Poetry Saves the Day

Jacqueline Woodson frequently weaves poetry through her stories. Her poems help to give her stories a richer voice and a more personal touch. Her use of poetry allows her characters to become more dynamic and vital. A good example of her use of poetry can be found in her book "Locomotion" and its companion "Peace Locomotion". These two books chronicle the life of Lonnie C. Motion and his sister Lili who are placed in foster care after the death of their parents in a fire. In "Locomotion", Lonnie turns to writing poetry in an effort to come to terms with his parents' untimely deaths. The story continues in "Peace Locomotion" which is told through a series of letters that Lonnie writes to his sister who has been placed in a separate foster home. He writes them as he says, "to be the rememberer" until they can be together again.

Double Dutch

"Young girls at play are unaware that they are socially performing the embodied memories of a black musical past, but this explains the subconscious links between the generations of youth, between youth and adults, over time…. In other words, girls are telling stories through their embodied play: dramatizing the "infinite process of African-American and black musical identity construction" by practicing and performing the mnemonic rituals of a kinetic orality."

Excerpt from The Games Black Girls Play: Learning the Ropes from Double Dutch to Hip Hop.

The significance of the Urban Stoop

The dictionary defines a stoop as a small staircase leading to the entrance of a building. In urban culture, the stoop is more than that. It is a place of social gathering where a community gets to know one another. It is a place where kids such as D and the girls have most of their interactions. It is a place where mothers can look out the window and know that their kids are safe. Neeka and the narrator are known as "stoop kids". They grew up on these very steps. Their mothers would not let them go beyond the stoops or hang out on corners where a lot of mischief might take place. The stoop is like a clubhouse, yet it is not exclusive. The neighborhood girls can play double dutch in front of it and Neeka's brother can stop by any time to bring chicken and brag.

Juice

I remember watching Juice when I was in 5th grade on VHS at my friend's house. I thought that movie was so awesome because at that time (1995) "California Love" had come out. Even though I didn't have anyone clock me or watch me and I didn't have diamonds shining looking like I had robbed Liberace, I still felt like I could relate to the culture. Of course, as a scrawny suburban Asian kid I'd never been fresh out of jail California dreamin', never stepped on a scene hearing hoochies screamin' and it wasn't till recently that I've been fiendin' for money and alcohol, but when Pac sings from "Oakland to Sactown, the Bay Area and back down" I can't help but feel represented in some way.