Bricks
Recently a student I met asked me if I owned a grill. I said I did and explained how fond of grilling I was. I asked why he wanted to know. He said his student organization, BMW (Black Men of Western) was having a cook-out and they needed a grill. I said I'd be happy if they used my grill. Then I asked if they needed a cook. Rashad (the student) replied, "Yes, we sure do." I signed up for the job.
After enlisting Brian to help we showed up with grill, cooler, tent and assorted items in the back of our church bus (1986 Toyota 4x4 donated to our church). We probably cooked over 100 burgers and dogs and fed as many. It was a privelage to be there. Many students were grateful for our being there and we enjoyed meeting several of them for the first time.
There was music. Somehow BMW managed a great deal of music equipment (52$) and it was loud. They noticed we were a bit older and moved the speakers away from our path and made inquiries as to whether there was too much cussing for us. One of the songs had a catchy beat and the refrain went something like this: "Bricks...Bricks...something, something, Bricks..." I really liked it and asked a few of the guys what the whole "bricks" thing was about. They tried to suppress laughter and sort of avoided the question. I asked if it was a sexual thing, and they laughed and said it wasn't. Finally, one guy said, "I think it's talking about the projects. Some people call the projects "Bricks." I was satisfied and thought to myself how creative and simple that was all at the same time.
A week later (tonight) we had a student drop by to visit. He's a great guy whom we've grown fond of over the last year. His name is DeShaun Davis. He's from Louisville and has taught me much about R&B, Usher, Old School Michael Jackson, not to mention his upbringing, family, honesty and basketball. He's the only person to ever beat me 15-0! I relayed to him my conversation about Bricks and told him how interesting that was too me and creative, etc... He laughed and told me that wasn't what Bricks meant at all. He said they probably didn't want to tell me what it really meant. Finally he graciously let me in that "Bricks" meant "Bricks of Cocaine." "Oh," I said.
Which led me to think several things: Why wouldn't those guys tell me the truth? Why does DeShaun? It made me realize what a privelage it is to have a student from a total different world who can "translate" the gaps that exist and help me to understand. It made me appreciate someone who will be honest with me about real life and not the Christian Bubble we like to live in. Everytime I talk to DeShaun I think how the Psalms and the rest of the Bible probably make alot more sense to him. My middle-class, suburban life is rather abnormal compared to the rest of the world. I need to understand the world of "Bricks" a bit better. Jesus did come into the world not to condemn it (that will come in time) but to save it (Brick-pushers included). What am I here for? Who does my world include? Whose world am I being invited into?
After enlisting Brian to help we showed up with grill, cooler, tent and assorted items in the back of our church bus (1986 Toyota 4x4 donated to our church). We probably cooked over 100 burgers and dogs and fed as many. It was a privelage to be there. Many students were grateful for our being there and we enjoyed meeting several of them for the first time.
There was music. Somehow BMW managed a great deal of music equipment (52$) and it was loud. They noticed we were a bit older and moved the speakers away from our path and made inquiries as to whether there was too much cussing for us. One of the songs had a catchy beat and the refrain went something like this: "Bricks...Bricks...something, something, Bricks..." I really liked it and asked a few of the guys what the whole "bricks" thing was about. They tried to suppress laughter and sort of avoided the question. I asked if it was a sexual thing, and they laughed and said it wasn't. Finally, one guy said, "I think it's talking about the projects. Some people call the projects "Bricks." I was satisfied and thought to myself how creative and simple that was all at the same time.
A week later (tonight) we had a student drop by to visit. He's a great guy whom we've grown fond of over the last year. His name is DeShaun Davis. He's from Louisville and has taught me much about R&B, Usher, Old School Michael Jackson, not to mention his upbringing, family, honesty and basketball. He's the only person to ever beat me 15-0! I relayed to him my conversation about Bricks and told him how interesting that was too me and creative, etc... He laughed and told me that wasn't what Bricks meant at all. He said they probably didn't want to tell me what it really meant. Finally he graciously let me in that "Bricks" meant "Bricks of Cocaine." "Oh," I said.
Which led me to think several things: Why wouldn't those guys tell me the truth? Why does DeShaun? It made me realize what a privelage it is to have a student from a total different world who can "translate" the gaps that exist and help me to understand. It made me appreciate someone who will be honest with me about real life and not the Christian Bubble we like to live in. Everytime I talk to DeShaun I think how the Psalms and the rest of the Bible probably make alot more sense to him. My middle-class, suburban life is rather abnormal compared to the rest of the world. I need to understand the world of "Bricks" a bit better. Jesus did come into the world not to condemn it (that will come in time) but to save it (Brick-pushers included). What am I here for? Who does my world include? Whose world am I being invited into?