Hiding the Reservation

There is always the internal conflict between fitting in and standing out. In the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Junior does both. At Reardan he wants to be accepted, and in doing so he tries to fit in. In order to fit in he has to be like them leading him to hide where he is from. He isn't judged nor stereotyped in doing so of hiding his background. On the rez he stands out by doing what most Indians don’t, and doing more than what is expected of him. This is why he hides his background because Indians aren't expected to have long term goals. Fitting in at Reardan meant proving he wasn't just another Indian which led to hiding what was an Indian. When attending Whitney Young most don’t do what Junior had to do. Since there are many ethnic backgrounds, culturally most don’t hide anything. In fact, it is even interesting to hear of different cultures and traditions. In some way there are some people who hide their “rez,” or their past so to speak. When attending a new school, it’s a fresh start. People don’t know who you are until you tell and show them. Some people hide their past from their old school, or even pretend to have been something else. The reason for this I believe is neither to be accepted, nor to stand out but more to not have their history be their present again. It isn't the “culture” of Whitney Young but more an idea of starting again, getting another opportunity to become a better version of yourself without people knowing who you were. This is similar to junior’s case of not being like the other Indians and being a better version of himself, and giving himself higher expectations because whether one thinks they can or can’t one is always right. 

Jr at Whitney Young

When junior goes to Reardan he immediately is looked at as an outcast. Junior is the only Indian kid in this all white school and in an attempt to fit in he punches a classmate. Junior does this thinking of the rez and how Indians behave to be accepted. In Reardan though, the culture is different and Junior isn't socially accepted at first. Junior is different from his classmates, economically and what he is used to socially. Whitney Young is not like Reardan, it is very diverse where people come from different social statuses, economic statuses, ethnic backgrounds, and we all have different interests. At Whitney Young junior wouldn't be judged like he was at Reardan. Junior would fit in because he would find people that share similar interests. He wouldn't have to hide anything in fear of being judged. At Reardan he had to because everyone was the same and to be accepted he had to pretend to be something he wasn't  At Whitney Young there is wide variety of clubs and classes offered. This is how Junior would start to find people with similar interests and mindsets. Since he is into drawing cartoons he might join a drawing or writing club, he might spend his time creating art projects in the bridge and blue house, or he might even try out for the basketball team. When walking into the school he wouldn't be an outcast due to the diversity of the school and slowly he would gradually become friends with a certain group of people. For lunch, he might not be able to afford to go off campus and buy food but it would be nothing to be ashamed of. He would have free lunch and just enjoy time with his friends. At Whitney Young Junior would have an easier time finding someone to talk to, and not feel alienated or isolated due to the diversity in interests. Junior would be more comfortable in attending Whitney Young than how his experiences were at Reardan.

The Great Gatsby and A Raisin in the Sun

The American dream is a key theme in both the novels "The Great Gatsby" and in "A Raisin in the Sun." In both of these novels the American dream is perceived by their achievements and personal success, and expressed through the characters' experiences. In the Great Gatsby the American dream revolved around doing your best to be accepted into wealth and high class, their dream was more materialistic. On the other hand, in A Raisin in the Sun, the characters also want to be accepted into wealth and high class but their dream was focused more around pride in the family. The only one who didn’t agree to begin with was Walter Lee. Walter Lee was stubborn about becoming rich off of a liquor store, and didn’t mind investing all his and his sister's money. Once Walter Lee lost all the money, he finally realized his true riches and the importance of family. This is shown when he rejects Lindner's offer of not moving into the neighborhood. The move was a resemblance of their success and being able to beat society's expectations of them, and also being able to achieve and surpass their ancestor's levels of success. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby portrays the American dream with wealth as being success. He is influenced by Dan Cody, and believes that Dan Cody is living the American dream by being wealthy and having luxuries. Gatsby is soon willing to do whatever it takes to gain status, wealth and love which define his success in the American dream. Despite Gatsby's luxurious parties and crowds of "friends" he is missing a little piece of his American dream, Daisy. Represented by the green light, Gatsby is reaching for what he can’t have, what completes his American dream, his true love. The American dream in A Raisin in the Sun is demonstrated with family values and moral standards. Meanwhile, in the Great Gatsby the American dream revolves around wealth and false realities. In both novels, people are trying to achieve the American dream by gaining success but in the Great Gatsby it is more materialistic and superficial. In the beginning characters in A Raisin in the Sun were following Gatsby's footsteps but soon learned that money is not everything and that family comes first. Gatsby believes that money can solve anything and that it defines success. However he soon learns that no matter how many England t-shirts he could own, his true love could never be his. Both novels begin with a similar approach and soon learn what is really important in trying to conquer the American dream. Not only do both the novel's characters fantasize about what they want but they are also very persistent. Once Gatsby decided he wanted to be wealthy, there was nothing to get in his way. He did anything in his power to get what he wanted but this blinded him from what he actually wanted which was Daisy. Gatsby couldn’t let go of his past and grasped it like it was his present. He achieved his American dream in becoming a well to do man but didn’t gain his love back. As for mama, she is also very persistent. Once she knew what she wanted for her family she was not going to back down which was a safe and nice neighborhood; a neighborhood in which her children and grandchildren could enjoy and experience what she wasn’t able to as a child. In the end, he dream was achieved as well as they became the first African Americans to move into an all white neighborhood.

word count: 598

Protest Song - Say it loud ( I'm black and I'm proud)

This song is addressing the social injustice of racism. James Brown took and approach to this song as encouragement for African Americans. In this song, he says to say “I’m black, and I’m proud” encouraging African Americans to be proud of who they are and where they come from. Brown then continues the song with everything they have gone through. Here he is continuing to encourage them in the sense they have gone through so much that they have to keep trying until they get what they want.  This was demonstrated in the line saying “but I say we won't quit moving until we get what we deserve.”  Brown then describes how they have been treated due to racism and how they are referred to as “just bones.” He also mentions in the song that they have been working hard, but only for another man. This song coming out during the time of racism gave encouragement and confidence. Another issue during this time period was voting rights, which leads to the symbolism he has in his song. The line "we'd rather die on our feet, than be living on our knees," refers to a new realization that voting rights alone wouldn't create true equality when so many African Americans would continues to live in poverty. Another interpretation is that they would rather die standing, as in strong than die working for someone else. I say this because when he says we would rather die on our feet I interpret it as we would rather die when they’re still standing, meaning healthy. When he continues to say “than be living on our knees” I see it as in living miserably, and having to be on their knees begging. This suggests for African Americans to become more economically self sufficient. I chose this song because it is such a strong and big issue in America. Racism continues to exist to a certain extent. It is not as obvious anymore in America but it still exists, for example, stereotypes. One assumes many things based on a person’s race, when in reality a person is very different on this inside that what they may seem on the outside, racism continues affecting many in America today.

word count: 371

Proposal

I live in the neighborhood of Belmont Cragin and after researching the neighborhood's details I was able to see some basic demographics. For racial demographics, the neighborhood is mostly composed of Hispanics and whites. There are more house owners than renters. There are also more female residents than male and the total population is 77,557 people. For my project I am going to interview two neighbors and one family member. The racial backgrounds of the two neighbors are Mexican and white. The man who is Mexican is Manuel. He has lived here for over 10 years and works in the school across the street. The woman who is white is not in the neighborhood as much as Manuel is, since her job is in the suburbs  She usually leaves around 8 and doesn't get home until 9 from Monday to Friday. As for my relative i will be interviewing my sister who has lived in this neighborhood for about 8 years but has recently moved to the same block I live on. I think the american dream in this neighborhood is going to be not about the hard work but the reason for their hard work, their family. I think the american dream for my interviewees will be living happily with their family and doing what they can for the best of their children. For Manuel, he works where his grandchildren go to school and where one of his daughters attended school. For my other neighbor even though she isn't as much with her family, she works hard to make sure they are never in need of something they don't have. I think the constant idea that will continue in the american dream of Belmont Cragin is family and doing what they can to give the best to their children and family.

American Dream

From homeless shelter to elite science fair

“It will be an adventure to my next adventure,” Lane Gunderman states as he is about to aboard an airplane for the first time. Lane Gunderman was born into poverty and his family was able to scrape by until 2006 when they lost their apartment. After staying at a relative’s house and a divorce between the parents, the father abandoned them leaving them to stay at homeless shelters for over a year. Lane went to a public school in which he excelled and got admitted with a full scholarship into U of C Lab High School where he was accepted in the Summer Link Science Research Program. He came up with a project, created a computer stimulation with an in depth analysis and submitted it to Intel. Out of 1,700 applicants he was able to make the 40 finalists in which he will go to Washington DC to compete and possibly win 100,000 dollars. He is living the dream, the “American dream” some may say. What really is the American dream? I believe it’s expressed as a form of success. It suggests that anyone can conquer in life what they want as long as they work hard and stay committed. Many have expanded and redefined the idea with money, freedom, and fulfillment. Others say the concept is an idealistic goal that can’t be completely achieved due to society. The American dream is prosperity, in which ever way you may see it. This article relates to the American dream by not being affected by his past. Despite his poverty and struggle, he stayed dedicated to what he loved. His American dream was to improve upon the past by his desire to live a better life, even after not having a secure place to spend the night. Everyone has different point of views on success. The American dream is not a white picket fence, but it revolves around it. Do you walk past the fence and look for opportunities as your success dream, or do you stay in and define your success dream as being average, having a family, avoiding poverty and loneliness. Lane decided there was more out there, and his dream, or success story is achieved by working hard no matter the obstacles that come in his way. The American dream isn’t defined by wealth but it’s changing into expectations and owning things, when in reality it is your ambition, and hard work leading to a better life in which you desire to pursue happiness. The American dream isn’t defined by gadgets, it’s defined by one.

Word Count:215

Scary Movie Review

In the Lovely Bones  it tells the story of a fourteen year old girl who was murdered, and wasn’t the first victim of this killer. Although dead, Suzie continues to observe her family on Earth. Throughout the story she witnesses the impact of her loss on her family. As her family doesn’t lose hope in finding the killer, Suzie shows them clues. Suzie not only watches her family on Earth but also the killer who is planning his next murder. This movie is intriguing yet mysterious. Although it was a tragic death, a rape and murder the story is not depressing. The movie begins with Suzie alive demonstrating the life in her, her personality, her daily routine and how many lives were changed by the loss of hers. In this movie as well it shows the emotional struggle of a parent as the father is desperate to reveal his daughter’s killer. He cries at the sight of her room, at the boats they built together, etcetera. The mother however divorces the father for continuing on trying to solve the mystery. The mom just wants to move one and forget about it. It throws the watcher off as one would think the mother would be distraught. The lovely bones is one of my favorite scary movies. The overall plot is not scary but there is a rush feeling when trying to see if Suzie will be able to run away, figure out the killer, seeing if the dad will ultimately find out. I also like how there are many twists and surprises to this movie, especially when Suzie is in purgatory speaking to another victim of the same killer.  I did not enjoy the ending however, I expected there to be more. As the killer runs away from the police I expected him to be caught, but that wasn't the case. The killer is able to get away but as he is talking to a possible next victim he falls off a mountain and dies. The lovely bones had a surprising and unexpected ending but it wasn't interesting. The rest of the movie though is great as you see struggles of the dead watching their family alive and the struggles of the family alive wishing they could see their daughter alive again. The movie is a serial-killer mystery, a teenage melodrama, a domestic tragedy and a candy-hued ghost story.

Word Count: 399