By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)
-001.jpg)
Dear Hannah,
I'm a #StandupStoryteller.
I'm the "Brother From Another Planet".
Strange people think I am strange.
I think that what I experience is strange.
And still I rise.
Self-reflection is my "superpower".
I am committed to generating hope, healing, and change ...
powered by autoethnographic self-reflection,
#StandupStorytelling, #YourStory, and publishing.
how the D-E-I-"whys"
got me D-E-I-wise
to the D-I-S-guise ...
Before I do, let me share a "swing thought" ... or few ...
The lineage of my work is "anecodotal" (small, informal, and unscientific) ... but prolific, professional, poignant and powerful ...
- U8L3 Conditional Probability (I teach students, not subjects ...) (4-17-2025)
- #TheSeeSayShow [23.04200]
- Holler, Better Me, Caste, #YourStory "listening parties" and testimonials
- #LemonStreet (2021) and #LewisCScott (2022) tributes
- 2025 and 2024 Dunleith Career Days
- April 2025 Iron Man Meeting (4-1-2025 GSU Awards Day beatitudes)
- 2025 "beatitudes" series
... and visual | visceral | well-documented (via autoethnographic self-reflection) ...
- Commentaries (Truth, Grace, and the School Board Race)
- Journals (DEI WETLL, OKI, O24WP #1 and #2, Camp Chronicles, Iron Man)
- DBKB (my 'longitudinal library') (Why Schools Work, Make It Better, Dear Ken (Antley), TH CCC (including "The Student's Pledge", WETLL (Willie Lynch))
... it is driven by #StandupStorytelling that facilitates small-group fellowship and civil discourse ... that generates hope, healing, and change via mentoring, mediation, and problem solving ...
I understand what I have ... what it has been ... and what it can be ...
#TheSeeSayShow [23.04200] provides the opportunity to synthesize all my well-documented anecdotes into a compelling narrative driven and inspired by my autoethnographic music ... and a living "safe space" (to protect it from "indoctrination" drivel) for civil discourse and critical thinking ...
I am a walking, breathing, living museum (like Washington DC's and Charleston's African-American History Museums) | concert | stage play ...
While sharing this song with you and 3 other current students this week, I saw and documented the conversations that flowed like rivers of living water prompted by 2 questions ...
- What do you remember (from the song)?
- What do you wonder?
I also saw how the conversation's spirit and energy prompted me to share #StandupStorytelling about my life as a school founder and social activist.
These are stories I seldom share, because they retell painful experiences.
Sharing them, though, is cathartic (purging, purifying, cleansing, releasing).
I need the same hope, healing, and change that I am trying to facilitate.
Selah.
Love,
Daddy
Daddy
Support Our Work - Buy Our Other Podcast Series (SEE BELOW)!
(The "Follow The Leader (changED - Volume 2)" Audio and Video Album / Mixtape is also available at TeachersPayTeachers.com)
(The "changED (Volume 1)" Audio and Video Album / Mixtape is also available at TeachersPayTeachers.com)
4-16-2025
"DBKB8NC2025050 DBKB8NC2019012 LEarning (DEI Blues) (4-12-2025).txt"
"DBKB8NC2025050 DBKB8NC2019012 Listen 0001.02192025 Wootan (10min45sec) (242 bars).MP3"
[BEGIN Intro 1 (spoken)]
... success results when preparation meets opportunity
... opportunities are sometimes disguised as 'lost opportunities'
... don't choke on the smoke from the okey-doke
... use what you got to give 'em what they need
[END Intro 1 (spoken)]
[BEGIN "Inverted Chorus 1"]
[1-16]
----
gonna A-D-V-ise
how the D-E-I-"whys"
got me D-E-I-wise
to the D-I-S-guise
----
' the D-E-I-rise
of the D-E-I-guys
'' D-E-V-ise
'' R-E-V-ise
'' REALIZE
that ya D-E-I-eyes
on the D-E-I-size
of the D-E-I-prize
----
'' D-E-I-buys
mute the D-E-I-cries
make some phony allies
bunch 'o G-A-D-flies
----
'' D-E-I-lies
' the D-E-F-ies
' the D-E-I-nies
that I D-E-S-pise
----
' the D-E-I-sighs
' the S-U-R-prise
' rolled dem snake eyes
rocked the boat - capsized
----
'' dis-en-fran-chise
'' marg-in-a-lize
'' wisdom applies
'' freedoms arise
----
'' say ya goodbyes
to them "apple'y" pies
flyin high in them skies
stays alive 'til it dies
----
[END "Inverted Chorus 1"]
[1-16]
[BEGIN Intro 2 (spoken)]
... equality requires opportunity and circumstance
... education begins when you finish school ... then LEarn, unlearn, and relearn
... count all the costs of victory
... all money ain't good money
... but you must get your money right
[END Intro 2 (spoken)]
[BEGIN "Inverted Chorus 2"]
[1-16]
----
gonna A-D-V-ise
how the D-E-I-"whys"
got me D-E-I-wise
to the D-I-S-guise
----
' the D-E-I-rise
of the D-E-I-guys
'' D-E-V-ise
'' R-E-V-ise
'' REALIZE
that ya D-E-I-eyes
on the D-E-I-size
of the D-E-I-prize
----
'' D-E-I-buys
mute the D-E-I-cries
make some phony allies
bunch 'o G-A-D-flies
----
'' D-E-I-lies
' the D-E-F-ies
' the D-E-I-nies
that I D-E-S-pise
----
' the D-E-I-sighs
' the S-U-R-prise
' rolled dem snake eyes
rocked the boat - capsized
----
'' dis-en-fran-chise
'' marg-in-a-lize
'' wisdom applies
'' freedoms arise
----
'' say ya goodbyes
to them "apple'y" pies
flyin high in them skies
stays alive 'til it dies
----
[END "Inverted Chorus 2"]
[1-16]
[BEGIN Conclusion (spoken)]
... do not mistake activity for achievement
... protect your time and family
... power is work done efficiently ...
... truthtellers often encounter great resistance
... but we must tell our own stories ...
... (pause) selah ...
[END Conclusion (spoken)]
"DBKB8NC2025050 DBKB8NC2019012 Listen 0001.02192025 Wootan (10min45sec) (242 bars).MP3"
[BEGIN Intro 1 (spoken)]
... success results when preparation meets opportunity
... opportunities are sometimes disguised as 'lost opportunities'
... don't choke on the smoke from the okey-doke
... use what you got to give 'em what they need
[END Intro 1 (spoken)]
[BEGIN "Inverted Chorus 1"]
[1-16]
----
gonna A-D-V-ise
how the D-E-I-"whys"
got me D-E-I-wise
to the D-I-S-guise
----
' the D-E-I-rise
of the D-E-I-guys
'' D-E-V-ise
'' R-E-V-ise
'' REALIZE
that ya D-E-I-eyes
on the D-E-I-size
of the D-E-I-prize
----
'' D-E-I-buys
mute the D-E-I-cries
make some phony allies
bunch 'o G-A-D-flies
----
'' D-E-I-lies
' the D-E-F-ies
' the D-E-I-nies
that I D-E-S-pise
----
' the D-E-I-sighs
' the S-U-R-prise
' rolled dem snake eyes
rocked the boat - capsized
----
'' dis-en-fran-chise
'' marg-in-a-lize
'' wisdom applies
'' freedoms arise
----
'' say ya goodbyes
to them "apple'y" pies
flyin high in them skies
stays alive 'til it dies
----
[END "Inverted Chorus 1"]
[1-16]
[BEGIN Intro 2 (spoken)]
... equality requires opportunity and circumstance
... education begins when you finish school ... then LEarn, unlearn, and relearn
... count all the costs of victory
... all money ain't good money
... but you must get your money right
[END Intro 2 (spoken)]
[BEGIN "Inverted Chorus 2"]
[1-16]
----
gonna A-D-V-ise
how the D-E-I-"whys"
got me D-E-I-wise
to the D-I-S-guise
----
' the D-E-I-rise
of the D-E-I-guys
'' D-E-V-ise
'' R-E-V-ise
'' REALIZE
that ya D-E-I-eyes
on the D-E-I-size
of the D-E-I-prize
----
'' D-E-I-buys
mute the D-E-I-cries
make some phony allies
bunch 'o G-A-D-flies
----
'' D-E-I-lies
' the D-E-F-ies
' the D-E-I-nies
that I D-E-S-pise
----
' the D-E-I-sighs
' the S-U-R-prise
' rolled dem snake eyes
rocked the boat - capsized
----
'' dis-en-fran-chise
'' marg-in-a-lize
'' wisdom applies
'' freedoms arise
----
'' say ya goodbyes
to them "apple'y" pies
flyin high in them skies
stays alive 'til it dies
----
[END "Inverted Chorus 2"]
[1-16]
[BEGIN Conclusion (spoken)]
... do not mistake activity for achievement
... protect your time and family
... power is work done efficiently ...
... truthtellers often encounter great resistance
... but we must tell our own stories ...
... (pause) selah ...
[END Conclusion (spoken)]
About Derrick Brown (Standup Storyteller)
%20IMG_E7946.JPG)
I am Keisha's husband, and Hannah's father.
I am a “standup storyteller.”
I fuse rap, spoken word (poetry), oration (traditional public speaking), singing, and teaching into messages of hope, healing, and change that I write, direct, and produce to help people who help people.
Everything must change - and stay changED.
Tradition begins and ends with change.
Change begins with me and the renewing of my mind ... then continues through efforts to effect small-group discipleship (equipping others to equip others) with audiences that respect and embrace mentoring, mediation, and problem solving as tools of change.
I am the product of my mentoring relationships, peacemaking (and peacekeeping), and problem-solving ability.
My education began when I finished school.
After school, I enrolled in a lifelong curriculum that includes classes in ministry, entrepreneurship, stewardship, literacy, numeracy, language, self-identity, self-expression, and analysis / synthesis.
My projects execute a ministry that has evolved from wisdom earned through lessons learned.
I want to share this wisdom to build teams of "triple threat" fellows - mentors, mediators, and problem solvers.
We will collaborate in simple, powerful ways that allow us to help people who help people.
I now know that power is work done efficiently (with wise and skillful use of resources, interests, communication, and expertise).
I am a “standup storyteller.”
I fuse rap, spoken word (poetry), oration (traditional public speaking), singing, and teaching into messages of hope, healing, and change that I write, direct, and produce to help people who help people.
Everything must change - and stay changED.
Tradition begins and ends with change.
Change begins with me and the renewing of my mind ... then continues through efforts to effect small-group discipleship (equipping others to equip others) with audiences that respect and embrace mentoring, mediation, and problem solving as tools of change.
I am the product of my mentoring relationships, peacemaking (and peacekeeping), and problem-solving ability.
My education began when I finished school.
After school, I enrolled in a lifelong curriculum that includes classes in ministry, entrepreneurship, stewardship, literacy, numeracy, language, self-identity, self-expression, and analysis / synthesis.
My projects execute a ministry that has evolved from wisdom earned through lessons learned.
I want to share this wisdom to build teams of "triple threat" fellows - mentors, mediators, and problem solvers.
We will collaborate in simple, powerful ways that allow us to help people who help people.
I now know that power is work done efficiently (with wise and skillful use of resources, interests, communication, and expertise).
%20(11-25-2020)%20IMG_E7937.JPG)
%20(11-25-2020)%20IMG_E7937.JPG)
