Essay2-Excerpts

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James A. Randall writes, “don’t ask me who I am, I won’t tell you, can’t (…),” (//Don’t Ask Me Who I Am//, __The Black Poets__, p.274). This line sets a tone for how we sometimes feel about the intrusive minds of others. The reader can feel the emotion behind the character, almost taking offense to the thought of someone asking him/her to define themself. “I won’t tell you.” These words assume an authority and claim the right of a person to keep that information private; a right to be able to simply ‘be’ rather than explain or define oneself to the rest of the world. We could spend a lifetime attempting to define ourselves or others, but what purpose would this serve? Nothing matters more than where we are going. We must not spend so much time and energy in trying to define why we live, and rather just live. As long as we stay true to ourselves, and always put forth effort and dedication into positive progression, defining what we are on this journey will prove to be far less important. As the infamous Dr. Seuss so eloquently puts it, “Today you are You that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is Youer than you.” -Denaya Shorter The societal critiques of Hurston and Walker conveyed so much more and brought forth an issue within the African-African American community that had taken a back burner to issues of race, the civil rights movement and the white-washed feminist movement. The harsh critiques of their work and accusations of conspiracy further exasperated the fact that there is definitive and biased gender hierarchy in the African-American that oppresses its women in correlation with race. Their narratives told painted an image of women’s oppression and positions in society during the 1930’s that still hold true today. These women were not “colluding with the white man” as they were so wrongly accused but rather telling the silenced story of a group whose problems had been pushed aside for decades. -Whitney Jenkins

Many blacks struggled with their heritage and the understanding of their culture. Whites corrupted their minds by detaching them from their language, home, and culture. Despite the reformed culture created from the oppressor, blacks fought to reclaim what they knew as their own. Images of African pride being filtered through word of mouth to preserve and continue a lost culture. - Kiani Shaw

Although in his book, Malcolm X may seem to be concern with only un-brainwashing black society in order to bring them into the individual realism, ethnic consciousness of where they are in a better position in American society, this should be a concern for anyone who cares about eliminating racism and social inequity in America. It should not matter what the race of the oppress is, society as a whole should be concern with truly making America into a society in which all people really are created equal both in respect to the law and in social arenas. Rosiland Duffey

Marcus Garvey was a man that really desired to see the black communities around the world become successful. He wanted the black communities to have what others had. Garvey wanted people to rise up, to be innovative, to have knowledge of their history. He offered all of himself to mission of revitalizing the spirit of black unity, and success. -Michelle Hopson

When you put the expected roles of males and females together, we see that there is a cause and affect situation. When males try to live up to the stereotypes of how a man is suppose to be act, he becomes stressed, and often detached from his emotions or when they can’t accomplish these roles males sometimes give up on live entirely. This is when males turn to drugs for numbing their pain from being a failure. When a female is around a male who feels he is not living up to the standard that males are to be head of households, in control, strong leaders; than that women often suffers. Women usually suffer by taking verbal or even physical beating from the male, as he does so to try and make himself feel superior again. If society would let go of the assumed gender roles than males and females would be able to live life more equally because it would be ok for woman to help males, especially financially. To add, if females had more support to do anything a male is expected to do than we may see a higher percentage of females in higher ranked classification, especially in the work world. Females just like males have great talents and ideas to share with the world, so if society allowed both genders to do so equally without gender discrimination, we may see a more unified society, resulting in a much stronger economy.

-Kiah Rothschild

Before his death he was a man on a mission and spoke nothing but the truth, he lived life as if there was no tomorrow, stated in the book, “ anything I do today, I regard as urgent” (Haley, A. pg. 385). In the end he alone (not following anyone) made a name for himself and was able to lift the black community when others were trying to break them down. I do believe in the end he found himself and even though his life was cut abruptly short he died knowing and loving who he had become. -Georgina Garza

She has problems with her husband but agrees to make things work out and support him in raising their family. she is a good wife, but her life manages only around cooking and cleaning; Ruth is a emotionally a strong women. -Romi Jawanda

Forward progress in America continues to be a struggle because of the constant steps backwards, rather then going forward. The constant setbacks brings the question of how much progress in the race have we made in equality for all of man kind? -Anthony Martinez

Mama reminds her family that, “There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing.” This quote depicted that no matter what struggles or obstacles her family faced that love should always remain consistant towards each other as it becomes the means of pulling a family back together. - Devon Boone

Interracial relationships have been such a controversial issue in our society. Possible assumptions about this issue come from the belief that history has portrayed Caucasians and African Americans as known enemies, based upon the fact of slavery, discrimination, prejudice and hatred among each race. - Courtnei Johnson

We pushed to be recognized as women in society by growing from and learning from our milestones in our relationship with family and society. From Janie to Beneatha and from Beneatha to women in 2011 we can say there is a lot more confidence in our Womanhood. We are still pushing as African-American women today to be thought of more than just our cures and beauty. Generations later we as women are stronger and are continuing on exceling to the top of the food chain! -Aundrane Fletcher . He could never be dead until she herself had finished feeling and thinking. The kiss of his memory made pictures of love and light against the wall. Here was peace. “(20.12) Janie thoughts all come together about her past and future. She knows her life found meaning because of Tea Cake. Janie is a great example of how women earned their freedom. You have to go out into the world and take it. You can’t let anyone hold you down. She discovers herself in her story, and accomplished everything she ever wanted. carlos flores

Malcolm X is truly an inspirational public speaker. //The Autobiography of Malcolm X// by Alex Haley has helped many people see what has been happening to our community. Since then many organizations for colored people have been formed for advancement such as NAACP, Negro funds for college, strict law on racism and many more. He promoted change through his effort and has helped his black people live better lives. Although racism still exists, it is much hidden now than before and it is all thanks to people like Malcolm. Annalisa Vang

In conclusion, Janie and Walter shared similar situations that connected with each other. Even though they went through many hardship and pain, Janie and Walter were able to inquire new self, identity, dreams, and love that they never experienced before. Cindy Vang

Beneatha and Janie were also very similar in their way of thinking. Both of them always were dreaming and wanted to explore life as two teenagers. They both were young and had ambitions and dreams. They wanted to get married and make a family; however it never happened. Juan Gastelum

The poem Phenomenal Woman is an extremely powerful and meaningful poem. This poem has some similar themes and meaning as Still i Rise. The poem Phenomenal Woman is speaking about all women in the world. All women should be proud of themselves and stand tall. society has a picture in their mind of what women should look like. However it's impossible to please society, because it is impossible for all women to look the same. -Monica Silva

 What Dana went through with Rufe is testament to her character and her will to survive. Although she was consistently abused by Rufe, she eventually found the strength to end his life, therefore ending her tie to him and his world. Not all victims of domestic abuse are fortunate enough to get out alive. According to BellaOnline.com “on average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in this country every day. Women are much more likely than men to be killed by an intimate partner. In 2000, intimate partner homicides accounted for 33.5 percent of the murders of women and less than four percent of the murders of men” (Stingley). The abuse Dana endured may have hindered and hurt her at times. But Rufe couldn’t break her spirit and in the end she had just enough strength left to end his life, and save her own.

-Othilia Figueroa