I love AYA. The day after yet another grand jury refused to indict a NY police officer, Daniel Pantaleo, for the killing of Eric Garner, our students and our community is up in arms, and tears, and fears. Instead of asking students to leave that at the door, Mama Fanta, instructor for our Black Body BioKhemestry, directed students to research the difference between a choke hold and a vascular or sleeper hold.

The former kills, or damages the wind pipe. The latter puts the person to sleep by temporarily cutting off blood to the brain.

Noting that some people in dominant and social media were debating about the officer's choke hold, Mama Fanta decided that she would equip her students with facts and perspectives to better prepare them for the debates and conversations.

Check it out, and please help me in appreciating Mama Fanta. Email her your thoughts. fanta.hairston@gmail.com

The students had been learning about the digestive system, today they shifted to learning about the circulatory system and blood flow via the carotid arteries that are used in the sleeper hold vs. the illegal (in NYC) choke hold.

The carotid arteries are major blood vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain, neck, and face. There are two carotid arteries, one on the right and one on the left. In the neck, each carotid artery branches into two divisions:
* The internal carotid artery supplies blood to the brain.
* The external carotid artery supplies blood to the face and neck.

Of course, the students also talked about what they thought and felt about the incident, about racism, emotions, control, balance, defending themselves, and European psycho-pathology, etc. They expressed appreciation for being able to talk about the situation in school, and relate it to what they were learning, as well as preparing them for their renewed fight.

Last thing. Spread the word! People have no idea what they are missing, when they miss AYA Educational Institute.

Our teachers are trained to allow and guide students to use their emotions, and self-interest, and that of our community to stimulate greater academic interest, knowledge and mastery. Without having to be told, they are learning to use what they learn to serve their families and our people.

African-centered doesn't mean a taste of African history and culture thrown in. It means that we put our people and culture at the center of everything, and we see the world from the inside-out, instead of from the outside-in. We are becoming better warriors-healers-builders for our future.

www.ayaed.com

ALSO: Join us on Sunday for AYA's National JUST US Townhall Online Meeting. See more.