Introduction to Multicultural Literature

M. NourbeSe Philip’s book, ‘Zong!’, Includes works of found poetry symbolizing the destruction of slaves lives through the unfathomably vague text. Philip leaves the reader with no context of the events occurring. This unknowingness represents the lack of knowledge of one being thrown into slavery, experiencing horrific things with little to no understanding of their experiences. The simplicity and vagueness throughout the poems often dismiss the magnitude of the lives lost and the merciless acts against them. This symbolizes the dehumanization of African Americans across generations. Buried away by a corrupt system, over one-hundred forty slaves were thrown overboard. A Massacre somehow justified that has been overlooked and hidden in American history.

Gregson V. Gilbert, also known as “The Zong Case”, was the document that Philip picked apart to form the poems we see throughout the book. “I mutilate the text as the fabric of African life and the lives of these men, women and children were mutilated”(p.193). The broken wording and incomprehensive format of the text gives the readers a sense that the poems are not complete, as if they are missing something. The formatting demonstrates that the text has been manipulated or destroyed as if it held no meaning to begin with. This mirrors the deaths of many that were stripped of their identity, unable to be remembered. “The African men, women, and children on board the Zong were stripped of all specificity, including their names. Their financial value, however, was recorded and preserved for insurance purposes, each being valued at 30 pounds sterling” (p.194). 

The randomization and disorganization in the structure of the poems can be viewed as a representation of the random picking of African slaves. The owners wanted slaves to work with each other assuming this is because it seemed to be more meaningful and productive. Philip makes the correlation in her poetry. “My urge to make sense must be resisted” (p.193). She expresses that grammar is the “force” that makes her words work together, without grammar they don’t.

Discussion Questions

1. In what way(s) did you find the organization and randomized structure of the text significant?
2. Philip’s emphasizes the need to fight the urge to “make sense”. Do you agree with this mechanism in her poetry and its textual motives?

Citation

Philip, M. NourbeSe. Zong! Wesleyan University Press, 2008.

Throughout all of Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine we see Rankine struggle with identity. In the last section, we see her gain more of a sense of self. Rankine’s sense of self involves everything she is including her hardships, identity, and personality. There are a few places we see Rankine talk about these. 

In the last chapter, Rankine starts by talking about this ache. “Some years there exists a wanting to escape—- you, floating above your certain ache—– still the ache coexists.”( Rankine 139) Rankine talks about this ache that people live with. This ache that no matter what will always be with you. The wording of “you, floating above your certain ache”(Rankine 139) makes abundantly clear that not only does everyone have an ache but that the ache is beneath you. The use of the word you in this quote also makes this ache more personal. Her goal was to have her readers think of the ache that coexists with themselves and understand the feeling she is talking about. Rankine wants people to understand that this ache is a part of you when she says that the ache coexists. Rankine does a very good job connecting the sense of self with racism in this last chapter. Rankine shows how the sense of self is understanding that you are different and accepting it on page 148. “you laugh and ask what else her privilege gets her? Oh, my perfect life, she answers.”(Rankine 148) This quote shows how it is understood that there is a difference and that this difference is the ache but the ache is beneath you and not worth the worry because it makes you who you are. 

In the section labeled July 13, 2013, the ache that Rankine talks about is shown during the event of Trayvon Martins’s killer being acquitted. “The outside blistered the inside of you, words outmaneuvered years.”(Rankine 156)  Rankine talks about how the ache is this blistering that is happening inside of you. She says how words are outmaneuvering the years and this means the words people are saying are killing you faster than the years that go by. This is important because when talking about a sense of self you think of finding inner peace and loving who you are but this chapter has proved many times that sense of self is being okay with the ache and understanding that you are better than it. In this chapter, we see one man making racist remarks while listening to the broadcast of Trayvon Martins’s killer being acquitted. The friend jumps out of the car to say something to this man but is immediately ushered back to the car because the protagonist knows that this situation can cause serious harm to themselves. This once again shows the ache always has a place in someone’s head. This ache causes the protagonist to try and isolate themselves from their feelings so they don’t cause any scenes or harm. 

In my opinion, this section had hard and easy spots to read. Rankine clearly stated about this ache but made us dig through short broken-up sentences to see the connection of ones race being their ache. I love Rankine’s writing style although it is different and sometimes difficult it holds raw emotion and relatable wording. The approach of using raw emotion and relatable wording brought more of an impact on this ache and how people deal with it. 

Citations:

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014. 

Discussion Questions:

Looking back at the whole book do you see this ache come up intentionally? 

Did the word “you” make this ache have a greater impact on you? If so can you relate to everything Rankine was saying? 

Throughout the beginning half of this section, (p.56-60 ) of this section of Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine, I noticed an emphasis on how individualism can be utilized in coping with micro aggression. According to the Oxford Dictionary, Individualism is defined as, “ the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant.” Rankine was broad and general in her wording, so that the reader can apply these phrases in cases of micro aggression or in general life scenarios in regards to dealing with people. Rankine is pushing the idea that we are all individuals with our own visions and aspirations in life, a quote from page 57 reads, “The destination is illusory. You raise your lids. No one else is seeking.”  The way in which I interpreted this is that no one else is paying any mind to your final destination, that is simply between yourself and obstacles within the universe. When we are focused on our own path, others actions should not have a strong impact on our well being. On page 60,  Rankine writes, ​​”If you let in the excess emotion you will recall the Atlantic Ocean breaking on our heads.”  This indicates that letting outside words and opinions of others (possibly micro aggression) ignite excessive emotions within you, that it will be damaging. I interpreted this section of literature as emphasizing the importance of understanding that no one is thinking about your insecurities and issues except for yourself, and that our thoughts are our own demons at times. If we internalize others’ actions, it will be very difficult to achieve happiness. The security of self in absence of others’ energy is necessary so that when microaggression occurs, one is able to cope with it and move onward without an emotional setback. Another outlook that Rankine shared was how one’s relationship with the past, “The past is a life sentence, a blunt instrument aimed at tomorrow (59).” Claiming the past is significant and a roadmap for the future of your life. This is a different take to this concept as we often hear people say let go of the past it is over and done with. Rankine is saying to use the past as a road map for your future. This section contained a lot of insightful phrases that I read as advice or a guide to emotionally get through microaggression as well as life in general.

A literary strategy that occurs throughout the piece is contradictory statements. I believe Rankine incorporated opposite ideas within singular sentences in attempts to have the reader form their own opinion on the specific situation. For example, when describing a scenario that takes place in the gym, page 65 read,  “ you do go to the gym and run in place, an entire hour running, just you and your body running off each undesired desired encounter.” The use of the words “undesired ” and”desired ” are placed next to each other which initially confused me and being completely honest still does confuse me. I think this technique brings attention to contradictory thoughts we have in our minds, sometimes we want things and later regret actions taken due to those desires. When referring to cases of microaggression, Rankine says, “Each time it begins in the same way, it doesn’t begin the same way, each time it begins it’s the same. (89)” This quote led me to believe that different perspectives are being displayed in regards to incidences of microaggression. Some believe that every time it begins the same but others may believe that each case is unique and starts off differently. On page 84 a scenario of highschool boys getting into a physical altercation over what I assume is race due to the context of the book. The following page, (85) opens with, “Boys will be boys being boys feeling their capacity heaving butting heads righting their wrongs in the violence…..” This relates to the idea of individualism as a horrific incident including violence and fist punching but Rankine takes the casual approach when reflecting on the situation by saying boys will be boys. This can apply to people. people will be people, harse and many times unforgiving but we shall move forward with confidence in our own strong being. 

This section of literature was intense and a lot to digest in my opinion in regards to navigating through complex worded sentences that contradict each other at times. I found Rankines writing style interesting in that this section took a more of an  advisory approach compared to the rest of the reading so far. Advice was given through complex phrases that were written for interpretation while educating the reader about microaggression as well. This approach brought awareness to microaggression while shedding light on the significance of being secure as an individual rather than giving outside elements the power to alter our well being.

Citations

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014. 

Oxford Learner’s dictionaries: 

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you interpret the section discussed as advise regarding the significance of individualism as well?

1. How do you understand the Rankines contradictory words being places next to each other within sentences?

In chapters 4,5, and 6 of Citizen: An American Lyric written by Claude Rankin, we can clearly see the character go through hardship in her everyday life. Rankine connects the world to her emotions and what she does, the world responds. The character is struggling with an identity problem, and she is trying to find who she is and discusses this blue light in yourself where she is trying to find ways to cope with the racism that get presented later in the reading. 

In the first chapter of the reading, the narrator talks about “the sigh” and how she keeps sighing, but the world keeps telling her to stop. The narrator brought up memories, and painful ones at that and how it produces headaches, and you seem to wonder why is it so important to remember memories? “You like to think memory goes back though remembering was never recommended. Forget all that, the world says; Feelings are what create a person, something unwilling, something wild vandalizing whatever the skull holds” (Rankine 61). Rankine discusses why people try to forget memories because you should focus not on the past but the present and future. But as Rankine discusses, why would you want to forget your memories that make you who you are. Then later in the chapter we see the underlying racism appear when the narrator tells the story of where the tennis player is upset with the official during the match and the player is just told to “Feel better. Move Forward. Let it go” that is formally told to Black people and told to them especially about the past and the painful memories of racism. 

In this chapter we see the identity problem come out. Rankine talks about your hands and your eyes and the different ways of expressing yourself but despite that she still talks about disguising and staying in the back not having an outburst. As I read on in the chapter, I thought more and more about this blue light that she talks about. When does it come around and do you take advantage of when it comes and have the outburst that Rankine discusses. Like the early chapter where Rankine talks about the use of “you”, she now talks about “I” and why that is significant. “I has so much power; it’s insane” and “Tried Rhyme, Tried Truth, tried epistolary untruth, tried and tried” (Rankine 71). The narrator talks about how “I” is very important and how it can be a strength but the contradicts it when she says later down how she tried but people know that she suffers, and they see that through the expressions brought up earlier in the chapter. What is the difference between “You” and “I” and why are both so significant in the reading.  

In chapter 6, Rankine discusses two very important events in Hurricane Katrina August 29, 2005, and the story of Trayvon Martin February 26, 2012. During Hurricane Katrina we see racism occur when they discuss where the rescuers are. “Where were they? Where was anyone? This is a goddamn emergency” and “It was the classic binary between the rich and the poor. Between the haves and the have-nots, between the whites and the blacks” (Rankine 83) I tend to wonder what and why there is hesitancy when it came to a serious event such as Hurricane Katrina. Rankine discusses how people didn’t want to go there to help and that “FEMA said it wasn’t safe to be there” (Rankine 84) but I believe there is more to that. How were the rich able to be rescued safely, how were the whites able to be rescued safely? There is a lot of underlying racism presented that I was unaware off that Rankine shows us. After she discussed Hurricane Katrina, Rankine decided to tell the story of Trayvon Martin. Rankine starts off saying how “My brothers are notorious” (Rankine 89) and that they didn’t go to jail and were good. Rankine repeats that and I wonder what makes that so important. The tone changes quickly, when they say how “The hearts of my brothers are broken. If I knew another way to be” (Rankine 89). Trayvon Martin was killed on February 26, 2012. He was killed for no reason having no weapon or anything was shot and killed in cold blood by George Zimmerman. At the end of the chapter on page 90 we see a photo that looks disturbing as there is one man looking at the camera and pointing to a tree. The photo was called “Public Lynching” where they hung a black man. There is a connection between this photo and the Trayvon Martin story and that was they were killed for an unjust and racially motivated reason.  

Overall, these 3 chapters of Citizen: An American Lyric helps create another viewpoint on microaggressions and underlying racism that forces people like the narrator into an identity conflict. Claudia Rankine continues to give us valuable insight on the problem at hand and will provide more and more details as the Book goes on. 

Discussion Questions 

1. What does the word “I” change about the feeling from when you’re called “you”? What similarities and differences are there? 

2. Why was the event of Hurricane Katrina and Trayvon Martin’s death so important to the chapters and book about racism and microaggressions?  

Citations 

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014.   

Citizen: An American Lyric written by Claudia Rankine is a large work of poetry that explores the racism and injustice that many people of color have experienced in their lifetime through microaggression. Microaggression by Webster definition is “a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority)” (Merriam-Webster). These microaggressions are much harder to detect than straight forward acts of racism but Rankine does and excellent job showing us different situations in which they have occurred. Rankine also strategically uses the word you in this chapter to better connect the reader to the story. This first untitled chapter gives us a detailed look into what we can expect throughout the rest of the book. 

In the first untitled chapter of this book, we notice right away in the opening sentence Rankine’s usage of second person point of view as she continually uses the word “you” to refer to the reader. “When you are alone and too tired even to turn on any of your devices, you let yourself linger in a past stacked among your pillows” (Rankine 5). This view now implies that us as the readers are a part of this story being told. Rankine has intelligently used this word in order to immerse the reader into the story and allow them to better picture and understand the details of what is happening in every situation. We as readers do this by putting ourselves into the shoes of whomever is experiencing these forms of discrimination. The usage of second person helps to open our eyes and break us out of the bubbles we live in as we see how other people in America are treated. 

Throughout the chapter Rankine presents mini stories of which people, we don’t know who exactly as she has now made these stories ours, have experienced microaggression. We can see it at the start that we the readers are experiencing a situation in which a friend has called us by the name of her black housekeeper not even thinking twice about it, “You assumed you two were the only black people in her life” (Rankine 7). This expresses a form of microaggression as it is explained that this “friend” has unconsciously slipped up and when distracted has called the reader by some other person of colors name showing that she has not interacted with many people of color. And at the end of the chapter we are told that we are headed to visit a therapist that specializes in trauma counseling, “Get away from my house, what are you doing in my yard?… You have an appointment? She spits back. Then she pauses. Everything pauses. Oh, she says, followed by, oh, yes, that’s right. I am sorry” (Rankine 18).  This quote shows us that this therapist has assumed the reader was there to cause trouble when in fact they were there for a scheduled appointment. We can assume that because us the readers have only spoken to them over the phone, they assumed we were of a different race. 

While reading this chapter we can at a glance see that all of these experiences seemed to be simple misunderstanding or unconscious mistakes but as we look at the chapter as a whole, we see the bigger picture of these interactions and understand that America is full of them. Rankine has helped us to understand that all of these “unconscious” or “unintentional” actions are really just conscious thoughts that live in the heads of many Americans. No one is innocent from these conscious biases or thoughts even if you are not the one experiencing or provoking as we repeatedly hear and talk about racial discrimination, whether it be a discussion in a class or something you have directly heard or witnessed yourself, these biases live in everyone. 

Overall, this first chapter of Citizen: An American Lyric was extremely thought provoking and helped open my eyes and immerse us into the experiences the author Claudia Rankine’s has told of racial discrimination through microaggression as well as help us get a better insight as to what is to come in the future of this book.  

Discussion Questions

1. How did Rankine’s usage of the word “you” make you as a reader feel? How did you interpret her usage of the word? How did it affect the way you read the chapter? 
2. There were a couple of visual pictures presented in this chapter, one on page 6 and one on the final page 19. How did you interpret these images? How did they affect your reading of the chapter? 

Citation

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Graywolf Press, 2014. 

Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric describes distinguishing events that many people of color experience throughout their lifetimes that imprint lasting impressions. Derald Wing Sue’s article “Microaggression’s: More Than Just Race” further explains the idea of microaggressions displayed in the chapter with an in-depth synopsis of conscience thought. Here, many situations are posed which are far too similar for many of those that do not fit into the white-male unsaid criteria. In her work, Rankine publishes thought provoking experiences of microaggressions through the eyes of said individuals that leaves all to consider how deep actions plunge into shame and inquisition.  

In Rankine’s first untitled chapter, a series of short poetic essays share stories of inherent racism in everyday life as the story narrated can truly be anyone’s story. The portrayal of a racist America does not seem so far out of reach when discussed aloud with microaggressions being the center of it all. Microaggressions are unintentional actions “that communicate hostile messages to marginalized people” (Wing). The introduction of the reading is truly striking as it connotates that all people share similar experiences and from afar we all have the same ending as she tells with the shared experience of falling asleep. This however is just the beginning as the stories begin in an almost shocking way to incite the audience of the bittersweet experiences of people of color. 

 We observe vast experiences of microaggressions through gratitude, caution and disdain that prove that the attempt for equality has not gone far enough as our conscious thought wraps itself in such a way that humans are not as moral as we think. Although it is not the most extreme example of racism through microaggressions told, Rankine incites a truly disheartening experience as she shares an experience where an unknown man discusses how he must “hire a person of color when there are so many great writers out there” (Rankine 10). Here the microaggression suggests that being a great writer has a direct correlation to race whereas ability has no color. Soon she feels disgust for the person and even questions her sense of humanity herself as a domestic tragedy although this is not the case. Further capitalizing on the words “so” and “great” that Rankine inserts here, it signifies the assumed inability of people of color. As the word “so” promotes a heavy exaggeration of his thought and the idea that opportunity should arrive to white people while “great” here gives the impression that people of color cannot reach the potential to be “great” and are not so due to their race, we understand the impact of the statement. However, another idea is the assumed mutual understanding that this man is white which in turn provokes the audience to understand their own “inherited racial biases that exist outside their conscious awareness” (Wing). Without having to explain, Claudia Rankine has further suggested that we are not as indifferent as we previously may have thought. Although they do not consume us, we do hold these biases within ourselves as many of us have heard or been the perpetrator of this untaxed offense. 

I realized that I do hold these biases through her tales as hard as it is to accept. It became most telling for me as I pictured the scene in my head and assumed which group each belonged to as well as how I assumed the man had phrased it incorrectly. However, this is incorrect as he said it exactly how it was meant: with the idea of diminishing a group. The definition of microaggression describes an unintentional manner but the truth is that it carries intention and comes within us. From certain expressions or phrases, microaggression comes in many forms such as phrases, glares or the manner we consider our safety in certain situations. 

In conclusion, Claudia Rankine’s poetic tales of microaggressions depict the fault within ourselves where conscious thought has the potential to be hurtful. Here, we must consider how we carry ourselves and observe our inner monologue. The chapter is truly thought provoking as Rankine’s terminology annunciates the impact microaggressions leave and how they may look like.  

Discussion Questions: 

1. Through the chapter, Claudia Rankine highlights stories with the shared concept of microaggression. How do you believe she tried to invoke a reaction from the audience? Did she? 

2. On page 12, Rankine shares an experience of microaggression through nonverbal action as well. What is the depth of this action? How are nonverbal microaggressions presented? Why did the woman move closer to her? 

Rankine, Claudia. Citizen: An American Lyric. Dramatists Play Service Inc., 2018.  

Wing Sue, Derald. “Microaggressions: More than Just Race.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 17 Nov. 2010, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/microaggressions-in-everyday-life/201011/microaggressions-more-just-race. 

While reading the chapter “At The Western Palace” in Maxine Hong Kingston’s book The Woman Warrior, it became clear that it differs from the other chapters. What makes this chapter different from others is the fact that the narrator, Kingston, doesn’t show up as often, however, we are introduced to Brave Orchid, her mother and we learn about Moon Orchid, her Aunt, and her story. This chapter recounts the story of her Aunt’s life in America, she moves to the United States from Hong Kong after thirty years and we learn all about what she experiences.

One of the key themes of “At The Western Palace”, was the difference between old Chinese culture and the culture in America. At the beginning of the chapter we are introduced to Brave Orchid’s children, throughout the chapter we can see the difference between Brave and Moon Orchid’s standards of traditional Chinese and Brave’s children’s lack thereof. Moon Orchid comes to America with gifts to give to her family from China, she first gave them shoes, which Brave Orchid’s children then spoke about to one another in English, saying “She must give us the leftovers”(119), their mother, Brave then “glared sideways at her children”(120) to send them the message that they are lacking manners. The next thing she gave the children were paper dolls, the children went on to play with them, Kingston says “How greedy to play with presents in front of the giver. How impolite (“untraditional” in Chinese) her children were” (121), her children didn’t follow any of the traditional Chinese culture or manners. 

This chapter also explores the immigrant experience of Chinese women in America, Kingston’s Aunt, like many Chinese women at the time, was sent to work in America as a young girl, without her consent or understanding of the life that awaited her. The chapter vividly portrays the harsh realities of life for many Chinese immigrants in America, who faced poverty, discrimination, and exploitation. Kingston describes the cramped and rundown tenements where many Chinese immigrants lived, in stark contrast to the luxurious surroundings of the Western Palace where her aunt worked. Kingston also highlights the strength required to survive, despite the abuse and mistreatment Moon had endured, she persevered, and she was able to find beauty and meaning in the midst of such hardship, this is an example of just how strong of a person Moon truly was. At the same time, however, the chapter also highlights the ongoing impact of the abuse and trauma experienced by Kingston’s Aunt, she begins to become paranoid, and eventually Brave received a letter from her niece about Moon that says, “she had overheard Mexican ghosts plotting on her life. She had been creeping along baseboards and peeping out the windows” (155). This shows how much the American lifestyle has broken Moon down as a person and how much trauma it truly caused. 

Overall, “At The Western Palace” is a thought-provoking chapter that shows us the difference between Brave and Moon Orchids’ belief that traditions should still be followed and how Brave’s children are Americanized, whereas they follow American traditions rather than Chinese. Throughout the story of Moon, Kingston illuminates the harsh realities faced by Chinese immigrants in early 20th century America and highlights the resilience and strength required to survive in such challenging circumstances.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think the difference between Brave and Moon Orchid’s choice to follow traditional Chinese standards makes it hard for them to build relationships with other family members? 
2. What do you think Kingston is trying to say about the lasting impact of trauma and abuse on individuals and communities?

Citation

Kingston, Maxine Hong. “At The Western Palace”, The Woman Warrior

When reading the chapter “At The Western Palace”, there was so much that took place that started to make more sense now then when first reading the book.  So many different obstacles occurred which made the characters in the book to be more brave and stronger.  One of the characters, Moon Orchid, finds out some horrible news that her husband that she married back in China has remarried and started a new family in America.  Her husband moved to Los Angeles to become a successful doctor about thirty years ago and they have not seen each other since.  The reason being they have not seen each other in so long was due to money issues and not being able to afford a plane fare.  When she first lands in America she is absolutely thrilled and is so happy to finally be able to live in this country.  Moon refers to America as “ The Gold Mountains”, which in my opinion is a great way to describe a place that someone has wanted to come visit and now finally has. Unfortunately, her sister brought her to America to confront her cheating husband and his new family that he has started with this new woman.  But she is too embarrassed and doesn’t want to confront the man, so Brave starts to encourage her to do so and says if she doesn’t do anything about it that she will do it herself.  When reading this chapter, so many thoughts and questions were going through my head about this situation that took place.  It makes me wonder what Moon was mentally going through when she found out about the horrible news that she received.  

While reading this chapter and seeing how the characters were dealing with this situation, there were several lines that really stood out to me due to the way each person would be speaking with each other.  “Maybe we ought to put your aunt in the middle of the street, and she can lie down with her legs bent over.  But Moon Orchid kept shaking her head in trembling no’s.” “Why don’t you push her down in the intersection and pour ketchup on her? I’ll run her over in a little bit. Said her son”(150).   From an outsider’s perspective, I was in total shock by the way the characters would be communicating knowing that Moon Orchid was going through a tough situation.   They way they would say these things and not put her feelings into consideration, it mind blowing to me.  Having to read this chapter about this type of situation makes it more appealing to me how important it is to always think before you say or do something toward someone.  Connecting this lesson towards the book, readers can see that this is not the only time a character says something that is totally uncalled for towards someone else regardless if they have a different obstacle going on in their life.  As the chapter continues, the “ghost” gets brought back up towards the end of the chapter and continues to make connections from the previous chapters when they would also mention the “ghost”. Bringing up the “ghost” makes the book even more mysterious and draws the readers into the book even more.  The author created these “ghosts” with different occupations that are attached to their name throughout the book.  Reading about these ghosts and how they go along with the story line, makes me think about why the characters are even thinking about ghosts.  “That week a letter came from my niece saying that Moon Orchid had become afraid.  Moon Orchid said that she had overheard Mexican ghosts plotting on her life.  She had been creeping along the baseboards and peeping out the windows.” (155).  Reading this quote makes the readers wonder why the ghosts have such an important role in this book and what they could be foreshadowing.  In some class discussions, we have talked about what the ghost could represent when they use an occupation word when talking about the ghost.  As a class we have come up with some ideas that they could mean or what they could be signs of.  We came up with how they could stand for fears that people have or even some of the unexpected events that could try to happen in the book.  This keeps the outside viewers on edge when reading about this and makes them wonder if that is the true meaning.  

When reading this chapter, the author made so many different obstacles to occur that would make the readers on edge.  Having to see how the characters interact with each other and communicate, it is so interesting to hear and wonder why they talk to each other with rude comments.  Then when the author continues to talk about the “ghosts” it makes sure the readers are thinking of what could happen in the future with the characters.  In conclusion, reading this chapter keeps the readers on their toes and wonders what could happen in the future for the characters.  

Discussion Questions

1.  Why do you think Kingston keeps creating these types of situations that the characters have to face? Do you think there could have been a better outcome?
2.  How does the title of this chapter “At The Western Palace” connect to the obstacles that occurred in this chapter?  

Citations
‘At The Western Palace’ , The Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston

I Attended the event Distinguished voices with Benjamin Garcia. Benjamin Garcia is a poet who shared his poems in the Corey Union Fireplace lounge. He shared the book Thrown in the Throat which is an award winning book. This book won the National Poetry series and the Eugene Paul Nassau Poetry Prize. Garcia read a few of his poems from this book but then also jumped into some new work that he was working on. Garcia was a very good speaker and gave background on each poem before reading them to help people get an understanding of them. This was great because many people even myself struggle to understand some poems and it gave a better understanding to what as going on and what it was about. Garcia said his main objective when righting is that people get something from it like excitement even if they don’t understand the poem. 

One common theme I found from all of his writings was language. Garcia talks about how profanity to him his hate and discrimination. I found this interesting because most profanities are used in those situations but I also understand how most of the time it isn’t used for that. Language is a big aspect in writing because that can take a simple topic into a more complex topic. Each one of his topics were worded in a way that made more light be shed to a topic he questioned. I found it interesting that he would use profanity because that causes a smaller group that you can sell to. I found this interesting because if he wanted to shed more light on these topics you would want a larger group to sell to. 

I liked the Q and A because he talked a lot about writing advice which can go for anything. I also liked this because you can hear his responses to ordinary everyday people. This is good because usually a question you have someone else ends up asking.

There is not one set manner to express individual values, stories, and feelings especially in literature and Benjamin Garcia surely intends to break these regulations of typical works. Earlier this week in the Corey Union Fireplace Lounge, the English Department shared one of many distinguished voices in literature where Benjamin Garcia shared his groundbreaking take on poetry with his non-fiction, Thrown in the Throat. There, he read his poems which shared non-traditional values to invoke a reaction from queer people of color as well as a furthering his stance on issues often faced in immigrant households, restraints in today’s America and the innerworkings of balance of one’s identity. Although his poetry was meant for a specific audience, all can take something from his humorous yet emotional writings as everyone can relate to a sense of rejection and even opposition to modern society. However, this was not a typical poem read in a high school classroom. Most have a certain perception of what writing must look like but with Garcia’s colorful language, he was able to work with a broader field which although might seem vulgar, he clarifies that is anything but. Garcia genuinely believes that words are just words and if cursing in poetry is incorrect, so is disrespect of another human being based on something that is not controlled. His work is unique and resonates with an audience that does not understand his personal struggles but can promote a deeper human understanding once he leaves. 

Language truly is a principal factor in any writing and even with the tone throughout, Garcia ensures his work is far more complex and emotional than what it may seem with question sharks, to boundaries, egg teeth, the corpus flower and even a taco. Each poem was carefully crafted to bring light to something he questions and while reverting to his own experience, his work flourishes into poetry which is typically not seen. Furthermore, he emphasizes that each experience is unique to each person as are opinions. However, with this his work appealed to me as he discussed his beliefs of his Hispanic family and experiences I could relate to at some points in my life. What was especially intriguing was the manner he weft Spanish into his poetry so effortlessly and in a manner that only annunciated the importance in one language over the other. Although his use of language could be portrayed inappropriate, the introduction to it only proved how much society stops us and corrects the wrong actions. His language only accentuated the meaning of situations that immigrants may face of being colorists and judgmental due to their culture along or even destigmatizes sexual relationships which are taboo today. By bringing awareness to these, we unleash a side of humanity that all think but do not describe outside the comfort of our personal relationships. There he further defines that his poetry is just writing as he pleases, such as creative works should be. Throughout the event, he emphasizes that he is proud that his work truly belongs to him and that he did not hold back in any way whether it be the genre he was to compose to or the topics he discussed as his poetry was released as a non-fiction due to it not falling along the guidelines it needed. However, he further compared this to the manner that genre could fall within or outside of a spectrum such as all people do whether they deny it or not and that even in this “a poem is a series of arranged mistakes” in which one can decide where to take it. He truly did this even granting himself permission to discuss and speak in the manner he did and by the end of it I believe all can say they were pleasantly surprised and swayed by his writing.  

Garcia’s book can be relayed back to the experience of all people as someone in their family had to emigrate to the Americas and experience the experiences he had. Struggling with sexuality, gender, culture or poverty are all grand and common issues in our society and help conform people into their own individual identity. Whether it be relating their culture to a taco as he did or breaking glass ceiling regarding open discussions, every person has faced their individual battles and that is clear. Even in class we can relate stories told through works such as, The Raisin in the Sun, back to his poetry to describe poverty and discrimination in a way one cannot control their identity but is bound to face discrimination. In the previous situation in which the family was in, they could not afford much, and money became the root of their issues which sparked aggression amongst all, Garcia had experienced as well. In the way, his family did not have space, they did not either, where he felt a burden to his family, all in the Younger family had as well. Furthermore, Garcia felt a common internal struggle in balancing his identity while separating it from his life in America which is a common thing among Kingston’s The Woman Warrior, as she struggles to find herself. Overall, we observe that multicultural literature follows us and brings great points of discussion in the understanding of one another and Benjamin Garcia does an amazing job doing so in his though provoking works.