Essay2-Drafts-page3

__**Essay 1-Drafts-Page 3:**__

Denaya Shorter -- Language can be defined as, “a body of words and the systems for their use, common to a people who are of the same community, nation or the same cultural tradition.” One would expect that a ‘language’ would be a vehicle of expression to value within a community. Over the years, the concept of language has been ripped apart, rebuilt, misunderstood, rebelled against, embraced, manipulated, used as a weapon, and modified to increase inclusion; and thus, language has strayed from its original definition. Language cannot be understood without acknowledging that language and culture are deeply rooted. From the moment we are born, we develop a language based on our surroundings. Our opinions, views, behaviors, and personalities then, all contribute to our interpretation of language as we develop. Language is a complicated concept to grasp, and can be evaluated in a variety of ways.

“C’dear” as Da-duh swiftly spoke to her granddaughter about her proud and beautiful land, Barbados. When you hear of a tropical place, you only can imagine tall palm trees, clear blue water, fruits that you’ve never seen or heard of, and weather like cool breeze; yes, it’s Barbados. Being introduce to a new land and environment, this young New Yorker, was too, very proud of where she came from, New York of course. Having buildings enormously tall as if they’re trying to reach the heavens and snow that would cover your house in seconds, New York was the talk in this young soul. While Da-duh would purposely show off her orchard, her granddaughter retaliates with the beauty of her city. It was obvious that Barbados and New York differed in many ways when it came to their nature and land by what was mentioned throughout this story. Not only did nature and land play a part in this short story, but love and nurture put the cherry on top by a tune.

-Kimeka Simmons

Jayla Tunstall

Even though the narrator was not at the island very long, in the time that she was there Da-duh and her have grown extremely close creating a family tie that was not there before. Everyday Da-duh showed the narrator new things that she had never seen before living in New York. As soon as the narrator and Da-duh got acquainted she showed her the sugar cane. The narrator, thinking the cane were giant weeds, did not understand that this is where sugar came from. Da-duh is not only showing her granddaughter new things, but is also educating her and showing her that the things that you think are better in New York actually come from places that you think are simple and insignificant. Da-duh also shows the beauty of the small island to her granddaughter by showing her things that she has never seen before like the different varieties of fruit and trees.


 * The ones who want you to speak a certain way or to speak in a specific language want to have power or dominion over an individual, much like the slaves of centuries past. They can’t grasp the concept that we are all humans from different backgrounds and we all have our own traditions & culture. I personally believe they have no respect for anything that is different or alien to them. To be perfectly honest if everyone spoke the same language it would be pretty boring. That’s one of the many things that make our diverse world great! **


 * -Andrew Smith **

-Othilia Figueroa Language, or the absence of it, was one of the main tools used to oppress people. Taking away the ability to communicate was essential to colonizers because if the enslaved African people couldn’t communicate, they couldn’t resist. In Amiri Baraka’s poem //Ka ‘Ba//, he writes “We need magic, now we need spells. To rise up, return, destroy, and create. What will be the sacred words”? Baraka knew that without language it would be difficult for the displaced African people to resist their oppressors. The African people needed “magic, spells, and sacred words” inherent in their native language to resist their oppressors. Baraka’s choice of “magic, spells, and sacred words” is important because he is making a connection between the new world and their homeland.

Rapper Kanye West says in one of his songs Stronger, “Anything that don’t kill me can only make me stronger,” In some cases he does have a valid point because African Americans have dealt with many struggles that are in relation to their identities and themselves as well as Racism and power. Poets such as Claude McKay and Michael Harper have expressed their own thoughts about what struggles blacks have dealt with and what roads or decisions we've made to become a stronger people. McKay’s poem strongly speaks on he Harlem renaissance and how blacks were treated in the 1920's era. However he still shows how these actions can change by taking a stand and making themselves a stronger people. Michael Harper briefly speaks on he explosion regarding the 4 young black girls during the Civil Rights Movement. Raymond Mitchell African American culture is unique in its own way, during the times of slavery it intertwined the old African cultures with the newly developed customs established in the New World. The African slaves were forced to adopt a new language, religion, and even a new way of thinking that robbed them of their human rights while others steadily held onto their African cultures and passed them onto later generations. In this process the different African cultures that did not survive in the New World would be forgotten by their people forever. In John Edgar Wideman’s “Damballah” and Paul Marshall’s”To Du-Duh” there are several accounts of differences between the New World cultures of African American and the Old African slaves. Therefore not having a culture to belong to leaves the question to be asked “Who are we? and Where do we come from?”. Throughout time, many people in the world try to mitigate themselves to become better. In the novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” Janie discovers much about herself and the people around her. Janie discovered about her in the early life when she was sitting in the backyard by the tree and thinking how she is changing. She discovered a lot of things about her throughout the novel and fall in love with different men. Harpreet Sahota
 * Jeaniya J**.