May 26-June 1, 2005

city beat

Sex, Drugs and Hip-Hop

scene of the rhyme: After a controversial assembly, some Dobbins students said Drexel's Philip Poczik offered a good message. Photo By: Michael T. Regan

A "blunted poet's" speech at Dobbins High has teachers crying foul.

by Dan Keashen

In late April, students at Dobbins Vocational High School attended a midday assembly featuring Philip Poczik, Drexel University's coordinator of multicultural programs and a self-proclaimed "blunted poet."

Poczik was invited to give "a motivational speech to the students on the topics of anti-violence, promoting healthy relationships between young men and women and the value of education," according to Drexel Dean of Students David A. Ruth. But teachers at Dobbins who heard the presentation, which included excerpts from Poczik's hip-hop CD, have complained that the expletive-filled speech contained strong sexual content and questionable racial innuendos.

"The content was, at the very least, inciting — and at the worst, racist," said one teacher, who requested anonymity. "This guy came in here and used overt sexual overtones and told our kids not to let their white teachers bring them down. What kind of motivation is that?"

"How can you let a guy that holds up somebody like Tupac [Shakur] as demagogue, speak to kids with all the drug innuendo that goes along with his image?" asked another teacher. "I don't think the mayor, [school district CEO Paul] Vallas or the police commissioner would appreciate the overt overtones of marijuana use being talked about on the CD that was distributed to the students."

In the two-day presentation to the entire high school, which comprises 1,671 students aged 14 to 18, Poczik declared that he idolized Shakur and that "'Pac was an influential figure in my life." As for the sexual content in the presentation, a teacher said it contained no academic or motivational value.

"You've got kids in there that are 14 years old and this guy's telling them to know your partner, then have sex," the teacher stated. "On the CD, this blunted poet talks about engaging in sex in vulgar, lewd ways. I can't believe this was backed by Drexel and let into our school."

Drexel officials wouldn't allow Poczik to comment on his presentation, or the reaction to it, but upon learning that an article was being written about the teachers' concerns, Roth sent a letter to City Paper publisher Paul Curci and editor in chief Duane Swierczynski. In it, Roth defended Poczik and stated that the offended teachers misinterpreted his message. He then noted that the university "advertises its programs in City Paper despite complaints within our community about the newspaper's publication of profane language and advertisements for sexual services."

"Most disturbing are the teacher's claims that the motivational speech and CD are racially divisive," wrote Roth. "No reasonable person who listens to the CD can miss the messages of inclusion and respect that come through the poetry. No reasonable reporter would miss the fact that Mr. Poczik's message was being clearly heard by the students, who have invited him back to be their commencement speaker. And no reasonable newspaper would print a story condemning the CD without listening to it or recognizing that, to be heard, you must speak in the language of the listener."

To that end, City Paper obtained a copy of Poczik's CD, on which the blunted poet sings, "These babies being put in English second language classes because white teachers could give a fuck about their asses," and, "You wonder why I burn ounces?" On another track, the lyrics include, "Another day out on a picnic, me and my girl, fresh off gettin' my dick licked, blunted and drinkin' a mystic, this homo in his fifties comes at me with "Want a friend?' I said, "Motherfucker I'm with my girlfriend.'"

The language may be blunt, but a close listening to the entire disc makes it clear that Poczik wasn't really attempting to incite students. Rather, as Roth claimed, he's speaking the students' language to make his points clear. Even so, is it acceptable high-school fare?

Dobbins principal Charles Whiting declined to comment. When a City Paper photographer arrived outside the school at 22nd Street and Lehigh Avenue on Monday, a man identifying himself as the principal summoned a police officer to prevent him from taking pictures, despite being on public property.

According to school district spokesman Joe Lyons, "home rule" allows administrators to take recommendations for presenters and do their own homework to figure out what is suitable for their students. Poczik was recommended to the school by the nonprofit groups Pregnant and Parenting Teens (PPT) and Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT).

Phil Terranova, Drexel's senior vice president for university relations, says Poczik had performed the presentation in 17 schools. City Paper did not find any public schools in Philadelphia that have hosted Poczik's current work, but in Pittsburgh, where he previously worked at Carnegie Mellon University, Poczik presented 11 high-school assemblies on the history of hip-hop.

While teachers saw the presentation as white-bashing — despite the fact that Poczik himself is white — the message was well received by the student body. Dobbins seniors Chenelle and Shantelle Tompkins said it was powerful and thought-provoking.

"He didn't sugar-coat things for us, and presented the material in a real manner," said Chenelle. "He was trying to send positive messages of loving and respecting one another."

Shantelle rebuffed the faculty's claims about racist overtones during the assembly.

"I don't think anyone took in a revolutionary tone from Philip's work," she said. "Nobody got any kind of racist remarks out of it."

"Philip was trying to use Tupac's art as a way to think outside the box," said Chenelle. "That was basically the focus of his presentation: telling us to think outside the box."

Both girls said Poczik's CD was popular, and was being distributed throughout the high school by students.

In defending Poczik's work, Terranova said the university has done numerous things to make a positive impact on Philadelphia's public schools.

"I think it's possible that the teachers missed the positive message from Philip's presentation. I think there was just a misunderstanding from a small group of teachers about the message Philip was trying to send to the students," he said. "We have an extensive outreach program to the Philadelphia school district through our education department. Our university contributes countless hours in many different charitable sectors in public education."

After the assembly, several teachers requested formal action or an apology from administrators, but their request was denied. When they continued pushing, a verbal apology was issued to the faculty. And at a career-development day two weeks ago, PPT and ELECT personnel also issued a verbal apology to the teachers, saying they were "truly sorry if anyone was offended by the content" and stating that the presentation was not appropriate for students.

Lyons says Dobbins officials will now take a harder line when it comes to vetting presentations.

"The school will be more judicious of their programs and all of their efforts to retain suitable speakers for the students," he said. "They're going to be double-checking all their efforts and making sure this incident isn't repeated."