CATCH Charter

October 7, 2009

SCHOOLWIDE ESSAY PROMPT #6

BACKGROUND:  When tragedy strikes, there is sometimes no better thing we can do than to reflect upon it, and extract lessons on how not to repeat it.  In the case of last week’s deadly beating of Derrion Albert of Christian Fenger Academy High School in Chicago, his assailants have left us few modes of recourse…

Reflection is all that we can do.  A life was lost.  And it didn’t have to be.

THE PROMPT:  Some of you may have already heard that the rapper Nas has written an “open letter” to the young people of Chicago.  As part of this prompt, we will ask you to read the letter, and to think about his words in relation to the teenagers in Chicago.  Then, consider what his words mean to you.  When you’ve put it all together, we’d like you to write a one-page letter (perfectly edited, with no mistakes whatsoever) to the young people of Chicago.  We’ll be sending the letters off to The White House next Monday, and absolutely EVERYBODY must have completed the assignment.  There are no excuses.

Here is Nas’ letter:

“Dear Young Warriors fighting the wrong wars! Killing each other is definitely played out. Being hurt from the loss of a love one was never cool.

Dear Young Warriors fighting the wrong war! I know that feeling, that frustration with life and needing to take it out on someone, any one. But….

We chose the dumbest things to go the hardest for. I remember seeing deaths over 8 ball jackets, Fila sneakers, and name plate chains. Deaths over “he say, she say”!!!!! “I’m from this block or I’m from that block”, or “my moms n pops is f*cked up now the whole world gotta pay”!!!

I remember feeling like I was the hardest “n*gga” breathing. And I couldn’t wait to prove it. But let’s think. What are we really proving?? And proving what to who?? Everybody knows Chicago breeds the strongest of the strong but I just feel, me, being ya brother from another state feels your pain as if I grew up with you in ya very own household.

You have the ability and mindpower to change they way we are looked at. Look who’s watching us young warriors, look who’s throwing us in jail constantly, look at the ignorance in the world. Look at the racist dogs who love to see us down. Loving to bury us in the ground or in jail where we continue this worthless war on one another.

Young warriors…. We are WASTING more and more time. We gotta get on our jobs and take over the world. Cuz this movie left the theaters years ago, Juice, Menace, Boys n the Hood , Blood n Blood Out, Belly!

When we see each other why do we see hatred? Why were we born in a storm, born soldiers, WARRIORS….and instead of building each other up we are at war with each other.. May the soul of this young person find peace with the almighty. I’m with you young warriors. You’re me and I’m you. But trust me! you are fighting the wrong war.”

DUE DATE:  Your 1-page response is part of your CATCH CLASS grade, and will be collected on Monday, October 12, 2009… at 7:35am.  Good Luck!

(Remember, C.A.T.C.H. Class counts as 10%, or one full letter grade, of your 1^st Period Class.)