A song for you!

Well, this class has been awesome to say the least. So, I shall close my blog with a song that I wrote. Enjoy! :)

https://soundcloud.com/evofoshoyo/english-class

I Have a Dream

"...,America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

 On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. described the racial injustice in America as a bounced check. He requested that we make good on our promise that "...Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" would be possible for all American people, black or white. 

Have we cashed that check? As far as rights go, yes.

Blacks have just the same rights that we do. There are no more "whites only" signs on shop doors. 

We have countless living proofs that the check has finally been cashed. 

We have a black president, black leaders, black entrepreneurs.

But sadly, even after 50 years, we do still have lingering racism in America. Not only is there black racism, but white, asian, and other races, too. Hate crimes and racial profiling is prominent in todays society. Every time I turn on the news, there is another hate crime reported. It's sad to see that these things go on, despite the great achievements in conquering racism that this country has had in the past 100 years.

Here's a song somewhat fitting with the topic. :)

Trying to Find Chinatown

Today, Quency and Sarah presented their adaptation of Trying to Find Chinatown, the short play by David Henry Hwang. I absolutely loved what they did! When I first read the play, the voice in my head was expressing the words in a very serious matter. Phrases like "Jesus Christ! Do you see a sign around my neck reading "Big Apple Fucking Tourist Bureau?", and "C'mon, you trailer-park refugee. You don't know that's Chinatown?" didn't sound very "funny," per se, as I read them. But, when Sarah and Quency did their presentation, I realized that the whole play can take on a comedic tone. The strong racial message is still very prominent, but the whimsy of the text, when spoken rather than read, allows for the comedic aspects to shine.

Feminism

Evelyn: I, for one, like it when a guy holds a door open for me.

Nerissa: Oh yeah, I totally agree with you there.

Evelyn: But some girls don't!!

Nerissa: Seriously?

Evelyn: Yeah!

Nerissa: Why not?

Evelyn: Well, they think that it disempowers them. It shows

that men are "superior" and that women are "weak."

Nerissa: Oh, that's ridiculous.

Evelyn: Yeah, I think so too. I do believe that women should have all the rights that men do, and I would even call myself a Feminist, but I believe that feminists contribute to the decline in chivalry and the lack of general manners in the male sex. 

Nerissa: Elaborate, please.

Evelyn: I've heard stories about women getting offended when a man a) holds open a door for her, b) hold a chair out for her, c) 

offers to do some form of physical labour for her, etc. etc.

Nerissa: What is their reaction? 

Evelyn: "I can do it myself!," "Hey, 

just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't do (insert form of manual labour here)!"
And honestly, if women react this way, men will not want to perform these niceties for them anymore!

Nerissa: That's obnoxious.

                                                            

Evelyn: Agreed. I knew you would understand.

Nerissa: That's what I'm here for!    

The Bicycle

This poem doesn't necessarily have anything to do with The Man in a Case, but all the talk of bicycles did inspire it a little. :)


The wheels on the bicycle

moving through the air.

Making wind, 

doubling time.

The wheels on the bicycle 

churning through the air.

Mixing beliefs,

Creating mine.

The wheels on the bicycle 

leaving you behind.

Not turning back
To blinded minds.

The wheels on the bicycle
crashing into hope.
Breaking down.
Blood surrounds.

The wheels on the bicycle
still spinning as I go
To a better place.
A smile on my face.

The wheels on the bicycle

expressing freedom

At last, of mine.
It's about time. 

The Man in a Case

Varinka: "I love you."

Byelinkov: "It is convenient we met."

"Do I dazzle you?" - Edward Cullen

The short quote above shows that Byelinkov and Varinka have a very unorthodox relationship. She is modern, understanding, and positive. He is stubborn, aloof, and precise. Both Varinka's and Byelinkov's "love" for each other comes across as fake. This is especially shown by the fact that she says "I love you" and "We will be very happy" often throughout the short play, getting no reaction from Byelinkov. Yet, they are getting married. Why? The motivation for marriage should be love, right? What is love? Love is devotion. That's one thing that Byelinkov and Varinka have. They are devoted to the idea of not being different. Both of them believe that they "...deserve the life everyone else has." They believe that they deserve to marry. So, because of that, they are devoted to each other. It may be a forced, but it's strong. Eventually, because of their differences, they will most likely be extremely unhappy. But, because of their reason for marrying, I don't think that incompatibility will be enough to break them apart. I don't see either of them becoming vampires or murdering their cousins to save the union, but, I still believe that their bond is a plausible one.                                          

"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!"

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear -

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!"                               

Blackout Poetry

Austin Kleon is an artist and writer who came up with a very unique form of poetry, Newspaper Blackout. He takes a newspaper article, redacts some words and phrases, and voila! Poetry. So I tried to do a version of my own, using Mercutio's "Queen Mab" speech from Romeo and Juliet.