Will Patterson's Presentation on the 'No Child Left Behind' Policy from a Hip Hop Perspective

The next meeting of the ICR's project on Communications, Culture, and Policy, funded by the Ford Foundation, will be held on Friday, March 12, at 1:30 p.m. in the Peterson Conference Room (231 Gregory Hall). The very distinguished speaker will be William Patterson, Visiting Assistant Professor in the Afro-American Studies and Research Program at UIUC. The title of his talk is: "No Child Left Behind from a Hip Hop Perspective."

ABSTRACT Hip Hop—a spirited creative expression against oppression—is a phenomenon of black youth born between 1965-1984, who came of age in the era following the civil rights and feminist movements. Hip hop art, theatre, music, dance, and other creative expressions provide an alternative perspective to the self-destruction and violence so prevalent during the 1980s and early 1990s in America's inner cities. To counter what has developed into a culture of disbelief, disengagement, and irresponsibility in public schools and urban communities, educators and activists of the hip hop generation, such as Dr. Patterson, are working with today's African-American students to reignite their interest in education and community-building by drawing on creative modes of expression from hip hop culture.

Background Reading:

Please go to www.urbanthinktank.org and read the position paper on "No Child Left Behind" that Dr. Patterson co-authored at the Urban Think Tank Institute.

Dr. William M. Patterson is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Afro-American Studies and Research Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Patterson's work concentrates on linking the academy (higher education institutions) with public schools, corporate America, and social service organizations, such as the Urban League, YMCA'S and Boys and Girls Clubs. "My biggest concern," says Dr. Patterson, "is the disconnect of the current educational law 'No Child Left Behind' and those that it is supposed to serve and benefit."

Through a variety of programs and collaborative efforts Dr. Patterson has been able to demonstrate the significance of educational and social development partnerships to enhance the educational awareness and social responsibility of at-risk students. Dr. Patterson is known on a national level for developing innovative ways to reach students both educationally and socially. He has been keynote speaker, researcher, program developer, and youth trainer for the past ten years at the National Urban League and other national organizations, and has worked with a host of public schools and youth serving organizations around the country.

Dr. Patterson is a strong advocate for teaching youth how to take control of their multi-media image. By developing programs such as B.E.A.T.S. (Bridging, Education Arts, Technology, Scholastically), Rhyme Clinic, and All Girlz Radio, many youth have been empowered to get involved in the mechanics of taking control of their life information as well as their social image.

Dr. Patterson's philosophies on advocacy through education have extended well beyond the elementary and secondary level. From developing and teaching courses with progressive pedagogy such as Service Learning from a Hip Hop Perspective, Black Leadership Development, and KRS-ONE: Hip Hop Artistry and Social Activism, Dr. Patterson's methods for reclaiming today's youth are resonating well with college students who flock to his courses for dialogue and debate about how to best address social issues that are plaguing many of today's youth. Their energy, combined with the interest amongst faculty about Hip Hop culture, has inspired Dr. Patterson to investigate the development of the Center for the Study of Hip Hop Culture, a research, teaching, and service learning initiative that will provide student and faculty research with a foundation of authenticism for engaging phenomena impacting constituents born in the post civil-rights era. Dr. Patterson is married and the father of three.