Malcolm London: "High School Training Ground"
Malcolm London: “High School Oefenterrein”
Young spoken-word poet Malcolm London has been called the "Gil Scott-Heron of this generation" (by Cornel West). His feisty, passionate performances take on the issues of the day, including the Chicago education system in which he grew up. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
kom ik binnen in een gebouw
maar me slechts afbreekt.
achter mij worden schoongemaakt
hun naam te onthouden.
van tienerjongens,
in kleren die hun onzekerheden
andere laten zien.
door mannen die opgroeiden zonder vader.
met wapens, maar hunkeren naar een knuffel.
met wapens, maar hunkeren naar een knuffel.
dan het lesgeven hen kost.
die gekomen zijn om les te krijgen
als de bel klinkt.
en 'Uitblinkers' resoneren.
met 'Middelmatigen',
dat hen de baas is.
om de 'Middelmatigen' te scheiden
een vicieuze cirkel
van dit systeem te recyclen.
(kapitalen) schrijven.
kapitalisme je verheft,
als je bovenop een ander gaat staan.
waar de ene groep
en de andere gedwongen wordt te volgen.
hun raps uitspugen,
moeilijk doorslikken.
maakt zoveel mensen machteloos.
ook je werkplek is
uitvoeren.
als je het gevoel hebt
van vakjes
hun werk niet doen,
wat ze moeten doen.
om in het gareel te blijven,
te volgen,
niet is uitgekomen.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Malcolm London - Poet, performer, activistYoung spoken-word poet Malcolm London has been called the "Gil Scott-Heron of this generation" (by Cornel West). His feisty, passionate performances take on the issues of the day, including the Chicago education system in which he grew up.
Why you should listen
This poet wields a dynamic spirit for speaking engagements utilizing his feisty and passionate performances as words of encourage for next generations to tell their stories. In 2011, Malcolm London won the Louder than a Bomb youth poetry slam in his native Chicago, scooping the top award as both individual performer and with a team. The poet, performer and activist has performed on stages throughout his home city as well as across the United States. A member of the Young Adult Council of the prestigious Steppenwolf Theater, London brings vim and vigor to his energetic performances tackling tough contemporary issues head-on. He wrote & directed a spoken word0infused play responding to the Zimmerman verdict called Two Years Later, and
London attends University of Illinois at Chicago & is a member & co-chair of BYP100 Chicago Chapter, a national organization of black activists & organizers. Deeply interested in working on ways to improve the national education system, London regularly visits high schools, youth jails, colleges and communities to work with students on writing workshops and performances. London is currently devoted to being a youth advocate & coordinator of The Know Your Rights Project out of Northwestern Law School, a project dedicated to educating young people on their rights within the juvenile justice system, & continuing his work as teaching artist on staff at Young Chicago Authors, a program working to transform the lives of young people by cultivating their voices through writing, publication and performance education. His work has been featured on national outlets including CBS, NPR, The Huffington Post, The Root, and the Chicago Tribune.
Malcolm London | Speaker | TED.com