Black Power

Kimani Williams

                                                                                                    September 10th, 2014

                                                                                                    ENG1100

                                                                                                    Professor Young

                                                                                                      

In the chapter “ Black Power”, the author James McBride battles with his race as a child, questioning what his mother stands by as a white woman with black children. Growing up in the era of the “Black Power” movement, McBride  grows concerned for his mother’s safety and started to believe “Black Power would be the end of her”.

  McBride perceives “Black Power” to be something feared. However, because his mother refused to embrace her “whiteness” and identified with the black race, “Black Power” becomes an idea that he is unsure of when he identifies himself.

 

1.   In the opening scene of the text, Anzaldua is told by her dentist, "We're going to have to control that tongue." Her reflection connects to the pressure put upon Anzaldua to not only adopt American culture, but to lose a sense of the spanish language she was raise with.
2. Anzaldua's purpose for writing in Spanglish is to "help the reader understand the rich cultural conditions of the borderlands" and demonstrate to "non-spanish-speakers" a point of view of an outsider of the "mainstream language". 
3. Speaking and writing is necessary for survival since English is the universal language. On the contrary, it should not conflict with your cultural values. 
4. What is considered to be standard and nonstandard depends ones's social setting. The majority of English speaking should not diminish the value of of other languages. There should be a common decision on what language is used in an academic environment.
5. As Anzaldua describes the the different types of Spanish spoken, it generally relates to different of types of English spoken in America, such in as slang, or southern-dialect.
6. Anzaldua recounts how she how she picked up Pachuco which is a language against standard Spanish and standard English. In urban areas in NYC, there is a dialect we use to describe our emotions. For example, the phrase "I'm weak!", would express how amused you are from a joke or funny situation. 
7. When I have conversations with my friends, my language doesn't dramatically change, but my tone does.With friends and family I speak in a much engaged tone. In a professional setting, i'm reserved, and I speak in calm,yet enthused tone.
8. " I am my language".This statement is an acceptance of one's identity and cultural background. It is the foundation of  self- assurance. Language is the root of identity because it develops your personality through communication.
9. The introduction and the conclusion connects when Anzaldua uses "tongue" as a metaphor for language. As a reference to Anzaldua's dentist appointment, she determines, "When other race have given up their tongue, we've kept ours." 
10. Communication influences your personality and customs. How a person builds relationships creates an identity to take pride in.
11. Identity is important because it builds confidence in yourself, knowing you belong and believing there is something that makes you different from the majority.