I thought this article did an interesting job of exploring how oral tradition and storytelling are an integral part of Sudanese (and other selected countries of Africa) culture. Before reading, I understood that language is a social construct that changes over time. This morning I used the phrase IDK in conversation and had the urge to smack myself. The fact is, language changes with time and within different groups of speakers. However, I had not thought about the ways modes of literacy change given social and political context.
I loved the quote on page 223, “Johnstone, for example, noted that making sense of the world through stories is quintessentially human.” Of course it is! I love reading stories to my nephews, to my students, and to myself. We study traditional literature and culturally based stories in seventh grade. One of the goals of the unit is for students to recognize the power of stories to teach lessons and transfer social values.
The value shift was the most interesting aspect of this article, to me. I find it fascinating that these young men, who grew up in a society in which elders are the holders of wisdom, didn’t become rebellious and turn to destructive behaviors when their elder structure was decimated. Instead, they turned to education and utilized the craft of storytelling as a channel for social change. Fascinating!
I realize that we are not in the midst of civil war in the United States, but would argue that we are in a cultural war that is producing lost boys (and girls) just the same. I wonder if we might be able to begin a grassroots movement of reclaiming history and identity if we were to use storytelling in the classroom. The young men who spoke in this article referred to the need to tell stories in order to maintain cultural identity—not just in name, but in practice. I sometimes feel that the only stories children hear about their cultures are the ones that are mentioned on the news. We all know how infrequently positive stories are shared. Maybe, by encouraging students to explore storytelling and traditional stories from their family’s history, we would help them realize that their stories are worth telling. I love the fact that the Sudanese men recognized the fact that Americans wanted to hear their stories, so they began telling them broadly and with tenacity.
I didn’t expect to find inspiration from this study, but did. These young men are examples of the enduring capabilities of the human spirit.
Ruth Johnson
Comments (4)
Definitely agree with you on the statement you made about us being in a cultural war and producing lost boys and lost girls. To many times to I see children playing outside and not a parent in sight. For example, my mother’s neighbors have two children, two girls ages 4 and 7. These children roam all over the place by themselves. They even cross the road by themselves. They have showed up at my mom’s house on a school night at 8:00 hungry not knowing where their parents are. On your comment about the grassroots movement I feel that children NEED their parents. In our society today parents are to busy with work and their own life. I feel that parents are allowing their children to fail in school today simply because they are too concerned about their own life. If they would just take 30-40 minutes a day their child would thrive. To me this is neglect! What do you think? I also agree with you when you said that you feel that the only stories children hear about their cultures are the ones that are mentioned on the news. Again to me this goes back to the parents being to busy for their own children. No one is promised tomorrow, so we must live like each day is our last!!!
Misty Mistretta
Posted by Misty Mistretta | June 18, 2009 4:05 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 16:05
I teach at a school with a large population of boys and girls who are not from the most educated homes. We have a terrible time with parental involvement -- and not the terrible time where parents are alwat=ys at the school. It is the terrible time where if you need to see the parent you have to track them down. Home visits, vistis to work (which have not always been in the most desirable locations) but we have to get to know our children and we need to hear their stories which are often very foreign form the our own stories.
Posted by Caroline Walker | June 18, 2009 6:53 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 18:53
I agree that we are in a cultural war. I think we have some lost boys and girls in our counrty. I think that if stories about children's culture were passed down maybe it would help these children to get a better sense of where they come from and who they are. It is also the teachers responsibility to listen to our students to understand what hardships they come from so that we can help build a support system so that they feel positive feedback about how they are growing and learning.
Posted by Megan Machuga | June 18, 2009 8:38 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 20:38
I will jump on the band wagon with two feet...we are in a cultural war and we are losing! Most of the time we hear about a ethnic group/person it is negative in the media. We are losing our children because parents barely talk to them let alone tell them stories of their heiritage. Between cell phones and texting rarely do you see people talking to the person next to them, technology has replaced conversation. These boys couldn't bear to see the "storyteller" die from their tribes, so they will carry on any way they can. They are writing it down but they are still telling their stories.
Posted by Grandma Cunningham | June 18, 2009 9:02 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 21:02