2008 Woodie Awards
A voice lost
Lewis soon to lose professor; voice of the minority
Jonathon Hill
Issue date: 4/25/05 Section: Opinions
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He is presently teaching classes in Introduction to Philosophy, Ethics and Hip Hop Culture, the latter of which examines the effects of "hip hop" on society and has students define "hip hop." Interestingly, the groups in these classes cross racial and ethical lines. The students who rally to his lectures and classes are looking for an instructor who can relate to their issues and problems during their college experience. They find a professor who doesn't fit the traditional instructor mold and who walks a path of diversity that few follow but many aspire to. This path of diversity is defined in our university core handbook as fidelity - "The spirit which recognizes God as ultimate reality, unifying the diverse forms of knowledge in the pursuit of fullness of truth, while recognizing the diversity of human experience."
He will leave the university at the end of the semester to follow some personal goals: writing about issues that are affecting society and continuing his work as a political activist. Bailey's goal is to mentor wherever possible - especially to those hard-to-reach individuals who fall below the traditional radar. He does this with the passion and endless patience that he received from his mentor, Dr. Cornel West, an acclaimed author and social commentator.
Often students from the "hip hop" generation say they want to keep it real. Bailey's answer is that a college education is real and he helps his students focus on that reality. His favorite line to students who complain and do nothing is "shake it up" - get off your butt and make a difference.
When I accompanied him to Sheridan Prison and saw him reach out to the lost souls serving time there, I became awakened by a desire to be a better person. I was a guest speaker at the prison, invited by Dr. Bailey to speak on some issues that would relate to the condition the inmates found themselves in. It was truly inspiring to grow with these men and realize that most of them are fathers who are producing the next generation of Americans, but who have no self-worth or understanding of what drives them.
