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Around the 1980’s the Rap genre was turned more into a genre of ‘gangster’. Akon, who was born and raised in New Jersey, has made $60 billion dollars (Wealthy Gorilla) off of Rap, which is just one of many rappers that have succeeded and lived off of this genre's fan base. Akon has had many popular songs that hit charts, one of which is Gangsta Bop. Gangsta Bop's lyrics display the fact of how black boys growing up, especially in the streets, are meant to be tough, loyal, and see/experience things white boys don’t. Even with him saying these things he presents an emotion of stress and trauma. You don't know the history I got on these streets Only if you see what my eyes have seen Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's If you owe me, and we got beef I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze Pause for a minute, guaranteed you gon' bleed 'Cause that's how we was raised growing up in these streets (Gangsta Bop Lyrics) Akon allows the listener to understand by the first three lines of this quotation the trauma of his childhood. Now has him surrounding himself with people that have probably seen/experienced the same things. Specifically the lyrics “Only if you see what my eyes have seen” has him throwing the thought of experiencing PTSD from his youth on the “streets”. According to a 2012 National Youth Gang Survey two out of five members in a gang were under 18. (Painted Brain) This indicates that the young gang members would have grown up in a very stressful and negative environment during their most vulnerable years leaving them scarred. Several studies have also been done to reveal that young gang members with constant exposure to violence have higher chances of developing Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression. (Painted Brain) This information really pulls back to the idea of Akon having a hidden message of stress; trauma behind the tough lines. The Last two lines in the quotation show a representation of manliness, strength and even braveness. The specific quotation “guaranteed you gon’ bleed” really emphasizes the fact of how black men are ‘supposed’ to get physical and go home all bruised up. The fact of these lyrics are that most youth gang members must complete a ritual/initiation before joining. Most common initiations consist of Jumpin'in which is when you get a consistent beating for a set time period by members of the : gang; robbing, rape, burgalry are all other initiations (Edmonton Police Service). This fact pulls back to the thought that Akon was expressing how he had to be Loyal and Tough when being on the “streets'. Akon uses a metaphor in the quotation which really emphasizes the fact that most gang members have fear and terror within but to survive they have to act like a ‘man’ and fight. “I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze”. Akon expresses through the song that black men especially the ones that live on the streets are meant to be tough,bleed, fight to survive, and are meant to be scarred from parts of their childhood. However, even with this you can feel a part of Akon traumatized and scared.

“For it is a wound to my people’s heart and soul and insult our pride And we deserve much better, especially from you.” ( Chief Laforme) The indigenous community has always had everything taken away from them: land, jobs, culture, beliefs,and their kids. Chief Laforme and his poem I love this land express a main message on how even after helping the country that stole their land fight a battle they get nothing in return, not even the same amount of respect as a white man gets. Even though the media told the people that all soldiers were remembered and thanked equally, Chief Laforme expressed his opinion in I love this land differently: “we still stood shoulder to shoulder in the parades, but the government thought that your life was more valuable than mine” (Chief Laforme). This quotation really shows how the government would have rather had another white man return rather than have him return. He was there because he came back alive not because the country was happy he returned alive. In the third stanza Chief Laforme refers to being treated as if he was “inconsequential” (Chief Laforme), this word percussively captures the disrespect towards the indigenous soldiers. The government would have never called a white man inconsequential let alone a white soldier. Furthermore, instead of getting equal respect for their brave actions the indigenous community seemed to still have nothing: no land, kids sent to residential schools, and nothing they can be thankful to have been given after putting their lives at risk “Do I feel good having to ask you for what should have been long ago, no?” (Chief Laforme) This terribly sad rhetorical question is left to allow the reader to understand how ridiculous it is that the white soldiers were given houses, prizes, land, but the indigenous soldiers don’t even get back what was always theirs. Moreover, the final stanza expresses how he may not be looking at the present wrong with the unequal rights but realizes he’s pulling his past pain along while returning to ‘his country’. “This may seem and old wound to you but it is a wound that never heals” (Chief Laforme). Chief Laforme uses a metaphor in this quotation to allow the reader to understand the emotional pain he is enduring not getting equal treatment to these white men he fought to protect. Chief Laforme used many calmas throughout his poem I love this land to slow down the pace of the poem to represent the slow agonizing emotional pain he and many other indigenous soldiers endured. Perhaps Chief Laforme didn’t just feel he wasn’t treated equally or wasn't respected the same but he may have felt ashamed to think he was jealous of another soldier that fought just like he did. What Chief Laforme truly wanted wasn’t to get more than the white soldier or take away from them but to be equal with them. Work Cited “Home.” YouTube, https://www.cbc.ca/radio-content/assets/images/TSE-ChiefStacey-ILoveThisLand-eng.jpeg. Accessed 13 September 2022.

Since forever war has been seen as a devilish, deadly, and sad thing; it is hard to see it as anything else. The thought of war being a fun game played by young men has never been a thought to have crossed any mind, however for Jessie Pope and his poem Who’s for the Game? it described war as just that. Despite every newspaper, word spoken, or photo taken Jessie Pope insists to convince men that war is enjoyable. “Who would much rather come back with a crutch Than lie low and be out of the fun?” (Pope) She tells the people through Who’s for the Game that war is worth being physically hurt since it will hurt more staying home and missing the fun. “Lie low” truly captures how Jessie Pope was trying to guilt the men into going to war and believing her way of viewing war. She firstly represents war as a fun place full of memories then uses a guilt tactic to make the men question their manhood if they didn't agree. Furthermore, Jessie Pope uses a metaphor along with direct adressment to really attach the reader: “Your country is up to her neck in a fight, And she’s looking and calling for you” (Pope). This metaphor turning the country into a “her” really would have pulled the reader closer to realizing war may truly be what Pope said, fun. Men at this time ‘protected’ women from danger and by turning the country into a women it would have made the men feel the need to protect and feel proud doing it. Moreover, “Come along, lads –” (Pope) directly addresses the reader but not as “you” but as a lad, a friend. This would make the reader feel more welcomed; Jessie Pope would have done this for the reader to believe that war wasn't a bunch of random men fighting together , but a group of friends having a good time. This line also continues on to the next two lines to make one sentence. This would be to make it faster paced than the rest of the poem to show excitement to have his lads come fight with him. Notably, Who’s for a Game? has an alternate rhyming scheme. This could be to inplace a marching tune into the reader's mind alongside with reading happy and excitable words about war. This would put happy thoughts into the reader's mind every time they think of the marching putting a bright picture about war. Jessie Pope didn't just think that war was a happy, fun, and enjoyable place but he was going to convince everyone else too through this poem. Work Cited Pope, Jessie. “Who's for the Game? by Jessie Pope - Famous poems, famous poets.” All Poetry, https://allpoetry.com/Who%27s-for-the-Game-. Accessed 12 September 2022.

I was back. September 1915. The trench, the dead bodies, the foggy air, my terror has all returned back once again. ‘Why do I keep returning back to this day? Why can’t I forget about it?’ I hear the voice of my best friend…Adrien “Alex!” I look behind me and see him carrying a younger boy on his back. When they got closer the brunette, green eyed boy had blood gushing down his neck. Adrien cried for help “Alex, please help me get him back!” I knew this was against the rules, every man for themselves. They always taught us that if we can’t defend ourselves don't ask for pity from others: strong, fearless, tough. Before I could even answer, Adrien had this boy wrapped over my one shoulder. I look over at Adrien; he gives me this warm smile that I don't even know how he can mask during this horrifying time. Bang! Bang! Boom! As we were jogging at a slow painful pace we passed many bodies. Bodies of men that were: husbands, sons, dads, and uncles all that are now dead on a dirty battlefield that are being stepped on and many not brought home to their loved ones alive nor dead. All of a sudden the weight on my shoulder gets much heavier. What?! I turn around and find Adrien fallen to the ground with blood pilling around his back. I pull Adrien and the boy behind another barrier. I start to pick up Adrien and leave the boy but Adrien pushes away from me dropping back to the ground. He looks at me and with a soft yell he expresses to me “Alex! Save this boy; leave me here please. I've already lived for 25 years. I’ve already had a daughter, a wife, and owned a store.” I wanted to yell back and tell him that’s why he should live but I could feel the tears emerging in the back of my eyes. Bang! Bang! Bang! He continues over the loud noises “He’s 16! He lied to be here. He doesn't have a wife, he has a girl. He doesn't have kids, he is a kid!” I let out a scream of pain. For the first time since my son was born I let out tears but this time not of happiness; of pain, terror, and anger. Adrien used his last bit of strength to yell at me “ Be a man Alex! Save this kid.” I threw a stone that was placed next to me “Save this boy for me…” I started nodding but Adrien's face went pale and I watched his breath slowly stop. I wanted to scream, cry, and kill who shot him but I remembered we were at war so the most I can do is save this kid. I hiked the kid onto my back and asked him “Kid you better stay with me here cause I promised I would save you. What's your name?” His soft voice replied “Andy.” Oh My Gosh! I startle myself awake back in my safe and cozy bed next to my wife realizing it was just another night terror back to that day. I walk downstairs and look into the living room to see that he was awake as well. He looks at me “You okay Alex?” I smile and put my hand on his shoulder “ I’m okay Andy…” “I'll be okay.”

“OU-GH.” I wake up to a throbbing pain within my head. It feels as though I have a hangover trying to punish me for partying too much last night, however I hadn't had a sip of alcohol last night. I rummage around my tiny, hard and uncomfortable bed searching for my phone. My phone shines brightly into my face making me hiss of discomfort, however at that moment my hiss turns into a howl remembering what made last night such a blur. I re-read the text message sent by my boyfriend's mother “Hello Callie, I thought it would be best for you to hear this from me before the news, It pains me to say this as much as it will be for you to read it, Arthur…well he got into a crash with a drunk driver last night and he died on sight. He's dead.” I throw my phone across the room and scream in agony, disbelief, and guilt. I try standing but my body is shaking and my whole world is spinning in circles uncontrollably until I fall down. I open my eyes to my mother and my manager (Emily) sitting next to me with water and cold towels. When I sit up they both hug me tight for what feels like eternity. Emily breaks the silence in the room “I'm so sorry Callie. For this to happen to you while you were away is heartbreaking and I feel like a horrible person for asking, but I need to know if you're able to perform tonight?” My Mom looks as though she is about to say something but also looks as if a demon overtook her, so I put my hand on my mom's shoulder and cut her off from talking “I need to perform - I need to perform for him.” I close my eyes and block the world out remembering all our good moments together. The next thing I know I am standing backstage in my black jeans, babydoll tank top, and pink converse with my hair in two long wavy pigtails. I breathe deeply, close my eyes and walk on stage. I feel the arena vibrating from the loud cheers. When I open my eyes a tear falls down my face. The arena is dark but all the white lights from their flashlights wave from side to side leading me to see the arena was full. Fog rolled at my feet and as I walk to the middle of the stage each step gets heavier on the heart but lighter in my feet. I reach for the mic and everything, everyone goes quiet as though the world stops for this one moment. “ This feeling right now is a feeling I believe to be the best feeling in the world!” Everyone screams. I look at my mom and she smiles back at me. “However-” The whole arena goes quiet and dark. “Last night I died. I didn't die physically but a part of me wishes I did. My Bestfriend, My soulmate, the one I called mine, died.” Tears run off my face like I'm a faucet but I continue to push these words out “I should've been with him, we should have died together but I didn't so I'm going to perform tonight, tomorrow, and everyday for him. I'm going to continue to live my life… for him!” I look back at my mom and see her crying but a cry of not just pain but relief almost as though the relief is knowing her little girl is still alive. I look back at the crowd and the music starts to bounce off every wall. Bright colorful lights flash, warm fog rolls out everywhere, and my fans cheer as though it would be their last breaths.

Residential schools were government funded, Church run schools, that were established for the purpose of transforming indigenous children into Euro-Canadians. Residential schools were both to teach the children but also convert them into the new Canadian society. The Mohawk institute in Brantford, Ontario was the first boarding school to be opened and it was opened in 1831. There were about 139 recognized residential schools that were open all around Canada between 1831- 1997: that's not including the schools that were not government funded. An estimated 150,000 Indegounous, Metis ,and Inut children were forced into attending Residential schools, and during that time an estimated 6,000 kids died (but the files are incomplete so there could be more or less deaths). Most of the deaths happened from sickness or malnutrience. The Sixties Scoop The “Sixties Scoop'' refers to the 1960’s when the government removed Indigenous children from their families of birth, homes and communities without parental or band consent to go to a Residential school or to a non-indigenous family. From the 1960’s to 1980’s the government would “scoop” newborns and infants and rehome them to a non-Indigenous family, calling this the “Indigenous child welfare”. Between 1960 and 1990 the Indigenous Affairs implies that about 20,000 kids were taken into provincial care. Finally, in 1985, adoption laws and “justice Edwin Kimelman’s No Quiet Place” led to change where before kids could be given to non-indigenous families, they'd be given to extended family and/or community families. As of the 2016 census 52.2 percent of Canada's foster care are indegounous kids, but they aren't being “scooped” anymore. Daily Life at Residential schools Residential schools were split up by boys and girls. Girls were responsible for housekeeping such as cooking,cleaning, sewing and laundry, where the boys were responsible for more hands-on activity such as carpentry, construction , farming ,and maintenance. Half the day consisted of school and the other half for chores and a little bit of recreational play. Throughout the whole day kids were not allowed to speak their traditional languages or perform any traditional dances/activities,and if they did there would be serious punishment. The meals were also very limited. The meals consisted of:Oatmeal, porridge and bread for breakfast;Soup,meat,fish,bread and dessert for dinner [lunch]; and for supper the working kids would receive meat and vegetables when the rest received bread. Due to all the malnutrition in Residential schools, it was one of the biggest things that killed kids at the schools. Orange Shirt Day September 30th is Orange Shirt day all over Canada. The annual Orange Shirt day opens the topic to everyone about Residential schools. The day allows the discussion about the effects of residential schools, the legacies left behind by people who didn't make it out; a day for the survivors to be reassured that they matter. The reasoning of Orange Shirt day is that in 1973 a 6 year old girl by the name of Phyllis webstat went to her first day of residential school wearing a new orange shirt that her grandma was able to get her (they didn't have much money), but when she got to the school she was stripped of everything including the new orange shirt. In 2013 a vision was started to show justice for Phyllis and every indigenous child that was taken away from their families and put into residential schools. September 30th was chosen as the day because it was the time of year the children were taken to go to residential schools; it is a great opportunity to set a tone for anti-racism and anti-bullying for the new school years. Abuse, Sexual assault and Death at Residential schools At Residential schools many students experienced abuse. Impatience and correction were the main reasoning behind the excessive abuse. Kids were physically abused and in some cases the kids were heavily abused, chained up or confined. Many students were even sexually abused. A survivor named Gordon had a few things to say about the sexual abuse: “During the day, we had normal classes, we had good playground, everything looked normal, but at night, these animals came out and abused us all the time," Recently 215 children were found buried on residential school properties. For other communities that was a big surprise, but for the indigenous community they were not surprised about all the dead bodies found. For years the indigenous community were reporting missing kids and family members but no one did anything about it. Now that the government is finding the bodies of the children they are starting to realize that these missing cases were/are actually real. Recent apology Prime minister Justin Trudeau recently apologized for residential schools, “Specifically to the members of the Cowessess community and Treaty Four communities, we are sorry. It was something that we cannot undo in the past, but we can pledge ourselves every day to fix in the present and into the future,” . Now, some differ on if that was a proper apology for everything that happened, but what's more important than a forced apology is to mourn,remember,pay your respects to all the families that saw their kids killed, your respectsto kids that were abused,to kids that were raped or sexually assaulted and to every kid that was ripped out of their homes to go to these Residential schools. So on September 30th it is a day to remember that “Every child matters”.