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East End Visit

Coming of Age through Grassroots Organizing


Hector Acevedo


From our first initial visit to the different East end communities it is clear that there are major forms of oppression that need to be broken.... 


From our first initial visit to the different East end communities it is clear that there are major forms of oppression that need to be broken.  The young people from the Shinnecock youth council seem very eager to motivate themselves in order to transform their community and help their people.  We arrived to a community who has been broken down by hundreds of years of racial and stereotypical oppression.  We were welcomed with open arms and at times I Felt like Bob during the 1960’s.  Though I am no Jesus or Moses I feel as though by empowering the young people we will be able to create change. We attended the annual feast with Tohanash’s family.  The room was filled with laughter and families gathering together.  The traditional Shinnecock drummers willed the air with their inspirational chants.  We were welcomed with open arms and accepted as a part of the family.  From our initial visit I can conclude that there is a need to break down years of oppression and bring together the different communities in the East End.... 
Comments: What do you think?