The story goes that as Malvina Reynolds drove down that California Peninsula from Berkley through San Francisco and Daily City to La Honda she said Bud: “take the wheel. I feel a song coming on.” That coming on song was Little Boxes". What did she see? Leaving Berkley, she saw conformity at every turn. In my humble opinion she saw childhood fading away. A lost of that American tapestry of individualism, uniqueness, and an American magic that holds to who people were, were they came from, and the excitement of the new treads they bring to that amazingly unique and beautiful tapestry of a nation that was always becoming America.
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And the people in the houses
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
All went to the university,
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same,
And there's doctors and lawyers,
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
And drink their martinis dry,
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
Malvina past away in 1978, she was a real folk singer, Flower Child, an activist who believed in the power of song to wake people up and bring change to a world in need of change.
What would she think of an America that forced teachers to teach to the test?
She would think little boxes!
What would she think of an America that forces children to learn the exact same things?
She would think little boxes!
What would she think of education reform policies that claim rigor and grit are what children need?
She would think little boxes!
What would she think of a nation that puts standardized testing before art, music and Play?
Sick little boxes!
What would she think of an America that seeks to corporatize its public schools?
Sick Greedy Little boxes!
What would she think of an America that measures childhood through test scores not joy, not imagination, or uniqueness of our children?
Sad Little boxes!
What would she think of an America that so fears being unique?
Not America!
What would she think of American leaders so afraid of the future they are willing to turn childhood in an assembly line of conformity?
Not America!
What would she think of an America that forced teachers to teach to the test?
She would think little boxes!
What would she think of an America that forces children to learn the exact same things?
She would think little boxes!
What would she think of education reform policies that claim rigor and grit are what children need?
She would think little boxes!
What would she think of a nation that puts standardized testing before art, music and Play?
Sick little boxes!
What would she think of an America that seeks to corporatize its public schools?
Sick Greedy Little boxes!
What would she think of an America that measures childhood through test scores not joy, not imagination, or uniqueness of our children?
Sad Little boxes!
What would she think of an America that so fears being unique?
Not America!
What would she think of American leaders so afraid of the future they are willing to turn childhood in an assembly line of conformity?
Not America!
Who are these people who fear our uniqueness?
Sick Little boxes!
Who are these people who fear imagination?
Sick Little boxes!
Who fear difference?
Pathetic sick Little boxes!
Who fear celebrating that beautiful American tapestry always moving and always becoming?
Cowardly Little boxes!
Sick Little boxes!
Who are these people who fear imagination?
Sick Little boxes!
Who fear difference?
Pathetic sick Little boxes!
Who fear celebrating that beautiful American tapestry always moving and always becoming?
Cowardly Little boxes!
My thinking is she would say Little 1984 boxes, Little Animal Farm boxes, and Little Fahrenheit 451 boxes,
Her tears would fill every ocean,
Her fears would ring every bell in the land,
Her feet would be marching to the Lincoln Memorial in DC for the Peoples March for Public Education and Social Justice,
Her voice would be singing all the way from California to DC,
Little Boxes,
Little Boxes,
No More.
Her tears would fill every ocean,
Her fears would ring every bell in the land,
Her feet would be marching to the Lincoln Memorial in DC for the Peoples March for Public Education and Social Justice,
Her voice would be singing all the way from California to DC,
Little Boxes,
Little Boxes,
No More.
Calling all parents, students, teachers, and activists to join our no more boxes revolution.
On July 8 2016 I will be marching and singing Little Boxes, Little Boxes, No More.
Where is this No More Little Boxes March?
You'll find us at that sacred place where Dr. Martin Luther King call a nation to dream.
Where will you be America?
This Walking Man will be in DC, chanting "No More Little Boxes, and marching with his brothers and sisters fighting education reforms that robbed children of their uniqueness, individuality, imagination, and diversity.
Still marching,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner
On July 8 2016 I will be marching and singing Little Boxes, Little Boxes, No More.
Where is this No More Little Boxes March?
You'll find us at that sacred place where Dr. Martin Luther King call a nation to dream.
Where will you be America?
This Walking Man will be in DC, chanting "No More Little Boxes, and marching with his brothers and sisters fighting education reforms that robbed children of their uniqueness, individuality, imagination, and diversity.
Still marching,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner
People you should not even have to wonder what this Walking Man is listening to on his walk this morning....It's Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds...
#FlowerPower thanks change agent Jesse for sharing this powerfil change agent story!!
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