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"I walked into my apartment building, and just as the large metal door closed behind me gunshots rang out just outside the door. I froze for a second, not knowing where the shots were coming from, when my younger sister, tugging at my arm, pulled me through the interior door of our apartment building as the shots continued to ring behind me."

What he describes is a "drive-by." I'm fortunate enough to never have experienced one in person but I know exactly what he means. Growing up in urban neighborhoods, it is something young children of color are taught to be aware of. Most white teachers can't relate to this type of natural instinct which is why he got in trouble for his actions. If teachers could relate to this fear they would have a better understanding of what it's like to live in fear at home and at school.

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"As a young man, I had always been fascinated by this lifting up and pouring of liquor 'for the brothers who ain't here' by older members of the community."

I have always heard and seen this in movies. Usually done with a "40", characters are always pouring some out for the homies. This was significant because I could relate but I also learned something. I had no idea that it had come from native Americans with a significant meaning . Like the author I knew it was serious, but I had no clue how deep the meaning was.

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"In one image, he is staring emptily into space, and in the other, his head is resting on his desk. Responses from the group were immediate, and all described the young man in the photos as some variation of 'disinterested' or 'unmotivated'."

I used to be one of these kids. I knew the answers but I wouldn't participate because I called on too much. So I stopped volunteering. I would write notes or just kept my head down. I'm sure I looked disinterested very often. Keeping my classmates and I engaged was a very hard task for my teachers so there was rarely any engagement.

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"... but I can see genius bursting from his pained skin
It is the deepest black, pure like Earth's blood
but for somereason, most seem to see it as an impurity."

This is one of the truest lines I read. This is a quote from another student noticing greatness stifled in his classmate. Growing up and going to school in majority urban schools, I have seen so many of my black male peers just give up on education. Being smart wasn't cool. Sagging pants and skipping classes was more fun. I've seen so many great and wonderful minds wasted to impress the streets.

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"The preacher repeated his greeting, this time with more vigor. 'Isn't it a pleasure to be in the presence of the Lord this morning?' A smattering of amens followed."

Being black I know this scene all too well. Black churches are known for being loud and having the spirit pouring out of them. I have never made the relation between pastor and teacher. While reading this particular chapter it couldn't have been more clear. Like a pastor needs to engage his congregation for them to "get their word" a teacher must engage their students for them to get their education . Honestly it made me want to go visit a church and take notes of the pastor and his actions to see how I could apply it in my future classrooms.

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"One girl rapped while others bobbed their heads in unison and "beatboxed"-- creating sounds that mimicked drums with their mouths and hands."

This is a video of a cypher. I chose this one because its one of my favorites and it puts a nice image to the actual reading. It also involves young boys and their famous rapping fathers but the fathers are giving the sons more time to shine. In the cypher, one person raps and others around them listen. It has always been my favorite part of the BET Hip Hop Awards. I enjoy watching people share experiences through the rhythm and how involved everyone gets. Emdin says to bring this into the classroom and I completely agree. The children wouldn't be rapping but meeting together in what he calls a "cogen." The rules would be the same where they share thoughts and actually listen to each other. I love that its a small group and the teacher is part of the team instead of the leader.  I think it shows teachers treating their students with respect as individuals and as equals. Like in the video, the young boys start the cypher and the dads are just equal participants.

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Ice Cube , OMG , DoughBoy , Rev Run , Diggy Simmons, Jo-Jo Freestyle (HQ)

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Ice Cube and RevRun with their sons Freestyling

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"Student A (coteacher): So this car was going like twenty miles per hour. Driving real slow too. The car was like a 600 Benz. No tints. Clean. Just stunting around the block. Driving around till he stops at the same spot. How long do you think he'll go in an hour and a half?"

This is a video of one student teaching to her peers. This video shows how the student pretty much take full control of the classroom. The teacher is not seen and the kids are completely focused on their classmate. I like this idea. Of course, not for every lesson. However, I have always believed that students learn better from each other. Children have a way to reach each other much better than adults can.I've experienced this personally recently. My peers teach lessons to us in some classes and I feel like I understand the knowledge a little better when it comes from someone who explains it in words I understand. I do like that Emdin said the teacher took notes to later use them for other classes. Its important that teachers can relate to their students so they [students] want to be engaged in their learning experience.

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Student Teaching Class.  Whole Brain teaching.

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"During one particularly striking interview, one student mentioned that a teacher 'talks mad white and boring like the guy from the Clear Eyes commercial,' referring to a popular caricature of an older white science teacher played by Ben Stein on television."

I just had to put the commercial up here. This is one of the Clear Eyes commercial the student is referencing. When I read it, the commercial with this man's monotone voice immediately jumped in my head. The young child that Emdin quotes makes a wonderfully descriptive comparison to get his point across. I honestly couldn't imagine trying to focus or learn anything if I had to listen to that voice. Just listen to how he says "amazing." When we speak of using our "teacher voice" we are referring to the volume and expression we put into our words.Teachers should have an engaged and enthusiastic voice when teaching students so they feel that the subject at hand is something worth learning about.

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"For example, a classic hip-hop lyric like 'Can I proceed?' followed by the response 'Yes indeed' can positively transform classroom."

I chose this video so everyone could hear where this line comes from. When I read this part I got super excited. I sang it as I read it. The line actually goes "Shall I" instead of "Can I",but either works in the classroom. During my time in the schools, I have been trying to determine what my call and response would be to my class. I've heard a few like, "Class Class" "Yes Yes" "123, eyes on me," but none have resonated with me like this one. I will definitely, one hundred percent use this line in my class. Its relatable, maybe not so much now with newer generations but, it is still very catchy and fun.

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"I argue that an educator who has created a special handshake to share with students when they get an answer right can generate positive emotions because of the significance of the handshake in neoindigenous culture."

I chose two different videos for this quote. The first video is a black male teacher doing handshakes with his students. The second video is a white female teacher doing handshakes with her students. These are greeting handshakes instead of congratulatory handshakes like Emdin suggested. However, it serves the same purpose. Students feel like the teacher is relating to them, they are excited to go into class and get started, they are excited and engaged. There was some controvery with these videos which is why I chose to play both. The first video is the black man and his students. The white female saw the video and was inspired to do the same to relate to her students. Many people called her a copy cat and accused of her "stealing" the black man's idea. However, when she posted it she expressly said how she had been in spired the man and his involvement with his students. She credited and thanked him for his wonderful idea. I applaud her for trying something new for the betterment of her relationship with her students and ignoring what outsiders had to say. If I had any kind of coordination I would try to do handshakes as well. Being that I don't, I do believe I should try something so the students feel like we are one, a family.

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Teacher Has Incredible Handshakes With Each Student | ABC News

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You would not believe how this 3rd grade teacher deals with kids

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After social media fame, a 3rd Grade teacher at Wichita Public Schools' Mueller Elementary has a new batch of handshakes. Jacob Albracht finds out why they're more than just fun for her students.