Home, Grief, and Storytelling in Men We Reaped

Lesson 19
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ELA

Unit 9

10th Grade

Lesson 19 of 22

Objective


Analyze how Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham manipulate organizational structure to develop their argument about the Maze featuring Frankie Beverly’s "Before I Let Go."

Connect the idea of joy discussed in this podcast to Jesmyn Ward’s Men We Reaped: A Memoir.

Readings and Materials


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Target Task


Discourse Questions

How do co-hosts Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham manipulate  organizational structure to develop their argument about the song "Before I Let Go?"

What is the relationship between joy and oppression?  In what ways does this connect to the idea of joy highlighted in Ward’s Men We Reaped: A Memoir?

Key Thinking


Scaffolding Questions

If you could divide the podcast into smaller segments, where would you divide it and why?

What is the impact of the co-hosts organizing the podcast this way? Ultimately, what is the irony of the song "Before I Let Go"? Ultimately, why is it significant to African Americans?

Key Ideas

  • Co-hosts Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham discuss "Before I Let Go" by Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly, and the song’s unique ability to gather Black folks and galvanize. Although the song was not a top hit hit when it came out in 1981, it has become a unifying Black anthem and a source of joy.
  • The co-hosts reflect on their own experiences with the song, call in guests and friends to share their experiences with the song, and then reflect on the significance of Beyoncé’s recent rendition of the song and how it pays homage to the original. 
  • One of the most significant sections or shifts in the podcast is when the co-hosts discuss the relationship between the joy that this song elicits and oppression. The idea that people find joy even in the most difficult times is a direct connection to the way in which Ward tells the story of the five men she lost and characterizes her hometown throughout the memoir.

Homework


Read and annotate "We are Learning" and "Joshua Adam Dedeaux" by Lesson 20. 

  • Annotation focus: 
    • What are your first impressions of Ward’s experiences in private school? 
    • What are your first impressions of Joshua Adam Dedeaux? 

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Standards


  • LO 1.4B — Synthesize ideas from multiple texts and explain how the texts may convey different perspectives on a common theme or idea.
  • LO 5.1A — Extend the conversation around an idea, topic, or text by formulating questions and recognizing the claims and perspectives of others.
  • LO 5.1B — Cite relevant evidence and evaluate the evidence presented by others.
  • SL.9-10.1 — Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9—10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Supporting Standards

LO 2.2A
RI.9-10.1
RI.9-10.2
W.9-10.1

Next

Analyze how Ward’s choices to end her memoir contribute to the structure and overall meaning of Men We Reaped: A Memoir.

Lesson 20
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Lesson Map

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