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The Harlem Renaissance developed from the Harlem neighborhood in New York City, a Black cultural mecca, that occurred from the early twentieth century to the 1930s, and subsequently led to an explosion in arts.

Some quick regards on the historical background. After the end of slavery and the Civil War in 1865,  African Americans in the South looked up towards and hoped for becoming an “official” American citizen, and dreamed of more participation in American society. However, in the late 1870s, white lawmakers continued to make laws that promoted racial segregations and worse conditions for these African Americans, breaking their dreams of participation. African Americans were categorized as second class citizens, with a few exceptions being able to thrive as landowners. Furthermore, hate groups such as the KKK, after conducting multiple radical campaigns, made the status quo even worse for the already suffering minorities. On the other hand, conditions were much better in the North, containing more job opportunities, and most importantly less inequality and segregation. Many were lured into migrating, which caused the Great Migration, in search for a better condition. Harlem, a neighborhood of only 3 square miles, had the largest concentration of African Americans, totalling over 175 thousand of those individuals. In Harlem, these African Americans shared their common experiences, and told stories, which sparked the determination of forging and brand new identity of “free people”. In all the 175 thousand individuals in Harlem, many were extremely talented, and between the end of WW1 and 1930s, they were able to produce a very significant era of arts and cultural expression in modern history.

Art, in the Harlem Renaissance, was extremely important for its representation of African Americans, their stories, and their culture. They created music, paintings, operas, books, fashion, photography, and much more. Art, in this scenario, was a tool of the African Americans, to express themselves, to represent themselves, to show the world that they are capable and talented, and to change the view of the world on them, and build up a completely new identity, they did not want to live with the current white stereotypes, and segregation targeted towards them. In “I, too” by Langston Hughes, he writes,“Besides, they’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed – I, too am America.”  In their artwork, a vast idea of equality between the races was spread and shared to the world. It was a peaceful protest, a protest that promoted the black pride and identity, rebelling against inequality and discrimination, through the unique way of art, and this makes the protest much more effective because of the popularity and the potential within art, and also because of the fact it doesn’t stir up too much violence and issues. In fact, they were extremely successful in doing so, as they were able to create a new spirit and identity, a new political consciousness, and a commitment to activism, which helped build up a strong foundation for the Civil Rights movement in the 40s.

In conclusion, the Harlem Renaissance was an event during the 1920s-1930s, which was a period when African American arts exploded, and was a significant turning point in history regarding the issues of racism and inequality.

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Task 3:

There are three quotes by Martin Luther King Jr, each relating to the topic of protest poetry. In the first quote, Martin Luther King Jr claimed, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." This links to the topic of protest poetry as it is advocating for minorities and those who are oppressed to speak up against their oppressors, which is the main purpose of protest poetry as well. This also explains the purpose of protest poetry as it talks about how "our lives begin to end" when "we become silent", as if everyone were to be silent about the global issues in the status quo, the issues will never be resolved in fact even worse. The second quote by him was "The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.", which also relates to the purpose of protest poetry as he explains how the tragedy is that good people are silent, zooming in on "not the oppression and cruelty", it shows that it is very possible to flip and change the status quo if people actually speak up and stand up against oppression, however it is the fact that they're not which makes situations much worse. This also makes me understand the importance of speaking up because it is actually able to solve so many issues, just that people are afraid and unwilling to. The last quote is "There comes a time when silence is betrayal." In this quote, Martin Luther King Jr is directly calling out those who are silent, calling them "traitors" and people who "betray" their group. This is also an attempt to encourage people to stand up and speak up as no one wants to be considered a "traitor" of their group. This can also relate to the purpose of protest poetry as people feel a necessary obligation to speak up. This also links to the concept of silence and protest poetry as a response as people are choosing to us poetry as a form of speaking up so they don't be seen as "traitors".

Task 4:

The issue I want to talk about in my protest poetry is racism. Black Skinned people are always disadvantaged in society, whether it was slavery in the 1800s, the Jim Crow laws, or even incidents where black coloured individuals were mistaken as criminals due to stereotypes. Somethings that I know about the issue is that even though there no longer is slavery nor Jim Crow laws, black people are still mistreated in today's society. Just take the George Floyd incident for example, white cops can easily frame a black individual for something they didn't do just because of racial stereotypes and discrimination. Also, there is systemic discrimination against the black, for example in the Jim Crow laws black individuals were classed as 2nd class citizens, and there were even segregation laws in the past that targetted African Americans.

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Unit 1 Protest Poetry - Research and Outline

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Unit 1 Protest Poetry - Research and Outline

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Racism is when people are being discriminated for their race. An example of racism could be stereotypes generated around certain races, for example, Asians are good at math.

Racism first started with the slave trade in the 1500s, when Africans were first brought to America as slaves, and were abused physically and sexually, and that was when racial hierarchies started to appear, African Americans were always classed a level below the privileged whites. Even after slavery ended under the work of Abraham Lincoln, treatment for these African Americans did not improve significantly, examples of systemic racism such as the Jim Crow laws not only classified African Americans as second class but also encouraged racial segregation, robbing African Americans of equal opportunities and "The American Dream" they all hoped for. Not only so, racism as an ideology continued to persist despite the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.

Not only does Racism target African Americans, but also many other racial minorities such as Asians. Asians are constantly discriminated against in countries like the US, with many stereotypes surrounding this racial group.

Even today, racism remains a serious problem. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement started in response to police violence against Black individuals, a significant example being the George Floyd incident, highlighting ongoing issues with racial injustice in law enforcement and the state.

IMPORTANT VOCABULARY:

"The American Dream"

Slavery

Equality

Jim Crow Laws

Systemic Racism

Discrimination

Stereotypes

Racial Hierarchy

Injustice

Minorities

Civil Rights

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Hound:

It was a late night, we were drunk.

On our way home, we passed a park.

In it, a hound, chained next to a trunk.

The Hound, big and black, didn't bark.

Us, while laughing and talking,

approached the hound with caution.

Sure that it was passive and resting,

we started to kick it without a purpose.

The hound, awake with alert,

did nothing but stare with fierce.

We didn't stop, instead gained excitement,

He started to growl, did I see some tears?

With one loud bark, he broke chain open,

All of us panicked, suddenly clear-headed.

We ran for our lives, a few didn't make it,

Now on, hounds I respect and avoided.

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Unit 1 Protest Poetry - Second Draft and Reflection 

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Unit 1 Protest Poetry - Second Draft and Reflection 

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Hound:

It was a late night, we were drunk.

On our way home, we passed a park.

In it, a hound, chained next to a trunk.

The Hound, big and black, didn't bark.

Us, while laughing and talking,

approached the hound with caution.

The Hound not moving, and drunk we were,

we kicked the Hound, no single reason.

At first, the Hound made no reaction,

We gained excitement and continued our action.

The Hound, looking like it had enough,

broke out off the chains like a prisoner out of his cuffs.

He started barking, chasing us down,

Scared were we, when we ran we gave it all.

Lesson learnt, don't do things while drunk,

don't bully Hounds, just for the fun.

REFLECTION:

I chose to write this topic because I feel like there is a lack of representation in the form of literature in the modern day regarding to issues like racism. I've also chosen this issue just because I feel like racism is a severe issue. The specific target audience for my poem is the racial minorities. Using metaphor, I try and write the racial minorities as the Hound and write in my poem how fighting back is the only way people will actually learn their lessons and stop racism. The target can also be for those oppressors and the poem threatens them that the people they are oppressing has a significant amount of power and shouldn't be messed with.

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American Born Chinese: Reading Journal 1

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American Born Chinese: Reading Journal 1

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1. Do you think it would be difficult to move to a new country and try to fit in? How did Jin try to fit in at school?

Ans: It certainly would be difficult when moving to a new country as now you are surrounded by individuals with different cultural backgrounds and people who have different looks from you. It would be even harder to fit in as you are born different from other cultures and it is impossible to "be them". As for Jin, Jin’s experience is a great example of the challenges that come with trying to fit into a new culture. When Jin moves to a predominantly white school, he feels pressure to hide and avoid his Chinese identity in order to be accepted. He even tries to change his appearance and imitate his classmates.

3. Why does the Monkey King insist that all the monkeys begin wearing shoes? Do you think wearing shoes helps the Monkey King achieve what he wants?

Ans: Monkey King insists that all monkeys must wear shoes in order to fit in. Because he was rejected from the party and mocked for not having shoes, he tries to make all the other monkeys wear shoes to show that their species is not as wild and maniac as the others mock them as. However, wearing shoes does not help the Monkey King achieve what he wants, as from the root he is still a Monkey, and his Monkey traits will always be beside him, such as his smell and his physical appearance. Not only does wearing shoes not help them, it only makes situations worse as now the Monkeys can't properly climb and jump and swing as they did before.

4. What lesson does the Monkey King learn that he tries to pass onto Jin?

Ans: The lesson that the Monkey King learns is to embrace who you are and be proud of who you are instead of trying to be someone else you aren't.

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American Born Chinese: Reading Journal 2

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American Born Chinese: Reading Journal 2

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1. Have you ever wanted to be someone else? What would you change about yourself? What do you like about your- self that you wouldn’t want to change? What do you like about yourself that you wouldn't change?

Ans: I have never had a very strong desire to be someone else. Maybe in certain circumstances I would feel, maybe it would be less awkward if I was..., but never really tried to be someone else.

2. The author, Gene Yang, uses humor to make light of experiences that are not so humorous for the immigrants that experience them. Have you or anyone you've known experienced what it’s like to be an immigrant or new to a situation?

Ans: When I first moved to Singapore, there were some boys in my school that would call me yellow boy and mocked me of my race, it was really uncomfortable but in the end the teacher found out and they were suspended.

4. Even though Jin was born in America, he has a hard time fitting in. Why do you think he feels different than everyone else?

Ans: The fact that he was born in America makes him feel much more different, as unlike Wei-Chen who comes from a more Chinese identity, Jin is like a full mix of both. Just because of that, he feels more of a desire to fit in because he believes more that he is "American".

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Chin Kee is a complete representation of racism and American stereotypes towards the Chinese. Small eyes, eating cats, good a school, all the stereotypes that are prone towards the Chinese.

Chin Kee as a character is considered as offensive as it is the extreme of what stereotypes towards the Chinese can be, and it shows a hate towards the character from other characters in the book, even Jin himself.

Chin Kee's appearance with Danny, who is supposedly Jin, sparks a conflict of emotions for Jin. Jin, who is already trying to fit in with mainstream American culture, is deeply ashamed of Chin Kee as a cousin. The character’s behaviour and presence force Jin to confront his own identity and his desire to distance himself from his asian culture.

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Our family mythology is about an old grandma who would eat kids alive if they wouldn't sleep past 10pm. I couldn't specifically remember the name nor find it on the internet because this is more of an internal mythology and probably something made up by my grandparents.

In the region where my grandparents were born, children who didn't come back home or left home after a certain time usually never came back, so a mythology of this old grandma was made to prevent children from leaving their houses at night or coming back home very late to avoid the potential dangers during a time where cameras and CCTV weren't developed.

The mythology basically says that an old grandma will try and eat you if you are not in bed at 10pm, and she will try to do this in various ways, for example mimicking the voices of your closest family members. If you let her into your house, she will first eat up your family members, then finally chew you up.

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First, when they are reading the newspaper, when Jaja and Kambili were answering the questions of Papa, a line that popped up multiple times was, I think Papa will be happy hearing this or Papa will like to hear this. This shows the control of Papa in the family and how both Kambili and Jaja want to find an answer or sentence that satisfies Papa the most. This shows the control and power Papa has in the family and the fear and intimidation he creates for Jaja and Kambili that they try to deliberately satisfy him instead of giving their own opinions.

Another moment was in the car, when Papa pressures Mama to answer his question on whether she wants to get off the car or not. When Mama claims that she does not want to get off the car, Papa starts pressuring Mama by constantly asking the question, "I asked if you want to get of the car or not?" This shows that even if someone disobeys Papa, Papa will apply even more pressure to make sure that others still obey him, which shows his control of the family and their decisions.

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Part 1:

The purple hibiscus is a symbol of freedom, beauty, and personal growth, and it directly connects to the theme of the book and the characters as it is a direct contrast of what is happening in Kambili's household, oppression. It also hints the breaking through of oppression and achieving freedom, which hints what happens further on in the book, where Kambili breaks away from Papa's control, and finally reach freedom. Furthermore, purple hibiscus connects to themes of personal freedom, family dynamics, and religious devotion. It stands for the theme of self-expression and rebellion, much like Kambili’s journey towards finding her voice and individuality.

Part 2

1. Kambili’s observations about her father’s expectations: "I wished I could say something, do something, but I knew better." This reveals Kambili’s feeling of helplessness and her conditioned obedience to her father.

2. Kambili’s thoughts about the contrast between her aunt’s home and her own: “Aunt Ifeoma’s house smelled different. It was a fragrance of freedom, of something alive.” This highlights Kambili’s yearning for a different, freer existence.

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At Home:

Control: Papa controls the household.

Discipline: Papa imposes harsh rules, punishing Kambili and her brother, Jaja, for minor mistakes, such as not going to communion.

Religious: The house is extremely religious, often leading to emotional and physical abuse.

Isolation: Kambili’s social interactions are restricted. She can't interact with others

Perfection: Kambili is pressured to be perfect, whether in academics or in the family.

In Nsukka:

Freedom of Speech: Aunty Ifeoma’s home is much more relaxed and open.

Love: Kambili experiences genuine love and affection from Aunty Ifeoma.

Freedom: Kambili has more choice and feels less pressured. She can go out, participate in activities, and connect with others.

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"Kambili," Papa said, breathing deeply. "You didn’t put in your best this term. You came second because you chose to." His eyes were sad. Deep and sad. I wanted to touch his face, to run my hand over his rubbery cheeks. There were stories in his eyes that I would never know."

Annotations:

In this passage, Papa's actions and speech demonstrate his domination and high standards. His response, "You didn’t put in your best this semester. "You came second because you chose to," implies that he believes Kambili could perform better but decides not to, and applies pressure for Kambili to perform better, as he claims, "because you chose to", which through harsh language puts the blame onto Kambili, pressuring her to always be first. This also reflects his strict belief of discipline and quality. Furthermore, his "sad" eyes and heavy sigh convey a unique vulnerability that was never shown before and shows disappointment in both her performance and her seeming lack of effort. It is implied that Papa's affection is dependent on the success of Kambili, and when Kambili fails to reach the top, which is first in this scenario, Papa will apply addition burden onto Kambili by making her feel responsible for the sad emotions displayed by Papa.

Tension:

The tension in this moment comes from the emotional divide between Papa's harsh expectations and Kambili’s desire for connection and reaction. Papa’s comment, “You came second because you chose to,” implies a failure on Kambili’s part, reinforcing his rigid standards and the idea that excellence is the only acceptable outcome. Meanwhile, Kambili's desires to touch his face and understand the "stories in his eyes" shows her need for affection and an emotional bond. This emotional gap creates tension, as Kambili seeks her father’s approval, but his sadness keeps her at a distance.

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1. Encouraging independent thought

2. Compassion and understanding

3. Promoting freedom and expression

Aunt Ifeoma acts as a foil to Papa by highlighting the differences and serving as a contrast to Papa. Compared to Papa's violence and control, Aunt Ifeoma supports love and freedom of speech. She allows Kambili to see the world and feel love, and interact with others when she was never allowed to do so by Papa. This allows Kambili to realize how good it is to feel love and auestion Papa's control and manipulation. In the novel, not only does Aunt Ifeoma serve as a foil to Papa's character and acts, but also spark a feeling of resistance in Kambili's heart by making her desire the given freedom and love.

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One example of religion in control is when Papa makes his decision to beat Kambili and Jaja after their mother, Beatrice, serves them communion in a manner he deems inappropriate.

In Purple Hibiscus, Adichie presents religion as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it serves as a source of comfort, community, and moral guidance, such as Aunt Ifeoma, whose more progressive approach to faith encourages freedom and self-expression. On the other hand, religion is used as a tool of control and manipulation by Papa, who uses his intense religiosity to justify his abusive behavior and control. This shows the contrast of good and evil and illustrates the potential for both in religious practices, revealing how individuals can use faith for good or abuse. Through this complex portrayal, Adichie critiques how religion can be misinterpreted by anyone in different ways and abused by anyone to do different things.

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Two ways Mama resists Papa's authority:

1. Refusal to Forgive Papa: When Papa attempts to manipulate the situation to make Mama forgive him, she resists by refusing to forgive Papa.

2. Subtle Defiance in Household Decisions: Mama quietly supports Jaja’s defiance of Papa’s commands, such as when he refuses to take communion as Papa demands. Mama does not outright confront Papa but chooses to back Jaja, resisting against oppression.

Journal Entry:

It is difficult to explain how I feel at this moment. My heart is broken. He has been so violent, and yet, there is something in me that refuses to retaliate, a part of me that wants to keep this family how it is. But from the deep of my heart, I know that this must end, this crooked, horrific, oppressive family. I can no longer pretend his love is the right one, there are ones that need to be protected.

Jaja refused to take communion today, and it filled me with a mix of pride and fear. I know the consequences of going against Eugene, I want to stop him, avoiding him from violence, but yet something makes me want to stand with Jaja.

I will never forgive him. Not when he has stolen so much from me, my life, my emotions, my identity. I will hold onto my anger, just a little longer, the kids are too young for this.

I will protect Jaja and Kambili, no matter how.