Based on the novel you chose for independent reading, choose a quote and explain the historical significance of the book. Or, discuss an inspirational character or part of the book. Please be sure to give the title of the book and pages you are referencing.
"He didn't have to diss me on the ball court. That was wrong and he knew it was wrong but he didn't care. Where that put me was I had to either quit or give up what I was about of go back and still play with the team and just give up my respect."
ReplyDelete(Slam! By Walter Dean Myers. Chap. 4, pp. 45-46).
Slam! by Walter Dean Myers is about a 17 year old name Greg "Slam" Harris. Greg's passion is basketball because it gives him a sense of being good at something because when it comes to school, Greg isn't the best student. However one day he hopes to make it to the pros and finally get out of his neighborhood which is the main source of his problems. Everyone one around him was either robbing others or selling drugs and basketball is the only thing saving Greg from giving in to the lifestyle of those around him. On the court, he grapples with the coach, who seems to be really bias when it comes to the whole team playing basketball, he always disregard Slam’s need to play for the team.
For the same reason some white people dislike black people. It greatly depends upon the amount, and type, of exposure that a person experienced while growing up from childhood to adulthood. Most people are not inherently racist, even if someone had racist parents growing up, they could still become individuals that despise racism and are not racist themselves. Most white people that are racist are ignorant to the culture and backgrounds that other people have. They are scared of new and different things and they feel that makes them superior to black people. Thankfully, most white people don't think this way, unfortunately enough of them do that it makes many black people believe that we are all racist. Every race, culture and civilization on Earth has contributed a tremendous amount of knowledge, wisdom, and innovation to our current way of life. Without all of this diversity, the world would have been a very boring place to live.
"People figure you either got heart or you a punk," he went on. "If you stand up to them then they figure you got heart and they don't try to dis you."
ReplyDelete(Somewhere in the Darkness By Walter Dean Myers, pp.89)
This quote stuck out to me since this is a common lesson that all people must learn. Jimmy Little, the protagonist of the story, was recieving this leasson from his dad, Crab, around this part of the story. Before meeting, Jimmy never knew who his father was, and he looked at life from a lazy perspective. Of course, Crab isn't the best example of what a father should be or act, but he's the best example that Jimmy will end up getting.
The relationship between a father and son is very special. Although this specialness isn't shown much through the story between Jimmy and Crab, this is one of those moments where they share a special bonding moment. Unfortunately, people in our soceity are sick and twisted. Most people today have horrible lives and experiences, so they try to take it out on others to make themselves feel superior and better about themselves. By letting others walk over, you're automatically showing them that they've won. In Crab's case, it would be showing that you're a "punk". Everyone has to go through atleast one moment in their life where they are confronted by a bully or someone of ignorance, and Crab helped Jimmy out through this situation. Although Jimmy is skeptical of Crab being his real father, Crab did play the role of what a father should do for his family, preferably his son. He gave Jimmy advice on a topic that bothered him, which in the end guided him out of that situation. This defintely relates to the them of family within the book. Everyone needs some type of role model or family member to watch over them in their time of need. Definitely in today's time, as a lot of society holds these negative people that try to make themselves seem superior to others.
"There are years that ask questions and years that answer. Janie had no choice to know things, so she had to ask. Did marriage end like the cosmic loneliness of the unmated? Did marriage compel love like the sun the day?"
ReplyDelete(Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurtson Chapter 3 page 21)
The quote explains mainly the historical significance and where women stand in the society. In the quote, it states that Janie had no chance to know things. The society doesn't expect the women to know anything except for cooking, cleaning and taking care of children. They also think that women are incomplete without a husband in their life. Janie fits this stereotype because without a husband she basically doesn't have a personality. She finds herself through having a husband. Women are capable of doing practically anything a man can do. Unfortunately, the society does not realize that and continues with the stereotypes. They think because women are "fragile and weak" they cannot take on a man's job or do anything for themself.
"Candy was in the road by the time I got out of the car.'I killed Beau,' she said."
ReplyDelete(A Gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines,chapter 3, page 15)
This quote would provide readers with the main problem in the story, as Beau's death (considering that he was a white man) were killed by Candy and her group of 'hit-men' (who are all black). Later parts of the book will start to explain why Candy wanted Beau dead, and why she sent out a group of 'old men' to kill him instead of her doing it herself. In history this can be connected to the various crimes related to race/ethnicity after the events of the emancipation proclamation and during the reconstruction period, where black folk tried to enter a society in which they weren't wanted in. White folk didn't approve of the transition of blacks into society, so they tried to restrain them through any means possible.
It was not death or dying that frightened him, but the unexpectedness of both. In sorting it all out, he hit on the notion that if one day a year were devoted to it, everybody could get it out of the way and the rest of the year would be safe and free. In this manner he instituted National Suicide Day. (Sula , 1919.23)
ReplyDeleteWhat this quote explains is that Shadrack created National Suicide Day, because in the end everyone dies. And of course, death is an uncontrollable element like the weather. So he gives people the choice to chose their death. In a way he let's them choose the uncontrollable, and stabilizes it so you can control it in return. When Shadrack first created National Suicide Day, everyone looked at him like he was a crazy person, who lost his mind, and no one tried to go out when he came around with his holiday. Of course, it's quite understandable of how the people saw him. A crazy old man, with nothing towards his future, but just a silly old holiday. But in some wicked way, Shadrack creation of National Suicide Day was quite brilliant. People can die at any moment. We don't know our life span in this world. As many say, life is too short. So instead of being afraid of death which is waiting for us at any moment, why not control when you'll die? If we control our living style, why not control our time of death? What Shadrack was trying to point was all about control and that's what it was throughout the whole book. Control of our actions, reactions, and abilities, as well as urges. Which it shows throughout the whole book,especially through Sula and Nel, including their mothers. So, taking control upon everything you do, straight to your death. Then, nothing unexpected will happen to you and you'll know the reason of your death .