Insider vs Outsider: Who Really Knows?

This is by far one of the most significant questions to be raised in not only this class, but in my life. I often wondered if being a black young woman actually made me an authentic source for all african americans, but I can say now with absolute certainty that it does not. I don't know one person regardless of race, religion, sexual preference, political stance, or any other trivial and often over emphasized quality that is exactly the same as another. We are all different, with different experiences, which shape our actions and beliefs in different ways.

As a person, who has lived unintentionally a double sometimes triple and even more life due to a need to give in to social pressures, an urgency to prove my worth as an intelligent human being, to wipe away all sense of my ethnicity, and to prove that I belong in a place like our university without the help of any "actions"...I have played the role of token, oreo, a girl who may have been born into a poor urban community a.k.a. "the hood", but works herself beyond exhaustion to keep her and her sisters in North Face, Moosejaw, and whatever name brand that will do the trick to hide an identity that has long been seen as wrong, but rarely unless with family, close friends, or a class like this one do I have the opportunity to simply be me (loyal friend, sister, daughter, and scholar).

When I think about my background living in a entirely african american city who because of lack of funding has gone without a police department, fire department, a public high school without windows, a high school that covers eighth grade material to twelfth graders, and worst of all a city without a public library it makes me really sad. I know I would not be where I am today if my mother had not insisted on placing my sisters (adopted) into private schools in prominent suburban communities, where we often were the only people of any color. I know this helped me academically, but socially it took away my ethnic identity, instead of embracing the color my skin...I tried to overshadow it by doing the opposite of any generalizations about blacks that I heard. I was a vegetarian for two years in elementary school to prove to people that all blacks didn't eat fried chicken and "soul" food. I guess the point of me writing all this was to show that if I wrote a book on African Americans, it certainly wouldn't be authentic to all African Americans, but simply a book on my own experiences and beliefs. I feel that anyone can become an insider and it has nothing to do with what group you were born into.


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In writing all of this and then thinking back to our class discussions, the one question that I have is: Why does setting and language play such a large role in determining what people feel is authentic literature?

I never know whether to be amused or insulted...certainly people don't think slums are the only authentic setting for african americans and ebonics is not the language of blacks. I just never quite understood the emphasis on these two attributes.

The Heart of a Chief & The Great Mascot Debate!

I'd like to start off by saying that I truly enjoyed Joseph Bruchac's novel, The Heart of A Chief. It is a book that I will definitely be adding to my library. I realize that issues of authenticity can arise during certain parts of the novel. For instance, the seemingly poor socio-economic status of the Penacook as well as the portrayal of broken families as a dominant theme within this community. I feel that students could benefit from the knowledge of knowing that however unintentional, people can alienate and even completely offend and disrespect an entire people through misrepresentations and over- generalizations. I feel that this is something that students really need to recognize. People's actions and words have an impact on others and I think this would be a great book to discuss issues of stereotyping and differences that exist not only from one group to the next, but within a group as well. As future teachers I feel that we need to promote understanding of diverse groups, but also the individually that exist within everyone.

Another reason that I would add this book to my library is that Chris' character in my opinion could spark students into action and give them the confidence to stand up for change and demand respect and honor for who they are and where they are from.

Native Americans vs Mascots
I have to say that I had mixed emotions watching the video today . I was completely disturbed by the blatant lack of concern for the Native Americans who were fighting so hard to stop the misuse of mascots masquerading as American Indians. I felt for the woman and her children and the signs that her supporters made "Negroes of .... and Caucasians of ..." really hit home. I personally think that these mascots should be changed.

But almost in the same breath... I consider how much I eat, sleep, breathe, and bleed green with Spartan pride and how upset I would be if out of nowhere someone tried to take that away from me. I've been a Spartan since I was five years old attending games and other activities often, so in that aspect I understand why it would be difficult for people to let go of what feels like your school identity. However, I do not condone the ignorance that some of the fans showed when speaking out against the Native Americans. A man responded to the issue by saying "they aren't from here, so they shouldn't get a say in what our mascot is." Frankly, I was saddened by his ignorance and disregard for our history. I wanted to scream that this land rightfully belongs to every Native American and it is we, as settlers that perhaps did not belong so long ago. I beg him to recall how ruthless many settlers were and the extremes that were taken to gain the land that we now call home. But I suppose matching ignorance with ignorance will get us nowhere. I was met with feelings of extreme embarrassment when the African American man so vehemently proclaimed that its all about the money as he dressed in the false Indian American garb, does he not recall what African Americans suffered and still continue to endure in order to maintain a status as more than the "other" or lesser of the majority, if so, how could he ever take part in marginalizing another group in the way that African Americans have been marginalized for so many years. I was disgusted.

I'm appalled that there are so many teams at the college level and worse yet at the professional level still holding strong to these offensive names. After learning why Native Americans have requested that they change their mascots, no other discussion should be needed. I guess in the end I have come to the conclusion that if tomorrow MSU decided to become the Green Beans...I would still be as proud as I am today of our teams and my school. I wouldn't stop showing up to the games because while the mascot has changed, the atmosphere, the school spirit, the pride in my own college, my achievements, and all of my memories would still be here. In coming to this realization I know longer sympathize with those who simply don't want to take away from tradition. I feel like what they are truly saying is that while they don't want to take away from their own traditions in their college careers, they have no qualms about undermining the Native American way of life.

In closing I feel as though I am completely at a loss. Every time I think our nation as come so far from the days of Indian Removal, segregated water fountains, and overt racism; issues like this one come to light and again I am faced with the reality of the injustices that still exist. Since when are the needs of a sports team taken over an entire ethnic group of people who simply want their spiritual beliefs to no longer be misrepresented?

Why Diverse Literature?

Hello!

My name is Michaela Norman and I'm a junior at Michigan State University majoring in both Special Education-LD and Communicative Sciences and Disorders. I enjoy working with children and have all ways wanted to spend my life working with them in some capacity. I became interested in exploring diverse literature after a student of mine told me that the only reason he hated reading was because he had never found a character that resembled him in personality or racial identity. So, I set off on a mission to find a book that he could relate to. It turns out that I was in for a rude awakening because I couldn't find many meaningful books and that's when I realized how important diverse literature is.

Throughout this course I would like to explore what makes meaningful diverse literature, how to incorporate such literature into everyday focus rather than only a unit a year, and lastly I would like to explore the difference between literature that is stereotypical versus authentic.