Although a superficial reading of Sayed Kashua’s Native may have readers believe Kashua is pursuing a political agenda of gaining sympathy for Arabs in the Arab-Israeli conflict, a deeper reading reveals that there is no political agenda within Kashua’s writing and that it is the apolitical nature of his writing that allows readers to voluntarily sympathize with Arabs. The stories Kashua shares throughout his column are not politically-driven, but day-to-day accounts of his life.…
In her article, “Defining Racism”, Beverly Tatum discusses racism and how it continues to rear its ugly head, even today. By providing a unique definition for the controversial term, she is able to highlight what it really means to be human, as well as the limitations that surround the word “racism”. Tatum’s writing draws upon ideas that can be seen in several works including the article, “Representations of Whiteness in the Black Imagination” and novels such as Between the World and Me, March Book One, March Book Two, and Kite Runner. Through each one of these novels, the reader is shown what humanity through a racist lens looks like. To begin, Tatum defines racism as “ a system of advantage based on race” (126).…
Racism is one of the most controversial issues all around the world. Even after allowing African American’s freedom and equality in the 19th century, racism is still very alive during the 20th century. Battle Royale by Ralph Ellison uses irony and imagery to reveal a young man’s battle of searching for acceptance in a world still struggling with racism. While reading, a lot of questions are raised.…
Very recently, it may have come to your attention that an assigned novel in AP Language and Composition, Zeitoun, has been come into question on its credibility. The riveting narrative, written by award-winning author Dave Eggers, Zeitoun depicts the struggle of a man, Zeitoun, and his family after the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina and life during the War on Terror. According to several news articles, it is known that Zeitoun has been arrested and charged for domestic violence and stalking against his now ex-wife, Kathy. Although it is not confirmed by Eggers himself that he was aware of these crimes, it is implied in local news articles. Hence, the novel is in controversy on whether it is still a good influence for students at Mills High School.…
Low Self-esteem Exhibited Through Oppression Self-esteem fluctuates day to day and hour to hour. In the novel, Does My Head Look Big In This, Randa Abdel-Fattah shows how oppression divides society into two distinct groups of the dominant and the subordinate. This invisible barrier between the social classes causes the inferior individuals to question their morals and values. This results in anxiety and a decline of self-esteem. Likewise, Simone’s journey to lose weight, Leila’s arguments with her family, and Amal’s experience wearing the hijab explore how oppression lowers self-esteem.…
Well known writer, Dave Eggers, in his nonfictional odyssey, Zeitoun, illustrates a muslim man’s struggle with Islamophobia during Hurricane Katrina. Egger’s purpose was to symbolize a turning point for many Muslims in the US, and through the complete governmental collapse following Hurricane Katrina, Muslims were discriminated against like never before, through the retelling of Zeitoun, his wife, Kathy, and other Muslims’ experiences. The theme of Islamophobia is common in Zeitoun and serves as a focal point of religious biases that cause Zeitoun, Kathy, and other Muslims in New Orleans to experience prejudice because of the religious and racial biases of others. The author uses tone to connect with his audience though ethos, pathos, and…
Overcoming Racism Theses: In Kiese Laymon’s How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America and Audre Lorde’s essay “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action,” they express moments of racism throughout each of their essays that connect the reader to the reality of racism being a current issue that is still problematic. #1 Body #1-Laymon Main idea In Laymon’s “Prologue: We Will Never Ever Know: Letters to Uncle Jimmy,” he gets an important mental note about his blackness from Uncle in his last words before he died.…
An Ever Changing Country Although it has been decades since slavery ended, racism is still a profound controversy in the United States today. Charles Blow describes some of these levels of racism and its effects on people in the United States in his article “White America’s ‘Broken Heart’”. The article, as can be deciphered by the title, is about how white Americans today are handling the changing situations of equality in the United States. Blow published this article February 4, 2016, on The New York Times’ Opinion Pages on their website. Many Americans assume that racism is almost completely gone in today’s society, but Blow believes that it still lingers and is affecting the health of Caucasians in America.…
I am currently an AP Composition and Language student at Mills High School. After reading the novel Zeitoun and the numerous articles on his allegations, I have gathered sufficient information to take an appropriate position on the issue regarding whether students at Mills High School should continue to read Zeitoun. Despite the numerous charges against Abdulrahman Zeitoun of domestic violence, author Dave Eggers’ purpose still remains effective and dissimilar to Zeitoun’s accused actions. Discrimination against Muslim-Americans and Islamophobia is prominently portrayed in Eggers novel, Zeitoun, as a way to depict the many injustices that occurred during Hurricane Katrina. As the novel progresses, the reader follows the Zeitoun’s through their…
The conflicts around Aibileen demonstrate strong evidence of racism rooted in white-black relationships. Aibileen is a…
Soon after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon and Flight 93; multiple letters laced with Anthrax were mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to several news media agencies and two Senators (Smithsonian National Postal Museum, n.d.). On October 2nd, 2001 a newspaper employee was infected and hospitalized for three days where he died. His name was Robert Shaw. Over the next several months a total of 22 people were infected, and five people lost their lives from the Anthrax letters. The Anthrax Scare produced a nationwide panic.…
The mixed-race Canadian author Lawrence Hill’s works are irreplaceable examples of the awareness of violent racism.…
With majority of people supporting social divide between coloured and whites, people who oppose it, have little to no voice in society. Although racism is portrayed in an extreme manner, the novel provides a spark of hope, by allowing individuals to be able to fight against it and create change. Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny brilliantly create a plot to write a book in a coloured person’s perspective for the purpose of changing the views on coloured people in the society they live in. Against all odds, these three…
Orientalism is defined as the simplistic view of the people and history of the Orient (generally, the region of the Middle East to East Asia), with no recognition of change over time of the diversity within its many cultures (243). In other words, it is a prescribed collective identity or stereotypical and underappreciated view for a wide range of cultures and nationalities that span across the region of the Middle East to East Asia. When these nationalities are lumped together as one (Arabs), little attention is given the fact that the Middle East is composed of 22 nations of North Africa which include Morocco, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia and not all people living in these countries are not necessarily Arabs or Muslims (244). Unfortunately, in America and Europe the words “Arab” and “Muslim” often take on a similar meaning, and have a negative connotation ever since the 9/11 Terror attacks, however the two are extremely…
There is no reason for the United States to return to internment camps and segregation with the progress for equality ongoing, but with the rise of terrorism and racial targeting, Muslims are scapegoats in a country that is constantly undergoing change. Islamophobia, or the fear of Islam, is not the reason to justify hate crimes against millions of people attempting to live their lives. Muslims do not have the opportunity to seek justice like the Civil Rights movement groups did as Muslims are already seen as a threat to US society and will be meet with strong resistance from all sides, even among their own people. Exploring how Islam impacts United States culture and society, demonstrating how Islamophobia is spread through social media and…