Incredible Performances at Recent MS & HS Coffee Houses!

Our recent Middle School and High School Coffee Houses were fantastic! These events provided students with the opportunity to express themselves in a variety of ways. It’s hard to think of many events where an 8th grade boy would be comfortable singing "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra, yet that was one of the great pieces performed at the Middle School Coffee House, met by thunderous applause! Other middle school performances included dance, song, poetry, and instrumental pieces.
 
At our High School Coffee House students shared improv, ukulele songs, poetry, song, and more. One notable poem from the evening was “Garvey’s Roots” by Sean, a senior. Sean shared this piece at our recent secondary assembly and has granted permission to share it here in honor of Black History Month.

These were our third and forth coffee houses of this school year, and we will have two more (one per division) in April. As always, there is a ton going on at AISL and this is yet another way for students to develop confidence, support each other, and express their creativity. (photos by T. Maguire & C. Illingworth)

"Garvey's Roots" by Sean
Marcus Garvey was a black activist known for his role in civil rights prior to the likes of Martin Luther King Jr, and Malcolm X. Marcus Garvey is quoted for famously saying, “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”. This quote, the works of Malcolm X, other civil rights leaders, and the current social climate, inspired the making of this poem titled “Garvey’s Roots” written to celebrate Black History Month.

I had to come to the coffee house to give myself a stage
Cause if I post this all on Instagram the words wouldn't hold half as much weight
On black history month I came to talk about the greats
From Malcolm X, MLK and even the Drizzy Drakes to Rosa Parks, Aaliyah, and all the sisters in the states

We contributed so much and yet still living in fear 
21 himself isn't afraid to shed a tear
Imploring his community and ICE gets him from the rear 
It feels like we got a target on our back from the events of this past year

that's why I look at Kanye in his state of disarray
and wonder “is this what happens when you're married to Kim K"
The same guy who made Jesus walks in 2004
walks around saying slavery’s choice was our fault

I wonder if he could go back and tell that to Emmitt Till
14 year old black boy killed over a story that wasn't real
Or maybe he can tell Kaepernick and get him a new deal
Cause to this day he's unemployed over a belief the feds won't repeal 

Its like the NFL took him off the field, but our society is still in it
2019, and we're fighting for what we thought Obama had ended

But I'm just an outsider looking in
Once I go to college the conflict will be within
wonder if the police will put me in the Penn
or if affirmative action gets me into UPenn 

I guess good does grow from the bad
And darkness finds it way to light 
Issues hidden before have to be confronted before they're turned right
As a community we can only progress
Thank you for freeing 21 and Meek, now lets go free J Hus

I want to continue by talking about Malcolm
Free-minded thinker who never feared the outcome
His story hidden with history labelling him as radical 
When he just wanted protection for his people he deemed as practical 

Malcolm was taken out by his people just like X
Unlike Malcolm, Tentacion never got the chance to repent
If I get popped from just wearing my hoodie
I wonder if my potential dies there and then, with yours truly

You may be asking why this Malawian speaks on slavery and black rights
Well please don't misquote 
cause my great great great granny could've well been on that boat
and knowing us Kamwendos she would jump off and better hope she could float

When I finish this poem do not clap for me
But clap for my predecessors 
They made it possible to just speak
MLK talked about climbing the mountain top and I promise I can see the peak

It’s black history month and of course we get February, its the shortest
But celebrate with me as urban support is important
Genesis says we'll be slaves for 400 years, 
Slavery started in 1619, you do the math, release all your fears

According to my calculations the time is up
And to everybody listening, happy black history month.