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sedehlfranklin-blog · 5 years

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Storytime:

This is the student’s position on the object in question and the elements of their background that led them to that position.

During career day on eighth grade, I remember a particular man that came to talk to us. While he was talking to us, I noticed he had a very big guns and roses tattoo across his upper chest. While I stared intently at the tattoo, he explained to us how he wanted to be a chef at a fancy restaurant. He could never get the job though because the people in charge were judging him not only because of his race, but also because of his tattoo. The workers were predominantly white and the place that he came from was a low impoverished area. He used to be involved with gangs as well. The people viewed him as not suitable for the job even though they were just basing this off his appearance not his work ethic. Someone in the class then asked him why he got the tattoo in the first place. He explained that he got the tattoo because his sister was shot by stray bullets in gun crossfire and was killed. He said the gun symbolizes the weapon that killed her and that the roses were her favorite flower. After all those events happened, it was a life changing event for him. He stopped becoming involved in gangs. He went to go get his college degree and became a nurse. His story relates to “The Skin we Ink” because in the essay, it discusses about how in society today, minorities are dehumanized based on their race and also along with their tattoos. But the author asserts that if we actually look at the stories behind the tattoos, then we realize that these people are actually human and it changes their perspective.

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sedehlfranklin-blog · 5 years

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Interview w/ David Kirkland

David Kirkland: Greetings, how are you?

Somtochi Edeh: I’m fine. It is nice to meet you. I have a few questions that I wanted to ask about your article The Skin We Ink: Tattoos, Literacy, and a New English Education.

David Kirkland: Okay, go ahead. Ask away.

Somtochi Edeh: Alright then. Well my first question is what do you believe tattoos stand for in literacy?

David Kirkland: I believe tattoos are a method of self-expression and through tattoos, people can show what they are and what they believe in, almost like a self-portrait.

Somtochi Edeh: Wow, that is interesting. So how do you feel this impact minorities especially?

David Kirkland: Well I believe that minorities are perceived in society in many negative perspectives. The existing thoughts and narratives surrounding minorities, especially African American males, presents them as having a lack of literacy and an implied lack of humanity as well. This as a result, leads to systematic mistreatment and discrimination against them.

Somtochi Edeh: I completely agree with this idea. In the world that we live in today there have been so many false stereotypes that have been created about African American males. These stereotypes have led to countless judgments that demean them. To make matters worse, if they hold such art, such as tattoos on their body then that adds even more worse of an attitude towards them.

David Kirkland: Yes, I know what you’re talking about. I believe Black males are held to a rigid body of literature that is mostly based on illiteracy. I think a lot of literature about Black males depicts illiteracy and gaps in achievement. Many Black males are seen as illiterate or less than because they have tattoos that represent their stories. A lot of times, Black male students are even suspended from school for longer periods of time than the other students.

Somtochi Edeh: That is absolutely right. Another question that I have is how do you feel tattoos raise awareness and provide a story for these individuals?

David Kirkland: Well I personally think that the tattoos themselves tell the unique background, stories, and history of each person allowing for their to be a shift in the perspective that was held before about them. It allows for the person to see that they are humans too and unethical treatment that they are receiving is wrong. This social injustice allows for the author to demonstrate how tattoos are in fact a non-traditional literacy artifact that should explored in educational settings to raise awareness of the important role they play not only in literature, but society as well.

Somtochi Edeh: I second that notion. I have had my own personal experiences where I have been told how an African American male could not receive a job due to the tattoos that he had inked on his skin. What they didn’t know is that the tattoo was created in honor of his sister that died due to gun violence. He was being judged upon not only by his race, but the art that was a part of him.

David Kirkland: Yes, you are completely right. People in the society that we live in today always tend to forget that most tattoos come with a story. They think believe it is something that is “unprofessional” and unsuitable for the working or learning environment. These are all based on assumptions that society has generated. If people just take the time to look past these assumptions and actually try to learn these people’s stories a whole new perspective could be present.

Somtochi Edeh: Alright, so do you feel like non-traditional literacy artifacts like tattoos, can be incorporated into the classroom setting?

David Kirkland: Yes, I completely believe that it is possible. I think that the “traditional” classroom setting does not always have to be utilized in the world of literature. Language itself can be displayed in various ways. June Jordan also discusses this point in her article Nobody Mean More to Me Than You and the Future Life of Willie Jordan. She highlights how all other dialects and languages should be accepted in society in order for unity to be allowed in the world of literature. I agree with that idea completely. If we learn as a collective group that it is okay to incorporate and accept new styles of language, then it will generate a new and unique way for students to learn in the classroom setting.

Somtochi Edeh: Okay, that’s interesting. Do you think one can measure proper attribution and citation in writing formats that borrow heavily from non-peer reviewed sources?

David Kirkland: To be honest with you, I think that it actually can be possible. I believe that if one’s writing is drawn from non-peer reviewed source that is not necessarily a bad thing. We have just been taught in society that only certain types of sources are credible enough to measure attribution and citation.

Somtochi Edeh: I completely agree with you, another question. What responsibilities are most important for writers? To adhere to the conventions and  expectations of their disciplines and professional communities? Or to address and persuade  mainstream readers of the perspective each writer values most?

David Kirkland: The most important responsibility for a writer is being passionate. Writing about something that you have interest in is extremely important. It allows the writer to completely display their voice to their readers. So I believe to address and persuade mainstream readers of the perspective each writer values the most. The first thing the writer should be doing is to voice out their own passionate thoughts and feelings. By them trying to please the views or expectations of other people it will not allow them to channel all their passionate thoughts and ideas into their writings.

Somtochi Edeh: Wow, I never thought about it like that. I agree with entirely. Another question, can writing ever be too neat? Too organized? Do you think writing with too few sources still be considered critical?

David Kirkland: I think that writing does not need to fit a standard type of standard. I know most people feel that they must fit a constricted guideline when it comes to writing. They think that writing has to be proper, which I feel is not true at all. Writing is something that come in many formats and ways. It can never be too neat or organized because that is the way the writer felt he or she wanted to display their thoughts and words. Writing with few sources could still be considered critical I think only if the few sources that they have are really reliable you know.

Somtochi Edeh: Okay final question. Is there any example of a person with tattoos that you have seen that really stood out to you?

David Kirkland: Yes, there was a 9th grader I met in 2003 named Derrick who talked about tattoos being symbolic of both human stories and human struggles. His tattoos was his form of “literature” that described everything he had gone through and represented his experiences.

Somtochi Edeh: Alright thank you so much for your time.

David Kirkland: No problem, it was my pleasure.

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