Author: seth.63

Text Review- Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White

by

The text that I am reviewing concerning the class concepts is Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White. The graphic novel is an autobiography told by the author, Lila Quintero Weaver. It is a compelling novel that informs readers about the implications of race relations as well as the author’s Argentine identity in a segregated society. The author at a young age with her family emigrated from Bueno Aires, Argentina to Marion, Alabama where they encountered significant events of the civil rights movement. Race relations were observed between blacks and whites, including segregation, brutality, and discrimination. The graphic novel also emphasized the author’s difficulty in fitting into society with an intertwined culture and limited classification of her race. Overall, this text shows the prevalence of identity, power, and forms of injustice. In terms of identity, intersectionality regarding race, culture, and language along with living in America shape Lila’s actions. Part of the graphic novel has to do with Argentina’s culture and how it comes in many forms. For instance, food is incorporated into sections of the graphic novel to appeal to Lila’s cultural identity. In many cultures, food is something that binds people together along with other cultural aspects. Lila’s craving for Argentine food brings about a part of her identity that is locked away when she is with the American people. From her viewpoint, this mix of identification makes her stand apart from society. Lila’s identity development has to do with trying to find a balance between these two cultures. Intersectionality not only relates to this novel but also Persepolis and The Leavers. Especially with Persepolis, it is more gender-oriented along with religion. The Leavers novel also deals with migration with ties to race, culture, and language. Power and forms of injustice relate to Othering and racism present. The use of photographic realism, imagery, and background elements help distinguish blacks from whites. One idea that stuck out to me from the novel was the “one-drop” rule when classifying race. This rule practically states that a drop of black ancestry in one’s roots results in the classification of an African American. Race relations in terms of discrimination bring about a power and inequality difference between races. Another example is how the author incorporated the Selma march into the novel. The amount of brutality illustrated regarding the march paints a picture of the degree of violence that people participate in to get their way. Whites have more power in this instance and can relate to the graphic novel, March, and de Beauvoir’s ideas. The Letter from Birmingham thematically argues for nonviolence which is the opposite of what Lila is narrating. Overall, the text demonstrates how identity, power, and injustice all come together to tell a visual story. One big takeaway about the novel and its title is the extent to which racism affects a place and different people. I recommend it to those that have an interest in this plot and thematic ideas.

Image is taken from Google

“Yo, Is This…”-M. Hopkins, A. Roden, S. Seth

by

https://youtu.be/cmnEPg_JLi0

Transcription (also embedded within the video):

S. Seth: All right hey guys. We’re gonna break up the podcast into three sections today. Racism, corruption, and intersectionality.

M. Hopkins: Okay so hey guys. The first thing that I want to discuss is something that is very valid and current to the situation that our world is in today and that is how the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected different minority groups in the United States due to systemic racism. So I found this statistic online that showed approximately 98 out of every 100, 000 African Americans have died from COVID-19 which is a way higher statistic than any other minority group that has suffered. And my biggest takeaway that I found from this was that African Americans along with other minority groups have had a higher rate of not being able to afford any health care and that dates back to before the COVID-19 pandemic even began. And this was reported by a medical social worker who does research on poverty and inequality issues. So that’s what stuck out to me, was that everyone who talks about the COVID-19 pandemic only goes over how it affects people of certain ages or with certain health conditions. But it also goes deeper into that with different minority groups and I think that’s what is overlooked in society. It’s no secret that healthcare has been unaffordable for many people in the lower class of America and that especially includes African Americans so therefore it is African Americans and other minorities who struggle to receive top quality treatment in care at hospitals since statistically, they make up much of the lower class along with other minority groups. And those people are the people that struggle to recover from illnesses such as COVID-19 because they’re living in poor conditions in society. If an individual were to be admitted to the hospital without insurance in this case which would be an African American person who has the highest rates of people who are uninsured in America. They would be required to pay the entire medical bill which is much more unaffordable.

A. Roden: These minority groups also are more likely to live in crowded areas and work in places that can’t be carried out remotely so when we all went into quarantine, they still had to go into work. So they were more likely to get COVID. They also are more likely to use public transportation than white Americans which adds to higher rate of infection.

S. Seth: I think this example makes us redefine what racism is based on One and the Other characterizations and how single stories play into that. Another example that relates to this has to do with the gun violence happening in Portland, Oregon that puts police officers and victims at high risk. The continued number of riots and gang violence related to increased percentage of homicides affects many victims who are of color. Ironically, there’s only 5.8 percent of black people who live in the city and within last June and this June, 42 percent of victims killed due to homicide were black. So this One and the Other relationship is further tied into that and it’s further demonstrated in the graphic novel March. It puts more biasedness in the short story Recitatif. So I think racism can be linked to corruption. So an example is the Taliban’s quick dominance and control of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops. So when the Taliban took control, immediate effects were observed such as foreign currency cut-offs and the education remaining inaccessible for most women. Their overarching power, strength in numbers, and lack of equality overwhelmed the Afghan citizens so this further again demonstrates One and the Other characterization opposed than Okonkwo’s fall, Okonkwo’s presence in Things Fall Apart. This fall in power compared to the Taliban’s rise in power further portrays signs of corruption and biasedness present.

A. Roden: And something you pointed out when you talked about bias within the African American community I wanted to point out that they have suffered unfair treatment in the legal system for decades and they’re more likely than white Americans to be arrested and once they’re arrested, they’re more likely to be convicted and sentenced to longer time. And this kind of relates back to John Lewis’s March when black people were being arrested for no reason. Obviously a lot has changed and gotten better since then but there’s still, we still see racism. We still see police brutality among black Americans, inequality that has have still been carried out onto present day.

M. Hopkins: I think you had an interesting point there. I also agree with that and I also think that in this case like in America with systemic injustice and racism that exists, the African Americans are the subaltern in society while they’re trying to speak up and defend the rights. It’s been a struggle in the past year and a half, especially with police brutality becoming a rising issue because of the racial divide that the country is now in. I also think it is hard for the government to see these protests to try to put an end to the systemic injustice because prejudice does not just go away as we know. And there lies the question who the subaltern is, which in this case is African Americans and other minority groups in America.

A. Roden: Yeah that’s that is a good point and something that we tried to do so there isn’t much of there’s less of this subaltern and there’s less of this Othering are the protests that were happening especially after the death of George Floyd. There was peaceful protests all across the U.S., that I mean still go on now to spark change in America’s justice system. And this also reminds me of John Lewis’s idea of non-violence. Something that I found within the LGBTQ community. Although they like have equal rights as anyone else in America they still suffer from discrimination and unequal opportunity is a big thing. 68 percent reported that sexual and or gender identity discrimination has affected their mental health and 43 percent reported that discrimination has affected their physical well-being compared to
you know like just because they feel they are not as accepted and it’s harder. It’s more difficult for them to fit into society. So there was this. An example of this one man who explained how he would never be fired for being gay. But when the men at his firm go out for drinks, they don’t invite the women or the gay men, which eliminates opportunity that could lead to a promotion. And so he describes how he has tried to change certain attributes about himself to seem more masculine so that he can be invited out for drinks that lead to you know promotions and he can have more opportunities. So it relates to this idea of intersectionality because many members of this community feel like they have to hide who they really are to receive the same treatment and receive certain opportunities as someone who’s not in the LGBTQ community.

S. Seth: Yeah so intersectionality is based on that story, can relate to gender and orientation and how that affects one’s actions. It’s seen in the Persepolis film, novel when it comes to gender and religion, happening to Marji, and also in The Leavers when it comes to the intertwinement of race, culture, and language seeing in Deming. This further brings about biasedness and also ties into some signs of corruption presented in other people’s perspectives.

M. Hopkins: I think all these concepts also relate to each other with talking about the LGBTQ community. I think that it’s very similar in a way to the African American community as well as the Afghanistan people. I think they all relate in a certain way by fitting into the phenomenon of Othering. Because all these individuals and like groups of people, hard to find as labeling themselves as not fitting in within the norms of a social group or society. So I think that also statistically when these groups you talk about like the LGBTQ community of people saying how being gay has affected their mental health or physical health. I think that it’s true just within society as a whole and it’s due to inequality and prejudice that has existed in our country and around the world.

A. Roden: Yeah I agree with that.

S. Seth: So this can further characterize single stories what we learned at the beginning of class. So from racism to corruption to intersectionality, all these like we said are intertwined and relate to biasedness.

 

Diary Showcase: Taliban in Afghanistan

by

A systemic issue about power and inequality involves the Taliban’s quick dominance and control of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops. When the Taliban took control, immediate effects were observed such as foreign currency cutoffs and education remaining inaccessible for most women. The Taliban’s actions, including torture and murder, continue to shape their identity. This event has been in the global news and several articles within the past few months or so. It can be distinguished as a form of systemic injustice because of one group of people being directly affected by another group. The Taliban’s overarching power, strength in numbers, and lack of equality overwhelm the Afghan citizens. The Taliban in this scenario can be depicted as de Beauvoir’s One, representing power and continuing to set itself apart from civilians and other forms of government. There is instability in Afghanistan as the poverty, economic status, and food supply worsen. The fleeing of the Afghan president and the continued force and violence of the Taliban further supports this form of injustice. The idea of the Taliban’s power is not like Okonkwo’s diminish in voice and leadership in Things Fall Apart but rather a radical change of Afghanistan’s image. According to the Long War Journal, an image of the country before and after the withdrawal of American troops reveals the increased number of cities that the Taliban conquered and contested. After American troops withdrew, there were only a few government-controlled cities left. Connecting to local people, the BBC News recounts some of the stories and impact following the Taliban takeover. An example is Zahra who was a university student before the Taliban arrived. She had expressed her passion for school and how her dreams were put on hold due to the inability to return to classes. Another example is Sana who has talked about the lack of freedom and rights being thrown away at the hands of the Taliban. From a couple of these stories, one can further conclude the Taliban’s One characterization and its effect on others. A more direct response to the Taliban’s rule is the continued bombings and ambushes targeting security forces. Not only is the Taliban active in the country but also the pandemic remains a threat. This event poses a global issue because of the previous involvement of America with the Taliban and the recognition of other countries around Afghanistan. It is also relevant to me because I had written a paper about the Taliban a few years ago. This systemic injustice makes me concerned about the Afghan people as many strongly want to flee the country. The Taliban throughout the years have been ruthless and already have an established image to their organization. The power and equality differences between the groups are indicative of systemic injustice.

 

Sources:

  1. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/taliban-afghanistan
  2. http://www.cnn.com/2021/08/16/middleeast/taliban-control-afghanistan-explained-intl-hnk/index.html
  3. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59029517
  4. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57933979

 

 

Development of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart

by

Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, explores the development of the protagonist, Okonkwo, by examining his cultural heritage, prevalent themes, and symbols. The Igbo culture is traditional, hesitant about change, and differentiates itself by its language (Kenalemang).  Okonkwo, prideful of his Igbo culture and Umuofia settlement in eastern Nigeria, is powerful and aims to stand apart from his father, Unoka. His father was looked down upon in the community due to his lack of masculinity, weakness, and power. As a result of this, this paved the early identification of Okonkwo, producing a dominating effect on his wives and children. Due to this power difference and lack of control, Okonkwo can become unstable. He would abuse his youngest wife, Ojiugo, and even his second wife, Ekwefi, for minor mistakes made (CliffsNotes). This example can explain the concept of subaltern and the treatment of women in an inferior way (Abu Jweid). The violent characterization of him became more consistent when the Oracle (messenger between people and God) prompts Okonkwo to kill Ikemefuna, a boy to whom he was attached. Later on in the novel, Okonkwo’s downhill continued as the accidental gun firing killed the son of an older, accomplished member, Ogbuefi Ezeudum. The death of one of his members is a direct crime and resulted in the removal of himself and his family from Umuofia for seven years. Okonkwo’s loss of power and feelings of weakness and hopelessness develop as they are accepted into Mbanta by his uncle. In the early years of his exile, the arrival of Christain missionaries and their belief system changed the religious viewpoint of villagers, causing a conversion. The idea of race portrayed between whites and aboriginal Igbo villagers is discussed (Abu Jweid). When Okonkwo returns to his home after being in exile, the village structure had changed along with traditional values. A church and prison had been built to side with the white man’s values. Okonkwo was unhappy about this transformation. This eventually led to the destruction of the church, where village leaders like Okonwo were jailed by the Direct Commissioner (CliffsNotes). When the prisoners were released, Okonkwo in a meeting with others retaliated again against messengers yet no one followed beside him. This continued loss of power and cultural change in Unoka led to his eventual suicide.

Prevalent themes expressed by the author include the struggle between change and tradition, masculinity differences, generational divide, and pride (SparkNotes). The traditional values were set in stone in Umuofia before his exile. The meaning of change in this novel is a result of other values and beliefs being introduced into the village, affecting the rooted cultural heritage. Masculinity and generational divide can apply to the differences in identification between Okonkwo and his father. Okonkwo did not want to represent what his father did. In other words, he sought wealth and power to become a fulfilled leader. Pride also comes from his identification in terms of his culture and the traditions that came with it. Symbols that relate to the themes include locusts and the significance of fire (SparkNotes). When it comes to locusts, they symbolize the white men’s arrival into the village and the imperfection of the Igbo culture (Kenalemang). Fire signifies Okonkwo’s emotional display of anger and power over others. These themes and symbols relate to Okonkwo’s identity and development throughout the novel.

Sources:

  1. Abu Jweid, Abdalhadi Nimer. “The Fall of National Identity in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart.” Universiti Putra Malaysia Press, 2016, http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JSSH%20Vol.%2024%20(1)%20Mar.%202016/32%20JSSH-1327-2015.pdf. Accessed 24 Sept. 2021.
  2. Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Penguin, 2017.
  3. Kenalemang, Lame Maatla. “Things Fall Apart: An Analysis of Pre and Post-Colonial Igbo Society.” 11 Jan. 2013, https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:648320/FULLTEXT01.pdf. Accessed 24 Sept. 2021.

Summary Links:

  1. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/things/summary/
  2. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/things-fall-apart/book-sum