The Rez

The Reservation, also known as the Rez, in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a place that is centered around the idea of false hope. To expand on that, first the actual explanation of the Rez is needed. The Reservation is a community for a pack of Indians and few other people, such as low income white people. At the schools they reuse book, and for the main character, Arnold, he is bullied by people who has given up and lost hope, because he's different and smart. Arnolds leaving symbolizes that he's going to find something different and make something out of himself.
While reading the book, I thought about my old school and how I was sort of like the Arnold there. My grammar school, Kohn, was a recently closed and I was one of the only people there who was going for school instead of violence that was spread around there. One day when my parents picked up my report card, my teacher suggested I go to a better school, like Whitney Young. And because I respected her opinion, I did and always grateful for her. My school was a symbol of lost hope  and Just like junior, I left. And It takes an hour and a half on the train to get home just like the long distance for Arnold.

Native Son

Woo! Let me jump on the hate train on Bigger. I don't hate Bigger, I don't sympathize for him either, but I can admire his choices. Bigger has been isolated along with other African Americans for as long as he lived and the only thing he knows about the Whites is that they dislike his kind (they even used the second person whom Bigger killed, who was black, only as evidence not as a charge). In the situation where Bigger was trying to be befriended by Mary Dalton, I can understand why he would not want that to happen. It seems like she was trying to change the way things were and at the time the only thing she was doing was distracting Bigger from his job. She got herself drunk in which she needed Bigger to assist her up the stairs. And even if Bigger confessed after the murder and said they were both drunk, there was no way he would be able to get out of that case without being accused of rape and still trialed for death. I enjoyed Bigger's ambition and how he lived the rest of his days "free". The only part I can't agree with is including Bessie if at one point he knew she would slow him down if he needed to flee. And after seeing the reactions Bigger got from the whites, his color wasn't the only thing showing in this book, but theirs as well. Ultimately Bigger came through in the end, which makes him admirable.  

A Principle To Keep

Even in the most dire situations, A principle I would keep is to make sure me and my family (If they're around) survive under all circumstances. If I were to choose, I would rather keep them alive before myself because I wouldn't want to be lonely and unsociable without them. Also I would prefer my mother and father to live because they're wiser than I am and would know what to do in certain situations and because my mom is the only female in my family (Immediate wise) they could reproduce if necessary. I also would keep my parents before myself because if I were to choose myself and it causes them to die, then i wouldn't be able to live with myself because they were the reason I was born so I'd eventually be depressed and guilty. The same goes for my older brothers, Even though i know they would do the same for me, It's still important to keep your family close and do nice things for them. I think everyone would follow this principle in terms of their parents and make sure their family lives is preserved before theirs.  

Janie

The character Janie from Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" seems to have most pleasure in her life when most people would be depressed, and that's when her husband Jody dies. This sudden joy would appear to an outsider as harsh considering she's now a widow, but Janie has always done what appeared to be the right choice in her life which originally was to marry Logan Killicks because her grandmother told her he provided the best opportunities for her. When Janie meets another guy named Jody Starks, he tells her about these opportunities she will have with him if they were married. While Janie is already on the ropes with loving Logan and adjusting to his recent change of personality, Logan pushes her away by trying to hurt her feelings just as she did his by insulting Janie and her family. While married to Jody, just like Logan did, Jody changed his personality and tried to change Janie along with him, but in spirit. Jody, who's nearly 2 decade's older than Janie always demoralized her by insulting her age and even gave her a hard time when she screwed up an order at the store they owned. When Janie finally stood up to Jody, which was about 15 years later, in public, he struck her. With Janie having a hard time as it was enjoying her life being guided all the time, I was glad to see she was finally in a happy state. I was also impressed Hurston was able to create such a unique character like Janie that could reflect off of herself. When Hurston was in college she worked for a woman named Mrs. Mason, who was controlling and could have gave Hurston a central hate for the battle for control. Much like Janie, Hurston is a powerful character who gained their own control at the end.

Thankful For a Classmate!

I am thankful for a lot, if not all of the people in my English class. There's not one specific person I have to choose and to assure everyone is mentioned, while keeping this blog simple, I will list them all.

Cecillia, Maggie, Gloria, and Sarah - I mentioned these girls first because they sit right behind me in class, and majorly called on or answering a question. Whenever Mr.McCarthy is responding to one of their answers it's sometimes humorous, happens most often to them. 

Jan, Odin, Lauren, Evan, and Josh - These five, if I'm correct went through the academic center here at Whitney Young, and are taking the same classes, if not higher than I am.  Honestly the classroom wouldn't be the same without them as they answer about 50% of the questions and have unique personalities.

Brashana, Martyna, Nayeli, Lawrie, Emma, And Michelle - I can't say much about these girls because I hardly speak to them, but whenever they're answering a question, or is called on by Mr.McCarthy, The answer is almost always flawless and without hesitation, and I admire that.

Jalen, Erik P, and Eric E - I think these three sit in the same row. Even so, they're very good in group assignments and constructive with the writing edits. Great personalities too.

Nathan, Dan, Juan, Jake, and Owen - These guys are very open to letting me join their group work assignments although I hardly speak to them. They work very well and super efficient and can be on question 6 by the time I'm done writing question 3 (not like they ditch me but I just write slow).

Andrew and Lansing -Out of the entire classroom, these two are the people I talk to often, and outside of the classroom. Lansing is very helpful in Geometry and entertaining at our table. Andrew is in my homeroom, and is my new locker partner (although I didn't have one last year!) overall he is a cool guy.

Erik G. - I remember in Geometry when Erik asked me if I thought he was obnoxious in English. As I said then still remains. I singled Erik out because he's the life of the classroom and makes English entertaining. He also gave me the idea to write about everyone, so thanks Erik.


Davonte - Wrote about myself because I said entire classroom. Most down to earth person I know :) .

Mr.McCarthy - My favorite Teacher this school year. Coming from Mr.Tejano's class last year I really despised English and thought this class would be painful. However; Mr.McCarthy's way of teaching is really upbeat that he managed to make my worst subject, my favorite class (also helped me with remembering everyone's names and correct spelling from the blog links).

Reader - Whether you are or not in my classroom, I am thankful that you took about 3 minutes of your life to read my blog. Hope I didn't miss anyone. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hemingway

               

            Ernest Hemingway lived a life others can only dream to have. His impact on American Literature is one that will never be forgotten. Hemingway's work helped pave Literature into an entire new definition and inspired others to make more out of their own works. Ironically about Hemingway was throughout his competitions, his fame, and his abilities, Hemingway was a Nihilist; meaning he believed life is meaningless.
         Back then Hemingway was considered one of the most relevant Celebrities of his time, like the Beyonce of today. He said himself his writings included an Ice burg theory; only showing you the tip of the surface in his writings, but have the reader go below and conclude about the rest of it himself. And because Hemingway's writings mirrored his life, everyone back then and even today tries to truly understand what his work meant in Hemingway's mind. Most of his stories involved masculinity and could reflect on himself that he didn't have much when he was a child considering his mother often made him feel feminine.
        Hemingway's personal life often included a wife or mistress by his side. I believe this made him feel less like he was by himself like he would be when he wrote. When he received his noble literature prize he said the words "There is no lonelier man when writing, except for suicide." which could help his fans/ modern readers understand what happens behind the books. Sadly, Hemingway did the unspeakable when he became lonelier than a man when writing, after he became depressed after trying to be a perfectionist.   Ernest Hemingway, made an entire mark on Literature before his passing and will never be forgotten. I think his legacy is one that contained irony, sadness, an even ambition that could be passed from generation to generation.
       

6 Word Stories.

*No Money, Yet He's So Rich.

*My Accomplishment Became My Greatest Humiliation

*My Trip To Save The Fall

*Game Set; He Won, Never Practiced

*This Is True; That Was False

*Reminder; Forget To Study, You'll Pass.