avery r. young's view & stew: Cooley High
(to be young gifted, black & poltically sexual)

by Marquis O.

Cooley High is a movie I think every man of color should see within the span of his life time. I remember watchin the movie for ther first time when I was around 10 and being really sad at the end (as I always am STILL) but it wasn't until I was 19, and had lost a few brothers who were "Cochise" to my "Preach", that I knew what I was sad about.

In this View & Stew class was all male of color inside the Nancy B. Jeffersonm School in the Juvenile Detention Center. Most had seen the movie before. This particular student asked me if there were any "good parts". Knowin exactly what he meant, I answered with a smile.

After I got this paper back from him I was even more so impressed by how he and most students can be honest and vulnerable inside the safety of a worksheet.

Note: Eric Monte the screenwriter of this movie also created and wrote "Good Times." The movie was supposed to become a series on ABC but become the tv show "What's Happening."

Points of Inquiry

  1. What is physical attraction? Getting hard.
  2. What is opportunity? The chance to be something in life. If you are poor it doesn't come often
  3. What happens when physical attraction and opportunity meet? They make successes and for successful in life
  4. What does sex feel like? Fireworks goin off. A warm Wte feeling. What makes it so important?. Everybody wants it for a variety of reasons.
  5. Is sex woth more than $1? No..If so, how much is sex worth? What would be a fair wager on sex? Sex aint worth any wager because sex is something that is supposed to be special
  6. Why does Preach trick girls into having sex? So he can fit in with his friends and win a bet with his friend Cochise.
  7. What makes a young girl so apprehensice about having sex? Some have religion; and some think its going to hurt; and some don't want to be used.
  8. What is Preach's first name? Leroy.
  9. Who does Preach have true feelings for? His old girlfriend.
  10. What becomes of Pooter? A factory worker

Focus: Sandra

Pretend: Preach runs up to Sandra's house at the end of the movie. Be Sandra and ask Preach 10 questions.

Why weren't you at the funeral?
Why are you leaving?
What happened that day?
Why Cochise?
How are you still alive?

Do you love me?
Why you bet on me?
Was I worth it?
Are you going to miss me?

Do you think we will ever see each other again?