*Initially Reported by Blacknews
Dr. Holloway is no stranger to creating curriculum study guide questions to engage her students in intellectually stimulating conversations. She has used films, books, poetry, TED talks, current events, and videos covering a variety of topics to address mental health issues and cultural diversity. So, looking Father’s Day: A Kirk Franklin Story, where Kirk Franklin spoke about trying to locate her biological father, she knew instantly that it would be a great piece of literature to introduce into her graduate course in family counseling. She teamed up with Dr. Berry, whom she knew was passionate about understanding the dynamics of interpersonal, social, and cultural diversity as they relate to mental health challenges, to collaborate on this project.
Both Drs. Holloway and Berry, also known for their Montgomery River Boat Fight Program Study Guide, I agree that the video is a very powerful work of literature that could be used as an educational tool and open a critical dialogue around “daddy issues.” They are both extremely grateful to Kirk Franklin, a well-known, Grammy Award-winning artist, who was vulnerable and candid enough to share his story with the world unapologetically, without shame or guilt. The video is approximately 35 minutes long and shows Franklin, at the age of 53, discovering who his biological father is after thinking for many years that another man was his father. We admit it’s a very emotional video. So, get your Kleenex ready.
They encourage viewers to keep in mind that this is the story of a black man on his own personal journey. “This does not represent all black men,” they insist. “As we know, many Black fathers are actively involved in their children’s lives. These study questions are in no way an indication or representation of all black men. Most often, the media portrays black fathers in a negative light. However, we salute all black fathers who have taken their rightful place as fathers not only to their children but to other children as well.
Disclaimer: The authors take no responsibility while viewing the video and discussing the study questions for any harm that may arise. They comment: “We believe the benefits outweigh the risks and we recommend that if you or someone you know experiences negative side effects from viewing this video or answering the discussion questions, you request the help from a professional. Additionally, remember that many of these questions come from a therapeutic perspective. Therefore, feel free to choose the questions that best suit your situation and add or remove questions as you deem necessary.
They add: “We also strongly recommend, if you are creating roundtables or study group sessions, that you make sure to establish ground rules such as (1) What we say here stays here, (2) Be respectful of others’ opinions, (3)) Do not interrupt others, (4), No gossip about group members, (5) If there is a topic being discussed that you find triggering, you have the right to pass and not respond, (6) There should be no expectations on you. person to speak for an entire group of people, (7) avoid making generalized statements, and (8) allow group members to develop their own group rules. This would give them a sense of belonging and encourage them to respect the group rules.
Watch the Kirk Franklin documentary here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=49SCqvyZM7Q
Download the program study guide:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10mwd-Bs_xVuYaj9SSiOhUEp2FynpoIRQ/
About the teachers
Dr Linda JM Holloway is a counselor educator at Alabama State University and has worked in academia for over 25 years. Dr. Holloway really enjoys finding innovative ways to keep her students engaged. One way is to use films and develop curriculum study guides. She says it helps her students think critically about problems and move from theory to real-world application. Dr. Holloway is also a historical activist and award-winning children’s book author. She loves using storytelling to educate, uplift and empower children to believe in themselves and love who they are. She lives by her own motto “Dream your own dreams”. She also encourages and inspires others to achieve their own dreams for their lives. You can find his books on Amazon.
Dr. April T. Berry is an assistant professor and mental health professional passionate about teaching and approaching mental health from a holistic and comprehensive approach. She truly enjoys bringing her lessons to life with fun, engaging, and creative tools to enhance the classroom environment and her students’ learning experiences. Additionally, she is passionate about peer mentoring, social justice, diversity awareness, and motivational speaking.
Dr. Berry lives by her life motto, Always Climb and Maintain, where she seeks to strive for excellence in everything she does (e.g., rock climbing), but is reminded to stay grounded in the things that are important to him (for example, maintenance). In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading and relaxing.
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