Demographics
William C. Overfelt High School in San Jose, California has a very predominant Latino population with almost 80% of our students identifying as Hispanic/Latino. In addition, over 80% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The struggles of the disenfranchised during the 1900s closely mirrors the struggles of my students currently face. My students face significant economic and social hardships, which impact their day-to-day lives. We are currently living in a very Progressive time, yet my students feel that they have no voice in their own community and the world they live in. They feel disenfranchised and marginalized because they are minorities. By examining poets of the Progressive Era, students will understand the power of the written word and the lasting impact it can have, especially among contemporary artists. And they will understand also that the struggles expressed in these poems are not confined to just one Era, but persist through time. In addition, the music of the rappers and the hip-hop artists my students are so fond of listening to isn’t just music critiquing their current society, it is a critique of hundreds of years of systematic oppression. The goal of this unit is to help my students develop their voice in a creative way so that they can become the instrument of change, protesting in a productive manner for their home, community, and our society. This statement of purpose cannot be overemphasized.
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