"Somewhere in America" by Los Angeles Team

Here in America, in every single state, they have a set of standards for every subject
A collection of lessons that the teacher's required to teach by the end of the term
But the greatest lessons you'll ever teach us will not come from your syllabus
The greatest lessons you will ever teach us, you will not even remember
You never told us what we weren't allowed to say
We just learned how to hold our tongues
Now somewhere in America, there is s a child holding a copy of "Catcher in the Rye" and there is a child
holding a gun
But only one of these things have been banned by their state government
And it's not the one that can rip through flesh
It's the one that says "f*** you" on more pages than one
Because we must control what the people say, and how they think
And if they want to become the overseer of their own selves, then we'll show them a real one
And somewhere in America, there's a child sitting at his mother's computer, reading the homepage of the KKK's
website, and that's open to the public
But that child will never have read "To Kill a Mockingbird" because the school has banned it for it's use of the
"N" word
Maya Angelou is prohibited because we're not allowed to talk about rape in school
We were taught that 'just because something happens, doesn't mean you are to talk about it'
They built us brand new shopping malls so that we'll forget where we're really standing
On the bones of the Hispanics, on the bones of the slaves, on the bones of the Native Americans, on the bones
of those who fought just to speak!
As a group Discuss these questions:
1. This poem is focuses on multiple issues within out school systems. What are some of them?
2. What is the tone of the speaker?
3. What confuses you about this poem?
4. What is the main message?
After discussing the questions, you need to prepare how you are going to share your poem to the class. You can
choose:
- To act your poem out (focusing on portraying the issue that the poem in showing)
- Create a drawing that conveys your issue. Multiple group members can create a drawing.
- Or create protesting sign that is going against the social/world issue that your poem is showing.
THIS IS A GROUP ACTIVITY! ALL MEMBERS MUST BE INVLOVLED!
Refugee boy
Just 17
Yet your eyes have seen so much
Now so far from home and loved ones
You thought you were free from danger
In your land of refuge
Life was routine again
College and a visit to the teahouse on the way home
It was familiar, cosy
You said you were lucky you were here
Just before
A pack of hyenas set upon you
You had invaded their territory
Drunk and vicious subhuman dregs of society
They kicked your slender frame
Again, again and again
They cracked your skull, your spine
And left you for dead
Some hyenas circled
Watched and jeered
You are stronger than them
They could not break your spirit
You were meant to live, Godspeed
As a group Discuss these questions:
1. What is a refuge? 4. What world issue is this poem talking
2. What/who do the hyenas represent? about?
3. Who is the you in the poem? 5. What is the main message?
6. After discussing the questions, you need to prepare how you are going to share your poem to the class.
You can choose:
- To act your poem out (focusing on portraying the issue that the poem in showing)
- Create a drawing that conveys your issue. Multiple group members can create a drawing.
- Or create protesting sign that is going against the social/world issue that your poem is showing.
7. THIS IS A GROUP ACTIVITY! ALL MEMBERS MUST BE INVLOVLED!
8. World Hunger

9. We have all been told

That people are starving
To never waste food
To give when you can
That people are dying
What have we done
Is there evidence
Have the death counts lowered
Is it our fault
Do we not give at all
We keep on wasting
We keep on changing
World hunger will always be there
If we choose to do nothing about it
Join the cause
Help to fight it
It is within our reach

10.
11. As a group Discuss these questions:
1. What world issue is this poem talking about?
2. Is this poem blaming anyone for this particular issue?
3. What is the main message?
12. After discussing the questions, you need to prepare how you are going to share your poem to the class.
You can choose:
- To act your poem out (focusing on portraying the issue that the poem in showing)
- Create a drawing that conveys your issue. Multiple group members can create a drawing.
- Or create protesting sign that is going against the social/world issue that your poem is showing.
13. THIS IS A GROUP ACTIVITY! ALL MEMBERS MUST BE INVLOVLED!
14.
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 24. First World Problems

25. Its too hot outside, but too cold in the 34. And so are many kids.
office.
35. My wallets just too heavy
26. Its too cold outside, but we dont
have any heating. 36. With all this extra change.

27. I got new shoes, but it hurts to break them 37. I never know if Ill see tomorrow.
in.
38. Id sure like a change.
28. I wanted shoes, but my mom said
theyre for rich men. 39. But simple minds think simple things

29. I had to park far from the door. 40. And seem to forget the great concerns.

30. I have to walk two miles to get us 41. So if one day each man could stop
water.
42. And put his feet in someone elses steps,
31. Theres nothing on TV.
43. What happy place this world would be
32. I dont know what that is.
44. With joy and care and bliss and love.
33. My phones about to die.

45.
46. As a group Discuss these questions:
1. How many speakers are in this poem?
2. Who are the speakers?
3. What world issue is this poem focusing on?
4. What is the main message of this poem?
47. After discussing the questions, you need to prepare how you are going to share your poem to the class.
You can choose:
- To act your poem out (focusing on portraying the issue that the poem in showing)
- Create a drawing that conveys your issue. Multiple group members can create a drawing.
- Or create protesting sign that is going against the social/world issue that your poem is showing.
48. THIS IS A GROUP ACTIVITY! ALL MEMBERS MUST BE INVLOVLED!
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55.
56. Hate
57. Author Dana Redricks
58. Hate is like carrying around
59. Dead weight
60. It weighs you down
61. Its a heavy load no one
62. Should want to carry
63. It clouds your vision
64. And steals your Joy
65. And steals your peace
66. Hate is a waste of space
67. It is something that will
68. Take you out quicker than
69. Anything
70. But the choice is ours to
71. Love or hate
72. But for me, I think love is the way
73. To go because hate will
74. Just take us places we
75. Dont want to go
76.
77. As a group Discuss these questions:
1. What is the tone of the poem?
2. Who is the speaker of the poem?
3. What social issue is this poem focusing on?
4. What is the main message of this poem?
78. After discussing the questions, you need to prepare how you are going to share your poem to the class.
You can choose:
- To act your poem out (focusing on portraying the issue that the poem in showing)
- Create a drawing that conveys your issue. Multiple group members can create a drawing.
- Or create protesting sign that is going against the social/world issue that your poem is showing.
79. THIS IS A GROUP ACTIVITY! ALL MEMBERS MUST BE INVLOVLED!
80.
81. Sorrow Pain
82. It hurts when others tease me
83. And others call me names.
84. I am myself
85. Why cant others make no blames?
86.
87. Its not my fault
88. That sometimes Im not happy.
89. Its the fault of all of them
90. Who used to bully me.
91.
92. Its in my blood to stick out
93. and be different.
94. But, no, today there
95. Cant be any difference.
96.
97. Has no one
98. Ever heard
99. Of such called inner beauty?
100. Maybe they need to hear that word.
101.
102. It hurts
103. When Im teased for being unlike others
104. I call it sorrow pain,
105. But no one ever wonders.
1. What is the tone of this poem?
2. Who is the speaker?
3. What social issue is this poem focusing on?
4. What is the message of this poem?
106. After discussing the questions, you need to prepare how you are going to share your poem to the
class. You can choose:
- To act your poem out (focusing on portraying the issue that the poem in showing)
- Create a drawing that conveys your issue. Multiple group members can create a drawing.
- Or create protesting sign that is going against the social/world issue that your poem is showing.
107. THIS IS A GROUP ACTIVITY! ALL MEMBERS MUST BE INVLOVLED!
108.