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Identity

Intro

What is identity? Is it your genetic makeup? Your beliefs? Values and morals you are raised on?  Identity for me what you think you are. But there are other factors that society says to what “identity” is.  To be honest my identity is still incomplete and I still do not know who I really am. Race, since being “woke” has been one issue for me. My opinion is that race is a social construct and invention of oppressors. I identify as a human for race because under all this color, we all came from a distant ancestor. We may have different cultures yes, but in the end we are all human. As for gender I identify as a Male. That’s just what I identify as. My orientation is straight or heterosexual. Women are the most beautiful beings that exist in the universe and I do adore and love them. I do not hate on the LGBTQ community for I have relatives who identify as Gay and I wish nothing more than prosperity to them for their strength to come out plus I believe that everyone is entitled to happiness and if that makes them happy then I am not in a position to either hate or tell them what to do, these are just not the pieces that make me, ME. I was taught to spread love and positivity all the time, being kind to your fellow man is free and I have been capitalizing it since then. Demeanor, character, and morals instilled by my culture and family have always been the things I show.

Family has always been a concept of blood ties for me but ever since moving to America, the word then changed for me. Family are people who struggle with you and grow with you. The bonds that you form are not limited by blood but by the experiences that you and them share. Especially mothers, motherhood has always been an important factor growing up. The care and love they show pass on to us. Being labeled a “mother” means that a woman has entered a new chapter in her life wherein she will put the future of the world on her shoulders. My mother and I experienced a lot of tough times together, her grit and toughness became the quintessential tools for me to learn that life is not fair and better equip yourself with arms to take on challenges. Family’s impact to me has been substantial and deep. Their shared values and teachings make me the person that I am today. Family has a certain impact in your life because as a child you think that what they do it best because they are older and out of respect for them as well. Culture’s impact is great. If the culture you grow up in is ignorant you might have ignorant characteristics. Having culture shock is one of the troubles I encountered as a teenager here in America. Filipinos are very conservative and strict while Americans are very lax and liberal towards everything. I felt that I was abandoning my culture when I got here. I tried everything new and that was taboo for my culture. Every time I do something that is still quite taboo in my old country it kind of starts a war inside me. Motherhood plays a factor as well. Mothers are our beacon of hope. Strong women who are capable of doing everything including moving the heavens if it means safety of their child. Bond that could not be broken is the complete definition of such.

Culture, Family, and Motherhood

Race, Gender, Orientation, Religion, Ethnicity, and etc…

Those are just the basic variables that play into our identity. What really shapes our identity?

Culture

Cultural is the way we identify who we are based on where and how we are raised. It also plays a part on who we are as a whole. The values and ethics that are engraved and taught to us sets up a foundation for our identity. Culture is about the lifestyle or way of life that one is raised on. The traits we acquire are from the culture we are exposed to. Little did we know that culture plays an important part of our life. Black Panther took of inspiration from various African Tribes. The language spoken by Wakandans is also a legitimate language from Xhosa people.It connects to the overall theme of identity because the tribes have their own unique clothing and cultures. It shows that even though Wakanda is a united land each respective tribe did not forget about their won. In contrast to Black Panther, Alexie’s culture is now more based on the oppressive lifestyle that was slapped onto the Indians and the poverty he grew up in. In the story Sedated, Alexie’s dad says; “I drink because I Am Indian, I am Indian because I drink.” Alexie’s father tells him that this is what Indians are defined as and he grows up to the fact that his people are in this rock-bottom situation and cannot seem to find a better alternative to their life. Their culture is based upon negative things and he is forced to accept the that and become his identity. In Good Girls, She is battling the 2 cultures that she is born in to and exposed to everyday. “as much as they loathe white washed culture, they don’t mind white skin.” Other cultures seem to care about white skin more than their own. Filipinos are currently still engaging in this colonial mentality. It is shown in TV and media where people are idolized as more beautiful than morena or brown skin which is the natural skin color of Filipinos. It has become a disease this blurs the line of identity and culture.

Family

Family are the people we have bonds with. People we share struggles and triumphs with and it would not matter if they are blood or not. They help shape our identity and are always there every step of the way for us. Family plays an important part on what we show to the people, what family taught us, and why we love them. But sometimes family can lead us to the wrong direction and set a wrong model for us. In Black Panther, T’Challa becomes king after his father dies. He is given full support by the tribes and his family. “You cannot let your father’s actions define your life. You get to decide what kind of king you want to be.” T’Challa wants to continue his father’s legacy but instead Nakia tells him to pave his own way and make his own legacy.  To create his own identity as king and be better than his forefathers. Alexie’s stories of his life is quite different. Alexie tells us how dysfunctional and painful having his family around him.  Not all families are like the Brady Bunch and Alexie’s Forty Knives story he says “Exhausted terrified, my siblings and I followed our mother outside to the car, we all piled into the backseat ---- without seatbelts, kid seats, or any kind of safety-- Mom started the engine and sped us away from our HUD house.” The quote tells the attempt of Alexie’s mother to run away from the poverty and reservation life. His mother could not take it the hardships of the life they are living. In Family Feud video, the family is the most powerful in the country but is hounded by controversy regarding a murder that took place in the household. “A murder that laid the foundation for your ascent portrays a legacy of peace which you ran and voted into office.” Society seems to focus more on your dirt if you are a successful person and controversy follows you. Family is supposed to help you in these kinds of situations. There should be there to hold you and defend you against challenges. Family is the best critics though so do not take things personally if the words are harsh. Being strong develops our identity and character and family is there to teach it firsthand.

Motherhood

Our mothers have been the pinnacle of strength and care at the same time. Imagine living your life while taking care of one inside you. The journey that took to get you here, living in the present time took a lot of pain and sometimes restless nights. Our mothers are our first teachers and they help shape our identity. Motherhood is a word that currently associates itself with a tiring lifestyle. Our best interests are always in their minds and there is nothing deeper than a mother’s love. In Black Panther, T’Challa’s mother Queen Ramonda is portrayed as a strong woman capable of standing up for herself and being able to instill good manners and values to her children. Even though T’Challa is old enough she still checks him and dotes on him. “My son, it is your time.” She says this quote with great pride. She saw his growth from boy to man and also with great strength for her husband had just passed away, but she carries herself like nothing happened. Her strength was passed on to T’Challa whose identity is strong and caring. Alexie’s mother Lillian, is described as an aloof woman during her life, preferring to sleep in a couch rather than a bed in the house. He did not pay much mind to it then, but he found out from his father the bitter truth: she was an addict. Alexie’s father says, “That was the year your mother was addicted to Valium.”; Alexie was completely oblivious to his mother’s problems as a child and that his father’s alcoholism is linked with his mother’s addiction. The line clears up for him about how his family and how his mother’s descent into chaos. Mothers can teach you a long list of things and impact you a lot of ways. They all have different teaching methods, but the result is always the same: love and warmth.

Conclusion

Identity is not just about how you are raised but how your environment shapes you. Identity is a shadow that lives inside of us. It is the building block of a LEGO set and that set is us.  Like the engine of our soul and humanity. The factors that make oneself is something that I will never forget. The approach we had to tackle and find out the issue about what makes us all well, us. Never again will I judge people for their appearance or character because I now know that each individual is different. I truly appreciate culture. It brings me happiness that people are raised by their own colorful and unique way of life. Never again will I take family for granted. Annoying some will be, I will be forever grateful for their existence and impact. Friends who turned to family will always have a place in my heart. Endless laughter and experiences are their gift to me. Motherhood is broad. Your mother should not only be the definition of motherhood. Motherhood is all about caring and warmth to people. The teacher who cares about his/her students. The coach who puts his/her players into a good position and reassure them. They are all mothers. Being a mother should not be limited to one gender, a father can be a mother at the same time. Every time you see somebody think of why they are who they are. Appreciate them, befriend them, and lastly accept them. You never know, they maybe the one that change your life.

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Pain and Power

Empowerment, the word that is currently spreading like wildfire in the country. It is not just a word but a movement. The Black Lives Matter movement started in 2012 after the horrific murder of Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman. It all started as a hashtag in Twitter, then it became a nationwide battle cry for the African American people. Spearheaded by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and her peers, it has spread all over the country and reached millions of people. Marches were assembled and people attended, with the demand of justice fueling them, this generation, including us, is ready for the fight. Her book, When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir has personally touched me and opened my eyes regarding the injustices and why the Black community is tired and fed up, and their victimization under the law. Her stories about power and pain are what made her  a strong individual. It made me disillusioned with the American justice system. A system where justice should be served becomes a machine that signifies the downfall of a society/people. The United States Court System is biased and unjust to the Black community handing them sentences that are downright too much for minor offenses and leniency with Whites even though their crimes are horrendous and in plain sight. The novel When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Ashe Bandele, teaches that advancement is brought out by pain and power shown through family, segregation, religion, and love.

Family

Family is a part it. They bring pain and power as well. Patrisse’s family is the source of her power. Her experiences as a child shaped her into the social activist she is today. When she was born, her father was in jail and was raised by her stepfather and mother who are her role models. Her mother worked shift after shift and basically grew up with her brothers as her primary guardian. Patrisse’s fathers Alton and Gabriel were also an important part of her life and character. Alton loved and cherished his children including Patrisse which we learned that was not his own. His love forever touched Patrisse and in the book she said, “It lingers, that good Alton Cullors love, inside me, beside me, even now, today.”(10) She reiterates the impact of Alton to her, his love led her to develop such strong passion for people and eventually led to the foundation of the Black Lives Matter movement. The place she grew up in was pretty squalor, rampant crime and poverty was everyday life. Patrisse says, “Ours is a neighborhood designed to be transient, not a place where roots are meant to take hold.” (11) She elaborates how her neighborhood differs from the suburbs, where the suburbs are the poster child for the “normal” American family, her neighborhood is the complete opposite where people come and go, memories are nothing more than dreams. This goes to show the lines that exist between the lives of white people and black people. Redlining occurs everywhere not just where she was born, in Baltimore it is still evident and thriving, one moment buildings are run down and next thing you know you are entering an affluent neighborhood. Segregation never left the country and the laws did not change anything.

Segregation

Segregation was once a hot topic in American history and a permanent scar in the hearts of Black people. It became a cancer that reappears after remission. A pain that lingered even through the 20th and now the 21st century.  After the Civil War, slavery was fully abolished and Black people were free. Freedom came with a price though, Southern states decided to pass laws that would eventually become Jim Crow. After Jim Crow was abolished, the Black community prospered and for once equality was finally reached. During the 80’s however it all changed. The crack epidemic struck the nation and who were affected the most? Black folks. Communities were ravaged by crime and drugs, addicts resorted to violence to get their fix. It broke a lot of families in the process. This affected the community Patrisse lives in and did not even know that her stepfather was not her biological father. When she met her biological father he told the root of his absence to Patrisse: “He tells me right away he’s in recovery for crack addiction.” Patrisse’s biological father Gabriel was in jail for crack and was addicted to it. Due to his jail time he was unable to care for his daughter and only reconnected recently after his release. Families like this still exist today. Children grow up with no maternal or paternal figures in their lives, they are incomplete, and yearning. Since the communities were affected, schools were as well. Schools where Black children attended were more subpar than schools where White children study. Patrisse says “There was no education plan for us… school budgets had been decimated..”(54) it shows how Black children were simply not cared for. Like the system was setting them up for failure. With no budget means there will be no teachers to teach the kids, facilities are presumed to be trash compared to others. Schools, for some is their safe haven. Where kids can be themselves, run away from the problems of life that await hem the moment they leave school. With no plans for these kids what will happen? Will they live on the street and commit crimes? The United States jail more people in the world per capita. Some of them under the age of 18. Patrisse experienced this first hand. When she was a youth she saw her brothers being arrested simply because of just hanging out on the street. She too was not exempted from such; “The first time I am arrested, I am 12 years old” (Khan-Cullors 22) Imagine being a 12 year old getting cuffed simply because she was black? How does that not anger or upset you? Would you like your children or grandchildren experience this? Only a higher power will know if such atrocity is going to end.

Religion

Religion plays a big part in a lot of people’s lives. Religion teaches love and compassion, it also brings empowerment knowing that a powerful being watches over you and loves you. Religion can also be a source of pain, where if you disobey you will experience such terrible treatment to the point of hypocrisy. Patrisse saw this first hand when she said “I will not bear witness to this vulgar hypocrisy” (73) she could not stand the fact that the Jehovah Witness just stood there and left her mother to fend for herself while pregnant. They did not even reach out when they were starving and struggling. She could not bear the fact that they can just judge her mother even though they do not know what she has been through just to please them and to be accepted again.  The hypocrisy that she sees does not end there. She lost faith in religion due to the fact that some practitioners do not even practice the doctrines they praise and sing about. Hate, anger, and jealousy are all regarded as things you should not experience and do to your neighbor but still happens on the daily. She also regards the bible as very sexist; “Anti-woman origin story” (Khan-Cullors 72) She views the bible as very antagonistic towards women. Eve was portrayed as a seducer and a bad influence on Adam, she bears the brunt of the judgement from the Lord, to experience pain in childbirth. Why was Adam not part of the blame? Why did the bible not reprimand him for accepting the forbidden fruit? Patrisse could not stand for that. Some stories in the Bible portray women like they are just tools for procreation and nothing more. Infidelity is taught by the Bible as one of the Ten Commandments but Abraham whilst married to his wife, had another child with another woman! And was accepted! And when time came for his wife to bear him a son, his son and the mother was cast out! What the hell is going on? So her only purpose was to bear him a son that is it?  And since she has outlived her purpose she is gone? Think about it, things like this Patrisse could not stand for. Her love for religion has vanished but not for the people.

Love

Love is a powerful word. This four letter word can manifest in an instant. You experience love through experiences with other people. It is just amazing how an abstract idea/emotion can play a part in our lives. Patrisse’s love was very powerful. Love made quite an impression on her when she was a child. Alton, her stepfather, loved her dearly. His love was so strong that even though she was,in fact just a stepchild, treated her like his own.  From him she learned that if she was going to love, she was going to love hard. When it was time to meet her biological father Patrisse was curious. For the majority of her life she thought that Alton was her dad and this moment was new for her. She met Gabriel, her real father. Gabriel’s love did not falter even the time of separation did not affect it at all. In Patrisse’s book she says that “He hugs and kisses me throughout the day, the way you might do with a newborn baby, which in a way, to him, I am.” (33) Gabriel showers Patrisse with affection. He was dreaming of the moment he meets his daughter. This goes to show how a parent’s love for their child is rooted. He dotes on her. He appreciates her. He is honest with her. Patrisse’s fathers left a very good impression on her. Even though they were present for brief years of her lifetime, they still manage to leave a good mark on Patrisse. Love is very infectious, and Patrisse’s love branched out to her peers and friends. She grew up to love a lot of people. She said “I do know that in my heart, the heart dedicated to Black liberation, I love people.” (142) She not only loves people but wants to fight for them, especially Black people. Her childhood made her strong and full of love. Her love for her people is the root of the Black Lives Matter movement. Her tweet, a fruit of her love to the Black community, triggered a nationwide movement that seeks to obtain justice and bring the mistreatment and discrimination of Black folks to the world. This kind of exposure helped Black Lives Matter attain the voice that Black people longed to have. A voice so powerful it touches many.

Pain and Power, they coexist like light and dark, sun and moon. Patrisse Khan-Cullors was able to bring this to light. How her empowerment came to be was nothing short of amazing. Her trials in life, the childhood she was almost robbed of, built the foundations of her voice. Now that Black people’s voice is heard worldwide, people become more aware of what is happening. Her book When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir, has touched me and impacted me in a way that is life changing. She did not let her pain bring her down and suffer, instead Patrisse turned it into strength. Her pain became her power. She shows the world that pain can be something that be turned into something useful. Pain and power works both ways really. It is happening in our society now. The power that White people had is now turning into their pain. The white supremacists are now more vocal because of the threat that minorities bring. Black people and their pain has turned them to a position of power. I hope it benefits them in a very productive and good way. Like I said before it goes both ways, Power can bring pain. Let us hope that power will not corrupt Black people and that the future is different. Patrisse, thank you. Your voice echoes within me. It empowers me. When push comes to shove I will remember how you fought for your people, and that I vow to do the same.

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BLM Reflection

In the book, Patrisse tells us the struggle of her family and her childhood. She also tells us the story of meeting her father and his family. Love is an integral part of her life. Love has helped her family through the struggles of life and also helps her find fulfillment in the absence of her father. The male figures of her life Alton and Gabriel, impacted her life more than they thought they could. Alton’s love for Patrisse still lingers on her even after he walked out of the family, she remembers his love and doting personality on her.. When Patrisse met Gabriel, her biological father, she felt awkward at first but was eventually accepting her father’s affections. Gabriel’s family was truly accepting of Patrisse, she learns the family history of her Grandmother and the unity they displayed when she was around.

The most powerful love that she ever received was from her mother. Her mother was ostracized and thrown out as a young teenager due to her family’s religion and moral compass. Her mother worked multiple jobs and was out the door before 6 in the morning. Her mother did not give up on the family raising 4 kids virtually by herself. She showed Patrisse the true test of life with her actions. Through all the bad things that had happened to her, her mom was always there for her. Gabriel’s incarceration and Alton’s disappearance left her devastated and hopeless but her mom was there.

She also loved her siblings. They were basically raised to take care of one another. Her oldest brother Paul was the man of the house after Alton. Monte, her second oldest brother was her best friend as a child, and the youngest, Jasmine. She documents how Paul was able to comfort her and become her guardian. Paul became responsible for his siblings well being after Alton left. Monte was her best friend and the total definition of a sweetheart. His big heart opened up new things to Patrisse as a young child. In turn they all treated Jasmine the same way.

I believe that love is strong. Though it is true that some people fall out of love, I think that love passes all challenges. For example; my family, even though we are miles and miles apart we still show our love to one another. Love knows no bounds in the right way. I believe that love could also be a double edged sword, our strong feelings could one day be the path to despair and sadness. We need to understand that “love” is not such a bad thing. Love helps us grow emotionally and love could be the very source of our existence.

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I think that America wants to change. But I am conflicted in what the decisions that are being made by the previous generation. There are too many people in the country that do not believe in progress instead what they want is to regress to a point where they dominated. I do believe that they think that us, the younger generation, are not capable of leading the country to a better future. I am also certain that they believe that they will have no place to fit in the future. People fear what they do not understand and so they lack understanding of what progress and evolution is.

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Black Panther Identity

The movie Black Panther was more than a movie, it became a cultural movement and empowerment. African Americans from across the country flocked the theatres to see the movie. Boy it did not disappoint as a matter of fact the movie delivered more than the critics thought it would. The nation of Wakanda, headed by the King T’Challa was more advanced than any society in the world, the country was so rich that their technology surpassed even the world’s leading economies and countries and spearheading the flow of such money is the country’s most sought after natural resource: Vibranium.

The identity in Black Panther is their way of life and the culture of the tribes in Wakanda. Some are wearing colorful headdresses, unique and vibrant clothing, and jewelry that the culture wears. King T’Challa struggles with his identity and the old tradition. He wanted to know from his father how to be a good king and his father replies that the path for him will be hard since he is a good man. Ever since he figured out that his cousin which is Killmonger, was abandoned by his father and his uncle was murdered as well, he becomes disillusioned by the isolationist view of Wakanda and that the vibranium that they produce is a source of violence and chaos. He then becomes more liberal or should I say “woke” to the idea of sharing Wakandan vibranium to the world and offering aid to other countries.

T’Challa’s rightful position as a Wakandan prince was solidified and it was clear to other Wakandans that he will be King but little did he know he has a cousin named Erik Killmonger. Erik Killmonger was a son of a Wakandan prince, brother of T’Chaka, T’Challa’s father and past King. Killmonger saw the struggles of African American life while living in the United States, specifically Oakland. Orphaned at a young age and with the discovery of his Wakandan heritage, Killmonger then became the oppressor as he saw oppression everywhere from his tenure with the armed forces. He became cynical and his vision of sharing the Wakandan resources became blurred as he wanted to overthrow the governments of the world and let Wakanda rule them all. This is where he and T’Challa clash because T’Challa never wanted domination but only peace and collaboration with other countries which Killmonger opposes since T’Challa never saw or experienced the struggles of the African Americans under the long years of torture and oppression. Killmonger then rejects his Wakandan heritage by saying that he would rather jump in the oceans with his ancestors because they knew that death was better than bondage. In this movie we see 2 characters struggle with identity namely T’Challa and Killmonger. T’challa wants to lead his people to prosperity and progress but he did not know how to and struggled with the idea of isolation or open to the public type of rule. Killmonger wants to accept his Wakandan heritage but he cannot because of the actions of the past king and the everyday life in Oakland that he witnessed and lived.

Identity plays so much in the movie. The tribes and their culture. Character struggles of the hero and the villain. The roles of the females were much more than traditional housewife. Women became T’Challa’s rock and shield. The protectors of the throne, his mother, and his sister who is a prodigy. Women play a more solid and defined role in this movie. The movie empowers everybody not just culture appreciation and empowerment but the idea of progress and that trying out new things are not always a bad thing.

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Identity

What is identity? Is it your genetic makeup? Your beliefs? Values and morals you are raised on?  Identity for me what you think you are. But there are other factors that society says to what “identity” is.

Race, Gender, Orientation, Religion, Ethnicity, and etc… To be honest my identity is still incomplete and I still do not know who I really am.

Race, since being “woke” has been one issue for me. My opinion is that race is a social construct and invention of oppressors. I identify as a human for race because under all this color, we all came from a distant ancestor. We may have different cultures yes, but in the end we are all human. As for gender I identify as a Male. That’s just what I identify as. My orientation is straight or heterosexual. Women are the most beautiful beings that exist in the universe and I do adore and love them. I do not hate on the LGBTQ community for I have relatives who identify as Gay and I wish nothing more than prosperity to them for their strength to come out plus I believe that everyone is entitled to happiness and if that makes them happy then I am not in a position to either hate or tell them what to do.

My religion I still debate on. A part of me thinks that religion is root of difference and difference builds jealousy and jealousy builds on hate and division but another part of me still believes there is a higher being that looks out for us. For now my religion is kindness, I believe that spreading love towards others will inspire them to do the same. My ethnicity is Tagalog. Not Filipino. For their are other ethnic groups in the Philippines and calling myself Filipino is not really representing the others whose dialect is different than mine.

My class is working class or lower middle class. My father works as and educator for Baltimore City and his pay is sometimes not enough for the family. There was a time he paid all the bills and afterwards his balance was nothing more than $20. Even though sometimes it’s not enough he is still able to pay for my car and expenses. I am able bodied. I commend those who have disabilities but does not let those defeat them. It shows strength, courage, and grit.

After reading the three identity factors I could not believe I was ignorant of being able bodied. I take for granted my ability to walk and be able to write. The are some facilities that do not even offer accessibility for those who have disabilities. Sometimes it is still hard being disabled. There are companies that still discriminate against disabled persons who want to work. Being Upper Class sure has its perks. In our society you are idolized and your lifestyle leaves people in awe. With that power it corrupts some. You begin to think that you are bigger than the rest and you begin to trample on people. Upper class citizens do not know “the struggle” a period of your life where everything seems to not go your way and life is against you. The struggle teaches you one thing: strength to face the challenges that await you and boy those upper class will be in for a treat when they get to “the struggle”. Last but not least is Heterosexual privileges. Learning the privileges for the heterosexuals got me thinking how hard it is being LGBTQ. The anxiety they feel when they are judged for who they are and what their parents think about. The stares they get when they are with their significant other are often very offensive. No one deserves to feel that way we are all human and we should all accept each other. We should be considerate of what we have and appreciate it. We should also show support to those who are being stepped on by others for our survival depends on ourselves.

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Mothers/Motherhood

Females, a special group of humans that are capable of all things. They are everywhere and essential to our existence, without them who would take care of us? Who will remind us to wear a coat? Who will cook for us? Take us to our games or concerts? Take us to the doctor when we are not well? Motherhood. A lifelong occupation by our women and pretty much the lifeline of humanity. What does it take to be a mother? The definition of “Mother” and “Motherhood” are completely different.

For some of us our first words might have been “mama!” to the delight of our parents. Being labeled a “mother” means that a woman has entered a new chapter in her life wherein she will put the future of the world on her shoulders. A mother will build a foundation of values and morals to her children for the method of how she raises her child will be passed onto the next generation. Having a mother is truly a blessing. One that loves you forever and the first person you ever bond with due to the journey of pregnancy. This is why I love females not because of my preference but because of what they go through in life. Puberty, menstruation, and the pain of childbirth. If you add on raising a child throughout their life that shows how strong women really are. Given the responsibility of raising another human and grooming them for the ultimate classroom: Life itself. Mothers are there for us when we are at rock bottom. They are willing to walk through hell with us. Pain that we feel doubles for our mothers especially when there is distance to it. I can fully vouch for how tough they are. My mother for example was born into poverty. She was the only one in her family who was able to graduate college and earn her degree. Her tenacity and determination pushed her beyond the limits. She defeated the challenges sent by life or God himself and then she bore what she calls “my greatest gift ever”. Me. What she went through just to bring me into the world is beyond astonishing. After her C-section surgery her wound got infected and had to have another surgery. After all of that the question of supporting her newfound family. She was able to get a job at the city government where I was born and was able to raise me at the same time. She taught me that education can bring you anywhere and should not be taken for granted. We did not have much when I was growing up but my parents tried to make me feel like we had a million bucks. When I left to study to the United States my mother said that the only gift that she will pass onto me was kindness and love.  My mother has been an important figure in my life. She has given me hope when I lost it. She fuels my intention of achieving my goals.

In conclusion, a universe will not exist without mothers. Without their sacrifice and patience we would be behaving like animals. Motherhood is a way of life that some enter. To those who do are in for an adventure filled with smiles and frowns. Mothers are forever connected to their offspring. Be it physically and mentally our mothers are always going to be there for us and a part of us. I truly feel like the most blessed person that has ever existed for there is a person that truly accepts me for who I am and coaches me whenever I need it. My mother. My blessing. My everything.

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Family That Feuds

The feelings that it invoke in me are very shocking. It makes me feel like that you cannot trust everybody. Such as when Michael B Jordan got killed by his sister’s boyfriend, I did not expect for the people of the same blood to have well, bad blood. The boyfriend is then killed by the sister of MBJ because she did not want anybody to impose a threat to her throne and or position. During the interview with the “president” and his wife i thought about how this could all be an allegory for the foundations of the United States. The U.S. whether you like it or not was built on crime and bloodshed. The two were needed to establish such a great society. Colonizers bringing foreign diseases which brought the indigenous population to their knees with 98% of them being wiped out. The fact that the “president” which is the United States embodied is denying and not letting the public know what happened which was the crime of murder is another fact that Americans do not truly face its sins and claim responsibility. Today the country still does not apologize to the natives for what they have done and do not compromise with them. Foremothers were always been powerful and is portrayed by the clip. Native tribes back then were headed by clan mothers and their system of matriarchy has been the tradition. Women are very strong and as men we should not be scared of them for we all know that if you can do it, then he/she can as well. Family has always been a concept of blood ties for me but ever since moving to America, the word then changed for me. Family are people who struggle with you and grow with you. The bonds that you form are not limited by blood but by the experiences that you and them share.