By Candice Richardson
The Seattle Medium

It’s a cloudy Thursday afternoon at Illahee Middle School in Federal Way, WA. Shyan Selah stands at a microphone inside one of the classrooms sound checking music that’s being piped through a mobile PA system he uses when he’s on tour. This day marks the fourth visit this school year that the singer/songwriter, recording artist, and entrepreneur has made to this particular classroom; but it’s the first time he’s decided to perform.
One by one young male students, all students of color between the ages of 12 and 14, a majority of which are African American, file into the room. Some of the boys give high-fives or shake hands with Selah, some take a seat, their heads bobbing to the music as they take off their backpacks; others walk to the back corner of the room where their teacher, Derrick Jennings, sits to discuss their schedules. This is Illahee’s Manhood Life Skills Class.
“The Manhood Life Skills elective come as a result of national trends where we see students of color struggling academically. The data consistently show boys, and specifically African American boys, struggle in math and English,” says Principal Jerry Warren. “In the Federal Way School District we are addressing the same challenges, but we want to assure the academic success of all students.
“We created [this] program that brings together students of color to focus on leadership, fostering brotherhood, engaging in culturally relevant history and literature, fostering identify development and college and career readiness,” continued Warren. “We raise the bar of expectations, and expand what students believe they are capable of becoming, knowing and doing.”
The students chosen to take part in the Manhood Life Skills Class are ones who have experienced some sort of consistent challenge in either their academic performance or behavior.
“Our school noticed that our discipline was disproportionately affecting our young men of color,” said Jennings. “The administrators identified some of [those students] who might be open and ready to reach their full potential, while at the same time improving their academic and behavioral performance.”
This is the second year of the Manhood Life Skills Class, which takes place during 7th period. Each day the students get the chance to study and have critical conversations with their teacher about what they feel is working and not working in life and in school. They also get to listen to special guest speakers such as college outreach representatives and, of course, Shyan Selah who stands out as a music artist versed in everything from hip hop to rock.
As a self-made CEO and entrepreneur, Selah has created special entertainment programs and events that uniquely involve major brands, such as Starbucks and Apple. With an unconventional approach of merging entertainment business practice with education examples for middle school and high school students, Selah is able to effectively engage the students who view him as being part of the glamourous world of music and entertainment. But what catches the attention of the students beyond Selah’s career in music is the fact that once upon a time he also walked their school grounds as an Illahee Brave.
“Illahee holds an invaluable space in my childhood,” says Selah. “There were many life lessons and disciplines I learned while attending school there. The way I was taught, coached, and mentored really set me up to be able to do a lot of different things as I went on from there into high school, college, and the real world. It’s always been a really strong belief of mine to give back into places that gave to me.”
Warren jumped at the chance to have a willing partner in Selah in reaching Illahee students, particularly those of color.
“I have known Shyan for a number of years and I am thrilled to continue the partnership with him,” says Warren. “When Shyan speaks to our students, parents or staff, he eloquently shares his vision for how all students can achieve their dreams. He captivates audiences through his persona and relaxed yet professional style. His story telling style is inspirational and motivating. He relates to students where they are and his examples are real, relevant and right now.”
“Those kids are who I was in the now,” states Selah. “It’s an obligation and an honor to share of myself and my life with our youth.”
In his previous visits Selah has shared his life story with the young men: growing up in Federal Way with four brothers and extenuating family circumstances that resulted in Selah often living with other families and being dependent on friends and coaches for everything from rides after school to track shoes. A star athlete in basketball, football, and track, Selah was born with the name Travis Henry before officially changing it as a young adult. He remembers it took a while to find comfort from being the star athlete to becoming a music artist. In addressing the Manhood Life Skills Class he wants the students to know that he understands what it’s like to try to find yourself while figuring out how to rise to the expectations of others at the same time. He’s had his share of fights and his share of girlfriends he tells them. He remembers his days in junior high school going to football practice with the only thing he had to eat all day was a candy bar.
“They like how he keeps it real with them, showing them they could be successful without sugarcoating the hard work that success requires,” says Jennings. “[During Shyan’s first visit] they listened intently, they responded to discussions, they handled themselves better than they did with me. The next day I asked the kids what the difference was. Why would they listen and participate so well with Shyan but struggle to do the same with other adults? Here’s what they said: ‘he’s been through some of the same things we have,’ ‘he tries to get to know us better,’ and ‘because he’s real, he’s real talk, so we listen and give him the respect he deserves.’”
Selah is aware of how closely they’re paying attention. He wants them to know that with everything he experienced growing up, there’s a key thing he’s learned: you are responsible for your own life. You may not have any say-so in who cares for you and about you, but you do have a say-so in whether you care about yourself.
“Unfortunately, there’s significant power in stereotyping,” says Selah. “Not all stereotypes are negative, and there are positive stereotypes that are equally powerful. But the issue is that a lot of stereotypes just do not apply to the truth of the nature of a Black child. The truth is every child is so uniquely different, they carry so many different qualities and talents, and ways that they see the world.”
In every visit Selah asks the students to stand up. Oftentimes it’s when he sees them getting antsy. But he takes advantage of the moment to cause them to do something they’ve never done before. He asks them to tap their chests and chant affirmations such as “I’m alive,” “I’m intelligent,” and “I’m worthy.”
“I’ve always been conscious of the power of perception and how the mind works,” states Selah who studied sociology, theology, and psychology at Central Washington University. “One of the first things that I try to do is make [the students] aware of is how powerful they are. It is important that they get exposure to being conditioned with confidence and self-esteem. They’ve got to know that there’s value all around them, so one of my priorities is to teach them how to see that value.”
Back in the class Selah calls for attention of the students. The music equipment in the room has them excited. He gives them a brief overview of some the experiences he’s had as an artist, beginning in his hip hop days before moving into rock and roll. He plays a selection of beats and asks them if they can discern the genre they’re listening to. The students don’t skip a beat. Hands go up and answers are shouted out. Arguably, it’s the most engaged they’ve been all year. The response doesn’t faze Selah.
“The arts are critical in many ways, largely because the arts require the total use of your senses to participate,” he says. “The arts are extremely intelligent, they promote brilliance because of colors, because of shapes, because of sounds, because of the way things are perceived. And of course, when given the opportunity to express them or explain them or study them and interact in any kind of way, it adds value to the total development of the child… We just have lost touch with how important it is to embrace this part of ourselves.
Research commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) shows that arts are a good investment in education, especially for low socioeconomic status students, boosting academic performance and college attendance while decreasing dropout rates. However, according to Americans for the Arts Facts and Figures 2013 study, 66% of public school teachers say that subjects such as art, science, and social studies get crowded out by extra attention being paid to math or language arts due to federal legislation.
With programs being largely reduced if not cut altogether in many schools across the state and country, Illahee has been quick to bring awareness of Selah’s efforts to reach their students through his unique combination of arts and the entertainment industry to the attention of the school district. Within the last year he’s been awarded twice, first by the school board, and then as a Federal Way Public Schools HERO for their annual recognition of those in the community who have great impact on the students in the city. Both times Selah was nominated by Warren and the administration at Illahee Middle School.
“Shyan is a member of our community,” states Warren. “He attended Illahee and was a graduate of the Federal Way School district. He shares our common interest and values for an educated populace achieving their dreams and giving back.”
As the clock hits 2:05, there’s 10 minutes before the school day ends. As a special treat, Selah decides to finish with a rap free-style asking the students to throw out words to him during the flow of the beat. They oooh and ahhh at how quickly he responds taking the word and rhyming it, fitting together different subjects, in seemingly effortless cohesiveness. When he finishes, he reminds them that that particular skill took a lot of practice and guidance from others who taught him. Most of all he wants them to know, that like them, he’s still learning.
“I’m still being mentored, I’m still being coached, I’m still being led and guided, says Selah.
“I think many times people in leadership are no longer being led and mentored themselves, and kids can feel that. It’s like music. It’s easy to hear when there’s a note that’s off,” he continued. “We all must keep growing, we all must keep learning and we all must commit to that reality that there’s no end to getting better. From there what can happen within a community is unlimited.”