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Model Midterm1 answers 2018 Web Highlights: review previous student answers re minorities and / or American Indians Index to Web Highlights Models 2018 |
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Sarah Travis
Different Learning Experiences from Peer Review
Even though the different minorities are very different as far as culture is
concerned, all of the three cultures that we are studying in American Minority
Literature faced similar difficulties upon arriving in America or by being
forced into the American way of doing things. This became very clear after
reading the three model essays for this assignment.
In Frances Henderson’s essay titled, “What is this Insanity,” she writes about
the three main ideas to figure out in minority literature. The three ideas to
figure out are: what minority literature is exactly, why is it important and
once we think we have it figured out, what we do with the literature. This
really made me think of all the times when I was in school and read about
minorities. We mostly just read them to pass a test or to write an essay,
thinking of minority literature having areas on which I can really think about
intrigues me. I now ask myself, when this class is over, then what? How will
reading about American Indians, Mexican Americans and African Americans change
me and the way I handle my classroom? I do not think these questions really have
a definite answer, but the more minority literature that I read the closer I am
to understanding and showing more respect to these minorities. One thing that
Frances did go over that we discussed in class, is the idea that minority
cultures are essentially voiceless. Being a female in a male dominated world I
can understand being voiceless and can only imagine, to an extent, what these
different cultures experienced, and are still experiencing. The topic of
accepting cultural differences was also discussed in this essay. I feel that
this is not only the right thing to do, but in doing so, we as humans in general
receive so much inspiration, warmth and knowledge by learning about other
cultures.
As I was reading Jennifer Longoria’s essay titled, “Lessons and Thought from
Literature”, she discussed that black culture was only really taught during the
same month of every year. After reading this statement I thought on it for some
time. I couldn’t help but feel that I should have been thinking about these
minorities all along when it comes to literature and diving into their trials
and tribulations. As mentioned above, in High School we never really focused on
minorities, and when we did it was Black History Month, Cinco de Mayo or
Frontier Day, and now I ask myself, why? Why wait for those special times of the
year to learn such rich culture? I think that it is important to take in as much
as you can from different cultures, no matter what time of year it may be.
My favorite essay that I read for this assignment was Linda Castro’s essay
titled, “American Indian Minority vs. the Immigrant Narrative”. Linda pointed
out very ideas about the way American Indians think about the America we know
today. One idea that she pointed out, that I had never thought about, is why
American Indians hold on to the past. The majority of American Indian tales or
facts that I know, mostly have an aspect of tradition about them. A man does
something because his father did the same thing. His father did the same thing
that the man’s grandfather did, going back generations. This statement made me
think about the why behind it and once I had an idea of why, I was deeply
sadden. American Indians probably hold on to the past and traditions because
they really were here first. They stay in the past because those days were “the
good ol days”. Before the white man came, killed many and took over their land.
Linda also summarized the dream for American Indians, which is another aspect I
had never considered. She stated that the dream they have is to be treated as
equals in the dominant culture whole still holding on to their own. While that
idea is depressing to think about it is also tragically beautiful.
All three of these essays were good. I tend to lean towards essays that
challenge me to think about ideas that have never crossed my mind. Reading these
essays, was extremely beneficial to me and actually gave me a better
understanding on what I would like to write for my main essay for American
Indians.
