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Model Midterm2 answers 2018 Web Highlights Index to Midterm2 Web Highlights |
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Sarah Travis
The
Effect of Culture Reading
As I read the model
assignments for the section of the midterm, I became aware how much minority
literature affects students in the present. Although I am not a minority, I can
see how my family and friends that are, struggle with some of the issues brought
up in the peer essays I read.
Jennifer Longoria,
in her essay titled “The Importance of Each Minority”, touched on one struggles
that I have seen throughout my life with minority groups is the idea that only
white is beautiful. We have not covered this in class yet, but in a humanities
class last semester this topic came up. Although this idea is about caucasian
against African Americans and Mexican Americans, it is also an issue in their
races as well. For example, in the African American culture if a female is of
lighter skin she is considered more beautiful than a darker skinned girl. I
applaud Jennifer for bringing this issue up in her paper, because this is a idea
that needs to be of the past and not affect people's lives still today, and if
there is not a conversation about it then it will never get resolved. I also
loved what she said about ourselves to different cultures, “If we do not expose
ourselves to the many cultures outside of the melting pot of America, we will
lose those traits and stories that set each culture apart and yet somehow brings
us all together”. I thought that this was very true and beautiful.
Another struggle
that I have seen family and friends go through is going by a different name that
they were given at birth. This issue to brought up in the essay, “Superman
Himself is Literally an Immigrant” by Austin Green. Austin tells the story of
the creator of Superman being from China and having a Chinese name but because
it was hard for Americans to pronounce, had an American name as well. I have
seen this growing up many times, especially with Mexican Americans. Either the
teacher cannot pronounce the name because their Spanish skills are lacking, or
franky, they are just too lazy to try. When the students assimilate,
unwillingly, they can lose some of their culture identity.
One final struggle
that stood out to me when reading the peer essays, can be found in “La Familia y
Tradiciones” by Ariana Gonzalez. In her essay she uses her own experience as a
Mexican American to highlight the struggles that they face and make them real.
The main point that she focuses on is education. She writes about the stereotype
of Mexican Americans not completing high school and because this idea gets into
their heads, they often times start to believe it themselves. I have also, seen
this within my peers in school. But Ariana also brings up a good trait with
Mexican Americans and education. She states that since most Mexican American
parents do not have a high education they encourage their children to do well in
school and teach them that is it not okay to drop out. Now, we as a society,
have to get on the same page and encourage every culture that education is
important.
