Viajar es enamorarse a cada paso!

LLP Spanish Program Brings Back Study Abroad.
By Amauri Barnes

Dr. Francesco Masala with his study abroad
students in Madrid

     This week I was delighted to interview TSU tiger Azia Banks and Spanish Professor Dr. Francesco Masala. Over the summer Masala, of TSU since Spring 2021, pioneered a new study abroad program in Madrid, Spain.
      Masala partnered with a school in Madrid that allowed tigers to go to school internationally for two weeks during Maymester and live a normal everyday life like their classmates. Banks is still excited by her study abroad experience. “Surprisingly, when we finally arrived in Spain at 4am we were not tired! We had sort of an adrenaline rush, so we stayed up until about noon excited to see the city” said Banks.
     While in Madrid students were able to go out to explore and learn. Banks' favorite part of the trip was being fully immersed in the culture and freedom to learn outside of the school and house. While in Madrid they stayed with a host family.
     According to Masala, this was a significant learning experience because students were required to do everything using Spanish from ordering food, shopping, and holding conversations. Each student who went on the trip were minors in Spanish and Masala describes this experience as a great way to get students out of their comfort zone. By the end of the second week they were more confident not only in speaking the language but also as a person.
     Banks said some advice she would give any student interested in this experience is “Just do it! However, you must have some experience with speaking and understanding Spanish. It doesn’t have to be perfect but simply make sure you are able to say things in a way that natives of the country are able to understand.  "It’s a new experience and will prepare you for the next one!”
     Masala hopes to make this an ongoing, annual program. He hopes to take bigger groups to different countries to have a hands-on learning experience! 

   

Soul Fire Returns Next Week

"Don't call it a comeback, they've been here for years..."

By Amauri Barnes

First Meeting of Year: Sept 13

      Soul Fire Poetry group will have its first meeting of the semester next week and my interview with the groups found, Dr. Michelle J. Pinkard revealed a lot about the group's history and plans for the future. 

    Soul Fire has been at Tennessee State for nearly 10 years now! Pinkard explained. “Soul Fire is a poetry workshop and community where attendees get tips on how to write, read, and perform poetry while trying to learn what it means to live a poetry inspired life!” 

    The workshop was inspired by Pinkard's own interest and scholarship. In 2014, she partnered with Southern Word, a nonprofit that supports literacy through the vehicle of poetry. “With every Soul Fire Workshop,  we get to meet with a professional spoken word poet from Southern Word while I offer tips for poetry on the page” explained Pinkard.

    Personally, I love to be involved in things that are not only fun and a hobby, but also where I can take away something.  Pinkard agrees,  “Essentially learning about poetry, learning how to write poetry, and learning how to perform poetry helps attendees become better writers, thinkers, and contributors to this thing called humanity." 

     Lastly and most importantly, I asked Pinkard how does this prepare attendees for life after college. She said, “Mastering language helps students master their reality.  Becoming better communicators will only solidify their chance of becoming productive members of society."

     I always love to hear when workshops are successful and active after multiple years! In the Spring it will be a WHOLE DECADE! Should we be on the lookout for a special celebration? Stay up to date with this blog to find out.

Throwback video from Soul Fire's Inaugural year 2014

LLP Social Media Intern
Amauri Barnes

Introducing the New Social Media Intern
- Fall 2023
By Amauri Barnes

     My name is Amauri Barnes. I am a senior here at Tennessee State University. My major is biology with a minor in English. I am from Detroit, Michigan where I graduated from Cass Technical High School.

     With my degree I will become a Cardiovascular Perfusionist. A perfusionist (for short) operates the heart and lung machine that artificially replaces a patient’s heart and lung functions during surgery. This summer I worked three jobs. I worked in Corewell Health Hospital formerly known as Beaumont in Child Labor and Delivery, Arden Courts Memory Care as an Activities Coordinator, and as a Legal Assistant at Flood Law. Each week I maxed out at, at least 120 hours between all three jobs. What interested me in the medical field was being able to help others and be apart making a difference in surgery!

     Writing papers and reading comprehension has always come easy to me. I chose to minor in English because it supports me in every work field I could dream of pursuing. Someday I would love to teach either children or young adults in college.

     My favorite aspect of English is history and poetry. Working at Flood Law this summer was the best experience ever! I was required to do a lot of reading and critical thinking. I was surrounded by some amazing, hardworking, and most of all genuine people. This began my interest in possibly working in a courthouse as a clerk or even an investigator. The biggest take away from working for and observing attorney Todd Flood was “What you work for can be achieved, ifyou do the work required to achieve it!”

      In my free time I love reading, playing with my dog, cook, do hair, research real estate and other ventures of income, and most recently, reading court cases!  I am looking forward to bringing all of that experience to this new position and sharing everything the department has to offer to students both in and out of the classroom.

Introducing the New LLP Social Media Intern - Fall 2021

LLP Intern Derrick Sanders is an English
Major, Senior, and the current SGA
President.  He is from Cincinnati, Ohio

By Derrick Sanders

Motto: "If you fall, try to land on your back, because if you can look up, you can get up”

Why I Love TSU:  This institution embodies the holistic vision and mission of what an HBCU is and how much they care. Students at TSU have the opportunity to evolve in this incubator of success and excellence. For many years, TSU has made history with our greats; but now it is our turn to write the next page of our history and it begins with us! Our journey forward will be achieved through engagement, efficiency and excellence!

Life Beyond the Land of Golden Sunshine: After I graduate from Tennessee State University, I look forward to obtaining my Master’s Degree, and after that my Doctoral Degree. I plan to one day become the United States Secretary of Education. I have a strong love and passion for the education field and I plan to take us to the next level.

What I Plan to Accomplish during this Internship: What I plan to gain from this internship is the ability to expand on my writing skills and develop a more intellectual take on English literature. I plan to contribute by launching an Instagram page for LLP that will allow students to engage with all of the great things that our department has to offer. I will begin to do a daily social media post that will serve in encouraging students, faculty, and staff. I plan to bring great and positive energy to the department each day that I intern.

Taking a Journey to a Mystical Land

By Kiana Jones

          I was invited by Dr. Megan O’Neil to watch the film, Pan’s Labyrinth. O’Neil is a new addition to the Language cohort of LLP.

In the movie, a young girl moves to Germany with her pregnant mother to her stepfather Vidal’s battle station. He is an evil man who is captain of a troop. She witnesses many cruel acts done by her stepfather and this treatment draws her to Pan's Labyrinth.

There she meets a mythical creature who instructs her to perform many dangerous tasks to help her get home. Pan's Labyrinth was filmed in Spain and directed by Guillermo del Toro. The main actors in the film are Ivana Baquero, who plays Ofelia, Maribel Verdu who plays Mercedes, Sergi Lopez who plays Vidal, and Ariadna Gil who plays Carmen.

Dr. Megan O’Neil

Pan's Labyrinth received many awards such as the Academy Award for Best Production, Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyles, Goya Award for Best New Actress, Ariel Award for Best Actress, Ariel Award for Best Picture, BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design.

I liked the film because it gave a clear depiction about what the culture was like in Spanish-speaking countries in the 1940s. For example, women and children were always told “speak when spoken to” or “they are meant to be seen not heard.” In a male dominant society, it is obvious that Ofelia and her mother are seen as inferior and they are only relevant due to the fact Vidal is about to have a newborn baby.

O’Neil says the film provides unique insights into culture, language and history. “It gives people great historical context and helps you get in touch with your adventurous side,” she said.  I highly recommend this film to anyone who is interested in international and/or fantasy films.

Feminism's Advocate: An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Hayes

By Kiana Jones

            Do you know what Eartha Kitt, Maya Angelou, Janelle Monae, and Lizzo have in common? That’s right you guessed it! They are all African American feminists. There are many feminist scholars on the campus of Tennessee State University. I had the privilege of speaking with one: Dr. Jennifer Hayes.

Dr. Jennifer Hayes

            Hayes is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. She teaches upper division courses of African American Literature and Women’s Studies. She is one of six LLP faculty members who also teach women's studies courses.

            Hayes received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from University of Tennessee. Also she received her master’s from Tennessee State University and doctorate from Middle Tennessee State University. She has been teaching at Tennessee State University for nearly six years.

            One of her inspirations is Dr. Helen Houston, whom she met while pursuing her master’s degree. Poetry and drama are her two specialties, Hayes said.

            Her favorite thing about teaching at Tennessee State University is she loves introducing new texts to students.  “I want my students to know that their experience matters.” 

            She believes literature teaches individuals how to treat others with respect. Also she encourages students to READ, READ, READ! Read newspapers, signs, books, etc. Reading builds better vocabulary and challenges us to be critical thinkers. Literature allows people to have a voice and express themselves, she said. It is important to approach literature with a non-biased mentality. 

            Remember, reading is fundamental!

Poetic Revelations: My Journey into Soul Fire Wednesdays

By Kiana Jones

My poetic debut at Soul Fire

      I had the privilege of attending LLP and Southern Word’s Soul Fire Spoken Word and Poetry Club session this past Wednesday night. This event is held on Wednesdays at 5:00 P.M. in Humanities Room 103 hosted by faculty adviser Dr. Michelle Pinkard and Tia Smedley of Southern Word.
       There were many colorful words spoken in this fiery session from listening about the streets of St. Louis to Dr. Pinkard challenging us with word games to “think about things deep but not profound”. 

       When you first walk into a Soul Fire workshop, you will note a prompt on the board. This week's prompt explored the importance of the process of questioning: “Sometimes the question is the point. Write a poem that begins with a question about your life…see where it takes you."   I felt the best method of observation was participation, so I wrote a poem starting with the question, “Who is Kiana?” Here is my contribution to the spirit of the eveninging:

Hey y’all it’s ya girl Kiana aka KJ aka Fanny Mae aka School Teacher aka the little country bumpkin from Montgomery, Alabama aka Gumptown

Yes I eat white sauce

Yes I shuck corn

Yes I say “Howdy do!” aka “Hello”

Yes I love eating cornbread and greens

Yes I eat honeysuckle

Yes I have wild hair

Yes I love turkey necks

Yes I’m from the rundown part of Montgomery

However don’t take me being country as dumb

No I don’t know any rednecks

No Alabama isn’t full of incest

No I didn’t live on a farm

And no I don’t like the rebel flag

Again it’s ya girl Kiana aka KJ aka Fanny Mae aka School Teacher aka the little country bumpkin from Montgomery, Alabama

I encourage you to come by Soul Fire on Wednesdays.  The conversation is good, the poetry is live, and the snacks are free.  Until then, I will continue to question what deep, but not profound.