Young, Gifted, and Black, yes?

            Surprisingly, I can relate to Lorraine Hansberry, the author of “To Be Young, Black, and Gifted”.  Because, well, I am all those things.  That’s what I like to think anyway.  Maybe I’m not that young.  But going beyond the title, my childhood was somewhat similar to Hansberry’s.

            Children playing on the sidewalk, girls jumping rope, boys shooting marbles...  This was sort of how my childhood was (is?).  When I was younger, I played outside sometimes with my cousins.  What we played, I really have no recollection whatsoever.  Jump rope: I hated it.  Always did, still do, never won’t.  So there’s a difference right there.  And although I didn’t play marbles in the open air, an uncle of mine taught me how to play (don’t ask me what I learned;  I don’t remember). 

            Even though I grew up on a different side of the city than Hansberry, there was still that sense of the children of the neighborhood coming together to play.  I amused myself with the next door neighbors, people across the street, etc.

            Of course, I can relate to the wonder of the trains in Chicago.  Taking the train, maybe the red line, it is possible to see all the different parts of the city.  Admittedly, I’ve never taken the red line.  But I do take the blue line all the time and have taken the green line.  Just watching the people that enter those metal doors can delineate the diversity of Chicago.

             What does this have to do with being American?  Well, you can’t get much more American than Chicago.  Except for maybe New York, where things and people are busier and more expensive.

           

Marching or Saggin'?

            Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is approaching us very quickly (I don’t know what day but I’m sure it is approaching quickly).  Hence, the prompt for this blog: “King Still King?”.  There’s no need to go into background information on MLK Jr., seeing as how everyone American child learns about him in 2^nd grade, or even before then.  But what difference did he really make?  (Forgive me if I don’t write as I usually do; too tired to be my characteristically witty self).

            Back when gas prices were low and my oldest aunt was just a wee little lass, African Americans were still not equal with the rest of the pale skinned Americans.  So there were marches for civil rights.  And more marches.  And maybe a few MORE marches.  All to fight the power, fight the man, and be equal.  Martin Luther King Jr. fought the power.  And he won, too.

            But what difference does that make now?  African Americans are free and equal to whites. We (may I say we?) can go to any hotel or restaurant we want.  Have the same jobs as “the man”.  Yes, we CAN do all that.  But do we?

            Sometimes, it seems as if some Blacks don’t appreciate the freedom that MLK Jr. and other protesters achieved.  We have succeeded in some careers (President Obama).  But others seem to not want to take advantage of the opportunities made available by marchers.  The children do poorly in school and fight.  The boys’ pants hang off their knees (♪ Pants on the ground…♪).  Civil rights leaders did not fight for us to regress and act/look like slaves. 

            I am only speaking of some of the African American race.  I know there are plenty that don’t fit these descriptions.  But for those who do, please stop enforcing stereotypes. 

Quel est Un Américain ? (Numero Uno)

            So we’re back to the topic of “What is an American?”  Again.  Most likely, if you’re reading this, you’re an American.  If you’re not, why are you on this blog?  Unless you are Mexican or a Mississippian or something like that… But anyway, Americans.  I’m going to discuss Americans.

            Since we came back from winter vacation, we have been loaded down with reading assignments and the like (don’t worry, Mr. McCarthy; you’re not the only teacher doing it).  So far, we’ve had to read “Children of the Sea”, “To Be Young Gifted and Black”, “I Hear America Singing”, “There Was a Child Went Forth”, and “This Sacred Soil”. 

            These are all readings about Americans or a non-American’s views of America (Although I don’t understand what “There Was a Child Went Forth” had to do with America). 

            It is no secret that people view the U.S. as a land of freedom where opportunities abound.  Foreigners migrate here all the time for work or to escape the tragedies of their homelands.  They all truly believe and believed that North America has something better to offer.  And in my opinion, we do.  We may be in a recession, but I believe there are still some jobs out there.  At the very least, our land isn’t being completely ravaged by war and natural disasters.  Or the Native Americans’ past land, as Chief Seattle would be likely to correct me if he were alive.

            The author of “Children of the Sea” seems to be saying that really anywhere else would be better than Haiti.  And, hey, look at that!  The Unites States is anywhere else!

            Lorraine Hansberry of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” gives her view of the country from a local perspective.  Born and raised on the South side of Chicago, she knows the down sides to living in this “great land”.  The land was not as racially tolerant as it is now.  Racism was practiced and Hansberry and her family personally witnessed it.

            My opinion of these readings: at least most of them were about America.

My Eyes on Brand New Eyes (A Paramore Album)

            Ok, so it's probably no secret by now that I love the band Paramore.  And not just the lead singer Hayley Williams.  I'm a fan of Josh Farro (lead guitarist), Zac Farro (drummer, brother of Josh), Jeremy Davis (bassist), and Taylor York (rhythm guitarist).  But how do I feel about their latest album "Brand New Eyes"?

            "Brand New Eyes" is Paramore's third album, the first two being "All We Know is Falling" and "Riot!".  This CD is definitely deeper than the previous ones.

            Spoken by Hayley, "I was like, 'This isn't a feel-good song, because I'm writing about something I'm going through right now, and it's still painful. And I confused that with actually not liking the songs, when actually I was prouder of them than I've ever been before. They're heavier emotions for me... I'm still going through some of this stuff, and these songs are really healing to me."

            As a big fan of Paramore, I know to be true the fact that these songs have a deeper meaning that the others.  "Riot!" and "All We Know is Falling" were made when the band was still knew and just starting out.  By the time recording of the new album started (January 2009), the band had gotten some experience and knew better what they were doing.

            Concerning the lyrics, they obviously were words that came from the heart.  "Playing God" is a song about some unnamed person, well, playing God; pretending that he/she isn't doing anything wrong and putting all the blame on the singer.  Goes the chorus:

"You don't have to believe me

But the way I, way I see it

Next time you point a finger I might have to bend it back

And break it, break it off

Next time you point a finger I'll point you to the mirror"

            I thought this a clever way to say that the blame-er is the real blame-ee. (and I can play it on guitar now!)

"Feeling Sorry" is one of the lesser known songs on the CD. The bridge goes:

"And all the best lies,

They are told with fingers tied

So cross them tight,

Won't you promise me tonight

If it's the last thing you do, you'll get out."

            An upbeat sounding song about a person that just didn't try hard enough to make it (hey, whattaya know, I can play this song too!)

            What about the actual instrumentals of the album, you may be wondering? 

            The sounds of the songs, the skill with the instruments being played, are just AMAZING.  The songs are very catchy without being too pop-ish.  The direction that the rhythm goes is sometimes foreseeable but nowhere near cliché.  Paramore comes up with their own guitar parts, bass parts, everything.  And I'm no expert drummer, but even I can recognize that Zac Farro is good at keeping time and performing complicated fills and bass drum rhythms.  I even enjoy the parts of the bass guitarist, who is also good at what he does.

            Most of the songs are up-tempo, rock songs.  "Brick By Boring Brick" and "Ignorance" are sure to get you head-banging by the chorus.  There are solos galore (what's a Paramore album without a plentitude of guitar solos?).  There are also the slower songs. 

            "Misguided Ghosts" is played with only two acoustic guitars and a steady beat on the bass drum (if my ears are informing me correctly).  "The Only Exception" is faster yet is still a slow song that many of you might have heard before (it was sung on "Glee").  "All I Wanted" is faster still, with a display of vocal skill evident enough to give Beyonce the chills.

            I realize that I haven't said one bad thing about the CD.  That's because I have nothing bad to say.  Honestly, I don't, and I'm not being willingly blind to any faults.  I just don't see anything wrong with the album.  But that's just my opinion.  I am URGING you to give the songs a listen.  I promise you won't regret it.

Paramore - Brick by Boring Brick (Live Acoustic) from James Crusher on Vimeo.

Poème de l’Hiver

Snow
It drifts slowly and silently
Like a Tokugawa ninja
Lights
They twinkle
Like mischievous eyes
Trees
They sway, bare
Like Adam and Eve, ashamed of their nakedness
Schools
They sit gloomy and dark
Like forlorn and forgotten pets
Children
They cavort and prance
Like reindeer in the sky
And I
I sit alone and wonder
How to make a snowman

Fo'Realz o' Fo'Notz

            Alas, we are now reading "The Great Gatsby".  That great book of American literature during the great period of the Jazz Age.  Having just begun the book, we know not yet what twists and turns the developing plot will take but we can speculate.
            So far, we've learned that Gatsby is madly in love with Tom's wife Daisy.  I mean, MADLY.  He spent thousands of dollars, maybe millions, just to live in this expansive mansion across the pond from her.  He gazes across this pond, to the opposite Egg, to see a green light near her house (?).  He holds expensive parties most nights just because he's hoping she will stop by one day.  And-what's this?- his next door neighbor Nick knows Daisy!  Not only does he know her, he is somehow related to her!
            That's when Gatsby starts to invite Nick over to his house.  He finally reveals his reason for the sudden uber-friendliness when he asks a mutual acquaintance to ask Nick to ask Daisy to tea (will she have to ask for tea?).
            Hmmm...seems sort of suspicious doesn't it?  Once Gatsby discovers Nick's relation to Daisy, he all of a sudden becomes very neighborly.  Maybe I'm being too suspicious but it sounds to me like Gatsby is using Nick.
            We have already seen Jay Gatsby change the way he acted in front of people (at the first party Nick attends, Gatsby turns from being eager to Baker to being formal when others approach).  So forgive me if I'm a bit skeptical of his true purpose for befriending Nick.  Something just doesn't seem right.

Thank You... for the Queso.

            Okay, this isn't really going to be about cheese.  Although j'adore queso.  Really, what's not to love about it?  But that's not anywhere near what I'm supposed to be writing about.  I'm supposed to be writing about how I'm thankful for all the OTHER Thanksgiving food.  I'm thankful for turkey and dressing and macaro - what?- I'm what?- I'm supposed to write about a person?- in this class? OH, that makes much more sense!

            Let me start over.  Hmmm…a person in my American Lit class that I’m thankful for…  How about people?  I’m thankful for Kate, Mauricio, and Paulina.

            To Kate: My Mexicana gringa amiga.  It’s been fun sitting next to you in Am. Lit.  and in geometry.  I’m thankful for the inspiration you give me when I have nothing to write about.  Thanks for helping me in geometry, too, when I don’t understand what I’m supposed to be doing.

            To Mauricio: Hey buddy!  You have a somewhat disturbed way of drawing and looking at things.  But that’s okay.  I’m still thankful for you.  I’ll never forget when you told me how to discipline the Mexican way and for teaching me what a flauta is.

            To Paulina: It’s too bad we don’t sit near each other in American Literature or in geometry.  But we still have fun at lunch.  I’m thankful for how you always need help with your Chinese homework, because it amuses me greatly.

            So those are my thankfuls.  Thank you for reading them.

P.S.  I’m still thankful for turkey.