Bibliography
Ahmed, Leila. “On Becoming Arab a Personal Story.” On Becoming Arab a Personal Story.
Through this piece the reader sees how the author struggles with self identity. She doesn’t know how to categorize herself because she relies on other people to give her labels. Through reflect the author takes us on a journey through time explaining why she feels stuck in the labels people give her. In the end she explains that identity is something we determine for ourselves.
Attar, Lina Sergie. “Syrian Children Draw What Used to Be Home.” New York Times (New York, NY), November 5, 2013.
In this article the reader is taken through thoughts of a volunteering teacher who goes to Syria, and volunteers at a school at the refugee camps. She tells her students to draw their home, or where they came from. Through imagery she describes that the child drew what they wish their houses would look like rather than herself who would have drawn a depiction of her home. She explains that even though the situation is so bad that they use it as an escape, and how naturally optimistic children are. This makes her sad because she knows that the situation will not be fixed right away. Through this article I took away how as we grow up we reflect more on the past than have wants for the future, and as we grow our imganiation turns less spontaneous and more practical.
Brandatan, Costica. “The Wisdom of Exile.” New York Times (New York, NY), August 16, 2014. Accessed August 27, 2017. https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/16/the-wisdom-of-the-exile/?mcubz=1&mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=003A3118DFF133455CEACC7C06BE1DEA&gwt=pay&assetType=opinion.
The Wisdom of Exile explains how wisdom can not be obtained until after you leave a place. You must be an outsider to actually grow from an in-group due to the fact that you have bars based on the in-group. I talks about how in order to grow and change you must more past your self in to isolation.
Coates, Ta- Nehisi. Between the World and Me. New York, NY: Spiegel & Grau, n.d.
This text is written as a letter to his son. Through its informal language the author illustrates that the constructs of race comes from racism, and because in order to justify hate people need to categorize them as below them. This letter tells the truth that although we think we can change racism we can only change when both parties are willing.
Cole, Teju. “The Superhero Photographs of the Black Lives Matter Movement.” New York Times (New York, NY), July 26, 2016. Accessed August 28, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/magazine/the-superhero-photographs-of-the-black-lives-matter-movement.html?mcubz=1.
Through this piece Cole explains the complexity of modern day super hero’s. Not only does he say that we should stand up and take action, but to remember that all these modern hero’s are also human. As human we are breakable who tend to put people on pedestals. Cole breaks this down by saying even though we all have fear it is normal.
Elliott, Andrea. “Invisible Child.” New York Times (New York, NY), December 9, 2013.
In this article the reader is taken in to a true story on what it is like to be homeless in New York City. As a reader we find ourselves involved in a story of a girl who tries to fit into society while being homeless and has to grow into adulthood as a child. We are taken throughout her life as she grows from a child into an adult and are shown how home is not where we want it to be, but is a place that makes us feel the most comfortable.
Howard, Rachel. “Gesture Writing.” New York Times (New York, NY), May 23, 2013. Accessed August 27, 2017. https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/25/gesture-writing/?mcubz=1.
‘Through this article Howard captures the anxiety and fears that a young artists has when going to their first figure drawing class. Through her description she is able to capture the raw and organic tone of gestural drawings. She explains that drawing is a process and a way to capture the essence of a moment.
Kincaid, Jamaica. “Girl.” In At the Bottom of the River. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000.
Through this list, the reader is able to see how different lessons were drilled into the authors head. The list is filled with typical female stereotypes, that dehumanize women. At the end is a question that leaves the reader stunned, the author wants to make the reader question if we should let others make us people who we don’t want to be, or that if our past faults and mistakes will eventually turn us into people are parents told us were not worthy of simple things.
Lopate, Phillip. “The Tender Stranger.” In Bachelorhood: Tales of the Metropolis. N.p.: Arbor House, 1985.
Though this short passage called The Tender Stranger the reader is able to see how differently children versus adults view interactions. As children the simplest gestures can be turned into a cherished memory versus the adult who might not think much of it.
Rodriguez, Richard. “The Achievement of Desire.” The Achievement of Desire, 597-607.
Through this text the reader is able to see two sides of a story. From one point of view the reader sees an student who work his way through his current circumstances; on the other hand the reader sees the same students frustrations with his family, and how he slowly separates himself from them. Through this piece I was able to connect with both the parents and the student. To me I feel like I make my parents feel disappointed in myself due to my lack of intelligence when it comes to science. It really showed me that in order to move past the insecurities I have with my parents I have to accept that we are different people.
Worthham, Jenna. “My Selfie, Myself.” New York Times (New York, NY), October 19, 2013. Accessed August 27, 2017. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/sunday-review/my-selfie-myself.html?mcubz=1.
Although Wortham believes that there is no difference between Selfies and black and white portraits, what one shows to the public is an entire different persona than who we actually are. To the different people we encounter everyone changes or shifts their own persona; we do this to protect our self from due to fear from judgment.
