My Reflections on NHD

Oh my gosh! Where do I start? NHD was very stressful this year. At first I didn't want to do a documentary, but as time went on I realized that I enjoyed it. In the beginning I had no idea what I was doing, but I soon learned what I was doing wrong, and what I was supposed to do. I learned many things by researching Jackie Robinson. One very interesting  thing I learned was that he was on the field before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. got involved. 

I faced so many difficulties when I started researching Jackie Robinson. One major difficulty was that, there was too much information on him. It was almost as if he was too famous. So that got very annoying, very quickly. 

Last year, I didn't really try to go on, I just did it to get a grade. But this year, I really wanted to move on, and I did it. I'm going to the City competition. I'm very happy about that too. I know I have a lot that I need to work on, but it's all worth it in the end. I keep saying that the journey is very long, stressful, and annoying, but the final product is worth all the work. I'm proud of what I did, and I hope to go further than the City competition. 

Put yourself in Huck Finns' shoes after his father came back after he heard that Huck Finn had money. What would you do?

"Gimme your money. Now"

"No. You haven't been here for fifteen years of my life."

"How old are you now?"

"Sixteen."

"Oh. "

"Yea."

Okay, now imagine if this was your situation. You're a sixteen year old, you just got a car, and you have a good amount of money. Okay, now imagine your "father," who's never been in your life, but now wants to be in it because you have money, comes back. Now if this was me and my situation, I'd do two major things. First off, I'd tell him, he's not my father. Second, I would probably just call the cops to get him arrested for harassment, or stalking, because you sure not coming into my house after fifteen years, looking for some cash. 

"Gimme your money. Now."

"No." 

Okay this is how my conversation would go with him. 

(Clears throat, with attitude)

"You haven't been in my life for fifteen years, now..."

"I'm sorry, I wanna..."

"No, shut up. I'm talking. You haven't been there for fifteen years. You never were there. You never cared. Now because I have all this stuff, you try to come back, into my life? It's 2008, not 1993. I don't want you in my life, (Daughter starts to cry) you never wanted me before all this happened. Stop being a gold digger. I didn't like you before, and now I hate you more. (Pointing at the door, look frustrated and mad) Leave. 

"Now why do I need to leave?"

"If you don't get out of my house, right now, I'll call the cops."

(The father grabs the daughter, manhandling) 

"Get off of me, and leave."

"I'm not leaving 'til I get my money."

"You never paid child support. Leave."

Now if this was my situation, and my "father" refused to relocate, I'd call the police, scream over the phone, and tell them my location. I'd call the cops to place a harassment report, and report him. I would make sure he left me alone. Like Malcolm X said, "By any means necessary."

Bottom line is, if you someone is abusing you, mentally or physically, get out of the situation. If someone is always drunk, is trying to kill you, and   is a little delusional, do something about it. Take some action. Huck Finns' father better be lucky I wasn't there, I would have told him off first, then called the police. It's up to you to choose your actions. Just don't do something you'll regret later in life.

6 Questions between the line

1Q. In "The 7 Sisters," what sister are you the most like? Why?

1A. I think I'm more like the 7 sister, because I like to make sure that everyone is okay before me, I like to talk a lot, and I like to chill out and watch everyone else. Also, when the 7 sister grows up, she can o all the other sister' jobs. And that's just like me. I can adapt very well to my surroundings. 

2Q. Could this have happened in a different community instead of a gated one?

2A. That's kind of hard to infer. But most likely, it would be different because normal people know how it's like to earn their money. So normal people probably wouldn't kill themselves. 

3Q. How would the story be different if Roger from, "Thank You M'am" did not run into Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones?

3A. If Roger had run into anyone else, he would have not learned anything. 

4Q. How would the story be different if the dad in "The 7 Sisters" had not left?

4A. The mother would have never committed suicide. And the sisters would have never had to take on the role of mom and dad. 

5Q. How would the story be different if the girl in "The Use Of Force," Mathilda had just opened her mouth?

5A. The doctor, Olsen, would have been in and out instead of forcing the spoon down her throat. 

6Q. What do you think Roger did with the $10 Mrs. Luela Bates Washington Jones gave him?

6A. I think Roger realized that he needed food more than some sneakers, so he saved the money to get food. 

10 on the line questioms

1Q. What happened after Richard Wright came home the first time?

1A. Richard's mother sent him out again with another note and money.

2Q. Who was it that gave Richard, the "confidence" to stand up for himself?

2A. It was his mother. 

3Q. make a three column note chart. Be sure to include characters, setting, conflict, climax, conclusion, and resolution. 

3A. Characters: 

Richard Wright, His mother, The Gang - "I'm going to teach you this night to...." the mother

Setting:

mom's house, city street - that night I won the rights to the streets of Memphis. 

Conflict:

Richard vs. Gang, Richard vs. mother, Gang vs. each other, The Streets vs. Richard, Richard vs. Nature. (Nature is The Concrete Jungle) - "...the mom slapped him across the face."

 Climax:

 When the mom gave him a stick and told him to go and fight. - "Take this money, this note, and this stick. Don't come back without the groceries." (The Mom)

Conclusion:

He earned his respect of the gang. - "That night I won the rights to the streets of Memphis." (Richard)

Resolution:

Stand up for yourself. Also don't let society distinguish you, or who you are. 

4Q. What is Richard's last name?

4A. Wright. Richard's last name is Wright. 

5Q.On what try did Richard finally get the groceries?

5A. It was the third try, when Richard finally got the groceries.

6Q. What was the main setting of "Black Boy?"

6A. The main setting of "Black Boy" was the streets of Memphis. 

7Q. Where did the gang members run to after the beating?

7A. The gang members ran to their houses after the beating that Richard delivered.

8Q. What did Richard do after he beat the gang members?

8A. Richard got the groceries from the store after beating up the gang members. 

9Q. What does the mother say the third time before sending Richard out again?

9A. The mother said, "Take this note, this money, and this stick. Don't come back until you have the groceries."

10Q. Who was the main character in this story?

10A. Richard was the key/main character in this story. 

What makes a broken America?

"No it doesn't." "Yes, It does." "Since we obviously can't agree, let's ask the reader." "What do you think makes a broken America?" In my opinion if one wants a broken America, have a lot of violence, place a great amount of bad neighborhoods, and finally throw in some messed up families. 

Violence is a huge problem in America. The homocide rate has made an increase for the worse. Gangs have made a great impact on the youth of our generations. For instance, The Crips, and The Bloods. In the story Richard said, "I'll kill you."

In addition to the violence, throw in some shitty neighborhoods. There has to be some ignorance in education. Throw in some decrepit buildings and some crack houses. Also, what the hey, how about a dumb, useless leader.?

Lastly, one can't have a messed up America, without some messed up families. Okay, one must add in at most one parent. Richard only had his mother, his father left. Due to the fact that it was only him and his mother, he kept thinking "...Now I have to be the man of the house."

Now that you have read my opinion of what makes a broken America, and my reasons, think about this: Do you in any way, shape, or form contribute to or relate to these ideas? If so cool, if not, cool. But hey, if you don't like my paper, write your own.

The Setting Of "Thank You M'am"

Please grade me on vocabulary, and transitions.  

Did you ever live in Harlem, in the city, or in a crowded apartment? In Thank You M'am by Langston Huges, that's where this unpredictable story takes place. 

First off, this story takes place in a crazy city named, Harlem. This story took place around the 1930's-1950's. that's the time jazz was becoming very popular. it was also a very hard time to make a dollar. 

Next, living in the city can be very crazy. I know that because for me, the city in the story reminded me of where I live, in Philadelphia. a lot of things can happen in the city. You could either run into the right person, or the wrong person. So always watch your back. 

Or maybe the city's not your thing, you'd prefer a smaller place to reside. In the story Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, lives in a very overcrowded apartment. There are five plus families on the same floor. You can hear everyone, and everything that's going on in the next room.

No matter where you are living, there are always two types of people, leaders and followers. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones was a leader by taking in the boy Roger and making a difference in his life. So be the leader, or as Ghandi said, "Be the difference you wish to see in the world."

The First Annotation

The Integration Of Baseball

Simon, Scott. Jackie Robinson: The Integration Of Baseball. New Jersey: John Waley & Son, Inc. 2002

In this book it explains that legacy and what he left behind for all America to remember. He integrated America's pastime. He had enough courage to stand up for his rights in baseball. He risked his life so that those who came after him like, Manny Ramirez, David "Big Papi" Ortiz, ans many more.