Tony Jackson Answer I Am Not the Stereotype

In the suburb that I spent most of my high school career I was in the small percentage of the blacks students that went to the school. Many of the black students at my school were somewhat of stereotypes. They were loud, mean and always had to be the center of attention in the hall way before class started or at lunch for most of the period. During lunch or in the hallway they would dance in provocative ways, yell and scream at each other and the other teachers or they would play loud music that used language that wasn’t appropriate in school. They dressed in bright baggy clothes and the girls wore the colorful weaves. Francisco’s drawing “He’d drawn an idealized, low-rider-style gangster with a bald head Ray-Ban sunglasses, handlebar mustache and tattoos.” Pg. 199 This is what he sees in his culture so that is what he was used to and that what was culture that he lived around so that’s what he per traded in his work and personality.
They were talked about in a negative way by the white students or the more proper black students. I was used to being around black “ghetto” people coming from the school I was at before I transferred so I would talk to them but not when they were in the hallways and not for a long period of time in lunch. I was ashamed of how they looked to the rest of the school but I understood why they were like that. That was my peoples culture they can’t really help it if that’s the way they lived. I moved past it by just being me and not worrying about what people had to say about my people and their culture. It’s their culture and their life who are they to judge.

Day 9 Response Sam {{Sherrae'}}

I daydream all the time about my past, my Grandma Lorraine. If I could have just one conversation with her, I would be extremely happy. My grandmother was so sweet. She always kept me laughing. She use to call me “Fingers”, because I was always touching her belongings. If I came over her house and I saw something new, I would touch and try figure out what it was. She was so peaceful and she kept a smile on her face even when she was hurting, or sad. I wish she was still here with me. I wanted her to see me go to prom and come to my graduation. Every time I get to the point where I feel like I’m going to cry, I simply remember that she is in a better place. In the book True Notebooks, Kevin wrote about a time in his past when his third grade teacher took him to the museum during the time he was grieving over his parents’ death. (Pg.43-44) I believe Kevin teacher, Mrs. Blue made a impact on him because it was a time that he remembered. People never reflect on the past if it didn’t have an impact on them or wasn’t affected by the past. He even states in the book, “And that concludes my day at the museum. I know it wasn’t a spectacular day, but I cherish that day because that was the only person that took time out their life to help me make it through the death of my parents.

Response to Dacia

I feel like I haven’t had an encounter where I was ashamed enough to claim my own culture. Most people that do this are the ones that seem to want to be accepted. I find it really degrading when people can’t accept who they are enough to act themselves in a crowd of people they are unsure of. So in reality they are being accepted for who they aren’t and they are being rejected by the people who know what they are doing. This can lead to a multitude of problems including ruining relationships, low self esteem, and loosing trust. The closest I’ve ever been to being ashamed of my culture is music related and it would have to be when I am talking to an older person of higher authority about what type of music I play. If I was blunt and told them that I prefer playing metal, punk, and modern rock they might judge me thinking that I am a mischievous punkrocker. I would usually start with jazz, blues, classic, rock, flamenco, ect…. to ensure that I am not a “trouble maker”. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy playing almost every type of style but in a situation where I am trying impress an older person of higher authority I would emphasize my passion for playing that style of music. I am not ashamed at all of being a rocker, but in circumstances where I may be potentially judged for the wrong reason, I would emphasize my interest in the things we both have in common to build a good relationship from the start. In “Persepolis” Marjane denies her culture by claiming “I’m French” (pg 195) because she knows that she will be looked down upon. Another way to approach this would be to be honest about her culture and point out positive details to prevent others from judging her in a negative way.

Day 9 answer to sam (Tationa)

The one thing that I would hold on to the most is the memories of my best friends from the 7th to my sophomore year being in Kenwood. I never want to think about a bad situation. There have been times that I would keep in negative things about myself and not good ones. There have been times where I lacked confidence and thought that I could never be like someone who was more confident and more outgoing than me. Now that I am older, I’m starting to realize that my confidence and my strength is in myself and I should throw away the negative like trash and hold the positive in like my heart. I believe that nobody should keep in the negative not even have a negative attitude. We all will have set backs. We just need to pull through them. In True Notebooks, their past reflects on them being in jail. The past always comes back because the past is the reason why they are in jail. Prisoners like Jimmy for instance constantly brings back the past because the situation he was in doing drugs. Being in jail your past begins to take over you and because of what he did, it takes over him mentally. It’s up to you to be a strong person. “Society can take away our physical freedom, but we still got spiritual freedom. You could be in the worst place in the world, but still get as much freedom as you want, as long as you got God in your heart” (220). I agree with Francisco because as long as you have God in your heart and let go of the situation and be you. You will be a positive strong person.

Day 9: Answer to Reminiscing(Jorgina Kelly)

One thing that I still hold on from the past is my stuffed animal that I inherited from my grandmother. When I was about 6 or seven, my grandmother passed away. Before she passed away, whenever she made her bed, she always used to put this red stuffed animal between her pillows. I always wanted to have it but she never gave it to me. When she deceased, I kept it because that was the way that I felt that I still had my grandmother. I also hold onto my half of a dollar bill that my sister and I split down the middle. It represents how close we are. You can spend half of a dollar which is spending 50 cents but you cannot literally go in the store and split the dollar and spend it. You have to spend the whole dollar and probably get change. I want to hold on to the little things that count like a ring I was given from my mother. If there is not anything physical to hold onto then I would always want to hold onto the memories. In True Notebooks, Kevin had gone on a field trip with his teacher after school. Kevin states, “I know it wasn’t a spectacular day, but I cherish that day because that was the only person that took time out of their life to help me make it through the death of my parents.”(P. 44) Aside from the bad memories before getting locked up, this was a clear and very fun memory for Kevin.

Day 9, Response to Dacia: Kiarah Lazo

I have never been in the situation where I was ashamed to claim my very own culture. To think about it, why would someone be so ashamed of who they are or where they’re from? Being you is the best part of life, and to show everyone that you’re being real is great. Having to be ashamed of your culture is something I wouldn’t do. I love where I’m from and what was passed down from generations, such as traditions. There is one thing I would like to point out, which is the music that runs in my culture. Some of the Spanish music I dislike A LOT but I wouldn’t be so ashamed to deny my culture. There are people who do like that type of music and so therefore I shouldn’t judge. That also goes for the way my culture dresses. I’m from Chicago, but part of my family is from Mexico and in different parts of Mexico there are certain dress codes they go by. The men would wear a sombrero, button up dress shirt, jeans with the belt holding them up to his stomach and I can’t forget the cowboy boots. Some woman might wear somewhat the same but then again, I don’t dress like that. I’m proud of where I’m from and I wouldn’t ever be ashamed of where I’m from. I can agree some folks might look or sound a bit goofy but I can’t complain because my ancestors looked or sounded that way.

Day 9 Response to Dacia Hill/ Arianna King

Many may not look at me the same way after this but I'm getting to the point where I do not care!

As an African American it is very hard to be looked at as an equal. But, as an African American Lesbian it is very hard to be respected at all. I find myself always telling some and not others. I felt that if I only tell a few that I trust then it will be okay. In my last relationship our problem was that I would not tell everyone. I feel that it is not every one business to know who I’m with. My family is diverse. We have Black, White, Latino, etc. But, when it comes to sexuality with my family it’s a big debate. Seeing that my great grandmother is a Preacher and my Uncle a Pastor relationships do not come up with me. After all of the wired looks I got from my family I was pushed to say that it was all a joke and I had to delete my myspace account with the pictures up of me and my girlfriend. Since then I have found myself in a box. When I moved into my dorms recently I had such a hard time telling my roommates. I kept thinking, “What will they say, How will they react, Will they move rooms?” But, when the time came for me to tell them, they already knew. They said that they saw a video on my facebook with me and my ex. Just for a side note I thought I deleted it. But, I find myself only telling some and not many because I do not know what others will think. I rather be looked at as a straight person until further notice. You may call it wrong. But, I see it like this. I should have the same right as a straight person to go to church, and live my life and not be looked at as wrong. In Persepolis Marjane heard her suppose to be friends talking about her here is her reaction, "You are going to shut up or I am going to make you! I am Iranian and proud of it!" This shows that even though she was quiet about what was going in her life. She still stood up for herself.

BET YOU DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!! : )

day 9 response to sam (sean Mackenna)

The one thing i wish i could go back and hold onto are the good times and memories i had with my grandfather. he died last july and since then i have been putting it out of my mind. death is something no one wants to talk about because we all know what it is. alot of the memories i had were good times and funny jokes. he was the kind of person who would always sing. Frank sinatria was always his favorite and i could guarantee you i could sing that "take me to the moon" song without having to look at the lyrics once from all the times he sang it. There was another time that he just got a cell phone and he wanted me to put the volume on it all the way up. i did and then a few days later he texted me. we had dinner that night and he was showing my grandma how he could text. i thought it would be funny to text him from across the table. as i was secretly typing under the table "love ya gramps" he decided to make a call. when the phone was right next to his ear the phone rang on loud from my text and the poor guy almost had a heart attack. it was hilarious but i felt bad. He was a very funny guy and was liked by all. he had friends everywhere. we couldn't go to a restaurant without seeing one of his buddies. a lot of the kids from true notebooks miss there families. probably more then i miss my grandpa. it must kill them to know that if they didnt mess up they would be able to spend time with them while i cant even if I'm not locked up. the boys hold onto there memories as children because that's all they have left. "if i didnt care about myself or others, how could i have possibly cared for a cloud. (20) Ruben had a very good metaphor hear. he says that he didn't care about anybody that meant the world to him but he took the time to look at a cloud. he focuses on the little aspects in life instead of the things that matter, the big picture.

Answer To Dacia Question- Sam Johnson

There have been times when I have hung out with family memebers and friends from past neighborhoods and when we go out and they do certain things I would kind of wonder off. i don't do it to seem "phony" or anything, I have an image to keep up right now. With me being a musician that's actually playing for different professional artist, I can't be seen doing things that's bad. I have to think about my future and put childish things behind me. Now when we are in a hidden place such as houses or indoors period when it's just us, then I might be more open. I just think when you trying to get on a professional level in anything, you should act as such. I'm defiantly not ashamed of my culture in anyway. I wish we as a people would change some of ways and notice the things that we do. But I would never turn completely away from them. Some people from old area believes that I went 'Hollywood" on them. I guess because I moved to the suburbs, which is only 10 minutes away from the city, and taking my life serious and my work and not having time to sit around and do nothing with myself, that I've changed.

Day 9 responce to sam Dacia A. Hill

To proud
From past


When I look back on my past I can’t find many moments where I was happy with myself or my surroundings. I was somethimes young girl with a broken view of myself. People are not always considerate to who you are when you are thought of as no one. I am glad that I can now say I am proud of the things I went through. I would keep it all, the hate the disrespect the sadness because now I am someone better than the people of my past. The memories of unrealistic self images that are unattainable for a girl like me. Even the moments when I wanted to do is give up on life itself I am here now. I pushed past what I was afraid.

In Persepolis, Marjane holds on to her life in Iran. Once she gets past her shame caused by change. She realizes she leads a life of lies and is scared to be herself. After she hears three girls talking and laughing at her for her dishonesty about a boy, she finally stands up for herself and claims he identity again. “You are going to shut up or I AM going to make you! I AM Iranian and proud of it!”(197) when she leaves the place she thinks she wants to cry but really she sees how good it is to actually be yourself: “For the first time …I felt proud” (197). The words of her grandmother finally begin to make sense. There is time when my parents gave me advice and I never understood it all until I experienced it first hand in life. Once I found that inner confidence I was also proud to stand up and show the world who I was.

Reply to Sam- Antonio Hill

there's some things in life that you just will not be able to forget no matter how much you want to forget it, like deaths in a family. other things like a wedding or your high school prom, you'd want to keep those type of events in your mind. well, unless your high school prom just went horribly wrong. personally, i don't remember a lot of things about my past and i sometimes wonder if that's a good thing or bad thing. i'm more of a visual person, so if i seen something or someone before and i see them again i can remember them. however, if you ask me about them when their not around i will be blank minded unless you describe them in complete detail. its a flaw of mine i always looked down on. i used to always say that i wanted to be one of those people that remembered eveything. something like the human version of an elephant. elephants remember everything if you didn't get that last sentence. but i sarted to think again, is it always good to remember every single memory? you'd have to remember the deaths of people that you try so hard to get over. you can't forget the fact that someone did something bad to you, like hit you or stole from you, and you'd hold a grudge because you can't get it out of your head. so is it always good to lock down every memory? throughout the entire "True Notebooks" book, the prisoners and even Mark speaks about how they would have kept on doing something. Mark talks about the book he wishes he kept writing, the boys talk about how they wish they could have kept going to school rather than joining the gang; from pages (50-whatever). its hard to explain.

response to Sam

Reflecting back over my past bring few memories to mind. Coming out of 8th grade going into my freshman year of high school my mother and gave me this long helpful speech. But when she was talking i felt as tough it was very boring and she didn't know what she was talking about. When my mom was in school things was much different than they is now.She shared with me the Good things about going into high school and the bad things things. She explain how important my freshman year was and the importance of my education. I didn't take nothing serious everything she told me went in one ear and came out another. I went into high school doing what Kendra wanted to do. Not knowing i was messing up my future by skipping classes, not completing homework/classwork. I felt as long as i had a D i was okay and i would past .I wasn't aware of my GPA until one of my teachers showed me on my report card,I started to feel ashamed. Now that i look back and think of everything my mother told me i wish i would have listen to her. I could of made a big difference in my future than it is now.
On pg 43 Jimmy reflect back on the time his third grade teacher took him to the museum. At that point Jimmy said "i needed someone there for me" He needed much comfort and support.
Although my story and Jimmy story really don't connect but next time when i am receiving word of advise toward my future i will take every word in. I am so quick to past judgment on the first thing that comes to mind instead of listening first.

Answer to Dacia -Jamahl Jackson Day 9

Many people today get caught up in what people think do and say but as human we have choices.We can choose to do what everybody does or we can be our orginal person we we born to me....


I remember a time when I was ashamaned of what I beleived. I lived in Manilla,Phillipines and this kid was kinda poking fun cause, I couldnt really speak the language good but I was trying,He decides he wants to say something that wasnt to my liking.But all the other kids were laughing at his joke so i decieded to play into and I decided to develop an alternate personality that was better suited for the invioroment.I told everbody that I was like a millionnair.But they stopped laughing at me and then they envied me.They wanted to be my friend for the wrong reasons but they eventually stopped laughing at me. So I left my identity to be z better one.


So like marajane was leavin her identityand pretended to be inhaling the smoek and lies to her parents. (page 192) I did the same..It wasnt right but i did it.But i think everybody tells white lies to make themselves look better.


That why I think i try to be confident about myself because i dont want to have to pretend to be like i want to be me, The real Jamahl Jackson.I have an identity that not like anyother.Whenever i feel like about to lie about the truth i tell myself."I am the orginal and I think i am proud of myself before i can be proud of someone else"

Response to Dacia (Christopher Johnson)

I can honestly say that I have never denied my true self to impress anyone. However I have the hardest time relating to any culture because I'm so many things wrapped up in one. However I had the hardest time openly discussing my homosexuality because I knew it wasn't accepted by the people closest to me (i.e my childhood friend). I never really denied it but I just wouldnt talk about it because I was afraid that the people closest to my would disown or deny me. I overcame this by the time I was in high school when I was basically forced to "come out of the closet". I had to learn that people need to accept me for who I am or just not speak to me and I ended up cutting alot of people out of my life. I had to learn no matter what the situation is your true friends will always remain by your side and if not then you have to learn to let them go. In True Notebooks Francisco Javier had to learn this the hard way. Very early on in the book he talks about his "homies" and how he thought they would have his back. "Ever since I got busted, I have never received a letter or personals from my homeboys."(41)That is why I make it a mission to stay true to myself no matter what because I know people come and go but true friends remain close to you forever.

Reminiscing- Sam Johnson

In the book True Notebooks, Barreda expresses in one of his papers that he looks in the clouds and thinks about his past and the trouble he use to get in and the things he's missed. Looking back on your life, what is some things that you would always want to hold on to from your past? and why. Use characters from your book, what things do they hold on to as well. How does it compare to you?

Day 9 Question Dacia A. Hill

In the book Persepolis, Marjane begins to live a double life between her friends in Austria and he family in Iran.After a while she becomes ashamed to acknowledge her own culture. Have you ever been so caught up in what people think that you were ashamed to claim you own culture? How did you move past that feeling?