Readings for 3/25

How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie
This is an extremely prejudiced story. It is filled with racial stereotypes. This young boy thinks he knows every girl so well just by their race or background, that he feels he can even predict their exact words in a conversation he would have with them. He plans out all his actions accordingly for what color the girl is that he is meeting.

Battle Royal
I found this poem to be both strange and repulsive. It is disgusting to envision how these men were treated in this story and how they felt the need to just go along with it all. The author of this story went through all the torture the men put him through just to try to gain their respect, which would never happen. He thought the whole time, of his speech, and how he would look during it. I couldn't believe how none of them would work together- how they all just felt that they had to do what these men told them. They fought each other and laughed "embarrassedly" as they were being electrocuted and shocked. They did all that for money that was not even of real value. The narrator tried to get his opponent to end the fight by offering him more money, yet he could just as well have fallen down and ended it, but he wanted to win, to prove himself. The narrator humiliated himself in front of the men while giving his speech and did not even realize it. He just felt he had to prove himself worthy to these people. And for what? he got his education and broke his grandfather's curse, which he completely misinterpreted.


No Name Woman
This story, as well, shows how brutally people who are different or who are considered disgraceful to one's society can be treated, even by their own race or village. This story focused on some very interesting elements of Chinese culture- like the no-speaking rule at meals and the way the women have to fix their hair. It is terrible that there is such an image that has to be fulfilled so precisely in order to be accepted. One of the worst parts of this story that I found was the fact that the Aunt finally decided to kill her baby for the sole reason that it would not have a name. It would not know its history or heritage, so it would be haunted forever. This shows how terribly important something like a name is for this culture, and that no one ever said her name again also emphasizes this. It is terrible that a woman who made a mistake, or maybe was forced into making one had to be treated this way.

Becky
This was an interesting story in that it shows how fearful people are of abnormality. This old woman terrified the townspeople just because she was different. People would not go near her house or even believe that she still lived, all because they could not bring themselves to accept someone like her. I liked this strength that Becky held over them. She did stay isolated, like they wanted, but she scared the people into giving her food and things that probably allowed her and her kids to survive. Her two boys made a statement when they left, and so did she, when she died, crumpled beneath the bricks of a fireplace believed to be haunted. She made a statement by having a second black child, which showed that she did not regret her actions and would not give in to the public's jeering.

America
I thought that was a strange way of describing this country, especially after how big and powerful it became in such a short time. However, the line "I love this cultured hell that tests my youth" reveals that the author does have passion for this country. The following lines suggest that the author is thinking of the potential that America holds in becoming very large and strong and unbroken by time. This shows the author's belief that America has promise and is worth standing for.

If We Must Die
I like this poem. I found it to be very powerful. The author is very strong and shows no fear, only resilience and determination. He is saying that they know they have to die, so they might as well die fighting, die trying to provide opportunity for others, and die trying to make a difference and a statement. This is very noble and courageous and causes me to respect the narrator.