Cultural relevance may be the key to engaging interested but overlooked boys with subjects including the literary arts, sciences, technology and music, according to Dr. Christopher Emdin.
Hip-hop has a long history, Dr. Emdin says, of references to science by artists like GZA, Biz Markie and The Mad Scientists. “Even the popular phrase “droppin’ science” means to rap.”
In light of research that shows boys succeed when lessons require vigorous motor activity or when they are required to address unsolved problems, pairing science with hip-hop seems a natural channel through which to encourage boys to devise solutions that are need to drive innovation.
A popular, insightful and entertaining speaker who is returning to Atlanta for a second engagement, Dr. Emdin is a professor at Columbia University, founder of the #HipHopEd movement, and author of The New York Times bestseller, For White Folks Who Teach In The Hood…and the Rest of Ya’ll Too.