Toni Cade Bambara, born Toni Cade, was an American writer, civil-rights activist, and teacher who wrote on African-American issues. In the 1970s she was active in both the black liberation and the women’s movements. While textual activism had a significant influence in 1971, I feel that in today’s culture, social media is extensively implemented as a kind of media activism because to its interactive characteristics and widespread adoption, and how the interconnectivity disseminates information and rallies supporters in volumes. With that kind of influence, textual activism does not have the same impact on BIPOC. I also feel that demonstrative forms of activism, such as peaceful protests, rallies, and marches, are effective strategies to effect change for BIPOC.

I believe that in this day in age writing can still be a viable form of activism. I see it every day on social sites such as Instagram and Twitter. Writing is not only about books and news articles but also blogs and social media posts which spread like wildfires all over different sites. Considering that this generation is very big on internet communities and are always on their phones, I think it’s the most effective way to get this generations attention as well as to motivate us to join different movements. An example of this that I have seen was last year when the Black Lives Matter movement started to gain a lot of attention on social media. Teens and young adults all over the country were sharing their opinions on the matter and using these platforms to meet up in real life to protest. Because of all the bloggers and posts that were all over sites like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, even people who knew nothing about this movement or did not care about it before joined the conversation bringing more attention to it.

In your opinion, how carefully should parents and elders in families speak around young children? Should they only tell the truth, no matter how brutal, or should they shield kids by saying only the “nice things”? Should adults mean what they say, ie, “my word is my bond,” when dealing with children? Or should they allow children to see how little words can mean, how unstable life can be? Should adults avoid “just teasin” kids?

When it comes to children they should always be handled with care. Sometime we as adults do not realize how much children pay attention to the things we say to them and around them. I am a strong believer in teaching children by reality and not fairy tale. Children are easly influenced by things that they hear and see.

While written activism in 1971 may have had a substantial impact during that time, I believe that in today’s society, written activism does not have the same impact for BIPOC. While in the age where social media serves as a platform for activism, written articles and news reports may spark controversy and start a discussion, but are quickly overshadowed by the next trending topic. Due to the increasing amounts of social media platforms and surplus of articles and posts being produced each second, information tends to be easily overlooked. Based on my observations, I believe demonstrative forms of activism such as protests, rallies and marches are more impactful ways to create change for BIPOC. Although writing does draw attention to certain issues, recent years have shown that giving people an outlet to publicly express their concerns is an effective way of bringing awareness. 

“JUST TEASIN” 

I think adults have to be very careful with the things they say when they are around kids. Children don’t understant that sometimes adults say many things only to be nice or to make others feel good. In “ Gorilla my Love” The Protagonist thinks that his uncle will marry her in the future because when she was a baby he said that to her, so she takes that literally. Sometimes adults say a lot of things just to be nice, but the problem is that sometimes children get hurt so easily, because they expect that you  “say what you mean” just like them.

In “ Gorilla My Love”  The protagonist said “ when you say you are going to give me a party on my birthday, you gotta mean it “ ( pag 18). Most of the parents always want to keep their promises but sometimes it doesn depend on us. Even though grown ups have all the intention to keep their word, sometimes they are no longer available to do the thing they said they would do. 

This part of the reading reminded me of something that happened to one of my friends. 15 year ago my friend promised to her daugther that when she turns 15, she will have a big party. Three months before she turned 15, my friend had to come to America looking for a better life. When she turned 15, my friend didn’t have the money for the party, so she could not  keep her word. Her daughter never forgave her mother for not giving her a big party. I think most parents want to give their children the best they can, but even though they have the intention sometimes it is not enough.