a mile in every direction?
Guest — November 10, 2013
Food deserts do exist. Solutions are happening, and more solutions are possible via parent's choices and community developments. A neighborhood divided will only see a Popeye's. A community united and a person empowered will see and create a myriad of choices, from CSA produce drop-offs to community gardens to car-pooling or taking public transport (bus/metro) to stores farther away. Education and belief in one's health is vital.
pduggie — November 11, 2013
Interesting. Clint Smith apparently teaches at Parksdale High School, in prince George County, MD.
Grocery stores near Parksdale HS
https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=Parkdale+High+School&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Parkdale+High+School&hnear=0x89b64bcdfea9f6a7:0x68f24b5f98fbb7fc,Prince+George's,+MD&cid=0,0,16056683731764962077&ei=qAWBUqSyAu7msASajIC4Cg&ved=0CKQBEPwSKAAwCg
Czytamy o mieście. Część piąta. | Res Publica Nowa — November 17, 2013
[…] poezja do posłuchania: Clint Smith, poeta i nauczyciel z Waszyngtonu, opowiada o miejskich pustyniach […]
Butterfly house in sharjah — November 6, 2019
I appreciate your efforts in writing such a detailed post. And I agree with you.
ALNoorIsland — April 9, 2020
Exactly, I felt sad at the animal’s poor condition. Rules are not that strict in India, but many be if people like me and you highlight this point, something can be done