The Continuation of Racial Inequality

While reading, “The Champion of the World,” I couldn’t help but draw similarities to the Black Lives Matter injustices we are witnessing today. For example, while describing the fight the announcer states, “the referee is signaling but the contender keeps raining the blows on Louis”(89). The referee's job is to ultimately make sure that both contender’s play within the rules and to keep both boxers from becoming fatally injured. In this instance however, the official doesn’t punish the white fighter for continuing to “rain the blows on Louis”(89). Similarly, the police that serve as our protection in order to keep us safe, have had the same biased against minorities. Whether referees or policemen, the amount of enforcement used should be distributed equally no matter what race, religion, or gender.

*Nearly 1 in 3 black people killed by police in 2015 were identified as unarmed, though the actual number is likely higher due to underreporting

Another relevant issue I noticed in this piece is the fact that the throughout the strive for equality, the presence of unity is lost. Without any type of consensus between the groups, how could any issues be solved? Macklemore poses the same question in a newly released song regarding the Black Lives Matter movement we have today,

“Zipped up my parka, joined the procession of marchers

In my head like, "Is this awkward?

Should I even be here marching?"

I want to take a stance because we are not free

And then I thought about it, we are not "we"

Am I in the outside looking in, or am I in the inside looking out?

Is it my place to give my two cents?

Or should I stand on the side and shut my mouth?

"No justice, no peace," okay, I'm saying that

They're chanting out, "Black Lives Matter," but I don't say it back”

Macklemore brings up the point that there is an undertone which questions the intentions of 
who should fight for equality. Even though you may not be the same race as the victims, doesn’t mean you can’t be pissed off.  Even though the ultimate goal is to create a world where all ethnicities can live peacefully together, the races are still divided. In fact the only time the white race is mentioned in “The Champion of the World,” is to describe the shortcoming of the white contender during the violent fight or allude to slavery. The separation between the two communities represent an even bigger issue that will have no solution unless common ground is established.

Fitzgerald's Portrayal of Women

Throughout all of Fitzgerald’s stories, he conveys the sense that women are merely foolish objects. For example, in the Diamond as the Big as the Ritz, Kismine actually gets offended when John called her sophisticated. She even argues to show John she isn’t as intelligent as he thinks she is, “I’m very innocent and girlish. I never smoke, or drink, or read anything except poetry. I know scarcely any mathematics or chemistry. I think sophisticated is the last thing you can say about me”(Fitzgerald 11.) I personally was very shocked to read this because I would be thrilled if someone ever called me sophisticated- not take it as an insult. Kismine lists all of the things she can’t do to “dumb herself down” to John, as if being intelligent is something to be ashamed of.

In Winter Dreams, the only thing Fitzgerald describes about Judy Jones is her “merely beautiful” appearance. Fitzgerald purposely puts emphasis on the grip Judy Jones has over many men saying, “under the magic of her physical splendor the strong as well as the brilliant played her game and not their own.”

Fitzgerald also touches on young girl’s expectations in society in The Great Gatsby, through Daisy’s evident disappointment when she found out her child was a girl, “She told me it was a girl, and so I turned my head away and wept. 'All right,' I said, 'I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool – that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." Yet again, Fitzgerald conveys the sad standards of the 1920’s- girls are only necessary to become wifes. The only thing that is appreciated in woman is there external appearance.There are two ways a reader could interpret Fitzgerald’s intentions; he is either extremely degrading towards women, or he is trying to reveal the universal truth that women are expected to be nothing more than objects.

Favorite Passage from The Great Gatsby

“I wanted to get out and walk eastward toward the park through the soft twilight but each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild strident argument which pulled me back, as if with ropes, into my chair. Yet high over the city our line of yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, and I was with him too, looking up and wondering. I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life” (Fitzgerald, 40.)

I love this passage from The Great Gatsby because it literally takes Nick and puts him into another perspective, allowing the reader to connect with the story. Fitzgerald even uses the pronoun “our” taking the reader back in time, to join the life of New York City. At the same time Nick is roaming around the city, he is also confined by the chaos in his life but mesmerized by the lights and amount of people he is surrounded by. Therefore, he takes himself out of the present to investigate the “human secrecy” of New York.  Many times, I find myself doing this as well. I notice that I have been just observing people, not to judge them, but to observe the “variety of life.” I agree with Fitzgerald, it is sometimes repelling to see so much difference, because it's a rude awakening that the world just doesn’t revolve around your small problems that you perceive to be such a big deal. But I think Nick, in this case,  is repelled because he is in a room with the richest of New York and they are just blowing money, and he’s watching the other social classes cope with their situations. What is enchanting about it though, is that there is so much more life to discover. Especially in this time period, there are different ethnicities, music, social classes, sexualities, and so much more Nick just hasn’t been introduced to. I personally think it's comforting to see a family or somebody through a window because it gives you as strange sense of community in a way, even though you may have never met that person. I love the fact that Fitzgerald chose to make Nick look up and wonder at his own life. It conveys the sense that things can be so much more different than what they seem like on the outside. “Stranger” Nick, may have envied the rich people at this wild party. On the other hand Nick is looking down on the city wishing he could be the guy roaming the streets. But, instead he is confined by the chaos of Tom and Myrtle. Fitzgerald ultimately reveals the natural human tendency to envy strangers through irony and creating a different persona for Nick.

Evolution of Lies

While reading the article, “How To Talk To Kids About Thanksgiving,” naturally I had to compare Crystal Brunelle's and Rebecca Valbuena’s teaching strategies to “The History Teacher.” Both of these teachers realize that it is vital to inform these children with historically accurate info, without having to take away their innocence. There is a fine line between “softening up” the harsh truths of history and lying to students.

Throughout my life, I have been told the common lies that everyone tell their kids. For example, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Leprechauns, etc. At first, of course I had to believe my parents. I was just a kid, I would have never thought my parents would have been LYING to me. Lying when I was a kid, was unfathomable, there was no way my parents could lie to me.

When I got older, I started to question how logical Santa and all of these made up characters were. I used to constantly try to calculate the strict time schedule Santa had, and if it were even possible. I came to the conclusion that it had to be real. Why would adults pour millions of dollars into decorations, books, and movies, for it to be about a fake character? It just seemed like too much effort was put into idolizing this figure, so it had to be real. Today, I still sympathize for kids that are in that “middle stage,” that I was once in. Having the ability to recognize that this fantasy holiday world may just be a million dollar brand, is one of the most confusing stages to be in.

Even now, I still encounter these false truths that are forced upon me by adults. In school, we are taught things to be one way. For example, in our history books, there is a clear bias to America. In every war, America is looked to have the best interest at heart. In WWII America we were the “saviors” that liberated the concentration camps. But we also wiped out 129,000 humans. Naturally, teachers don’t want to spend as much time discussing the disturbing wrongdoings of America. Teachers and parents need to realize that it is inevitable that children will grow up, but it is the student’s duty to recognize the biases and lies that we have constantly been exposed to throughout our lives.

Therapeutic Chaos in The Glass Castle

Although fire may seem extremely dangerous to most people, to Jeannette Walls, fire was seen as therapeutic. The book starts off with one of her very first memories, at the age of three she was burnt while trying to make hot dogs. “I smelled burning and heard a horrible crackling sound as the fire singed my hair and eyeballs”(Walls 9.) This seemingly traumatic event was actually the least of Jeannette’s worries, and actually sparked her interest in fire. It hurt her physically, but also gave her a sense of confidence because she was praised for being strong,”She has already fought the fire once and won” (Walls 15.) This gave her a sense of achievement and positive attention from her parents.

After she burned Tinkerbell I first thought that she was a straight up a psychotic kid, but as I kept reading, I realized that any kid living in her environment would have to be a little bit crazy to cope with her family’s unorthodox lifestyle. This event showed that she didn’t care for materialistic objects, even though she barely had anything in the first place. This also introduced Jeannette as being rebellious, and showed that her inconsistent parents barely set any boundaries.

I also noticed that fire in The Glass Castle, gives a sense of order in Jeannette’s life. She definitely had a crazy childhood though, constantly moving between states, while her family was struggling to sustain a stable income. She takes pleasure into watching the flames engulf her toy, and in some odd way, is very therapeutic to her. It shows the line between turbulence and order. In that moment, she can choose to either blow out the flames to restore order, or let the fire keep burning until the brink of turbulence. It seems like her father taught her this risky habit through his actions as well. He would restore order just before chaos unleashed, by picking up and driving off to another “adventure.” Being able to control fire was the only thing that she could control in her crazy childhood.

The Destructive Social Construction

“If you're going to hold someone down you're going to have to hold on by the other end of the chain. You are confined by your own repression.” - Toni Morrison

When I heard the horrific news about Paris Friday night, I was on my way to a friend’s house. I got in the car to go, but I couldn’t help but to just sit for a second and cry. I cried because obviously I felt horrible for all of the victims and their families. I was trying to make sense of it all but then I thought of a quote from The Bluest Eye, “There is really nothing more to say-except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.” These actions are so disgustingly unfathomable, that the question of “why” is unanswerable.  Trying to answer this question can put yourself in such an evil mindset. This quote made me realize that asking the question “why” sometimes is bad for your own mental state.

On the other hand, part of my emotions was due to frustration. Here I am, a 16 year old, middle class, white girl. I have faced no major adversities in my life. No major financial troubles. No discrimination. No abusive stereotypes. I used to think that I will never be able to understand what it would be like to be discriminated against or a victim of terror. But, these attacks sheds light on the cold truth that nobody is safe in today's world. These victims were picked at random.

Reading this book and having these terrible acts of terrorism happen nearly simultaneously, I feel a sense of helplessness. Helplessness due to the fact that different religions and races have been discriminated against for hundreds of years, and this issue is still going on today. Not only this, but also the fact that these horrific acts are a result of society’s own -in Morrison’s own words- “social construct.” That is the most frustrating part, all of these deaths are due to a mere social construction that we, as humans, all have the ability to control.

Why is white beautiful?

While reading the novel, The Bluest Eye, I was really taken aback from the strong self-hatred Pecola, just a young girl, had for herself. Of course, most of her self hatred is a result of society’s extreme influence on our adolescents. Toni Morrison even says that that African American beauty is considered to be ugly, “ support for it leaning at [African Americans] from every billboard, every movie, every glance.” Although this book takes place in 1941, even today we consider white skin to be better when it comes to beauty.

Even celebrity idols that we look up to put on makeup to appear to have whiter skin. If these faces are constantly being thrown at us through TV screens, magazines, and billboards, what is that saying to african american people girls over the world? That they must try to appear to be as white as possible to be seen as “beautiful?” These women should be an example for younger girls and be  proud of their own genetic makeup, not try to cover up their true skin color.

Toni Morrison also said that, “Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do.” This quote really struck me because I had always thought of beauty as being something that someone could physically achieve. I always hear, “Her hair is beautiful,” but I have never heard that the way someone treats others or carries themselves as being beautiful. I agree with Morrison that beauty should not just be a physical characteristic, because somebody could be beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. Morrison is ultimately saying that inner beauty is what truly matters.

It is vital that the people that we look up to, like Beyonce, Nicki, and many other celebrities realize that they too are playing a huge role in the typical “beauty standards” that we set for our youth. At the end of the day, white or black beauty doesn’t even matter at all because beauty is an action, not a skin color.