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Video

Youth Empowerment Through Hip-Hop

28 August 2009

This video was produced by the U.S. Department of State. The speakers are instructors and students at S.H.A.R.P. (Summer Humanities Arts and Readiness Program). Following are speakers in this video:

• Toni Blackman, hip-hop cultural ambassador.
• Gabriel Benn, a.k.a. “Asheru,” director, S.H.A.R.P. Program.
• Season Brooks, student at S.H.A.R.P.
• DJ 2-Tone Jones, radio broadcasting instructor.
• Matthew Streeter, student at S.H.A.R.P.
• Tiffany, student at S.H.A.R.P.
• Jade Foster, English and humanities teacher.
• Romaine, student.
• Asia, student.
• Season, student.
• Matthew, student.
• Tiffany, student.

00:00:03.208,00:00:03.917
STUDENTS: Yo, this your boy
Romaine from DKO All Day.

00:00:03.917,00:00:05.667
[TEXT: Youth Empowerment
Through Hip-Hop]

00:00:05.667,00:00:07.375
STUDENTS: Yeah, this your
girl Asia from the Alley.

00:00:07.375,00:00:12.667
This your boy Season. And you’re
listening to WBHS Radio.

00:00:12.667,00:00:15.167
[MUSIC]

00:00:15.167,00:00:18.042
TONI BLACKMAN: We’re at Ballou
High School in Southeast

00:00:18.042,00:00:21.708
Washington, D.C., this summer as a
part of the S.H.A.R.P. Program.

00:00:21.708,00:00:22.917

GABRIEL BENN AKA ASHERU:
S.H.A.R.P. stands for

00:00:22.917,00:00:25.667
Summer Humanities Arts and
Readiness Program.

00:00:25.667,00:00:28.417
It’s a fully comprehensive, all-
day program

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just really designed to empower

00:00:30.292,00:00:32.125
students through art and
community service.

00:00:32.125,00:00:32.958
[SCREEN TITLE: Gabriel Benn aka
Asheru - Director, S.H.A.R.P.
Program]

00:00:32.958,00:00:36.167
|SEASON: It’s like a hip-hop
program for kids

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who like hip-hop.

00:00:37.417,00:00:42.458
[MUSIC]

00:00:42.458,00:00:43.958
TONI BLACKMAN: Hip-hop is
especially useful

00:00:43.958,00:00:45.542
in connecting with young
people.

00:00:47.083,00:00:48.167
[SCREEN TITLE: Toni Blackman —
Hip-Hop Cultural Ambassador]

00:00:45.542,00:00:47.083
We often look at it as
entertainment, but it’s a

00:00:48.167,00:00:50.667
functional role that this thing
plays.

00:00:50.667,00:00:51.167
[SCREEN TITLE: DJ 2-Tone Jones —
Radio Broadcasting Instructor]

00:00:51.167,00:00:53.000
DJ 2-TONE JONES: To a lot
of students this is the most

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natural way to express
themselves.

00:00:55.167,00:00:57.917
MATTHEW: Rapping and
writing makes me feel

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expressful, like — get stuff
off my chest.

00:00:59.875,00:01:01.875
TIFFANY: You get the notebook,
the pen,

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and you start writing about how
you feel and what’s on your mind.

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It makes you feel good.

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BLACKMAN: When you give
them permission to speak their truth,

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there’s something very powerful
about honoring

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a young person’s voice and, when
they speak, actually listening.

00:01:17.708,00:01:18.083
[Screen Title: JADE FOSTER –
English & Humanities Teacher]

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JADE FOSTER: It’s important
for young people

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to know that their stories
matter.

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It’s important for young people
to know

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that their stories are relevant to
their lives and their history.

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BLACKMAN: It gives us an
outlet to express ourselves,

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to communicate our ideas,
our innermost thoughts.

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BENN: It’s like a megaphone
for the people.

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FOSTER: That develops into
speeches,

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that develops into just being able to
speak in an interview,

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that develops into interviewing
for a job.

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You know, like, hip-hop, music,
poetry, art

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point blank prepares you for
every avenue in life.

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[TEXT] www.state.gov

00:01:47.000,00:00:00.000
[TEXT] U.S. Department of State

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-en/index.html)