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When I think about The Piano Lesson, this image says it all. The piano isn't just a piece of furniture, it’s full of history, memory, and meaning. The roots growing around it made me think about how deeply connected the family is to their past. Berniece wants to hold on to that history and protect it, while Boy Willie sees it as something that can help him move forward. This conflict stuck with me because it shows how the past can anchor us or push us ahead, depending on how we see it.

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Lift Every Voice and Sing stuck with me. It’s not just a poem or a song it feels like a message of hope that keeps going, even when things have been tough. The sunrise in the picture made me think about that line about facing “the rising sun of our new day begun.” It’s like saying, no matter what we’ve been through, there’s always a chance for something better. The music isn’t just beautiful it’s a way to come together and keep moving forward.

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Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem We Wear the Mask made me pause. It talks about how people often hide their true feelings behind a smile or a mask, just to get through the day. The cracked mask in this image shows that sometimes, those masks aren’t perfect, they break or slip. It reminded me how many people struggle quietly, especially when they don’t feel safe showing their pain. This idea feels so real today, because we all put on different faces for different situations, even if it’s hard.

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This image really speaks to how this class and the stories we read have impacted me. Each book or poem opened up new ways to see the world and myself. It’s like the stories helped me grow, not just as a student, but as a person. Literature isn’t just about facts or plots, it’s about connecting with emotions, experiences, and different perspectives. That’s what made this term meaningful for me.

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What stood out to me in The Piano Lesson was how Berniece and Boy Willie both love their family, but see that love in totally different ways. Berniece wants to keep the piano as a connection to their history, while Boy Willie wants to sell it and move forward. It made me think about how hard it can be to balance honoring where you come from with chasing where you want to go. This image of a split road felt right because it shows how two people can start at the same place but choose different paths—and both can still care deeply.