Class Notes Sept. 5

FYS Class Notes

by Kristen

One Response to "Class Notes Sept. 5"

Tracy Naschek says:

September 7, 2016 at 10:46 am

I’ve noticed an interesting connection in talking about Alice Walker’s Beauty: When the Other Dancer is the Self and our upcoming juvenile detention center visits. Both have aspects of constraint attached to them. Alice Walker felt and sometimes continues to feel defined by her eye. She was especially constrained as a younger child when she refused to pick her head up in fear of mocking children and interested onlookers. She also felt defined by titles. She was obsessed with the idea of fitting into the category of “ugly” or “pretty.” She yearned to be “normal” as opposed to “different,” which her eye made her feel she was, in a negative sense. Her whole life she felt constrained by titles resulting from a clumsy kid brother’s mistake. Similarly, the youth in these detention centers are constrained, but in a more literal sense. They reside in a jail house, separated from their friends, family, and the rest of their community members. Like Alice, this can take a toll on their social abilities, mental health (which for most is already damaged in some way), and various other aspects of their lives. If I could help Alice Walker cope with her insecurities, I would gladly do so. So, to be able to help the youth in the jail advanced their social skills is a great responsibility and a task in which I am glad to take part. Together with my classmates, I am excited to help break down some of the constraints Alice Walker must’ve felt growing up and these kids are currently struggling with.

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