I went to Debbie Allen's Freeze Frame . . . Stop the Madness show at the Kennedy Center this weekend. It offered a powerful glimpse into the pain and complexities of gun violence. Afterward there was a panel discussion on the power of the arts to be transformative. Here were some of the ideas that stuck with me:
Debbie Allen:
"Sandy Hook compelled me to use my gifts to do something."
We need to say "change is right now!"
John F. Kennedy would said that the artists are the truthtellers.
Creativity is spiritual, purposeful. It offers confidence, discipline, expression.
"We all have to move together." The abolition of slavery was accomplished by people of different backgrounds working together.
"Let's make this happen."
Phylicia Rashad:
Creative expression is important in human beings realizing their potential.
How can we guard against being scarred by the ignorance of others?
The greatest power we have is the moral authority of art and our voices.
The moral conscious is shaped in the form of a story.
Nicole Hockley from Sandy Hook Promise:
"My son is my butterfly."
Reach people at home. Policy will follow.
It's not just the NRA we have to fight against, it's our own apathy and complacency.
Whoopi Goldberg:
"If we don't, who will? It's just us, y'all."
How do we use technology to engage students in affecting policy?
Kayla Hicks from Education Fund to Stop Gun Violence:
The fund runs a program to turn education to action in schools
If policy doesn't change, everything stays the same.
Performers:
One 16 year old blew us all away when he talked about the similarity between Caesar Augustus, with his turning Rome into an empire, and Trump.
Students of color need to be taught a narrative in which they are more than an oppressed people, so that students can feel a sense of "You are somebody."
Everybody says somebody needs to do something about this. You are that somebody.
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