Gettin" Grown Review

I read the blog of Britainy W, Yolanda , and Robert. Yolanda and Robert had similar views about the film. They each liked it and gathered their own opinion about the film. They felt that the director did a good job by making the film realistic. However, Britainy basically said that the film was "ok". She said that it would not have been one of her choice of films. Personally, I would have like to have seen the film myself because it is hard to gather an opinion when you are reading a variety of different opinions.

Things Fall Apart

...As Okonkwo raised his machette to strike the messenger, the unknown happened. Okonkwo surrendered. For the first time in his life, he backed down. In his mind, he has evolved into what he despised. He gave in to weakness. He feared that he no longer would be known as "Okonkwo the warrior"; now he would be viewed as the man who feared the messenger. He didn't know why he couldn't follow through with his intentions; but all he knew was that things would never be the same. Okonkwo left the meeting in silence. He refused to even make eye contact with the spectators. He headed for home.
Once Okonkwo reached his hut, he secluded himself from everyone. Once he was alone, he wept. Years of holding back his true feeling were coming out in a matter of seconds. He cried for his childhood, his father, and for Nwoye. Once he cleared his face, he acted as if nothing happened. However, he knew "Okonkwo the warrior" was dead.

Frederick Douglass

After reading The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass I became interested in what he did after obtaining his freedom. I went to www.askjeeves.com to begin my research. I was able to find some interesting information.
Douglass had communication with President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that guaranteed voting rights and other civil liberties for blacks. He assisted in convincing black men to join the Union army, and he helped in recruiting for the 54th Massachusetts colored regiment, offering his own sons as the first recruits.
Following the Civil War in 1877, Douglass was appointed as United States Marshall for the District of Columbia by President Hayes, and in 1881, President Garfield appointed him Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia.

The Climax

Chapter 10 of the narrative is very powerful. So much occurs in this chapter. This seems like the period in Douglass' life where is beginning to make a transition into manhood. The first sign of this is when he ignores Covey's order to receive his whipping. It seems like his experience as Covey's slave helped him to become the person who realized that attaining his freedom could become a reality. In this chapter, Douglass reached the point where he could no longer take inhumane treatment. His rebellion against Covey symbolized a shift of power from slave owner to slave. I found it funny that after this incident, he never received any more punishment while under Covey's control. In my opinion, this IS the turning point of the narrative because Douglass gains a sense of confidence after instilling fear in his "master."

After reading the blogs a day late, I realized a lot of different things. Every blog I read told the story from the eyes of someone different. Although I only read three, they all were different. It was fun reading about everyone's ideas about the story.

The REAL ending of Sonny's Blue's

............It was like magic. For the first time in my life, Sonny and I finally made a connection. It's strange thinking back on all the years that we have had verbal communication, yet it took the art of sound to bring us to a consensus. For once, I realized Sonny was in pain. The darkness of our childhood has caused him to have a troubled spirit. He was reminscing on how our desperate cries out for help as children were left unanswered. We both were forced to suffer through poverty stricken conditions which have left blemishes on our lives. For the first time I realized that Sonny is not a bad person at all. We are actually a lot alike. He is in search of peace...peace of mind. He wants to close certain chapters of his life so he can progress. The drugs and alcohol were used to mask his life. He used them to hide his feelings instead of facing them. In a way, I understood why.
As he was walking towards me, we managed to make eye contact. He knew. He knew that I felt every inch of pain he expressed. He sat next to me but we never spoke a word. We reached a new level in our relationship. From this point on, we could finally see things from a different perspective. Inside, I felt like a little child who have just been blessed with a newborn baby brother.

Sonny's Blues

I enjoyed reading Sonny's Blues. I especially love how the relationship between Sonny and his brother unfolded. It seems as if they had opposite personalities and never saw "eye to eye" on anything. However, the narrator stepped in to help his brother when he needed him the most. He could never understand his passion for music until the end of the story. When it seemed as if Sonny expressed himself through his music, his brother felt his pain for the first time. This is why I firmly believe they never understood each other to this point because they never tried.

Sonnet 2004

The way you walk,
Your style of dress,
The way you talk,
I'm so impressed.
Your smile, your style
Your mind, your eyes
Keeps me wild,
I'm mesmerized.
The expression on your face,
says everything.
Words can't replace
the melody my heart sings.
With all these qualities, it is such a shame
The love of my life, doesn't even know my name.