Author: robles.79

Text Review – All American – Kaitlyn Robles

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I will be reviewing a show on Netflix, called All American. All American is about an African-American teen, Spencer James, from a rough area in California, called Crenshaw. Spencers’ story is somewhat based on a true-story, most of it is modified rather than being strictly factual. He gets the opportunity to move to Beverly Hills to play football, and decides to take it after lots of thought. Although he knew it was a good opportunity for him to take, he struggled to leave his mom and brother alone in that neighborhood, and his identity he had while living there. Once he decides to move into Beverly Hills with his coach, Billy Baker, he begins going to school and starting a new life there. After having some struggles with his peers at his new school, they will eventually come around and begin treating him as one of their own, but before that happens he will face multiple instances of injustices, and power be abused. Moving from Crenshaw to Beverly Hills was a big difference in terms of economic status and diversity. Some of the ways in which the economic status affected him, was him feeling as if he did not fit in with the “rich kids”, as well as when he was expected to dress up for booster events, and did not have the blazers or suits that the other players and attendees had. This was very difficult for him to admit and explain, but when he did his coaches family was more than willing to offer him one. In terms of diversity and racial differences, he faced many injustices, but a couple of which stuck out to me in particular. The first of these, being when he was at the boosters party, and a teammates’ father referred to him as a “South Crenshaw thug”. This was very inappropriate and demeaning to Spencer, as he was there to seek opportunities and help the team win, not to hurt anyone, nor was he a “thug” and quite the opposite. Another instance where this occurs, is when he shares that he’s “the only one here with his future riding on this season, these other guys don’t have anything to lose” (Spencer). In this, Spencer feels as if playing football and getting recruited by a college is his only way out of Crenshaw, and he must work for it everyday, and greatly fears it falling through. Much of this storyline also relates to the people of Crenshaw and their lack of opportunity, and degree of which they feel like there is no way out. Some of his peers said “You and me are not like Spencer we don’t have a way out, we gotta make the best of what we got right here” (Tyrone). Even Spencers’ mother feels this way as she states “I asked you to take this shot to give yourself a chance at something more”, as she knew this was the best thing for him. In the beginning, Spencer keeps returning home to check on his family and visit them, and slowly becomes better at making a new life in Beverly Hills and coming to terms with his “new” identity. When he does return home, he encounters issues with gangs and some violence and he sees that it isn’t where he wants to be, which I think pushes him to try even harder. I think the creator of this series left these details in the show and as blatantly as possible to provoke our thoughts and reactions. I believe the purpose of showing well handled situations was to influence us to behave that way and create examples of what to do. After finishing this series I was left with many questions and thoughts about ways to combat these issues, and effectively stop them. I also remember having conversations about the show and the way it made me feel, with my parents and friends. Most importantly I think this series provides an inside look at what it is like for those who face this everyday and really gives you a perspective and hopefully encourages you to help others and be part of the change.

Sources:
Daniel Ezra Playing Spencer James. Studybreaks.com, Kayla Johnson,
studybreaks.com/tvfilm/all-american-season-2/. Accessed 30 Nov. 2020.
Ezra, Daniel, and Demetrius Shipp, Jr., performers. “99 Problems.” April Blair.
All American, season 1, episode 2.

Diary of Systemic Injustices Showcase

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Systemic injustices can apply to many different groups of varying minorities. Minorities can be groups that you may not think about, such as members of the LGBTQ+ community. In my life I have seen many different ways that the LGBTQ+ community can be treated in society. I have seen them with lots of support and I have seen them receiving lots of hate. It was not until 2015 that the US Supreme Court ruled gay marriage to be legal across the nation. I think this is a serious issue because it took so long for this to be legal. Although people could date or be “married” in heart, there are many benefits they could’ve experienced from marriage. Other injustices the LGBTQ+ community have faced are discrimination, within several categories. One way they can face legal discrimination, is if they decide to adopt children, for example some states can legally deny them to become parents based on their sexual orientation. Another injustice they face is when they attempt to get housing, as there are still many states (over half) that can deny people for their identity. On top of those life altering policies, they can also legally be fired from their job if their employer finds out their sexual identity and doesn’t accept it. As a white, straight woman, these are not facts I knew before doing research.This is concerning to me because this impairs the lives and abilities of so many people not only in the United States but around the world, when it shouldn’t be able to. Further more, it concerns me that this isn’t typically known to those who it doesn’t directly concern. As we have learned that subalterns can have many different identities and is not just reluctant on the ethnicity one has, I would consider the LGBTQ+ community to still be a subaltern in the United States. We as a country need to give them their rights to a happy and able life, as well as their equality that is more than deserved. To me, this means they need to be protected by the law, and not held back or have their lives on the line, just because of their sexual identity. We as a community and as a whole need to be more accepting of others, as well as free them to be themselves, with their rights still in tact. I found two images which I think are a great representation of this topic. The first says “Thanks for marriage but we need healthcare” and the second says “Not every boy dreams of being a marine”, both of which I think are very powerful messages to society and should be listened to.

Context Research Week 9 (The Leavers pt.2)

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Throughout reading the second half of “the Leavers” by Lisa Ko, we watch Daniel/Deming grow and learn more about his mother. In watching him grow we start to see some of the differences between America and China, and some of the cultural differences between the two. To start out I would like to provide you with the best definition of cultural differences I could find which was, “the various beliefs, behaviors, languages, practices, and expressions considered unique to members of a specific ethnicity, race or national origin”(Chu). Some of the main cultural differences I found within the second half of the book were between Daniel and his adoptive parents, which strongly impacted his life and the outcomes of situations, so I have decided to research the cultural differences between China and the United States.

In one article I found they discuss several differences between the individual cultures, so I will describe them all as well as provide some of the chapters or scenes of which they will be represented. If you keep an eye out for these hidden concepts, it makes for a very interesting story, and helps to gain a deeper understanding as the book unfolds.

1. Social structure: As we saw earlier in the book, Polly begins to describe her previous life and the village she came from in China, and how she had to go to the city for a better job, which required her getting a visa to do so. Later on you will find out that through marriage she is awarded a permanent visa (urban hukou) because of who she marries. I think this is a great representation of one of the differences between China and America because in China they attempt to keep the social classes more separate, where as in America you don’t need a visa to work in the city, and more socialization occurs between the different “classes”. (Chapter 18)
2. Respect: In China respect is more abided and meaningful within their culture rather than in America where it seems “optional”. One of the ways this is showcased throughout the book is the difference in the way Daniel respects Polly and her wishes, versus Kay and her wishes. Daniel tends to hold closer to Chinas values when interacting with Polly and more of Americas beliefs when interacting with his adoptive parents. (Chapter 14 vs. 19)
3. Individualism vs. Collectivism: China is a country where ones individual success is not as praised and celebrated as it is in America. In China being successful is a means of providing for your family, and many other non monetary values, whereas America is very different, where most view success and money hand in hand. This impacts Daniel throughout the book as he grows up with his birthmother and their family all living in an apartment together and happy, then is adopted and everything changes. Daniels’ pre-existing mindset of collectivism and his adoptive parents’ individualism is where they do not see eye to eye, which results in several instances of conflict between him and his adoptive parents. (Chapter 1 vs. 14)

Chu, Andy, editor. “Cultural Differences.” Mightyrecruiter.com, Bold Limited,
2020, www.mightyrecruiter.com/recruiter-guide/hiring-glossary-a-to-z/
cultural-differences/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

Graf, Rebecca. “13 Cultural Differences between America and China.”
Owlcation.com, Maven Coalition, Inc., 20 Mar. 2019, owlcation.com/
social-sciences/10-Major-Cultural-Differences—China-and-the-United-States.
Accessed 17 Oct. 2020.

https://www.mightyrecruiter.com/recruiter-guide/hiring-glossary-a-to-z/cultural-differences/

https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/10-Major-Cultural-Differences—China-and-the-United-States