1. Cofer Ortiz, Judith. “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I just met a girl named Maria”50 Essays. Ed. Samuel Cohen. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedsford, 2007. 112-119 Print
I’ve never read a story about a Hispanic girl that I could relate too, and she just nails everything. Judith talks about how people stereotype her because she’s Hispanic. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had that happen to me. There was an incident that I remember with a guy I had been talking to over the phone. He told me “Why are you talking funny?” I said “What do you mean talking funny. How am I talking funny?” he said “Yeah you’re using all these words, like your white.” I was shocked, and hurt, and led him to think I thought it was funny, but it wasn’t. I didn’t know Latinas were supposed to talk a certain way. I asked myself how is a Latina suppose to talk; are we suppose to talk as if were dumb, or not educated. It was the last time I talked to that guy.
Judith Ortiz Cofer states “The big and little screens have presented us with the picture of the funny Hispanic maid, mispronouncing words and cooking up a spicy storm in a shiny California kitchen,” (117). I have learn that there are some people that are just ignorant, and don’t look beyond looks. I am a Latina that was fortunate enough to come to school, and make something of myself. I know that there are many Latin girls that are unable to do that. I want to work hard at getting people to look beyond “my skin color, my accent, or my clothes,” (118). My goal is the same as Judith Ortiz Cofer “My personal goal in my public life is to try to replace the old pervasive stereotypes and myths about Latinas with a much more interesting set of realities,” (118).
2. Momaday, Scott. “The way to Rainy Mountain.”50 Essays. Ed. Samuel Cohen. 2nd ed.
Boston: Bedsford, 2007. 291-297 Print
In 50 Essays Scott Momaday takes you on an incredible journey through his ancestors. It begins in Rainy Mountain, Oklahoma where he tells the story about the Kiowa people, and his grandmother. I love the details that he includes in his essay it’s so beautiful how he describes his grandmother and how she would pray. I could see everything through his eyes, I could feel his pain, and see the beauty that he see’s.
Momaday made me understand things about his culture through his writing. It’s interesting how each and every person have different experiences in our cultures. I understand why the teacher wanted us to do a project on our culture, so we can try to get to know each other better, and to try to understand each other on a different level.
3. Bordo, Susan. “Never Just Pictures.”50 Essays. Ed. Samuel Cohen. 2nd ed. Boston:
Bedsford, 2007. 85-92 Print
In 50 Essays “Never Just Pictures” Bordo states “Glamorous images of hyper thin models certainly don’t encourage a more relaxed or accepting attitude toward the body, particularly among those whose own bodies are far from that ideal,” (89), she also writes “Children in this culture grow up knowing that you can never be thin enough and that being fat is one of the worst things one can be,” (86). Both quotes have all the information on why today’s society has changed they look at themselves in a mirror. I know that when I look at myself I’m not happy with the way my body looks. I feel that I need to look like the girls from the magazines, and the girls in the movies. It’s a horrible thing to do, and I know that I’m doing wrong, but I can’t help but wish that my body was different every time.
4. Murray, Donald M. Craft of Revision. Wadsworth 2004. Print
I’ve learned so much from Donald M. Murray. He knows how to reach out to students in a way where we understand. I personally enjoyed chapter nine “Rewrite by ear” Craft of Revision (194). Murray’s message in chapter nine was that our voice is important to the reader we can make our writing come alive by the tone that we set. “Their voices reflect the way they see the world, how they think, how they feel, how they make us pay attention to the world they see” (195). This is something that we need to pay attention to as a writer or reader. To put more emotions into what I read or write will make us understand writing in a different way. He knows what to say to open my eyes to new ways of revising my paper.
5. Murray, Donald M. Craft of Revision. Wadsworth 2004. Print
I love the way Donald M. Murray compares rewriting to photography in Chapter four of Craft of Revision. “Focus is as important in writing as it is in photography. We are seduced by focus, drawn toward what the artist, sees, think, feels,” (44). I can understand what he is trying to say, and even imagine it in my head. There are many different ways one must focus on writing Murray explains these to us. One of the main focus points I found significant is when you’re getting sidetracked from the main subject. I know I do this and I try to re-focus by looking at the bigger picture. Murray also gives us tips on how to re-focus by making a list, brainstorming, or free writing. I found this very useful for future writing.
6. Carlsson, Chris Nowtopia. AK Press 2008. Print
I enjoyed all the information Carlsson gives us concerning “Vacant Lot Gardening”. Carlsson tells us where it started, how it has evolved, and the different groups that are taking part in gardening projects around the world. I didn’t know that people around the world were doing the same thing. I just thought it was people from the United States that were concerned with the type of food were eating, but it’s everyone around the world. I want to be a part of an organization that grows their own food because it will not only save me money but it won’t have all the chemicals grocery store foods have.
What I found very interesting about this topic is how the money hungry people evict the organizations from there vacant lots because they don’t care about the people in the community, and how it’s helping them. They only care about money, and how much profit they will receive from the property. I find this sad and disgusting to see the people that are running this country are so money hungry that they don’t feel the need to represent the people of their own community. I do hope that the vacant lot movement can continue, and I hope that I can be a part of it.
7. Alexie, Sherman. “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me.”50 Essays. Ed.
Samuel Cohen. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedsford, 2007. 11-15 Print
Alexie is a reminder of what some people have to go through to succeed in life, and what practice and determination will lead too. I really look up to Alexie because it is hard to go up against your family and friends to be able to succeed. Not only did he save his life but he saved the lives of future Indian kids by breaking the door. The type of determination Alexie had has inspired me to have the same determination in future goals.
8. X, Malcolm. “Learning to Read.”50 Essays. Ed. Samuel Cohen. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedsford,
2007. 281-290 Print
I really enjoyed the “Learning to Read” essay it opened my eyes to what hard work can lead you to. It was sad reading this essay it almost made me cry. Malcolm learned how to read while in jail. He learned vocabulary and how to spell by practicing everyday while in jail. It shows you the kind of determination someone can have and someone should have. It inspired me to learn new words and to expand my reading material.
9. Carlsson, Chris Nowtopia. AK Press 2008. Print
In Chapter 9 of Nowtopia it was pretty interesting to read about Burning Man (BM). This Chapter and Chapter 3 Carlsson talk about “Do It Yourself”. How he sees it and how other people see it especially people that attend burning man. It’s a place where one can feel free or money, free of class, and free to do it themselves. I like that people do things for themselves not being dependent on others that sounds like a nice way to live, at least for me.
10. Jr. Buckley, William F. “Why Don’t we Complain?”50 Essays. Ed. Samuel Cohen. 2nd
ed. Boston: Bedsford, 2007. 97-103 Print
“Why don’t we complain?” That to me is an interesting question. I think that we speak up a little more now than we did in the 1960’s. We speak up for ourselves. Well at least I know I do if someone else can make me feel more comfortable I will let them know. I know my boundaries as to when and where. If someone over the counter at a store is not doing their job in helping me, I will let them know in the nicest possible way. I try to speak up because I was given a voice for that. I feel that times have changed people feel more comfortable voicing their opinions. Future generations should feel even more comfortable because we are opening a door to communication.
Nope i havent
have u?