Counteracting sexism, machismo, and gender-linked violence…
Pink and Blue highlights how gender socialization propagates sexism from early in life and continues, in blatant and subtle ways, in our homes, schools, media, and workplaces. Central to our message is the safety and empowerment of women and girls and the ways that men and boys, too, can be damaged by machismo.
Pink and Blue curriculum modules are age-appropriate, participatory, entertaining. They begin with original poems and songs and mine local, popular idioms to explore the societal roots and personal impacts of sexism as it intersects with race, class, and power.
…in classrooms, assemblies, youth programs, and community events
Ras Mo has taught and performed in schools from pre-K to college, women’s shelters, juvenile jails, community centers, elder homes, camps, clubs, and festivals large and small. He has designed and directed summer and school-year programs and trained youth-serving staff and peers in interactive theater, electronic media, and violence-prevention education.
Ras Mo’s offerings are adaptable to one-off sessions and ongoing programs. How can he enhance yours?
The Pink and Blue Project confronts the multi-headed monster of violence through performances, songs, poetry, interactive educational presentations, and workshops.
It has been created to inspire youth, community, and college audiences to reflect upon the root cause of violence, its connections to sexism, race, and class, and its impacts on individuals, families, communities, and the wider society.
The CD
The professionally produced Pink & Blue CD features original songs in contemporary styles from jazz and gospel to hip-hop, native American, Afro-Caribbean, and reggae. They convey messages of critical awareness of sexism and violence, but also affirmation, hope, and joy.
The Curriculum
Curriculum modules use the songs and poems as centerpieces, with interactive games and exercises on themes of gender socialization, media messages, dating and domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, STDs, drugs, teen pregnancy, cultural pride, and empowerment. These youth friendly presentations generate lots of excitement and discussion.
The Show
Live Pink and Blue shows feature Ras Mo performing the poetry, songs, and storytelling from the Pink and Blue CD, along with interactive audience participation. These lively pieces can take a variety of formats, based on the ages and needs of the audience and the goals of the host organization. Some shows feature Ras Mo accompanied by a band. In others, he performs solo, accompanied by drums, keyboard, guitar, or recorded music.
Staff and youth peer training workshops explore the theory and practice of “Popular Theater”.
Ras Mo teaches energizer activities using movement, sound, and images, methods for building collectivity and confidence, and exercises to develop and apply analytical skills. He teaches how to adapt games, song, dance, poetry, and other creative forms to explore group and community issues, identify resources, and convey our messages powerfully.
He assists graduates of Training-of-Trainers workshops in developing curricula and carrying out Popular Theater programs for their organizations or communities.
A Pink & Blue Song
Ras Mo wrote and performs this song/poem in Arts for Violence Prevention presentations. It’s used as a catalyst for discussions on male gender socialization, and the ways it contributes to sexism, relationship, gender based violence, and violence against women.
A Pink & Blue Song
© Ras Mo 1998
Ever since I was small
I try to understand
what it really really
means to be a man
because some things I learnt
since I was a baby
like pink for a girl
and blue for me
so I ask myself constantly
what does it to really really
mean to be manly
in this pink and blue society
(Chorus)
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I
my daddy he says you know big boys don’t cry
my bigger brother Junior tried to explain why
he said in this life
you’ve got to be rough and tough
ain’t no woman gonna love you
if you are soft
(Chorus)
my coach you know he really liked me
and he taught me how to be manly
he said you’ve got to learn
to keep your pain inside
and when you feel pain
just show manly pride
(Chorus)
my homies teach me the craftsmanship
of how to manage a relationship
they say never never let girls
know you love them
cause they will upset your whole system
you must always have 1 or 2 on the side
and from the main one
those on the side you must hide
(Chorus)
the media the movies entertainment industry
teach me about guns, drugs, sex, violence constantly
the magazine ads the bill they go so far
they say in order be a super star
you got to have expensive gear
or drive a fancy car
The Pink & Blue Song
© Ras Mo 1998
Ever since I was small
I try to understand
what it really really
means to be a man
because some things I learnt
since I was a baby
like pink for a girl
and blue for me
so I ask myself constantly
what does it to really really
mean to be manly
in this pink and blue society
(Chorus)
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I act like a man
How should I
my daddy he says you know big boys don’t cry
my bigger brother Junior tried to explain why
he said in this life
you’ve got to be rough and tough
ain’t no woman gonna love you
if you are soft
(Chorus)
my coach you know he really liked me
and he taught me how to be manly
he said you’ve got to learn
to keep your pain inside
and when you feel pain
just show manly pride
(Chorus)
my homies teach me the craftsmanship
of how to manage a relationship
they say never never let girls
know you love them
cause they will upset your whole system
you must always have 1 or 2 on the side
and from the main one
those on the side you must hide
(Chorus)
the media the movies entertainment industry
teach me about guns, drugs, sex, violence constantly
the magazine ads the bill they go so far
they say in order be a super star
you got to have expensive gear
or drive a fancy car