In “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie we see the government/rulership follow that of a tribal governance system. The tribe is the primary unit of government, and leadership is determined by a council of elders or other traditional leaders. Some of the characteristics of this type of government are that it is decentralized and focused on the needs of the tribe as a whole, rather than the interests of any one individual or group. We see this when the victor goes to the tribe to ask for money and they collectively make a decision to only afford to give him 100$ dollars. As an allegorical figure, Thomas-build-a-fire represents the struggle of Native Americans to retain their cultural identity and traditions in the face of external pressures. Throughout the short story, we see Thomas grappling with his identity as a Native American and his relationship to his culture and community for the stories he would tell about his dreams and visions. He becomes an outcast that even by the end of the film loses his friendship with victor as he himself doesn’t want to become a outcast like Thomas-build-a-fire
Category Archives: Fiction
Chopin
The race of a writer can matter when the narrative deals with issues of race, as the writer’s personal experiences and perspective can shape the way they portray these issues in their writing. In the case of Kate Chopin, her background as a white woman from a family of slave owners and her marriage to someone in the cotton industry may have influenced the way she addressed racism in her short story. While it is important for all voices to be heard and for diverse perspectives to be represented, it is also crucial for writers to be aware of their own biases and to consider the potential impact of their race on the way they portray issues of race in their writing. In some cases, writers may choose to step back and allow voices from marginalized communities to take the lead in telling their own stories. Ultimately, the race of the writer should not be the sole determining factor in whether their work is valuable or valid. What is most important is the quality and authenticity of the writing, and whether it accurately and thoughtfully addresses the issues at hand.
Armand
After witnessing his wife, whom he loved dearly from the day he laid his eyes on her, leave their house distressed and in pain. Armand questioned if that was truly the right decision. “I mean I had to, otherwise no one would take me seriously as a slave master.” Armand reminded himself as he sat idly on what his life had become. The women he called his wife, the women he would stare passionately into, was something that society wouldn’t accept nor allow. A slave master that married his own slave, how could his family name go on. Surely it wasn’t the case but with the boy and his complexion, it would only be a matter of time before others would begin to question his authority as a slave master and more so the right to own the very land his family had passed down. Armand could feel his heart heavy knowing that the women he truly loved would never be seen again nor would his child feel the love of a father.
Parenting
Children are like sponges, soaking up everything they hear and see, and their developing minds can be easily influenced by the words and actions of the adults around them. It is important for parents and elders in families to be careful about what they say around young children. For the most part, it is best for parents and elders to be honest with children, but to also consider the child’s age and maturity level when determining how much information to share. For younger children, it may be appropriate to shield them from harsh realities and to focus on the positive aspects of a situation. For older children, however, it may be important to be more forthcoming and to help them understand and cope with difficult situations. It should also be noted that parents and elders being more mindful of their own language and behavior around children creates a healthier in general. Children learn by example, so it is crucial for adults to set a good example by speaking and acting in a way that is respectful and kind. Like most things in life, the key is to strike a balance between honesty and protection, and to tailor one’s words and actions to the child’s age and needs. It is also important for parents and elders to remain open and approachable, so that children feel comfortable coming to them with questions and concerns. Generally speaking an approach that leads to children becoming much more reasonable and level headed as they approach their teenage years and young adult life.
Writing as Activism
Writing can still be a powerful means of activism for BIPOC in present day America. Through the written word, BIPOC can share their experiences, raise awareness about issues affecting their communities, and call for change. Writing can also be a way for BIPOC to reclaim their narrative and counter the dominant, often distorted, narrative about them that is often perpetuated in mainstream media. Social media can also amplify outreach quickly and efficiently . BIPOC writers can use platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to share their thoughts and ideas, and to engage with others who are interested in similar issues. They can also use these platforms to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations and to mobilize support for causes they care about. Writing can be a powerful tool for BIPOC to raise awareness, challenge dominant narratives, and call for change. Its an outlet to the purest form of human communication when a greater call for said issue is needed in the most transparent and human way possible
Frankenstein
Reading the story “Frankenstein” chapter 17 of the novel, the creature himself feels monstrous. He feels like he doesn’t belong in this society. He asked his creator to create an opposite sex for him, he wants a companion. He wants to have someone he can run away with and also understand how he feels. The creator doesn’t honestly want to do it. The creature is monstrous and doesnt fit into this world. The creator also realized what he created was horrible to this world.“Shall I create another like yourself, whose joint wickedness might desolate the world. Begone! I have answered you; you may torture me, but I will never consent.”
The article for The New Yorker, the author Jill Lepore writes about the autobiography of an infant, it is a slave narrative, it is a political commentary. In the article, I think there is a part where Douglass compares himself with Frankenstein. Around that time Black people were considered an outsider because they weren’t white. The white people treated people of color differently and looked weird to the white people. The political side of the book came around, “Much of “Frankenstein” participates in the debate over abolition, as several critics have astutely observed, and the revolution on which the novel most plainly turns is not the one in France but the one in Haiti.” The book impacted a lot of the people around the time the book was introduced.
“This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona”
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Adults “Just Teasin'”
In my opinion, parents should have a balance. They should be as truthful as possible while taking the feelings of their children into consideration. There are few circumstances where withholding parts of the truth may be justifiable but, if parents respect their children and their intelligence they should be able to be truthful within reason. For example, rather than telling a child their toy disappeared, another approach can be tested, such as explaining to them that their play time is up and they will have another opportunity to play at a later time. This method is not always sound of course, but as long as there is an attempt, a healthy relationship should be able to foster without deception. Nobody is perfect but doing something one out of ten times is better than not doing it at all. Making an attempt at being truthful is better than going straight to deception and not trying to be truthful at all.
Parents and elders should be conscious of how they speak around young children, this could be being careful or it could just be acknowledging that they might hear what is said. Children internalize so many things, and they are just beginning to understand languages and how people communicate with each other, it is hard for them to always differentiate between what is appropriate for their age, what is appropriate in certain situations or with certain people, what is a joke, what is sarcasm, and what is the truth. So, while many conversations can be learning experiences or a way to spend time with family, sometimes censoring or an explanation would be beneficial.
I feel that adults should try to tell the truth when possible, but the truth does not always have to be brutal; When considering feelings and respect is a part, the truth is often easier to accept. Nice things should be told to children when it is true or if a situation requires it, sugar coating is not necessary if you approach a conversation with respect for the other person, even if they are a child. Adults should mean what they say until children are able to comprehend the other aspects of language. The instability of life can be taught other ways that do not involve risking the credibility of their words. If adults teach kids how little words can mean, kids often say reckless things, this should only be taught when the kids also understand the weight words can have. Adults should avoid “just teasin” kids if they have no intention of explaining to them that they are in fact just teasing, or if the kids are unable to come to that conclusion on their own. If the child is aware they are not to take something serious, or if they can decipher whether something is a joke or not on their own, “just teasin” is fine because there would not be any consequences. Children will not feel hurt, confused, or deceived and adults will not lose the children’s trust or the credibility of their word. It is not an easy thing to keep in mind or execute, but when there is an attempt, all of these things are possible with children even if it is only some of the time.
Writing as Activism
In my opinion, writing can still be a viable means of activism for BIPOC in the present-day United States. Activism, no matter what form, is still viable because it further broadcasts the voices of the oppressed. Almost any way that spreads awareness is viable to activism because attention is needed. The larger number of people reached, the more action that can be taken, and more support can be offered. In the age of social media, marches, and news reports, formal writing is still necessary to reach those that are removed from today’s age; those that prefer to read and form their own opinions. People still look for writers for empowerment, especially if they’re somewhat famous or have a fan base, so they can spread awareness through their pieces. Many people have been moved by pieces written by authors which lead them to be a part of a movement or support one.
Writing is still a reasonable form of activism even in present-day America because writing is in everything. It’s needed for the articles that inform others and are posted on the web and social media accounts, it’s in the instagram posts that calls on people to take action, it’s used for the speeches given at thousands of marches, and it’s in the scripts for the news anchors that deliver to millions of people. Writing invokes thoughts, feelings, and inspiration, all things essential for movements and activism as a whole. Writing is an eternal means of liberation because writing in itself is eternal, writing is how we communicate, share information, connect, explain, teach, and more. As long as activism is necessary, writing will be necessary as well.
Alexie
In “This Is What It Means”, directed by Sherman Alexie, tells the story of a man named Victor and his journey to Phoenix, Arizona, to find his father. Victor was an Indian and had a friend named Thomas. They had a sweet friendship until the day Victor hit him and they broke up. The area and people were poor and had no money, and this shows the rule of colonialism and its impact on the descendants of Native Americans and how radically their lives are governed. Colonialism affected his family and friends economically and socially. They were so poor that when he tried to travel to look for his father, he had no money, and his friend Thomas helped him by giving him some money so that he could travel and go to the city where the father died. Being of Indian descent, they were never hired for a job, had no income or a place to work. Because of this, their financial condition was difficult.
