Marriage is supposed to be about love, and finding an authentic partnership that makes you happy and pushes you to be your best self. Though it must be important to understand your reasons for getting married, and if they are correct or not. We see this in the Chekhov play, as people might choose to marry for the wrong reasons like money, or status. This leads to many consequences down the line no matter how much money is on the table or how many gifts. Marriage should always be about finding common ground and communication and love between two people, and that should always be the deciding factor.
Author: Darren
Final Reflections
I think that throughout the semester, my work I think I did very well making connections to the outside world and my own life to the readings that we did in class. For example, a lot of my work when I got to choose what to write about was Toni Cade Bambara because I felt like her work and her message was something I could relate to, since I’m also an African American. I’m not too sure if I’ve found my style as a writer, but I think that I’m a very introspective writer and that I draw understanding not only from what I’ve read, but from what I see around me. I think my journey these 15 weeks has been insightful in a way, we have read about so many different types of ideas and perspectives, and i got a little view inside worlds that i could relate to, but also others that i had not thought of.
One piece that I am most proud of was the work that I did with Toni Cade Bambara. I liked the fiction/literary theory essay that I did. I loved the idea of connecting critical race theory with the personality of the characters from Gorilla My Love. This was something that I understood fully and well how racism has shaped my community and how it has affected us. I think I did well on it, because as I mentioned before it was something that I could relate to, and could even connect it to my own life and those around me as well, not just Toni Cade Bambara’s work. I also liked the poems we did like the Black Out Poems, and the Where I’m From poems. I liked those because I’ve been writing poetry all throughout my life, so it was fun to take some of my own hobbies and work on it for an assignment.
I think my greatest challenge this semester was my time management, personally i’ve had trouble saying organized and on time with a lot of my classes due to outside factors, which made it a lot harder to stay on the ball, but i always tried to keep up with everything that was going on in this class and all my others.
In conclusion, what I really enjoyed about this class was that for the first time in an English class we really got to study and learn about everybody no matter where or who they were. We learned about different walks of life and the different struggles and triumphs that come with them. I think that’s so important for an English class, to be diverse and accepting of all people.
New York Times Post
The article that I chose was “Is Teen Mental Health in a State of Crisis?”. I agree with the statistics at the beginning of this article that suggest that teenagers in the United States are in fact experiencing a mental health crisis. Many of my friends and even myself have expressed strong feelings of exhaustion or depression or anxiety from time to time. I think that a big reason that teens are struggling with mental health is because we are often overworked, and underestimate, but yet a lot is expected from us. Events such as the pandemic have only exaggerated the effects of social media, of isolation or the simple feeling of not having anyone to lean on, or just feeling lost and plain out confused. I also believe that schooling is also a major factor in the mental health of teenagers. We often are left to deal with large amounts of work on our own, with not enough guidance or time, i have also experienced having teachers who lacked communication or transparency which only added to the stress that I and I’m sure many other teenagers face daily.
I don’t necessarily think that the advice that is given to support teenagers going through mental health will guarantee a difference. Like the article states, mental health has a large stigma behind it, especially in minority communities, and these communities are were mental health struggles the most. I can personally attest to these stigmas, seeing as many people in my community frown on the ideas of therapy and counseling, or even medication, which are all important and helpful ways to battle mental health once it becomes a debilitating problem for teens. Even if we do express these issues to the adults in our lives many fully wont be able to understand, or relate to us. They even might know exactly how we feel but haven’t dealt with it themselves due to the stigma, many parents especially in my community have a terrible ideology that teens do not have a reason to be sad or upset, and that we have it “easy” which is wrong. I think the best form of advice for teenagers would be to seek professional help in the form of a therapist or their doctors. Those who are trained to aid those suffering with mental health will be most useful in solving or bettering the situation.
Personally, I’m not too such on how i cope with mental health, but i think having a schedule and routine is helpful, because it blocks out any confusions and gives you a routine to follow which helps for stability, sleeping regularly is helpful too. Overall having a day by day routine is very helpful when it comes to keeping your mind and body well. Making sure that we eat properly too is another way to maintain peace of mind, and a healthy body. Taking action and doing things like riding bikes or exercising is also another way to battle anxiety or depression. One thing that i think adults can do to help teenagers that may be struggling with mental health, is to learn to view teens as people to, with emotions, stresses, and differences. Adults often disregard the feelings and needs of teens due to stigmas and outdated traditions, and once they learn the faults in that, they’ll be able to connect and aid us in a way that WILL help those battling mental health. Schools need to learn flexibility and moderation when it comes to assignments, school hours, and deadlines, because instead of learning, most teens end up stressed and confused. There needs to be more consideration for teenagers, who already have big lives to plan ahead of them, while trying to grow and find out who they are.
Critical Race Theory, Colson Whitehead
First, write a paragraph explaining why you chose this particular story out of the three. What drew you to it? How did you make your decision? What did you base your choice on?
- I decided to choose Colson Whitehead’s story because I think that Critical Race Theory is a very interesting topic, seeing as how it’s being portrayed and viewed in America. Many people believe that it’s a bad thing while having little to no knowledge of what it actually is and what purpose it serves. I’d also personally like to do more research into CRT myself so I can understand it and apply it to the world around me, and see it in different places and ways. I also enjoyed reading about Critical Race Theory in the previous readings and so I’d like to continue to develop new ideas and a brighter, stronger understanding of it. I’d also like to be able to educate those around me about topics and issues that affect my community, which are important to me. Critical Race Theory plays a major role in the lives of many African Americans such as myself, and through understanding it, only then can we develop stronger and newer ways to tackle the recurring racial issues in this country.
What is Colson Whitehead saying about racial relations within an institution such as education?
- I believe that what Colson Whitehead is saying about racial relations within an institution such as education, is a clear and constant power struggle between the white and black students. “December Matches – the prelims within your dorms, and then the bout between the best black fighter and whatever chump the white guys put up” (Whitehead 2). This theme is shown continuously throughout the story, it even begins with all the Black kids supporting a bully because he is the one that will represent them in a match against the whites. This created the capacity for cruelty, fueled by racist ideology.
How does he express the capacity for cruelty, as bolstered by racist ideology?
- Whitehead expresses the capacity for cruelty, which is fueled by racist ideology by setting the story in a boxing environment, where cruelty and violence is in a way accepted, and since there is a clear racial divide, the racism makes it worse. “The racial division of the school recreated itself in the gym, with the white boys taking the south half, and the black boys claiming the north. They jostled at the borders” (Whitehead 4). This shows not only the racist ideology, but the tension which leads purely as they bump and elbow each other. The racial tension is always present within the school, and the racial division is not only present in the school, but within the attitudes and actions of both students and teachers. From the way that the students talk, to the way that they group themselves, it is clear that the capacity for curly is only heightened by the fact that they choose to dislike each other because of race.
Discussion Post – 2
The race of the writer is extremely important when the narrative deals with issues of race, because for example, a white woman such as Kate Chopin will never really understand the experiences of those who live under the circumstances of racism. She might be able to gain more knowledge by surrounding herself with those who have actually lived through racism, but her account will never be as accurate or personal as it would be coming from, say a Black person. Especially since Chopin is on the receiving end of racism, she might underestimate or not truly be able to understand how the lives of Black people have been affected or damaged by it. When dealing with issues of race it is most important that we get narratives from those who actually live through it, because those voices will be the most honest and authentic narratives. The same applies to any narrative that describes all groups of oppressed people.
Discussion 1 – Chopin
He drops the letter, and turns around to look out towards the field. He looks around at where he stands, feeling dizzy and unsure of who he is. His blood begins to boil as he realizes the lie that he has been living, and the truth that he was kept from. He realizes the hypocrisy that he and those around him have lived, and how wrong he was. He turns around and calls out:
“Desiree!’ “Desiree”
But she was long gone, and she didn’t come back. Armand dropped to his knees and looked up at the sky as if he could see through the tears that fell as he did. He knew the truth and couldn’t avoid the sinking feeling of misery, the same pain that Desiree had felt. He wished that he would’ve known the truth earlier, so he could’ve righted his wrong before it was to late, and it was. He grabs the letter, and leaves, freeing the slaves, and freeing himself from the lies that he lived under.
Rationale:
“And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves” (Chopin 4).
Armand’s treatment of his slaves was cruel, and once he discovered the truth about his own family, i think that he would’ve become engulfed in shame, hypocrisy and guilt. He can no longer justify his actions because once he realizes that his wife and children belong to the same race that he treats horribly, and that even him himself belongs to the same race. Everything that he once knew was shattered in that one moment, and everything after changes.
Marxism & Feminism
Think about the similarities and differences between Isamu and Roku in terms of social class.
What do you think Oseki learns from her run in with Roku? What is the significance of their meeting through the lens of Marxist theory?
- While reading “The Thirteenth Night” by Higuchi Ichiyo, I observed key similarities and differences between Isamu and Roku. A big difference that I think plays a huge role in the story is that Isamu and Roku both come from different social classes, Isamu enjoys the advantages of luxury and wealth while Roku is the complete opposite, and is a part of the lower class. Oseki being married to Isamu she would move up in the social class, and thus leaving Roku behind. This was a decision she realized she had to make, to be with who she loved, or to be with who she knew would help advance her status in society. Through the lens of Marxist Theory, we see how social classes interact and how one group might look down upon another, while simultaneously benefiting off of them.
Think about the setting of “The Thirteenth Night” particularly in terms of historical era. Given what you know of the era, and more specifically, what you learned about Higuchi Ichiyo’s life story, what or who could the female character represent? What role(s) did women play in society at the time, what kind(s) of power did they have, and how did they navigate their way through the systems of power?
- I think that “The Thirteenth Night” really showed how women had to choose to live or survive during the era. We see how Oseki decided to lose true love, in order to escape the struggle of the lower class by marrying into an upper class family like Isamu. This often leads to a life of suffering because it becomes simply a business endeavor more than an actual partnership. Oseki chose to navigate through systems of power by marriage, and I’d imagine that this was a common thing. Women often were not given the same level of respect as men, and were expected to be household wives, and cook and take care of children. They were not given the same benefits as men, even if they married their way to higher classes.
Sherman Alexie (Government)
In both of Sherman Alexie’s poems “The Trial of Thomas Builds-The-Fire ” and “This is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona ” we see great examples of the unequal and unruly qualities of government. When Thomas was on trial he faced unfair disrespect on account of him being Native American. Even before his trial had begun it was made clear of how they viewed him. “Inciting a riot? Kidnapping? Extortion? Maybe murder?” another guy in a BIA suit asked, and the others laughed. “Well,” they all agreed. “It has to be a felony charge. We don’t need his kind around here anymore” (Alexie 94). Thomas even had made it clear that he wasn’t sure of what it was exactly that he was being charged for. “Your Honor,” he said. “I don’t believe that the exact nature of any charges against me have been revealed, let alone detailed”(Alexie 95). When Victor from “This is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona ”, went to the BIA to request money to aid his fathers death, we saw another example of the lack of fairness or sympathy. “Now, Victor, we’re sorry for your loss and the circumstances. But we can really only afford to give you one hundred dollars.” Both situations showed the unfair circumstances and treatment that both men endured, even after they both clearly suffered.
Discussion Post Topic (choice one): Writing as Activism
Writing is and still can be a viable means of activism for the BIPOC community in the United States. Even if social media has become the new newspaper, writing still has a big impact on activism because writing is not only done on paper, it can also be done virtually. We can communicate our thoughts and work through social media that people can read. If anything, writing has become a very accessible tool in activism through social media. Just like Bambara’s writing was a form of activism, the same can still be done today. Organizations such as the NAACP often use social media to share their work and activism. Journalists also still write important information that can be accessed through social media as well (articles, documents, etc.). Though writing is no longer as traditional as it was in the past, writing still and always will be a viable means to activism.
