https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb en-us 2021-09-15 13:21:43 UTC 2021-09-16 13:45:12 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f1fa-1f1f2.png 23fissele https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742946058 Olaudah Equiano grew up in modern day Nigeria with his many siblings. He was 11 when his childhood ended and forcefully started out on the long journey to America. Equiano faced many situations where he had to stay strong to survive. Before he was brought to America he traveled from family to family under slavery. During his travels he was starved and abused. He wrote, "Our only relief was some sleep which allayed our misfortune for a small time".  Equaino was also seperated from his sister. They were reunited once only to be seperated once again. He explained, " They indulged us to be together... For a while we forgot our misfortunes in the joy of being together. But even this small comfort was soon to have an end, for scarcely had the fatal morning appeared when she was again torn from me forever!" Being overjoyed to see his sister and having hope that they would stay together this time and soon after getting that hope and happiness torn away takes an increadable amount of strength. Equaino loved his sister so much that being able to cry with her was a small happiness in his horrible life. Without that small comfort, the only thing he had was himself. Equiano had to be strong to survive it and know that there was even worse to come. Soon after seeing his sister for the last time, Equiano was brought to America.  To get there, he had to survive the Middle Passage. Kept in inhumane conditions for months, Equiano often explains how he wished for death. "I now wish for my last friend, death, to relieve me" and "Some of whom were almost daily brought upon deck at the point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries". Being a slave in America was wishing death over living. Equiano had to be strong because he was forced to survive. He had no opinion over his life and whether he lived or not. It took strength to go through the increadibly traumatic experiances that he was forced to survive.

]]> 2021-09-15 14:29:44 UTC https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742946058 23fissele https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742947973 2021-09-15 14:30:16 UTC https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742947973 23fissele https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742952512 Amanda Gorman is an incredible poet. She graduated from Harvard where she studied sociology. At (now) 23 years old, she is the youngest inaugural poet. Amanda has won countless awards over the past few years and has 1 book and is releasing 2 more in the next few weeks. In her poem, The Hill We Climb Gorman says, “We will not march back to what was but move to what shall be." In order to complete this task, it is necessary to be strong and stand up to others who do not want change and a better future. The words "march" and "move" made me corrolate that specific quote with physical strength. Amanda later says, "We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover." The words "rebuild, reconcile, and recover" also make me think of being physically and mentally strong. It takes a lot of strength to heal something broken. Through Amanda Gorman's words it is clear that strength is a core American ideal and is something all Americans need.

]]> 2021-09-15 14:31:32 UTC https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742952512 23fissele https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742957406 Angela Davis is a contemporary author who has inspired me. Her unique voice stands out. She often showcases American ideals in non traditional ways in her writing. The piece I picked to use by her was "Are Prisions Obsolete." Throughout the book Davis argues that prisions are inherintly unethical and should be abolished. They also talk about the racist orgins of prisions and how racism is still very prevelent in our justice system today. Angela Davis' highlights one way out of many America can improve for its people. She provides solutions by explaining alternatives to the prision system and how to implicate them. Throughout her life Angela Davis has fought for people. She knows the importance of equality and has pushed for progress and change. Along with fighting for prision abolition, Angela also has fought for police abolition for many many years. Fighting for a cause for over 50 years with little results is extremly challenging. Davis once said,“Sometimes we have to do the work even though we don't yet see a glimmer on the horizon that it's actually going to be possible.” It takes a great amount of strength to continue going with very little hope. Angela was able to stay strong and is still fighting for a better country today. Throughout the 50+ years she has been protesting, writing, and teaching, many people that fought alongside her were murdered becuase of their beliefs. Knowing that and still fighting takes a lot of courage and bravery. Through it all, Davis has not given up and she is still fighting for police/prision abolition. She knows that change is not guaranteed and that it has to be worked for. She also knows there needs to be a certain leval of unity to achive the goal of abolishing prisions and/or police.  She is an amazing example of the strength it takes to improve a country.

]]> 2021-09-15 14:32:43 UTC https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742957406 23fissele https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742961724 2021-09-15 14:33:53 UTC https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742961724 23fissele https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742964108 2021-09-15 14:34:33 UTC https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1742964108 23fissele https://padlet.com/23fissele/8zti0p1vdnzwk8nb/wish/1744672200 The American ideal of strength is seen throughout literature because of the strength it took to build this country and the strength it takes to maintain it. 

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