Lee Mokobe: A Powerful Poem About What it Means to Be Transgender by A.Cook https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy M&D: Summer 2021 - Cook - Session 1 en-us 2021-06-23 18:45:31 UTC 2025-12-23 17:01:23 UTC hello@padlet.com Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How is Data, Measurement, and Statistics? SJCCook https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1622183687

  • What question(s) is being addressed in this piece?

  • What data is utilized in this piece? Who or what is the data about? Why?

  • How could you collect relevant data to answer the question(s) that this piece is addressing?

  • How is the data being communicated? What are other ways to share the data?

  • What does the data mean? How can/could the data be used to support change? Critical Consciousness? Anti-racism? Disruption? Liberation?

  • What policies and policy decisions are connected to this piece?  How are data, measurement, and statistics used to make those policies?

    • ]]>     2021-06-23 18:45:31 UTC https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1622183687     SJCCook https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1622183688 2021-06-23 18:45:31 UTC https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1622183688 Jasmine and Brittney https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1622401631
  • Lee Mokobe addresses identity and transition in this piece; raising questions about religion, gender stereotypes, labels, trans suicides, and Black trans lives. He brings awareness to the daily struggles of a trans person in society and questions what it means to be trans.
  • Lee Mokobe utilizes information from culture and his own life experiences; conveying a commonality in the daily challenges of being a transgender man. The data expressed in this poem gives the viewers a glimpse of a child struggling with gender identity- “When I turned 12 the boy phased was not deemed cute anymore..” Lee Mokobe goes on to explain how he knew he was not a female but found it difficult to explain that to others, eventually being called stereotypical labels such as lesbian.
  • To answer his questions about trans sucide, Black trans lives, gender stereotypes and more, I would interview a selective group of people truly invested in the trans community. This selective group would include professionals that specialize in gender socialization, activist/ advocate members of the trans community, and young adults that are willing to discuss their own tribulations. I would later compare this new information to Lee Mokobe’s own experiences, concluding the best possible answers to his questions raised.
  • The data is being communicated through a poem, in which people can learn more about the experiences and struggles faced by trans folks.
  • This data shows the inequality we are constantly experiencing in our society. This data can be used to spread awareness, educate, and fight for justice and equality for all people.
  • The piece is connected to policies that limit rights and discriminate against people of the trans community. It doesn’t seem like the data is being used effectively because there are still many challenges that the trans community face daily.

    • ]]>     2021-06-23 22:10:43 UTC https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1622401631     Usamaah https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1623803330 This piece addresses the question of love, acceptance and societal norms. Very directly, Lee Mokobe asks the question “how long will it be until trans suicide notes become redundant?”  

    The data utilized in this piece was about Lee Mokobe. He utilized data from his life and interactions between him and his family/community. 

    I would collect relevant data about the experience and perspective of members of my community who identify as transgender. I would collect information about how experiences vary between cisgender and transgender members of my community. We would collect data about the experiences that members of the community felt and the disparity between separate groups. 

    I think this data should be communicated in an open format setting. During an open discussion we could all learn from each another, listen to experiences and grow together. 

    The data can be used to support change in a critically conscious way by utilizing our voices as one and demanding change from governing bodies, and our community leaders. Demanding justice and equality and equity for all. 

    The policy decisions associated with this piece are related to the crimes against transgender members of our community. Similarly to what we saw in the Anti-asian hate crimes bill, there is a lot we need to demand from our policy makers. 
    ]]>     2021-06-24 15:31:31 UTC https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1623803330     Hannah A-L https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1627287803 1. The questions being addressed in this poem are about being trans in this current world. Mokobe asks, "How long will it be until the trans suicide notes become redundant?" But Mokobe also asks about what it means to be accepted as a trans person, what it means to grow up in this society and in a trans body.

    2. The data in this piece is about Lee Mokobe. Mokobe uses his own life as the data here, but he also draws on information about trans deaths and suicide. He discusses his own family and his relationships to people in his life and community.

    3. I think in order to collect relevant data to answer his questions, I would need to collect information from trans folks in my community. His question almost seems rhetorical, but I think collecting relevant data looks like talking to members of my community and discussing what the experiences of growing up as a trans person. I would also be interested to collect data that asks trans folks about their personal relationships and familial connections. However, just as a caveat, I would need to think specifically how *I* could or would collect relevant data.

    4. The data is being communicated in an open and honest and searching poem. He is sharing his own personal experiences publicly in the format of a poem.

    5. This data means that we don't live in an equitable world (DUH). This data can be used to support the passing of bills and laws that enforce safety for trans folks - healthcare, sports, bathrooms, the ability to live comfortably and confidently in the bodies and identities they occupy. It feels disheartening to think about how this data can be used to support change, because despite this data being out in the world there is so much trans hate.]]>     2021-06-27 22:06:02 UTC https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1627287803     J. Hall https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1628630276 1. The question being asked in this piece is "How long will it be until the trans suicide notes become redundant?"
    2. The data utilized in this piece is: deaths, suicides,
    this data is about personal experience
    It is being used because it highlights shared experiences that have become far too common
    3. You could collect relevant data to answer the question this piece is addressing by looking to the commonalities in experiences of bigotry that push young people to end their lives
    4. The data is being communicated through poetry.
    Additionally the data is being share by means of metaphors and descriptive language in the form of open ended questions woven with the authors personal experience growing up and encountering the harshness of the world as he navigated his own identity, religion, family and culture
    5. The data means that despite progress we live in a fundamentally unequal society that at it's core seems willing to accept ignoring the continued suffering of trans and non-binary people, particularly when they are not white and well off (as referenced in the poem when Caitlyn Jenner is referenced)
    The data can be used to support change in the sense that it can be used to show the truth and the violence that continues to be perpetrated against trans people. In this way bringing awareness could help move people to action.
    The data supports critical consciousness and anti-racism through highlighting the intersectionality of gender and race in relation to the continued perpetuation of this inequity that shows no sign of letting up.
    The data is disruptive because is is honest and it is told in a narrative form that creates a powerful framework in which it's impact and striking nature is even more poignant.
    The data servers the goal of liberation by promoting an upset of the status quo through the saving and protection of black trans and non binary lives.
    6. Some policies and policy decisions that are connected to this piece are the continued state level restrictions on the rights of trans people as well as some of the state and federal level protections of trans people.
    To my mind it does not seem like the data , measurements and statistics are used to many of the policies and decisions that limit the feedoms of trans and non-binary people, because these policies are not supported by evidence (i.e. the implementation of such policies do not help prevent suicide or make life better for trans people and trans youth)

    ]]>     2021-06-28 16:18:22 UTC https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1628630276     M. Leas - Reflection Questions madisonleas https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1628865866
  • In this Ted Talk, poet Lee Mokobe explicitly asks, “How long will it be until the trans suicide notes become redundant?”. Specifically, Mokobe is asking society how long must members of the trans community go on without the support and love of their family, school, and world. Mokobe wants to know why trans folks still face hate, discrimination, and rejection from their culture and community. 
  • In this piece, Mokobe utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data. Mokobe addresses the prevalence of sucide in the trans community, and provides detailed examples of when they faced discimination and rejection from their own family and school. Mokobe is illustrating that the data is not just data—the issue of transphobia is real and impacts even their life.
  •  If I were to collect data in order to answer the questions addressed by Mokobe, I would start by researching and examining statistics on the prevalence of sucide among the trans community. I would like to learn everything I can about the topic. I would also want to conduct qualitative data through interviewing, survey, and/or ethnography. I would be interested in learning about how the diverse experiences of people who are trans connect to their family, school, and community. I would also like to know more about their experiences growing up as a trans person. I would like to find concrete examples of how folks who are trans can feel and be better supported in our culture and community. I would like data to help answer the questions as to why our culture has not fully embraced the trans community. 
  • In this Ted Talk, the data is being communicated through their poetry and verse. The data is being communicated through personal anecdote, descriptive language, metaphor/simile, and pose. The data is not being shared from a third-person perspective. Instead, it is personal, reflective, emotional, and real. This data is being shared in order to move the listener. However, other concrete ways of sharing their data could be through graphs/charts, essay, song, or visual art. 
  • This data is telling us that there is still so much work that needs to be done in terms of LGBTQIA+ acceptance and education. We live in a world that regularly treats LGBTQIA+ people as if they are invisible. We need to support bills and laws that provide equal protection, rights, and liberties to all folks. Trans folks must be allowed to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity, participate in sports and school activities, and hold jobs without the risk of rejection, exclusion, or harassment. The data is telling us that many, many people who are trans are still being rejected and excluded from their community. Suicide rates are high among the trans community—the data tells us this. The data tells us that we need to put more resources and support into our communities and neighborhoods to support change—to lower LGBTQIA+ suicide rates. 
  • Finally, as stated previously, policies and laws surrounding the liberties and freedoms of trans folks are connected to this piece. I think of how in the United States many trans folks are still excluded from school sports, community activities, and professions. This piece is connected to the policies and laws in the United States that reject and discriminate against people of the trans community. The experiences shared by Mokobe in the Ted Talk poem are still actively taking place today. In many ways, the data and statistics making those policies are negatively impacting members of the trans community. However, rates of sucide among members of the trans community continue. Activists and LGBTQIA+ organizations are using the data mentioned by Mokobe to continually advocate for justice and liberation for LGBTQIA+ people. 

    • ]]>     2021-06-28 19:40:18 UTC https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1628865866     Cory https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1628924894 2021-06-28 20:45:51 UTC https://padlet.com/SJCCook/bznrb6584pnryozy/wish/1628924894