C. Song: "Lies"
by Moon Joyce

Lies*
Reading 175

Moon Joyce is a 42-year-old white lesbian of mixed English and Ukrainian ethnicity. With a fascination for life-long learning, Moon uses many creative tools in her teaching and facilitation to inform, challenge and consolidate key insights of the moment into usable, enjoyable forms. She says, "'Lies" is a song that only hints at the deep anger I feel every time I see the profit margin of the pornography industry and the effects of that industry on the bodies of those whose lives touch mine daily."

image "Lies" is on Moon's album The Infinite Edge. This song may touch off strong feelings in those who have been involved in the pornography industry, in those who use pornography and in those who are forced to watch it.

Lies
Handout 176

1. Warm-up

* Ask learners to pick a picture of a female model from a favourite magazine.
* Ask each in turn to tell how the picture makes them feel (happy, sad, angry, etc.) and explain why.

2. Understanding the song

* Ask learners to listen to the song to find out what type of magazine she is singing about. Listen to the song as many times as needed.

* Read the words to the song (page 175) to check if people are on the right track.
* Ask learners to answer the questions about the song (page 176)

3. Guided discussion/debate

* Look again at the lines "I am an adult, I have my right to buy anything I want to." Are an individual's rights more important than the effect pornographic magazines have on society?

I Black Women*
Reading 177

D. Song: "I, Black Woman"
by Faith Nolan

Faith Nolan was born in Halifax, and her parents and extended family were coal miners in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Her commitment to social justice comes from her life experiences and those that she grew with through the cultural tool of music. Her politic is firmly rooted in her being working class, woman and African Canadian. "I, Black Woman" is from her album Freedom to Love.

1. Warm-up

I Black Women
Handout 178

* Ask learners to work with a partner to discuss this song. A tutor and a learner could be partners.
* Some questions to consider:

  • Have you been called a name you don't like?
  • How did this make you feel?
  • Did it happen once or many times?
  • Did you try to stop it?
  • Have you tried to stop other people from calling others hurtful names? What happened?

2. Understanding the song

* Ask learners to continue to work with their partners:

Word Study
Handout 179
  • Listen to the song.
  • Listen to the song a second time. While you are listening, think about what the song is about. After the song finishes, talk with your partner about your ideas.
  • If you and your partner are not sure what the song is about, listen to it again.
  • Follow the words (page 177) while listening to the song to check your understanding.
  • Answer the questions on (page 178). Share your answers.

3. Word study

* Ask learners to do the cloze exercise on the song (page 179).

4. Guided discussion

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
imageRacial, sexual and other slurs are strong words; saying them, hearing them and writing them down bring out strong emotions. In groups where there are both women and men, white people and people of color, people with and without disabilities, you want to avoid situations where oppressor groups say the names out loud; for example, you don't want men to call out "slut" in response to the question "What are hurtful words?" because women in the group shouldn't have to hear that word from a man, especially in the classroom which should be a safe place. That is why the instructions ask learners to make a list of names they find hurtful to themselves, and then to use those slurs to make a strong statement of their selfhood.


* Look at the last verse of this song:

Don't call me your mama, your sister, your girl
Don't call me anything in your fantasy world
I ain't voo doo queen, an African dream
I am my own woman with my own damn scene.
I black woman will not be used.
I black woman will not be used.

* Some questions to consider:

  • What does this verse mean?
  • Why are these names hurtful?

5. Writing

* Ask each learner to make a list of names that s/he finds hurtful.
* Invite learners, using the verse above as a model, to write a statement that tells people what they would like to be called, and what they don't want to be called.


Resources

(See the Bibliography for complete listings and for ordering information.)

"Singer of the Sacred Heart" written and performed by Connie Kaldor, Out of the Blue 1994.

"A Cautionary Tale or Aren't You Glad That You Know Wen-do?" written and performed by Jane Field on The Fishing is Free 1994.

"Lies" written and performed by Moon Joyce. on The Infinite Edge 1985.

"I, Black Woman" written and performed by Faith Nolan on Freedom to Love 1989.


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