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I have gone through something that has affected me so much in life but it makes me realize a lot as well and be a better person in life. I had a boyfriend and so much happened with that person that honestly ruined my point of view in being in a relationship with someone. What I went through I would never want no females to go through that ever in their life. But it really made me wake up and be more focused on myself & value myself way more. I see things so different now too, my mindset is way more mature.

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Honestly I have never been told anything about my skin color, but my little cousin has gone through it because she is super dark for a Mexican. But she can ´ t decide on her skin color, it would get me so mad when kids would say stuff to her, it would get me so heated. No person should ever judge someone for their skin color, it's the most messed up thing ever. Especially seeing my family get judge gets me mad and no person in general should go through it.

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¨ I thought it would be easier if we were just one color, black or white¨. This quote stood out to me so much because it is honestly sad how people really care about their skin color, no one should care but the world is very cruel with people that are not their race. Everyone should be treated equally right. Everyone should never feel ashamed about their skin color.

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1. How does the work reflect the writer’s personal psychology?

The author's name is James McBride. He wrote this as the past of his mother and his of what they went through. He wrote this hoping to find a better understanding with everything going on with the world, with racism, his racial, religious, and social identity. The main message of this book is that knowledge & acceptance of one's roots are crucial in forming identity.

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1. How do economic conditions determine the characters' lives?

It affects James with their family because James fell into a phase of drugs and was doing crime after his stepfather died. But then he ended up maturing, he was starting to understand every consequence. He also began to start accepting his mother and embracing her.

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Honestly my family that is here has never gone through not having food at all. But my family in Mexico my dad's sister did go through it. It sucked seeing my dad upset how she was going through that because of her kids, everything went bad, my dad had to send money should she can buy stuff to eat for the kids and money for her products to keep selling at her store. My uncle ended up coming down here to work so he can send her wife money. But it did suck seeing her go through that because the whole family was stressing and they were just trying to make sure she was okay. The kinds of struggles with poverty that people struggle with is Racism and discrimination, so makes a lot of things difficult. Poverty exist for many reason because it gaps social safety, education, health, and also cause of "systemic discrimination". The social issues that I notice right now is war and climate change.

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"

In chapter 8 page 66, James was talking about how everyone was starving. ¨ There were so many of us we were constantly hungry, scavenging for food in the empty refrigerator and cabinets ¨. There is many of them with no food or water. They would even hide food from each other because there was not enough for anyone. But anyone would find it because they knew where the hiding spots were for food.

This stood out to me because it is something no one should ever have to go through. It sucks how they are going through that, it will lack you on your health, and everyone should be able to be strong and healthy.

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why do people share their stories ?

In my opinion, people show their stories because they want to be heard. So people know what they went through, how they were treated, and so they can make a change about it. I also think that if you are going through something similar to a person showing their story, they for sure tell you how they deal with it or what they did to overcome it. So it helps others to know they are not the only ones going through those problems. It just helps someone feel less alone. It also establish empathy in many ways.

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So when I reread the story or when I am reading it, the way the author is saying it, it can sound super dramatic. But When I am reading it, it does not sound dramatic just not as dramatic as the author makes it seem. My perception about it was more calm in the way I read it.

So one of the experiences/memories but it isn't affecting my perceptions of the story just reminds me when my aunt met my uncle and he was black but my aunt as in her mom just wasn't accepting the relationship. My whole family and parents were telling her there's nothing wrong with it and it would always be fights everyday about it until she realized it wasn't a big deal.

The way I value after my perceptions on the text makes me feel sad and upset because no one should be judged over their skin color or be judged for being with someone who is a different skin color. Anyone should be able to be with any person they want at the longest they are happy with each other.

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The type of tone and mood that was created/used was there was a mood of very upset and tone was like disappointment. They were super judging in any way and also super racist.

In many parts they kept repeating themselves or the same words on and on. There were many words that kept being used nonstop.

The way the writer's diction reflect on his work meaning wasn't put out in way you can know what his work is about, like the title made me thing something else but once you read the book a little you know why the title goes with the book.

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Find a quote in this chunk that stood out to you. Please also include a picture or GIF to further describe this quote.

Give context for your quote. What was happening in the story that made this quote significant? Who was speaking? "If somebody hits you, take your fist and crack em" (pg 9). The person who was speaking was the mother named Ruth. James was just explaining the roles her mother does because his dad would only come around on the weekends.

Why did this quote stand out to you?

This quote stood out to me because it's true when someone hits you first, you should hit back because you are defending yourself, you can't be letting yourself, and lastly it's called self defense.

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Choose at least one of the following social issues that were present in this reading chunk. Discuss how this social force was present in a characters life. (Your response should be at least 5-6 sentences).

Race/Ethnicity

So the present that is shown in my characters life is Race/Ethnicity, because of the way the family was with Ruth being white. The people in the bus were all black people and they viewed him differently because his mother Ruth was white, so it didn't make him fully 100% black. He is black but he doesn't fit in with other people, like for example in the bus everyone was black. But this shouldn't make him feel left out just because he isn't 100% black, he still has black in his blood. So I find it unfair the way he is feeling. So this experience changed him with a social attitude with racism.

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In what ways was this chunk a window or a mirror? Use the following questions to guide your response, but really we want to hear your personal thoughts and reactions to this chunk!

What experiences do you share with the characters?

Honestly I don't share any experiences with the characters because I have never had anyone be races to me.

In what ways is your family similar or different from those in the book? My family is different from this book because they aren't black or white, they are Hispanic. But my mother is similar to this book by people being races to her at work by white people because she is Mexican.

What did you learn about a character or group of people that you have not personally experienced? I just learned that no matter if they aren't fully a race they still have that blood in their system no matter if it is just a tiny percentage of black, white or any race. They should not be feeling left out or anything, because that is wrong.