“Geoffrey Canada encourages Penn
graduates to 'join the losing team'”
The founder of the Harlem Children's Zone spoke at Penn's 256th
Commencement on May 14
***NOTE: The Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) is a non-profit organization for poverty-stricken
children and families living in Harlem, providing free support for the children and families in the form of
parenting workshops, a pre-school program, three public charter schools, and child-oriented health
programs for thousands of children and families. The HCZ is "aimed at doing nothing less than breaking
the cycle of generational poverty for the thousands of children and families it serves." The Harlem
Children's Zone Project has expanded the HCZ's comprehensive system of programs to nearly 100 blocks
of Central Harlem and aims to keep children on track through college and into the job market.
By Jenny Trang
[P1] Addressing Penn’s graduating Class of 2012, founder of Harlem Children’s Zone
Geoffrey Canada asked, “Do you care about those who won’t make it without real
help?”
[P2] “You are graduating at a time when our country is desperate for highly educated
women and men. Complex issues hang over our heads like a giant leaden weight,”
Canada said, referring to poverty, violence and education inequalities.
[P3] While past Commencement speakers like actor Denzel Washington have urged
students to “be open to life” or seek out their passions, Canada put a unique spin to his
advice. Using “game” as a metaphor for life, he urged students to use their skills and
intellect to make an impact on those who are less fortunate than themselves. “The team
that says every man for himself … is winning. Our team, the team that values the
common good … is losing,” Canada said. “And yet, I offer you this wondrous opportunity
to join the losing team.”
[P4] There was a time when his team was winning, Canada said, reflecting on his
undergraduate days at Bowdoin College. “We fought for civil rights. The women’s
liberation movement was the right thing to be involved in. The gay and lesbian rights
movement was just beginning.” But a sinister self-centeredness has infected our
republic, he intimated. “Fear for the self is everywhere. We find it hard to care for the
homeless when our mortgages are underwater. The poor feel under attack. The middle
class feels under attack. Even the wealthy feel under attack. Our team—the team that
rallies us under the common good, that emphasizes self-sacrifice and altruism—is
losing.”
[P5] “I know an enlightened group of men and women would not tolerate their country
drifting toward this calamity,” Canada said. “Our team needs you.”
[P6] Canada claimed that the winning team offers money, power, luxury cars and fancy
vacations, but the losing team offers honesty and “a good night’s sleep.” Canada’s
words were met with clamorous applause from the audience and students, as well as a
standing ovation by the end of his Commencement address. “If this be the last time,
let’s go down fighting. We will win,” he closed.
[P7] Penn President Amy Gutmann shared a similar view of working as a team. She
said that students have found their creativity by connecting to others. “You are truly the
collaboration generation,” she said, referring to Penn founder Benjamin Franklin, who
believed people from different backgrounds solve problems faster than brilliant
individuals working alone. “If you are all wrapped up in yourself, you make a very small
bundle,” Gutmann said. “Go forth, collaborate, change it for the better and rejoice in
doing so as we rejoice in you!”
[P8] Graduates and parents were very happy with how smoothly Commencement
proceeded. “I liked the speeches by everyone,” Wharton and Engineering graduate
Manish Agarwal said. Despite the political nature of Canada’s speech, many graduates
agreed with his views. “With all of the privileges that we have, in terms of our family and
being able to afford such an education … it gives us a lot of responsibility,” Agarwal
said. “I completely agree with him, and I think it was something that we needed to hear.”
[P9] Kazz Yang, who received a master’s degree in Architecture, agreed and added,
“Once we limit our desire and devote ourselves to helping people without any
reimbursement, that is the purest part we can find inside our souls.” College graduate
Garvin Hunt took a different view of Canada’s message. “The majority of the people that
try to help out and that give everything they have usually don’t have as much as people
that work on Wall Street,” he said. “I feel like a lot of people have those nice cars
because they put themselves first and don’t give to others like Geoffrey Canada does.”
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS:
==1) Which of these names is NOT mentioned in the article?
A) Garvin Hunt
B) Amy Gutmann
C) Edith Wharton
D) Denzel Washington
E) Manish Agarwal
==2) Which of the following is NOT listed as a current problem in American society?
A) Violence
B) Terrorism
C) Poverty
D) Homelessness
E) Mortgages
==3) Which types of evidence are NOT used in this article?
A) Statements from a student and an administrator
B) Statistics and legal cases
C) References to current events and social issues
D) A personal narrative and quotes from a speech
==4) The purpose of P3 is to:
A) Joke about joining the “losing team” after graduating
B) Persuade students to consider joining the “losing team”
C) Criticize students who would prefer to be on the “winning team”
D) Encourage students to seek out their own personal interests and talents
==5) Which method of organization is used in P4:
A) Argument
B) Personal Narrative
C) Compare and Contrast
D) Cause and Effect
E) All of the above
==6) See P6. When Canada says that the “losing team” is more likely to “get a good night’s
sleep,” what does he infer about “the winning team”?
A) They are too busy to enjoy all that they have earned
B) They may feel some guilt about their role in society
C) Their hard work leads to health issues
D) They are more likely to be lonely
==7) Which is NOT the main idea of P7?
A) America’s future depends mostly on individual achievements
B) Students of this generation are especially good at working together
C) Solving problems requires understanding multiple viewpoints
D) An emphasis on individual success can also have some serious limitations
==8) In P9, the word “reimbursement” most closely means:
A) Payment
B) Advice
C) Promotion
D) Support
==9) The article features various metaphors to describe some current problems and solutions.
Which metaphor is NOT used in the article?
A) An athletic event
B) A drifting ship
C) A crashing plane
D) A battle
E) A small bundle
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:
==1) There are many statements from Canada in this article. Quote any TWO of them using the
formats we’ve reviewed.
==2) What does Canada associate with being on the “winning” and “losing” teams? Provide two
specific examples of things or actions that are associated with being on each team.
==3) What are three social issues in American society that the “losing team” can and should
focus on? Please present your answer in one or more complete sentences.
==4) Paraphrase P5
Essay Topics
==1) A 2010 article in Forbes magazine states, “According to the most
recent American Freshman survey, conducted annually by the University of
California, Los Angeles, undergraduates' chief objective in life is to be
financially well-off.” Why is that many students seem quite glad to be on
“the winning team” rather than “the losing team?” Based on your own
experiences and/or those of the students you know, would most students be
likely to follow Canada’s advice?
==2) In P7, the President of the University of Pennsylvania refers to Ben
Franklin and his idea that “people from different backgrounds solve
problems faster than brilliant individual working alone.” In what ways do
you prefer to solve problems or create things on your own or with others’
contributions? If you do ask others for ideas, do you look for people with
ideas that are similar or different from your own?
==3) We all know what the words “winner” and “loser” mean--or maybe we
don’t! Canada obviously challenges the students at University of
Pennsylvania to reconsider what “team” they might want to play for. Try to
think this through a bit more--try to discuss a “winner” who is actually a
“loser,” or a “loser” who should be seen as a “winner.” (You can refer to
individuals or groups, but try to be specific. Don’t just refer to “some
people” or “politicians”...) What actually seems to make us “winners” or
“losers?”