08.10.23
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Tannika’s Writing Vault: Hip-Hop As A Learning Tool Pt 1

This is my new series where I introduce you to some of the past material I’ve written. I have written skits for special events at church and I have also written short stories, some of which I admit are half-done. Did I tell you, I once created my own entertainment magazine in high school! But I won’t be sharing my little paper bootleg magazine. At least for now. Anyway, welcome to Tannika’s Writing Vault and enjoy!

Here is an article I wrote when I was in college studying English: Professional & Technical Writing with a concentration in Journalism. It was subsequently asked to be published on a Hip Hop site but I can’t seem to find the site anymore.

Hip-Hop As A Learning Tool

By Tannika Moore (c) January 4, 2007

Today is Wednesday. It is a little past three in the afternoon and a young group of students are talking and laughing with each other while awaiting today’s instruction.

Like any teacher, Mr. Alexander Fruchter gathers his teaching materials. But instead of a teacher’s edition and a grade book, he pulls a couple of CDs out of his bag and plugs in the portable CD player. He loads in one of the CDs and presses play.

After the chorus, Evidence (member of Hip Hop group Dilated Peoples) begins spitting 16 bars of rap lyrics on “You Can’t Hide, You Can’t Run”.

“On to me, I’m on to you, it’s no mystery

Better think fast, the future just was history

This is where the plot thickens, regardless of wealth

Cause the worst person to run from is yourself…”

As today’s worksheet, Fruchter gives each student a print out of the song’s lyrics and a Hip Hop quote of the day written response sheet.

If Hip Hop was a person, it would be the most popular football player (maybe Basketball player) in high school, sought after by ten college recruiters. Hip Hop isn’t a person, but it is popular and it continues to grow.

It has travelled from the 1973 block party in New York to the university lecture halls and has finally stopped off at a class of third to eighth graders on the South side of Chicago.

While a host of universities like Stanford add Hip Hop courses to their registration books, Fruchter has opted for a more familiar classroom setting.

“My goal is to teach elementary and high school students in the city. These kids are starting out on their academic career and I feel that these kids can benefit more [from this course],” Fruchter says.

But Fruchter makes it clear that this is not a course simply on Hip Hop history and culture. “I don’t consider this as Hip Hop academia and I’m not saying I am a Hip Hop historian,” Fruchter says.

Instead Fruchter says that this is a course that uses Hip Hop to communicate to the children and teach them psychology and sociology. He also uses this course to enforce reading and writing.

“I call the course ‘You Can Quote Me On That’. It is primarily a psychology and life skills class. But it also teaches poetry techniques, critical thinking skills as well as reading and writing.

For 24-year old Fruchter, teaching grammar school students is nothing new. He went through the Teach for America program where they recruit candidates who will commit to teaching for two years.

After being certified, Fruchter started teaching full time, in 2004, first as a summer school teacher in Los Angeles and then as a second grade teacher at Charles R. Henderson on Chicago’s South side Englewood area.

Fruchter made the switch to fifth grade in 2005, at Henderson. So, to most of the 15-20 students that show up to his “You Can Quote Me On That!” course, Fruchter is a familiar face.

Stay tuned for part 2…

07.14.23
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Darkness-What I Learned About It Last Sunday

Last Sunday, I went to church in person and was so glad I did.

The presence of the Holy Spirit was definitely present from the sermon to the prayers going forth. We also had a moment when we were directed to pray with one other person personally. As I listened and prayed in the Spirit while my prayer partner prayed for me, I also cried as God confirmed through her prayers what He has been sharing with me.

It was a glorious time in the Lord. God is so amazing.

But what I wanted to share here is a few things that stood out to me as Pastor Guice delivered the sermon. Much of these points are summed up and not verbatim, nonetheless a word from the Holy Spirit. The sermon was titled Receiving Spiritual Direction in Perilous Times. And Pastor taught about the effects when darkness invades our lives.

Darkness is basically all that separates us from God. We also know darkness as destruction, hopelessness, chaos, lack of peace, lack of order, absence of light and joy as well as an increase of violence.

  • Darkness will not allow you to move. It makes you feel stuck, lethargic spiritually.
  • Darkness attacks your prayer life. It makes it difficult to stay consistent in prayer, communication with God. It can even make you feel like God is nowhere to be found.
  • God’s blessings are not always a mark of God’s approval.
  • The presence of God is crucial to your life.
  • When you are in darkness, darkness increases in the land.

So, how do we begin to come out of darkness: I believe we must first begin to pray and read God’s Word. And then proceed to the following below.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:10‭-‬12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.6.10-12.NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.12.2.NLT

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ch.7.14.NLT

07.14.23
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You Get Better

What do you think gets better with age?

Currently, it seems that ageism is increasing, or maybe because of social media, getting more awareness.

Ageism, according to Google, is defined as prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age.

It can show up in the discrimination of an elderly person applying for a job, the demonizing of young people when not understood, or the unrealistic expectations placed upon an older or younger woman.

It is scary that younger people are getting messages that they should have everything settled and figured out by 21 and that older people should stop living as soon they turn 60. Or that someone is even old at 35, 40, and there is nothing left in life for them. Assinine thinking. (This is not a license for young people to not apply themselves and start the work to figure things out or live recklessly. Nor is it a license for older people to live recklessly and never mature mentally, emotionally, etc.)

We all, good Lord’s will, get older. Or are supposed to get older. If you wake up each day, getting older is inevitable. And it is NOT a bad thing. It is blessing. Some people leave this earth too soon. Moreover, some people’s dreams, goals and potential go to the grave without being brought to fruition or even to full capacity or total fulfillment.

And that part is disheartening.

So, remember, we all get older and it is a good thing. However, watching yourself change and evolve, moreso physically, can bring about a variety of emotions, and can be scary for some.

But don’t fret. Life gets better, yet.

And what gets better with age, you ask.

You.

Yes, you.

As you get maturer. As you become an adult. And as you become a grown grown person as some say, you should become better.

Not perfect. But better.

Your self awareness should be building. Your true confidence unlocking. You should be growing in wisdom. You should be more accountable and responsible. You should be busy living and not just existing. You should be awakening into the you, God created you to be.

So, with age, you get better. And life should get better. You are learning to live more authentic. You are healing. You are becoming more self-aware. You are unlearning some things to learn the right things. You are learning how to truly take care of you.

You have built up resilience and you have learned to persevere. And for some of us, you have learned when to rest and how to. You have set goals for yourself and maybe not all of them, but some of them. And you are realizing with age, it is not over yet.

Life is just beginning. Or you have come to the middle of your life where there is a plot twist, and you are in for a good treat. Especially with God leading the way.

07.11.23
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Lunch At Aster Hall

Yesterday, I had lunch with my best friend at Aster Hall, an elegant mall located 900 North Michigan Ave in Downtown Chicago. We had an awesome time dining there, and using it’s aesthetics for videos and pictures as well as filling the place with our hearty laughs which we have every time I hang out with bestie.

We ordered and paid for our food from a touch screen and retrieved our food from its stations. This part of the process was simple. It got a bit confusing after locating the stations to retrieve our food. I had to keep asking the attendant, making sure patrons received their meals, where things were. I first asked where to retrieve my drink I ordered, then the plastic cup, and the eating utensils. He laughed a bit after the third question 😆.

The seating was great. We chose a booth near the big window facing another downtown building. There are also outlets near the booths and you can choose to work while you lunch.  Nice place to work or even play table games, I suppose are provided by Astor, as we saw some elderly  ladies playing a game (I forget what the game was lol).

Moreover, there were luxury shops at Aster Hall: Bloomingdales and other fancy shops. However, we did no shopping. We just wanted to try someplace new  for lunch, encourage one another, work in our planners and discuss our goals as well as  provide support and a listening ear as we both expressed we have had some rough patches in this season.

Grateful for my bestie, my bff, my sister! After lunch at Aster Hall we went to a Starbucks and plotted our next adventure over Frappuccinos.

07.09.23
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Favorite Genre of Music

What is your favorite genre of music?

My favorite Genre of music is R&B, moreso the 80s and 90s era. I love the New Jack Swing Era. I love the music that expressed love, allowed you to connect and feel. That era of music was just a vibe.

My other favorite Genre of music is gospel and worship music. When my soul needs a reminder that my relationship with God comes first, I know the Holy Spirit will give me one. And worship music is another way to hone in and sit quietly and reflect on the welcome and goodness of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Sometimes, I incorporate listening to worship music in my time with the Lord.

I love music. And it has been such a great past time, self-care tool, and fun.

07.09.23
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Introverts and Last Minute Plans

I came across this article as I scrolled through my Google news feed and I think it is spot on. See link below:

https://introvertdear.com/news/4-reasons-introverts-hate-last-minute-plans/

Although I like spontaneity here and there, last minute plans can often rattle me. I have to prepare mentally, and if not given the chance, I can get frustrated. I remember explaining to a family member that I can’t often take last minute plans or requests of my service all the time. And sometimes last minute may suffice when things change out of your control or an emergency arise. However, if you can control and know in advance, please let me know ahead of time so I can prepare mentally.

I also value my alone time. My time to sit, my time to just be, my time to chill, my time to reflect and rest. My time to do something  I love to do. My time to quiet down everything around me and not be pulled in a hundred thousand different directions. I have a busy schedule most of the time and I need to recharge myself. I believe we all need to practice recharging ourselves whether our schedules are busy and plates full or not.

Some people think introverts don’t like people; many of us do, and I am one who does like people. And I like spontaneity here and there because too much routine can also make me go haywire, lol. But I don’t like last minute stuff or my time being so consumed without moments of replenishment and time for self.