While reading the anthology Black Like Us and the intriguing novel Giovanni’s Room, many things caught my attention. Characters, villains and situations kept me wanting to read more. Two things that caught my attention the most were the characters and messages in these stories.
Among the diverse characters I encountered in the anthology Black Like Us, the character that stood out for me was Phelia from “Bird of Paradise” by Alexis DeVeax. The reason Phelia stood out from the rest of the characters was because she had a different response to her daughter’s sexuality than the other characters in the book. I admire he ability to see past her daughter’s lesbian label and accepts her for who she truly is. I liked that she was able to do this because most parents would have turned their back on their son or daughter and avoid the subject. Others think that homosexuality is an option and try to fix their son or daughter’s sexuality. I also enjoyed reading about her reaction because I thin kit was good to see a parent who approved and accepted her daughter’s sexuality. We often read about parents who disapprove and refuse to accept the facts and assume that all parents react this way. I believe Phelia serves as and example as to how parents can react to their child coming out. I like how she shows us that keeping an open mind is important in order to love. Another thing that stood out for me was the messages that most of the authors told us in their stories.
Out of all the messages the authors told us through their stories the one that captured my attention was the message of accepting and loving ourselves. I think this was the most important message I received from the stories because when we don’t love ourselves, we sometimes don’t allow others to love us as well. This message can be found in many the stories from Black Like Us but it’s mostly found throughout the book Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. I believe that if David could have loved himself in his true skin he would have allowed Giovanni to love him as well. I really like this message because it appeals to heterosexuals and homosexuals alike. I think we can all learn from this book and the other stories to love ourselves. This is important because We need to appreciate who we are in order for others to appreciate us and accept us for who we are.
There are many things that I gained from reading Black Like Us and Giovanni’s Room but I liked the character of Phelia and the messages the most. I believe it is important to keep an open mind on people’s sexuality. We are not all the same, but that’s OK. With that, it is important to love ourselves in order for others to love us for who we are. I don’t keep an open mind or don’t love ourselves; we can potentially miss out on amazing people and experiences.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Blues
The story “The Blues Ain’t Nothing But A Good Woman Feelin Bad” from the book The Big Mama Stories by Shay Youngblood is the story of Miss Blue, who experienced heartbreak and wrote a blues song about it. Listening to this story the narrator is able to learn about love and pain, how you can’t have one without the other. And that at the end of the tunnel, there is always light.
In the beginning of the story, the narrator is sitting in Miss Blue’s porch watching soap operas. Here Miss Blue begins to tell the narrator her heartbreak story. Miss Blue’s story takes place in June of 1923 at a juke joint and at Miss Blue’s mama’s house. In this story we find conflict between two people, Miss Blue and Bo Willie. These two characters face conflict because on the day they were supposed to get married, Bo Willie left Miss Blue for another woman.
In this story we learn characteristics about the narrator as well as other characters. One of the things we learn about the narrator is that she lived down the block from Miss Blue. The narrator also tells us that she used to fall asleep listening to Miss Blue singing her blues at night. We learn that she sits on Miss Blue’s front porch to watch soap operas. In this story we meet Miss Blue an elderly woman who used to sing blues for a living. She lived by herself because her son died and her daughter disappeared. Miss Blue used to sit on her porch watching soap operas all day. We also learn that after heartbreak, she was able to create a blues song that became her only hit. In Miss Blue’s story the antagonist is Bo Willie, the man she was supposed to marry. We learn that Bo Willie was a married man when he was trying to win over Miss Blue. He worked as a porter at the railroad, which caused him and Miss Blue to be apart. In the end, we learn that the woman he had left Miss Blue for ended up leaving him with all his money. Another character we meet is the character in the soap opera, which triggers Miss Blue to tell her story.
One growing up theme in the story that the narrator is facing is contemplating mating, courtship, and marriage. Although the narrator is not contemplating doing these things she does learn about them nonetheless. She learns that you can’t have love and pain without each other. She also learns that although one may cry and hurt over love, it is something we have to get over. She learns that there is going to be pain in love but at the end, things will always look up. This growing up themes doesn’t really create conflict for the narrator as much as it did to Miss Blue. I believe the narrator can potentially use this story later in her life when she does contemplate mating.
One of the lessons the narrator learned was that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. The narrator learned this through Miss Blue’s story as she sees that Miss Blue writes a song about it and was a hit. She learns that she has to be an independent woman and not let heartbreak bring her down as much as she may cry about it. I also think she learned about memories and how they are important to keep things that were once important in our minds even if there are bad things to remember as well.
“The Blues Ain’t Nothing But A Good Woman Feelin Bad” by Shay Youngblood is a short story about heartache. With her story, Miss Blue taught the narrator about relationships and heartbreak. This information is something she can learn from and use later in her life.
In the beginning of the story, the narrator is sitting in Miss Blue’s porch watching soap operas. Here Miss Blue begins to tell the narrator her heartbreak story. Miss Blue’s story takes place in June of 1923 at a juke joint and at Miss Blue’s mama’s house. In this story we find conflict between two people, Miss Blue and Bo Willie. These two characters face conflict because on the day they were supposed to get married, Bo Willie left Miss Blue for another woman.
In this story we learn characteristics about the narrator as well as other characters. One of the things we learn about the narrator is that she lived down the block from Miss Blue. The narrator also tells us that she used to fall asleep listening to Miss Blue singing her blues at night. We learn that she sits on Miss Blue’s front porch to watch soap operas. In this story we meet Miss Blue an elderly woman who used to sing blues for a living. She lived by herself because her son died and her daughter disappeared. Miss Blue used to sit on her porch watching soap operas all day. We also learn that after heartbreak, she was able to create a blues song that became her only hit. In Miss Blue’s story the antagonist is Bo Willie, the man she was supposed to marry. We learn that Bo Willie was a married man when he was trying to win over Miss Blue. He worked as a porter at the railroad, which caused him and Miss Blue to be apart. In the end, we learn that the woman he had left Miss Blue for ended up leaving him with all his money. Another character we meet is the character in the soap opera, which triggers Miss Blue to tell her story.
One growing up theme in the story that the narrator is facing is contemplating mating, courtship, and marriage. Although the narrator is not contemplating doing these things she does learn about them nonetheless. She learns that you can’t have love and pain without each other. She also learns that although one may cry and hurt over love, it is something we have to get over. She learns that there is going to be pain in love but at the end, things will always look up. This growing up themes doesn’t really create conflict for the narrator as much as it did to Miss Blue. I believe the narrator can potentially use this story later in her life when she does contemplate mating.
One of the lessons the narrator learned was that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. The narrator learned this through Miss Blue’s story as she sees that Miss Blue writes a song about it and was a hit. She learns that she has to be an independent woman and not let heartbreak bring her down as much as she may cry about it. I also think she learned about memories and how they are important to keep things that were once important in our minds even if there are bad things to remember as well.
“The Blues Ain’t Nothing But A Good Woman Feelin Bad” by Shay Youngblood is a short story about heartache. With her story, Miss Blue taught the narrator about relationships and heartbreak. This information is something she can learn from and use later in her life.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Big Mama Values
Reading the story “An Independent Woman” from the book The Big Mama Stories by Shay Youngblood I learned the value the black women in the community have as well as the values about life. One thing I learned about the black women in the community is that they always stick together no matter what happens. When Aunt Mae was having an affair with Mr. Otis, I thought his wife and Aunt Mae would become enemies. To my surprise they didn’t. They stuck together as they both rejected Mr. Otis for lying to Miss Tweedie. I also learned a value about life as Aunt Mae compared the day she got her divorce to the Fourth of July as she says, “After the smoke cleared, I felt free.” I learned that life can be covered with smoke sometimes but once the smoke clears, everything will be clean and free.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Trickster who Gets Tricked
Have you ever heard of the saying “What goes around comes around?” In the story “Uglier Than a Grinning Buzzard” by Louise Anderson from the anthology Talk That Talk we see this saying come true. The main character in this story is the trickster Buzzard who tricked other animals into jumping in his back to later drop them and eat them. The antagonist is the monkey who in a turn of events, tricks Buzzard and teaches him not to trick the rest of the animals.
In the story, “Uglier Than a Grinning Buzzard” I found two tricksters: Buzzard and Monkey. The Buzzard is a trickster because he took advantage other the hot weather to trick the other animals. He found the weakness that the other animals had and used it to his advantage. First he pretended to be their friends and offered them a ride to cool off. Then, he dropped them on their back and ate them. The monkey, also a trickster, found a weakness on Buzzard and used it to trick him. Monkey noticed that Buzzard was weak for an easy pray and used it to teach Buzzard a lesson. He also hopped on Buzzard’s back but instead of falling like the other animals; monkey used his tail to choke Buzzards and taught him to not trick the other animals. These actions show how both of these characters are trickster.
There are many ways an author can reveal a character. Two ways the author revealed the character of Buzzard was by his actions and by what the other characters said about him. Before reading of Buzzard’s trickster ways, through Rabbit’s mama that, “Whatever you do, don’t trust a buzzard!” This immediately shows the reader the bad reputation that Buzzard has before learning of his dirty schemes. Later, we learn of his actions, which prove what a trickster Buzzard is. He used other animals to his advantage, which proves that Rabbit’s mama was correct. In the case of Monkey, the author used Monkey’s thoughts and dialogue to reveal him as a character. In the story, we find the monkey analyzing Buzzard’s actions as he says, “Uh huh, um hum, right on, right on.” This shows that Monkey is astute as he is able to find Buzzard’s weakness and uses it to trick him. Although Anderson portrays Monkey as a trickster, she contrasts Monkey and Buzzard’s behavior. Buzzard used his trickery to eat the animals while Monkey used trickery to teach Buzzard a lesson. Monkey didn’t use trickery to kill the Buzzard, though he could have, Monkey was a hero trickster because he saved the other animals in the jungle.
I found value in this story and believe it applies to today’s modern and technological world. Today people use technologies such as the Internet to meet people who take the role of the buzzard. Nobody can really know a person online and certainly can’t trust them. This story taught me to not use people to one’s advantage. Sometimes people pretend to be someone’s friend to gain something and once they are done, they cut them off their life. I don’t believe this is right. People shouldn’t use people for personal benefit.
The story, “Uglier Than a Grinning Buzzard” by Louise Anderson is a story about a trickster who gets tricked. It is a story of value to humans as it teaches us not to use others for our own benefit. As we learned in this story, what goes around does in deed come around.
In the story, “Uglier Than a Grinning Buzzard” I found two tricksters: Buzzard and Monkey. The Buzzard is a trickster because he took advantage other the hot weather to trick the other animals. He found the weakness that the other animals had and used it to his advantage. First he pretended to be their friends and offered them a ride to cool off. Then, he dropped them on their back and ate them. The monkey, also a trickster, found a weakness on Buzzard and used it to trick him. Monkey noticed that Buzzard was weak for an easy pray and used it to teach Buzzard a lesson. He also hopped on Buzzard’s back but instead of falling like the other animals; monkey used his tail to choke Buzzards and taught him to not trick the other animals. These actions show how both of these characters are trickster.
There are many ways an author can reveal a character. Two ways the author revealed the character of Buzzard was by his actions and by what the other characters said about him. Before reading of Buzzard’s trickster ways, through Rabbit’s mama that, “Whatever you do, don’t trust a buzzard!” This immediately shows the reader the bad reputation that Buzzard has before learning of his dirty schemes. Later, we learn of his actions, which prove what a trickster Buzzard is. He used other animals to his advantage, which proves that Rabbit’s mama was correct. In the case of Monkey, the author used Monkey’s thoughts and dialogue to reveal him as a character. In the story, we find the monkey analyzing Buzzard’s actions as he says, “Uh huh, um hum, right on, right on.” This shows that Monkey is astute as he is able to find Buzzard’s weakness and uses it to trick him. Although Anderson portrays Monkey as a trickster, she contrasts Monkey and Buzzard’s behavior. Buzzard used his trickery to eat the animals while Monkey used trickery to teach Buzzard a lesson. Monkey didn’t use trickery to kill the Buzzard, though he could have, Monkey was a hero trickster because he saved the other animals in the jungle.
I found value in this story and believe it applies to today’s modern and technological world. Today people use technologies such as the Internet to meet people who take the role of the buzzard. Nobody can really know a person online and certainly can’t trust them. This story taught me to not use people to one’s advantage. Sometimes people pretend to be someone’s friend to gain something and once they are done, they cut them off their life. I don’t believe this is right. People shouldn’t use people for personal benefit.
The story, “Uglier Than a Grinning Buzzard” by Louise Anderson is a story about a trickster who gets tricked. It is a story of value to humans as it teaches us not to use others for our own benefit. As we learned in this story, what goes around does in deed come around.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Baptism: Initiation to Life
In the second part of the book The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon the title “Baptism” serves as symbol of what the author is experiencing. A symbol is something used for or regarded as representing something else. These stories represent baptism because they wash away the narrator’s innocence as she is initiated into the reality of life.
Baptism is an act, an experience, or an ordeal by which one is, sanctified, initiated, or named as we see in the story “Baptism.” In this story, the narrator Frankie describes the life changing events she witnessed during the 1960’s, which were baptism to her. As Frankie states, “This decade of crisis and drama would take us to the water to be baptized: In fire and in ice.” To me, ice was the water used to baptize Frankie when she no longer encountered “White’s Only” signs above water fountains. Ice, the water used to baptize her as she experienced a higher standard of living. Still, there was fire: The water used to wash Frankie’s innocence away as she witnessed assassinations, and other gruesome acts of violence. This is baptism because the child who loved fairy tales was quickly learning that life was not always a fairy tale, whether she was ready or not. The narrator was placed in a position where everything was possible. Including in America, where a president was shot and parents were sacrificing their own children. Baptism, a rebirth, can also be the purification of thought and character of a person.
In the story “Fever” we learn about the narrator’s first love Stacey, which baptizes the narrator. In this story the narrator is baptized and reborn into her own identity as a lesbian. I believe she is being baptized because she is embracing her true identity without hiding her feelings for Stacey. They share a love that purifies them as a lesbian couple who truly love each other. Unfortunately there is also fire. In this story Frankie is baptized by fire as she learns the social stigma of same sex attraction. Though she is with the person she loves, she is forced to keep her relationship secret because of Stacey’s homophobia. This leads to Stacey becoming engaged to a man and leaving Frankie heartbroken. I think this experience is a form of baptism to the narrator because this experience allows her to grow as a person, which is purification of character. Though she doesn’t stay with Stacey, she manages to accept Stacey leaving. This shows how Frankie was born again as a stronger, lesbian, woman.
In the second part of the book The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon we find stories that are forms of baptism to the author. These stories teach us how the narrator is pushed into the reality of the world as if she were pushed into the waters of baptism.
Baptism is an act, an experience, or an ordeal by which one is, sanctified, initiated, or named as we see in the story “Baptism.” In this story, the narrator Frankie describes the life changing events she witnessed during the 1960’s, which were baptism to her. As Frankie states, “This decade of crisis and drama would take us to the water to be baptized: In fire and in ice.” To me, ice was the water used to baptize Frankie when she no longer encountered “White’s Only” signs above water fountains. Ice, the water used to baptize her as she experienced a higher standard of living. Still, there was fire: The water used to wash Frankie’s innocence away as she witnessed assassinations, and other gruesome acts of violence. This is baptism because the child who loved fairy tales was quickly learning that life was not always a fairy tale, whether she was ready or not. The narrator was placed in a position where everything was possible. Including in America, where a president was shot and parents were sacrificing their own children. Baptism, a rebirth, can also be the purification of thought and character of a person.
In the story “Fever” we learn about the narrator’s first love Stacey, which baptizes the narrator. In this story the narrator is baptized and reborn into her own identity as a lesbian. I believe she is being baptized because she is embracing her true identity without hiding her feelings for Stacey. They share a love that purifies them as a lesbian couple who truly love each other. Unfortunately there is also fire. In this story Frankie is baptized by fire as she learns the social stigma of same sex attraction. Though she is with the person she loves, she is forced to keep her relationship secret because of Stacey’s homophobia. This leads to Stacey becoming engaged to a man and leaving Frankie heartbroken. I think this experience is a form of baptism to the narrator because this experience allows her to grow as a person, which is purification of character. Though she doesn’t stay with Stacey, she manages to accept Stacey leaving. This shows how Frankie was born again as a stronger, lesbian, woman.
In the second part of the book The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon we find stories that are forms of baptism to the author. These stories teach us how the narrator is pushed into the reality of the world as if she were pushed into the waters of baptism.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Stages of Life
In the book, The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life we read and learn the story of Frankie Lennon’s journey through life. Throughout the book we can find stages of “The Journey” as explained by Lennon in her blog. Two stages I have found in the book so far are Meeting the Mentor and Test/Road of Trails.
One stage I found was Meeting the Mentor. In this stage, the journeyer meets a mentor, teacher or guide. It is through this mentor that the journeyer learns new skills and gains confidence in abilities to continue in the journey. I found this stage in the story “Sanctuary.” I believe this story exemplifies the stage of Meeting the Mentor because it is in this story that she meets Reverend Bean. Reverend Bean teaches Frankie that, “Love was for everyone” and that there was nothing wrong with being same sex attracted. I believe his teachings facilitate Frankie’s journey because she no longer has to hide who she is. She doesn’t have to worry about hiding her identity anymore which is one less thing she has to worry about. Though all her problems are not solved, Frankie uses Reverend Bean’s teachings to facilitate her journey.
The other stage I found was Test/Road of Trails in the story “Skirmishes.” In this stage the journeyer encounters challenges that test his/her ability to continue the journey. In the story “Skirmishes” we find the narrator in her A.A meeting after being fired from her job. This incident makes her want a drink really bad. This becomes a test, a battle within the war, as the title states. This is a test because Frankie doesn’t want to relapse into drinking. She wants to stay sober, but getting fired was an excuse she wanted to use in order to drink again. She fights with the monkeys in her head as she imagines tasting the alcohol in her lips. Tempted by the monkey’s words she gets up and walks to the door almost defeated by the urge to drink. Fortunately she hears Sam say, “don’t leave five minutes before the miracle.” For the first time she raises her hand and says, “I’m Frankie and I’m an alcoholic.” In doing this, Frankie wins this skirmish and passes the test.
In the book, The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon, we can the stages, Meeting the Mentor and Test/ Road of Trails. These stages test Frankie’s ability to continue in her journey. In the end, She learns from these stages and continues on her journey trough life.
One stage I found was Meeting the Mentor. In this stage, the journeyer meets a mentor, teacher or guide. It is through this mentor that the journeyer learns new skills and gains confidence in abilities to continue in the journey. I found this stage in the story “Sanctuary.” I believe this story exemplifies the stage of Meeting the Mentor because it is in this story that she meets Reverend Bean. Reverend Bean teaches Frankie that, “Love was for everyone” and that there was nothing wrong with being same sex attracted. I believe his teachings facilitate Frankie’s journey because she no longer has to hide who she is. She doesn’t have to worry about hiding her identity anymore which is one less thing she has to worry about. Though all her problems are not solved, Frankie uses Reverend Bean’s teachings to facilitate her journey.
The other stage I found was Test/Road of Trails in the story “Skirmishes.” In this stage the journeyer encounters challenges that test his/her ability to continue the journey. In the story “Skirmishes” we find the narrator in her A.A meeting after being fired from her job. This incident makes her want a drink really bad. This becomes a test, a battle within the war, as the title states. This is a test because Frankie doesn’t want to relapse into drinking. She wants to stay sober, but getting fired was an excuse she wanted to use in order to drink again. She fights with the monkeys in her head as she imagines tasting the alcohol in her lips. Tempted by the monkey’s words she gets up and walks to the door almost defeated by the urge to drink. Fortunately she hears Sam say, “don’t leave five minutes before the miracle.” For the first time she raises her hand and says, “I’m Frankie and I’m an alcoholic.” In doing this, Frankie wins this skirmish and passes the test.
In the book, The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon, we can the stages, Meeting the Mentor and Test/ Road of Trails. These stages test Frankie’s ability to continue in her journey. In the end, She learns from these stages and continues on her journey trough life.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Modern Cinderella Story
The story “Cindy Ellie, A Modern Fairy Tale” by Mary Carter Smith from the anthology Talk That Talk is a modern Cinderella story. I enjoyed reading this story because it is modern, original and entertaining.
One of the things I really liked from this story was the modern twist. One of my favorite scenes in this story is when the Cindy Ellie’s godma turned the onion into a white Cadillac. I liked this scene because it shows the story’s modern twist. Who doesn’t want a white Cadillac these days? I also liked how the godma turned Cindy Ellie’s rags into a dress made from African laces and made her hair into braids. The reason I liked this is because I feel it embraces Cindy Ellie’s culture as she receives a traditional African outfit. It also makes this fairy tale original from the other fairy tales where the princesses get sparkly and puffy dresses. Another characteristic I liked about this story is the humor and exaggeration used by the author to describe the characters. One example of this is when the author writes “Poor Cindy Ellie had to give one a perm, the other a jheri curl, and both of them facials; not that it helped much. Honey’s them gals was ugly from the inside out!” I think the humor in the writing style makes the story entertaining and fun to read.
While reading the story I encountered two words that needed to be clarified. One of the words was curdled. This word can be found on page 397 in the sentence, “The milk of human kindness had curdled in her breast." I found out that the word curdled means to spoil or to turn sour. Learning this word allowed me to realize that the author was saying that Cindy Ellie’s step mom was actually cruel. The next word I needed to clarify was the word primping. This word can also be found on page 397 in the sentence, “Oh, them stepsisters was primping and buying designer gowns to go to the ball.” The word primping means to dress with excessive attention to detail. This means the stepsisters were really trying to look their very best to impress the mayor's son.
The story “Cindy Ellie. A Modern Fairy Tale” by Mary Carter Smith has turned into one of my favorite fairy tales. I really enjoyed it because of the author’s style of writing and because of the story’s modern twist. If I could choose anyone to ask a question to, I would choose the author. I would ask her what inspired her to write this story?Another question I would ask her is, what other fairy tale does she have a modern twist for?
One of the things I really liked from this story was the modern twist. One of my favorite scenes in this story is when the Cindy Ellie’s godma turned the onion into a white Cadillac. I liked this scene because it shows the story’s modern twist. Who doesn’t want a white Cadillac these days? I also liked how the godma turned Cindy Ellie’s rags into a dress made from African laces and made her hair into braids. The reason I liked this is because I feel it embraces Cindy Ellie’s culture as she receives a traditional African outfit. It also makes this fairy tale original from the other fairy tales where the princesses get sparkly and puffy dresses. Another characteristic I liked about this story is the humor and exaggeration used by the author to describe the characters. One example of this is when the author writes “Poor Cindy Ellie had to give one a perm, the other a jheri curl, and both of them facials; not that it helped much. Honey’s them gals was ugly from the inside out!” I think the humor in the writing style makes the story entertaining and fun to read.
While reading the story I encountered two words that needed to be clarified. One of the words was curdled. This word can be found on page 397 in the sentence, “The milk of human kindness had curdled in her breast." I found out that the word curdled means to spoil or to turn sour. Learning this word allowed me to realize that the author was saying that Cindy Ellie’s step mom was actually cruel. The next word I needed to clarify was the word primping. This word can also be found on page 397 in the sentence, “Oh, them stepsisters was primping and buying designer gowns to go to the ball.” The word primping means to dress with excessive attention to detail. This means the stepsisters were really trying to look their very best to impress the mayor's son.
The story “Cindy Ellie. A Modern Fairy Tale” by Mary Carter Smith has turned into one of my favorite fairy tales. I really enjoyed it because of the author’s style of writing and because of the story’s modern twist. If I could choose anyone to ask a question to, I would choose the author. I would ask her what inspired her to write this story?Another question I would ask her is, what other fairy tale does she have a modern twist for?
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Ritual to Freedom
Flyin’ West by Pearl Cleage, is a play about a group of black people who live in Nicodemus, Kansas after leaving Memphis, Tennessee. In Act I, scene 3 we see three of the main characters engage in a ritual. This ritual is significant to the sisters because it represents their freedom and their courage.
In Act I, scene 3 of Flyin’ West we find Sister Sophie Washington, Fannie Dove and Minnie Dove Charles performing a ritual. This ritual was the same ritual they performed the day they left Memphis and headed West. As they hold hands in a circle they recite the verse alternatively: “Because we are free Negro women… Born of free Negro women… Back as far as time begins… We choose this day to leave a place where our lives, our honor and our very souls are not our own. We choose this day to declare our lives to be our own and no one else’s. And we promise to always remember the day we left Memphis and went West together to be free women as a sacred bond between us with all our trust…And all our strength…And all our courage…And all our love.” I believe this ritual serves as encouragement to Sophie, Minnie and Fannie. In their verse they remind themselves of the reasons for why they are leaving Memphis: to seek the freedom they deserve. The ritual reminds the participants of the strong bond they have created as they set for their journey out West as black women.
This ritual also has a connection with the characters’ gender and race history. Being black in the late 1800’s meant being a slave. Not just a slave but also a victim of lynching and riots. For these reasons the Dove sisters along with Sister Sophie decided to travel West, in search of their freedom. The sisters wanted to be free to act and do what they wanted without the white folks hurting them. This ritual also connects to Fannie, Minnie and Sister Sophie’s gender because in the ritual these three women demonstrate great courage. In the 1800’s it was rare for a woman to demonstrate leadership. Yet these three black women decide to travel to a place where they would be free without a man by their side. They know the risks they take by traveling West but decide their freedom is more important. They also promise to keep a strong bond with each other as they set on their journey.
Even though the ritual in Act I, scene 3 may be small, the importance to the characters is great. The ritual represents the day three black women left Memphis, Tennessee to fly West where they would be three free black women with rights.
In Act I, scene 3 of Flyin’ West we find Sister Sophie Washington, Fannie Dove and Minnie Dove Charles performing a ritual. This ritual was the same ritual they performed the day they left Memphis and headed West. As they hold hands in a circle they recite the verse alternatively: “Because we are free Negro women… Born of free Negro women… Back as far as time begins… We choose this day to leave a place where our lives, our honor and our very souls are not our own. We choose this day to declare our lives to be our own and no one else’s. And we promise to always remember the day we left Memphis and went West together to be free women as a sacred bond between us with all our trust…And all our strength…And all our courage…And all our love.” I believe this ritual serves as encouragement to Sophie, Minnie and Fannie. In their verse they remind themselves of the reasons for why they are leaving Memphis: to seek the freedom they deserve. The ritual reminds the participants of the strong bond they have created as they set for their journey out West as black women.
This ritual also has a connection with the characters’ gender and race history. Being black in the late 1800’s meant being a slave. Not just a slave but also a victim of lynching and riots. For these reasons the Dove sisters along with Sister Sophie decided to travel West, in search of their freedom. The sisters wanted to be free to act and do what they wanted without the white folks hurting them. This ritual also connects to Fannie, Minnie and Sister Sophie’s gender because in the ritual these three women demonstrate great courage. In the 1800’s it was rare for a woman to demonstrate leadership. Yet these three black women decide to travel to a place where they would be free without a man by their side. They know the risks they take by traveling West but decide their freedom is more important. They also promise to keep a strong bond with each other as they set on their journey.
Even though the ritual in Act I, scene 3 may be small, the importance to the characters is great. The ritual represents the day three black women left Memphis, Tennessee to fly West where they would be three free black women with rights.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Shirley Temple Curls
As a young girl, the only thing the narrator, Frankie Lennon, wanted was to have hair like Shirley Temple. Instead of having Shirley Temple curls, she felt she had hair that made her look like Topsy. She was fascinated by Shirley temple because she was what all the other little girls wanted to be. Everybody thought Shirley Temple had the entire “package.” She was cute, polite, famous and the most shiny, silky curls. She was just perfect. Females these days seem to compare themselves to celebrities because they seem to have the perfect image. It seems that American women are programmed to believe that what they see in the magazines is the way everyone should look like. American women seen to compare themselves to actresses and models who are pretty and talented.
People Who Went West
The play Flyin’ West by Pearl Cleage, tells the story of black people who traveled West in search of their freedom. In particular, it tells the story of the Dove sisters, Minnie and Fannie along with Sister Sophie. We are also introduced to Miss Leah, Wil and Frank Charles, Minnie’s light-skinned black husband. So far, I have really enjoyed this play because the characters tell stories and demonstrate courage as black women.
One thing I really like about this story is the fact that the main characters are women. My favorite scene is when Minnie, Sophie and Fannie are outside their house and they perform the same ritual they performed the day they left Memphis. I like this scene because it demonstrates how they empower each other as they remember how they became free black women. I also like this story because each character has a story to tell. I enjoy reading everyone’s stories but I think Miss Leah’s are the most interesting. Though her stories are a bit harsh, they are very informative and they show how she lived as a slave. For instance, the story she told Minnie about the first time she met and slept with James. She explained she had to do it in front of an overseer and was still expected to work the next day. Miss Leah also demonstrates courage like the rest of the women in this play. They were able to free themselves from the painful life they had in Memphis, Tennessee.
As I read the play there were a couple of words I didn’t quite understand. The first word I didn’t understand was picaninny. This word can be found in page 50 when Frank tells Minnie, “You look like a damn picaninny. We haven’t been here twenty-four hours and look at you.” In doing research, I learned this word is an offensive word for a Black child. Another word I needed to clarify was the word biding. This word can be found in page 62 in a conversation between Fannie and Minnie. Fannie tells Minnie, “Mama always said she was biding her time until we could get these white folks off our backs so she could get colored men straightened out on a thing or two a little bit closer to home, but until then, she said she’d give him the benefit of the doubt.” While looking for the meaning of the word I realized that the word biding was part of an idiom used by Fannie. To bide one’s time means to wait for a favorable opportunity. Learning the meaning of these terms helped me understand the play better.
So far I have enjoyed this play. I like the characters and their women power. I also like learning their stories about where they came from. If I could choose a character to ask a question to, I would choose Frank. I would ask Frank why he mistreats his wife and if he even loves her.
One thing I really like about this story is the fact that the main characters are women. My favorite scene is when Minnie, Sophie and Fannie are outside their house and they perform the same ritual they performed the day they left Memphis. I like this scene because it demonstrates how they empower each other as they remember how they became free black women. I also like this story because each character has a story to tell. I enjoy reading everyone’s stories but I think Miss Leah’s are the most interesting. Though her stories are a bit harsh, they are very informative and they show how she lived as a slave. For instance, the story she told Minnie about the first time she met and slept with James. She explained she had to do it in front of an overseer and was still expected to work the next day. Miss Leah also demonstrates courage like the rest of the women in this play. They were able to free themselves from the painful life they had in Memphis, Tennessee.
As I read the play there were a couple of words I didn’t quite understand. The first word I didn’t understand was picaninny. This word can be found in page 50 when Frank tells Minnie, “You look like a damn picaninny. We haven’t been here twenty-four hours and look at you.” In doing research, I learned this word is an offensive word for a Black child. Another word I needed to clarify was the word biding. This word can be found in page 62 in a conversation between Fannie and Minnie. Fannie tells Minnie, “Mama always said she was biding her time until we could get these white folks off our backs so she could get colored men straightened out on a thing or two a little bit closer to home, but until then, she said she’d give him the benefit of the doubt.” While looking for the meaning of the word I realized that the word biding was part of an idiom used by Fannie. To bide one’s time means to wait for a favorable opportunity. Learning the meaning of these terms helped me understand the play better.
So far I have enjoyed this play. I like the characters and their women power. I also like learning their stories about where they came from. If I could choose a character to ask a question to, I would choose Frank. I would ask Frank why he mistreats his wife and if he even loves her.
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Value of Stories
Why do people value stories? Some people believe that stories are just fairy tales that only children enjoy. I disagree. Stories are for children and grown-ups alike. Stories have value because they help us learn about the author and about life’s journeys.
In her blog Frankie Lennon states that, “If we tell them to each other as adults and we listen, they reveal the markers of life’s journeys” which I believe is true. I agree with Frankie Lennon because stories are told to teach us about life’s journeys through the experiences of the author. By reading The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon I learned about life through Lennon’s experiences. Even though her stories and my stories are different, I feel like we share some things in common. A good story shares with the reader the value of life. One story that taught me this was “Scotch on the Rocks.” This story taught me that even the “bad” stories have an impact on how we live life. I learned that the so-called bad stories are a good story in disguise. And that’s what life is.
As readers, we learn the accomplishments and events the author experiences. The book The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life is proof that stories tell us a lot about the author. As her student, I learned a lot about Lennon that I would have never learned by just sitting in her English class. As Lennon mentions in her blog, stories reveal turning points in the author’s life. Her book did just that, it taught me more than meets the eye. One of the stories I liked that taught me about the author was “Fever.” I liked it because I learned about one of her life turning events. It helped to see her as a person and not just as the professor who assigns me homework
Stories allow us to learn the most intimate character traits and experiences about the author. They also serve as a guide through life. We relate to the author’s experience and learn about life itself.
In her blog Frankie Lennon states that, “If we tell them to each other as adults and we listen, they reveal the markers of life’s journeys” which I believe is true. I agree with Frankie Lennon because stories are told to teach us about life’s journeys through the experiences of the author. By reading The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon I learned about life through Lennon’s experiences. Even though her stories and my stories are different, I feel like we share some things in common. A good story shares with the reader the value of life. One story that taught me this was “Scotch on the Rocks.” This story taught me that even the “bad” stories have an impact on how we live life. I learned that the so-called bad stories are a good story in disguise. And that’s what life is.
As readers, we learn the accomplishments and events the author experiences. The book The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life is proof that stories tell us a lot about the author. As her student, I learned a lot about Lennon that I would have never learned by just sitting in her English class. As Lennon mentions in her blog, stories reveal turning points in the author’s life. Her book did just that, it taught me more than meets the eye. One of the stories I liked that taught me about the author was “Fever.” I liked it because I learned about one of her life turning events. It helped to see her as a person and not just as the professor who assigns me homework
Stories allow us to learn the most intimate character traits and experiences about the author. They also serve as a guide through life. We relate to the author’s experience and learn about life itself.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Educating Stevie
In the beginning of the book Coffee Will Make You Black by April Sinclair we are introduced to the narrator Stevie. We immediately learn the lack of knowledge and curiosity Stevie has towards sex. As the story develops, Stevie finds herself in situations where she learns about sex and how it affects women.
We first see Stevie’s lack of knowledge about sex in the first chapter when she asks her mom what the word virgin means. Her mom tells her she is a virgin because she hadn’t had her period yet. Because Stevie doesn’t know what it means to have her period she asks her mom but her mom tells her she’ll know when the time is right. Later, Stevie learns that Carla had gotten her period and couldn’t wait until she had hers. This shows how much Stevie looks up to Carla and the influence that Carla has on Stevie. In chapter five Stevie finally got her period and learned from the nurse everything she needed to know. While talking with Carla and their friends Stevie hears Tanya say, “my love came down.” Because Stevie doesn’t want to look like a “square” in front of Carla she asks her mom what having someone’s love come down means. Like always her mom doesn’t answer her question and tells her to stay away from the person who said it. The opportunity to learn what having someone’s love come down comes when Carla asks her to read Annie Pearl’s diary. Because Stevie figured that reading the diary was better than asking her mom, she ended up reading it even though she knew it was wrong. In the diary she reads that Annie Pearl’s “love came down” when she had sexual contact with her boyfriend. Stevie also gets the opportunity to learn what it feels like when Yusef asks her to pee with him in chapter ten. Stevie almost did because Carla said it would be fine if she did. These examples show Stevie’s lack of knowledge and her mom’s unwillingness to educate her about sex. The examples also show the impact her friend Carla has on Stevie and the information she learns from her.
Not only is Stevie learning about sex in general, but she is also learning about how sex affects women only. At the end of chapter nine we find Stevie talking to her mother after she discovered Stevie kissing Yusef. Stevie’s mom, Evelyn, tells Stevie that if the neighbors had seen her they wouldn’t be talking about what Yusef was doing. Instead, they would be talking about what Stevie, the hoe, was doing. Stevie’s mom explains how men can do anything like stoop very low, and nobody will see it as wrong. Women on the other hand, have to consider their reputation. If they are seen with more than one man, there are so many names to call them. Even if Stevie weren’t doing anything wrong, her neighbors would have said otherwise. Stevie’s mom is teaching her the double standard regarding sex where men dominate. In chapter two Stevie’s friends Denise and Gail reinforce this double standard. They tell Stevie that she should let the boys touch her and like it, but pretend not to. To me it seems like they are saying that a woman should please men no matter what it is they want.
The first ten chapters show us the information and misinformation Stevie learns from her friends. Because her mom doesn’t talk to Stevie much about sex, Stevie turns to her friend Carla at school. Here she learns about a woman’s period, and the meaning of having their love come down. Her mom, on the other hand, teaches Stevie about the double standard in society regarding sex.
We first see Stevie’s lack of knowledge about sex in the first chapter when she asks her mom what the word virgin means. Her mom tells her she is a virgin because she hadn’t had her period yet. Because Stevie doesn’t know what it means to have her period she asks her mom but her mom tells her she’ll know when the time is right. Later, Stevie learns that Carla had gotten her period and couldn’t wait until she had hers. This shows how much Stevie looks up to Carla and the influence that Carla has on Stevie. In chapter five Stevie finally got her period and learned from the nurse everything she needed to know. While talking with Carla and their friends Stevie hears Tanya say, “my love came down.” Because Stevie doesn’t want to look like a “square” in front of Carla she asks her mom what having someone’s love come down means. Like always her mom doesn’t answer her question and tells her to stay away from the person who said it. The opportunity to learn what having someone’s love come down comes when Carla asks her to read Annie Pearl’s diary. Because Stevie figured that reading the diary was better than asking her mom, she ended up reading it even though she knew it was wrong. In the diary she reads that Annie Pearl’s “love came down” when she had sexual contact with her boyfriend. Stevie also gets the opportunity to learn what it feels like when Yusef asks her to pee with him in chapter ten. Stevie almost did because Carla said it would be fine if she did. These examples show Stevie’s lack of knowledge and her mom’s unwillingness to educate her about sex. The examples also show the impact her friend Carla has on Stevie and the information she learns from her.
Not only is Stevie learning about sex in general, but she is also learning about how sex affects women only. At the end of chapter nine we find Stevie talking to her mother after she discovered Stevie kissing Yusef. Stevie’s mom, Evelyn, tells Stevie that if the neighbors had seen her they wouldn’t be talking about what Yusef was doing. Instead, they would be talking about what Stevie, the hoe, was doing. Stevie’s mom explains how men can do anything like stoop very low, and nobody will see it as wrong. Women on the other hand, have to consider their reputation. If they are seen with more than one man, there are so many names to call them. Even if Stevie weren’t doing anything wrong, her neighbors would have said otherwise. Stevie’s mom is teaching her the double standard regarding sex where men dominate. In chapter two Stevie’s friends Denise and Gail reinforce this double standard. They tell Stevie that she should let the boys touch her and like it, but pretend not to. To me it seems like they are saying that a woman should please men no matter what it is they want.
The first ten chapters show us the information and misinformation Stevie learns from her friends. Because her mom doesn’t talk to Stevie much about sex, Stevie turns to her friend Carla at school. Here she learns about a woman’s period, and the meaning of having their love come down. Her mom, on the other hand, teaches Stevie about the double standard in society regarding sex.
Love Vs. Homophobia
In the narrative “Fever” from the book The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories From a Black Woman’s Life we can see the characters experiencing different types of conflict. Some conflicts are external conflict, between two people or between a person and a force. Other conflicts are between a person and his or herself.
One type of conflict we notice in this narrative is internal conflict. In this case, the person is Stacey; the narrator’s loved one who is being confronted by “the invisible thing inside her.” Through out the narrative we see the narrator trying to convince Stacey to officially and publicly be her girlfriend but Stacey refuses. Stacey is scared of being caught during her secret encounters with the narrator. She is sacred because she doesn’t want to be called a “dyke” a “bulldagger” or a “freak.” She internally fights with herself because she doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t know if she wants to fir into society or if she wants to officially be with the person she cares about. As she struggles with “the thing inside her” is she is forced to put up façade. She convinces the narrator to date boys in order for them to fit in society. The reason I think this is internal conflict is because Stacey fights with herself because she doesn’t know what to do. In one side, she tells herself she wants to be with Frankie, the narrator. On the other hand she doesn’t want to be seen or known as a lesbian.
By the end of the narrative, we learn that “the thing inside her” defeats Stacy. Instead of staying with the person she cares about, Stacey conforms to society. She begins dating Ned in order to appear normal to everybody around her. In the end, she becomes his fiancée, leaving Frankie on her own. We can also argue that this conflict can be classified as external conflict against a force. Stacey is not only battling with herself but she is also battling against society. The only reason she has to put up a façade is because she doesn’t want to be labeled by society. Unfortunately, Stacey gives in to in society by becoming engaged to Ned.
Another conflict we find in this narrative is external conflict between two people. This conflict occurs between Frankie and Stacey. They encounter conflict with each other because they don’t meet on common grounds. Frankie, wants Stacey to be her be with her and be her girlfriend. Stacey on the other hand, wants to keep their relationship a secret between them only. This causes problems between them because they are both hurting each other. We can see a confrontation when Stacey and the narrator meet at “the Cloister” when Stacey tells the narrator to date other people, boys. The narrator hides her feelings from Stacey in order to keep her around but she knows that she doesn’t want this. She wants Stacey but Stacey refuses.
In the end, we can say that this conflict is not really resolved. Stacey, hiding behind her fear, put an end to this conflict by becoming engaged to Ned. Causing her to lose. Frankie. Frankie, instead of telling Stacey how she feels, she unwillingly accepts Stacey’s engagement. This was an unexpected turn of events as Stacey gets the opportunity to be “normal” in society but loses the narrator at the same time.
One type of conflict we notice in this narrative is internal conflict. In this case, the person is Stacey; the narrator’s loved one who is being confronted by “the invisible thing inside her.” Through out the narrative we see the narrator trying to convince Stacey to officially and publicly be her girlfriend but Stacey refuses. Stacey is scared of being caught during her secret encounters with the narrator. She is sacred because she doesn’t want to be called a “dyke” a “bulldagger” or a “freak.” She internally fights with herself because she doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t know if she wants to fir into society or if she wants to officially be with the person she cares about. As she struggles with “the thing inside her” is she is forced to put up façade. She convinces the narrator to date boys in order for them to fit in society. The reason I think this is internal conflict is because Stacey fights with herself because she doesn’t know what to do. In one side, she tells herself she wants to be with Frankie, the narrator. On the other hand she doesn’t want to be seen or known as a lesbian.
By the end of the narrative, we learn that “the thing inside her” defeats Stacy. Instead of staying with the person she cares about, Stacey conforms to society. She begins dating Ned in order to appear normal to everybody around her. In the end, she becomes his fiancée, leaving Frankie on her own. We can also argue that this conflict can be classified as external conflict against a force. Stacey is not only battling with herself but she is also battling against society. The only reason she has to put up a façade is because she doesn’t want to be labeled by society. Unfortunately, Stacey gives in to in society by becoming engaged to Ned.
Another conflict we find in this narrative is external conflict between two people. This conflict occurs between Frankie and Stacey. They encounter conflict with each other because they don’t meet on common grounds. Frankie, wants Stacey to be her be with her and be her girlfriend. Stacey on the other hand, wants to keep their relationship a secret between them only. This causes problems between them because they are both hurting each other. We can see a confrontation when Stacey and the narrator meet at “the Cloister” when Stacey tells the narrator to date other people, boys. The narrator hides her feelings from Stacey in order to keep her around but she knows that she doesn’t want this. She wants Stacey but Stacey refuses.
In the end, we can say that this conflict is not really resolved. Stacey, hiding behind her fear, put an end to this conflict by becoming engaged to Ned. Causing her to lose. Frankie. Frankie, instead of telling Stacey how she feels, she unwillingly accepts Stacey’s engagement. This was an unexpected turn of events as Stacey gets the opportunity to be “normal” in society but loses the narrator at the same time.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Stigma and Same Sex Attraction: Going Against the Norm
In the book Coffee Will Make You Black by April Sinclair, the narrator, Stevie continues to learn about sex and sexuality. In chapters, eight and nine, Stevie becomes familiar with same sex attraction. I believe she also learns about stigma and society’s gender roles.
In chapter eight, we met Willie Jean, a flat-chested tomboy who tells Stevie to consider joining the girl’s basketball team when she enters high school. This suggestion is followed by events and comments that teach Stevie about same sex attraction and it’s impact on society. First, Stevie’s friend, Carla tells Stevie that if she plays basketball she would get muscles and no boys would ever like her. I think Stevie is learning how lesbians are seen in society. When Carla calls Willie Jean “funny,” what she really is trying to say is “weird.” Lesbians are seen as abnormal and not like real women. They are also suppressed by society because they don’t follow the norm, the way it’s supposed to be. Stevie may not know it but she is learning about stigma.
Stigma is defined as the social disapproval of personal characteristics. I believe Carla disapproves of Willie Jean’s orientation because she thinks she’s “funny.” We can also see disapproval in chapter nine when Stevie talks to Yusef about possibly joining the girl’s basketball team. Yusef tells Stevie that he would not like his girlfriend playing in the team. Yusef says that there is no purpose in a girl trying to play basketball. I think Yusef is teaching Stevie about society’s gender roles. By saying, “what’s the purpose?” he is saying that all girls can do is date a basketball player but not play in a basketball team. It’s the same thing as saying that men bring home the bacon while women have to be housewives. Yusef is teaching Stevie that because she is a girl, she should date a basketball player and not play the sport. She learns that if you do not follow the norm or act the way society wants you to, you are seen as an outcast.
In chapters, eight and nine Stevie begins to learn about homosexuality and stigma. She learns what being a homosexual is when she meets Willie Jean. She also learns how society feels about same sex attraction and how they are treated.
In chapter eight, we met Willie Jean, a flat-chested tomboy who tells Stevie to consider joining the girl’s basketball team when she enters high school. This suggestion is followed by events and comments that teach Stevie about same sex attraction and it’s impact on society. First, Stevie’s friend, Carla tells Stevie that if she plays basketball she would get muscles and no boys would ever like her. I think Stevie is learning how lesbians are seen in society. When Carla calls Willie Jean “funny,” what she really is trying to say is “weird.” Lesbians are seen as abnormal and not like real women. They are also suppressed by society because they don’t follow the norm, the way it’s supposed to be. Stevie may not know it but she is learning about stigma.
Stigma is defined as the social disapproval of personal characteristics. I believe Carla disapproves of Willie Jean’s orientation because she thinks she’s “funny.” We can also see disapproval in chapter nine when Stevie talks to Yusef about possibly joining the girl’s basketball team. Yusef tells Stevie that he would not like his girlfriend playing in the team. Yusef says that there is no purpose in a girl trying to play basketball. I think Yusef is teaching Stevie about society’s gender roles. By saying, “what’s the purpose?” he is saying that all girls can do is date a basketball player but not play in a basketball team. It’s the same thing as saying that men bring home the bacon while women have to be housewives. Yusef is teaching Stevie that because she is a girl, she should date a basketball player and not play the sport. She learns that if you do not follow the norm or act the way society wants you to, you are seen as an outcast.
In chapters, eight and nine Stevie begins to learn about homosexuality and stigma. She learns what being a homosexual is when she meets Willie Jean. She also learns how society feels about same sex attraction and how they are treated.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Party
In the chapter “The Party” from the Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon we find the narrator in an uncomfortable situation. The narrator finds herself in a party where her friend Pepper brought a boy for the narrator to dance with. The narrator is nervous because she didn’t want to be asked to dance because she doesn’t like boys. Later, she finds herself in the kitchen talking with Bobby, the boy she was supposed to dance with. After eyeing the narrator, Bobby asks her why she doesn’t have a boyfriend. The narrator tells him that she doesn’t have one because she doesn’t want one which is true. Questioning the narrator and almost making her cry, Bobby calls her a bulldagger- a lesbian. Afraid of what he might tell the rest of her friends she tears up but decides to clean her tears and return to the party.
I must admit that this was a difficult chapter for me to understand. After re-reading the I think I gained a good idea of what the themes were and ended up liking the chapter One of the reasons I liked this chapter is because I feel we can all relate to it. We all have different beliefs about something but we choose to keep quiet instead of speaking out about them. The reason we keep quiet is because we are afraid of standing alone. We don’t want to be the only one going against the norm. We don’t want to be the “weird” one that thinks, believes, or acts different than everybody else in society. I also like this chapter because I liked the narrator’s strong character. I liked that she did not dance with Bobby because it shows her confidence about her sexuality. She stayed true to herself because she knew that even she danced with Bobby, she knew she wouldn’t like it. Somebody with no confidence about their sexuality would have danced with a boy in order at least pretend, to like boys. In order to hide their true identity because it is abnormal. To hide their identity because it is taboo. I also liked this chapter because it proved to me that even if we do hide our identity from everybody else, it is important to stay true to ourselves.
As I mentioned before, I didn’t fully understand the chapter in the beginning therefore there were words I didn’t understand. The first word I didn’t understand was bulldagger. I read this word when Bobby said “I think you one of them-them bulldaggers!” As I found out the word bulldagger is a slang word that means lesbian. The second word was auburn which is o reddish-brown or golden brown color. Looking up these words helped understand the author’s descriptions a lot better. If I could ask the author one question I think I would ask her: Did you end up telling your friends about your sexuality? If yes, when and why did you decide to after trying to hide it?
After all I liked this story. Even though I didn’t understand the chapter at first, I ended up liking the chapter. I like the narrator’s strong character and the message of the chapter. I like that she stayed true to herself. I also liked it because I feel like anybody can somehow relate to the narrator.
I must admit that this was a difficult chapter for me to understand. After re-reading the I think I gained a good idea of what the themes were and ended up liking the chapter One of the reasons I liked this chapter is because I feel we can all relate to it. We all have different beliefs about something but we choose to keep quiet instead of speaking out about them. The reason we keep quiet is because we are afraid of standing alone. We don’t want to be the only one going against the norm. We don’t want to be the “weird” one that thinks, believes, or acts different than everybody else in society. I also like this chapter because I liked the narrator’s strong character. I liked that she did not dance with Bobby because it shows her confidence about her sexuality. She stayed true to herself because she knew that even she danced with Bobby, she knew she wouldn’t like it. Somebody with no confidence about their sexuality would have danced with a boy in order at least pretend, to like boys. In order to hide their true identity because it is abnormal. To hide their identity because it is taboo. I also liked this chapter because it proved to me that even if we do hide our identity from everybody else, it is important to stay true to ourselves.
As I mentioned before, I didn’t fully understand the chapter in the beginning therefore there were words I didn’t understand. The first word I didn’t understand was bulldagger. I read this word when Bobby said “I think you one of them-them bulldaggers!” As I found out the word bulldagger is a slang word that means lesbian. The second word was auburn which is o reddish-brown or golden brown color. Looking up these words helped understand the author’s descriptions a lot better. If I could ask the author one question I think I would ask her: Did you end up telling your friends about your sexuality? If yes, when and why did you decide to after trying to hide it?
After all I liked this story. Even though I didn’t understand the chapter at first, I ended up liking the chapter. I like the narrator’s strong character and the message of the chapter. I like that she stayed true to herself. I also liked it because I feel like anybody can somehow relate to the narrator.
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