The Dare Dreamer Movement by Julene Fleurmond

You are browsing the archives of 2010 September.

The following is one of my favorite quotes that has inspired me to follow my dreams:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color…”
“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” – Maya Angelou

One of the topics concerning youth I find myself often researching and learning about is identity, especially how young people view themselves and others. One area in particular is relating to race and ethnic background – how do young people see themselves and others? In my college “Women & Minorities in the Media” course I did a final paper on African American girls and how the media and role models in their lives affect the way they grow up and pursue careers.

Are we as adults and educators teaching children to see beyond color? Will the environment’s we live in and experiences we have had always have an effect on our world paradigm? Below are a few pieces and resources on this subject:

Colour Me – The Feature Film

Colour Me is a feature-length documentary film from Red Piano Productions following motivational speaker Anthony McLean and five youth on their journey to discover what it means “to be black”. McLean himself is biracial and talks about the struggles he felt growing up trying to find where he “fit in.” Watch this development reel from the documentary:

“A Girl Like Me” A Short Documentary Film by Kiri Davis

A few years back (then 17-year-old) Harlem student Kiri Davis recreated the famous doll experiment of the 1940’s by psychologist Dr. Kenneth Clark. Children were presented with dolls of different races to see how they responded to them. Kiri received recognition from various outlets for the film and was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, bringing the subject to the forefront to be discussed – have perceptions changed? Click here to learn more about Kiri Davis on her website.

CNN Report: Black or White: Kids on Race (May 2010 – Click here for the full report)

CNN commissioned a study on children’s racial beliefs, attitudes and preferences that shows black and white children are biased toward lighter skin. The test aimed to re-create the landmark Doll Test from 1940s. The two girls at the end of the video have so much wisdom and see the reality that “you don’t judge someone by the way they look but by the way they act.” Though it was sad to see when some didn’t realize their worth, it’s refreshing to see that some really “get it”.

On Dream in Soul I interviewed Lauren & Lucas, a sibling duo who post creative song covers on Youtube. I especially love their cover of Lecrae’s “Praying for You.” Check out the interview below:

On SOAR we feature young people (from those beginning their ministries to those more established) who are using their talents to bring glory to God. Check out our interview with brother/sister music duo Lauren & Lucas Gandy who began by posting creative videos on Youtube showcasing both their musical and production skills and their love for Jesus. By creating acoustic covers of songs by Christian artists, from Lecrae to Kirk Franklin and Skillet, Lauren and Lucas’ videos show you can have fun while bringing glory to God…