Autobiographical Multicultural Story: Roadblocks of Justice

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Consider

Think about moments in your life where you experienced or recognized any roadblocks to justice (i.e. racism, sexism, classism, ageism, heterosexism, linguicism, ableism, discrimination based on documentation, etc.).Inspiration -

You will watch/read one of the inspirational texts shared with you on our online platform to see examples of how people shared their experiences (across some of the topics mentioned above). These will help you think of the way you will present in class(through poetry, anecdotes, pictures, speech, interview, artwork, song).

Write 

Write a 2-page narrative (5%) describing at least two moments from your life (one paragraph each), followed by a reflection (one to two paragraphs) that addresses the following questions: What questions did these experiences raise for you? What did you learn or become aware of through these experiences?How have these experiences shaped you or influenced your life? How have these experiences influenced your teaching? Upload online - both the narrative and the presentation to our online platform before class.

Assignment Requirements

Your narrative should convey a real experienceYour story should include all the features of a personal narrative including Plot (there should be a beginning, middle, and end)

Setting Conflict (this can be internal or external and it doesn’t have to be a huge conflict; it’s up to you)

Point of view (this story should be told in the first person)Your narrative should include some of the techniques associated with well written personal narratives: Dialogue

Well-chosen details A unique voice (this story should sound like YOU.  If you are going to use academic language, it should be purposeful.  Use multiple “Englishes” if you would like.  Vernacular is acceptable, as is a bit of translanguaging - as we saw from Piri Thomas ( “‘Two cents, please’, said a little muchacha blanca….The gym was whaling.  The music was on wax, and it was a mambo.” A well structured sequence of events internal thoughts (for example, “Maybe, I thought, this squeeze livin’ ain’t as bad as Crutch said….”  

Having trouble getting started? 

Here are some writing prompts. Try writing one sentence for each bullet.  Perhaps one of these will spark an idea for a story. What is the first move you remember?  Where did you move to/fro?  Why? If you’re not from New York: What do you remember about moving to New York?  If you are from New York, would you ever live anywhere else? What is home? What do you love about where you live now? What do you hate?Recall the first day you moved to _____________. What were you thinking? Try to recall what a parent or guardian said to you when you first moved out of the house.  If you don’t remember the language, what was the feeling?

Finally, are you looking for more examples?  Read/ watch some of the inspirational personal narratives that have been shared with you through this platform.   

FOR INSPIRATION: Watch/Read three of the following (select any from the same or across different categories) to see examples of how people shared their experiences (across some of the topics mentioned above):

1. Sonia Sotomayor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDXrS5nnxsM&feature=youtu.be (video clip interview onher childhood, family,learning/studyingprocess)
2. Pedro Pietri (poet) https://vimeo.com/154802392 “Puerto Rican Obituary”poem
3. Jacqueline Woodson(author, poet, NationalAmbassador for YoungPeople’s Literature) -https://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/thoughts-of-a-brown-girl-dreaming-368375875541 interview on herNewberyaward-winning bookBrown Girl Dreaming
4. Xiutezcatl MartinezTEDxMileHigh -(environmental activist)- speech and song onenvironmental activism
5. The Long Way Home by Jumpa Lahiri lahiri_cooking lessons.pdf  
6. Jouneys_A Hillcrest HS Literary Journal Journeys_A Hillcrest HS Literary Journal.pdf  
7. Homecoming with Turtle by Junot Diaz Diaz_Junot Turtle_The New Yorker _ Jun 14, 2004.pdf  
8. Edna Chavez- March for Our Lives (full speech). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BinNvKznltA&feature=youtu.be
9. Mayda del Valle  (poet, author) Tongue Tactics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa7IfuXT_Bc
10. Blair Imani (Muslim Activist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNa3EhyN5Zc&feature=youtu.be