Double Impulse

What double impulse does the writer experience in the story?  How does the experience of internment influence the author?  What do you learn about outside influences from reading this section?  How are you affected by outside influences?

The writer had the urge to disappear but the desire to be acceptable at the same time. The internment camp leaves the author thinking that's how she should be treated even when she's living a normal free life, which is wrong.  I learned that outside influences make a big difference in people's lives.  People want to be accepted and feel welcome. Especially with all this happening during her growing years, she will grow up thinking discrimination and feeling left out, which once again is not right.  The perfect example of outside influences on me is ever pressure.  Being 18 years old, you get pressured into a lot of things you might not necessarily want to do.  In the story the girl getting left out just because her culture messed something up is messed up, just because I have blonde hair doesn't mean I'm a dumb blonde.  People need to get to know someone before assuming and jumping to conclusions.

Two Kinds

1. Do parents’ high expectations encourage children to be their best or discourage them by setting them up to fail?  Explain.  Use examples from your life or the story.

Parents should have expectations for their children but their expectations should be reasonable.  Children think they know best but in reality kids should listen to their parents more often.  If parents have unreasonable expectations, they are setting their children up for failure, especially if its something the kid doesn't wanna do.  I can relate to parents having too high of standards because I know multiple parents that want their children to have straight A's and perfect attendance.  Sorry parents but no ones perfect.  If parents used positive reinforcement by appreciating their child's hardest work, kids would definately try the best of their ability and it would be very encouraging.   

Struggle to be an all American girl!

1. Why is it hard for children in any culture to relate to their parents’ ideas about what’s best for them?
2. Do students typically feel a “disconnect” with their parents’ backgrounds or cultural traditions?
3. What might help students be open to learning from their parents’ experiences?

It is definitely hard for children to relate to parents ideas in many circumstances.  Parents pass down how they were raised but society changes usually an individuals customs stay the same.  Children think they are smart and know everything but honestly, they don't.  Parents want their children raised a specific way.
I think students do feel a disconnect from parents background and culture, especially if your parents are of different cultures.  It's hard to balance both into a child's life.  If I'm German and don live in Germany, it's hard to bring the German culture to your life.
Students would probably love to learn about their parents and how hey grew up because its definitely different than how we grow up today.  At the same time, parents can't force their children to learn because it will make them care less about their parents life's.  

My Poem

The Media
The public eye
Changing people's opinions
Making girls cry
Radio
Tv
Paper
Full of lies and doubts
To society it's perfect
Reality
It's not
The silent killer
Affects us all
The media

Mother to Son

Mother to Son

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair. 

Poverty Community

I think living in a community like Harlem in " The Baddest Dog in Harlem," definitely affects everyone that lives there.  People act how they are taught and what they see on a daily basis.  I think if you grow up in crime and poverty you will live that way until YOU change the way you live.  I feel like the majority of people that live in towns like that are used to the way they live and don't want to change.  People can try to change it all they want but until the people decide to change it will remain how it's always been.  If you grow up with a parent that smokes, you are more likely to smoke than someone who's parent don't smoke.  I think the same goes for someone that grows up in violence, crime, and poverty.  If that is all you know, you will pass that on through generations of your family.  

Black Men and Public Space

In the stories they speak of topics of violence, crime, poverty, and racism in different ways in the public eye.  In the article they talk about racism of African Americans in the media and in the economic and social viewpoint.  They talk about how dark skinned blacks get treated worse than light skinned blacks, and I definitely agree.  In today's tv shows especially, you notice the darker the skin the more trouble you are, weather you're a boy or girl.  Ive ever experienced a racist statement to me but me being a teenage girl, I get treated way differently than a middle aged woman, let alone an elderly woman.  I think things like this happen just because of the way society changes,  I know for a fact the younger we are the more accepting we are.  Older people ( grandmas, and grandpas ) tend to stick to tradition, where they are more crotchety and only know what they grew up with unlike us teens today who grew up with all different races.  Until all the old people die, I think it will continue to happen.  They want what they have always had, and don't like change.  

Gordon Parks ( Choice of Weapons )

How do you think a camera can be used as a weapon?  What other nonviolent “weapons” might be effective in the battle against injustice?  

A camera can be used as a weapon in various ways.  It can capture pictures that someone might not want others to see.  It can be a good source of evidence for many events.  In today's society I would definitely say Facebook, twitter, and other social media sites are sources of nonviolent weapons. People get bullied a lot over those sites because you're hidden behind a computer.  There is many "weapons" that you wouldn't think of on the daily basis, but you can take items and use them against someone or even yourself.