Literacy Narrative

I am against a party of people that profits off of someone else’s disadvantaged state. For this group of people to be showcased in the same theme as the political cartoon of a civil rights activist is politically incorrect and morally wrong. The man who was responsible for stirring up controversy through this political cartoon explained that his intentions were to open up a dialogue about hateful protesters. However, one must understand when one is morally right to protest against, and morally wrong to.

During the civil rights movement, many were advocating for equality. This was during a time where segregation limited many African Americans from receiving a proper education. Whites were more privileged and given better, more updated textbooks and learning material. During the desegregation crisis in 1960, a little girl named Ruby Bridges was the first to integrate into an all white elementary school. You can say she was the “bridge” in connecting these two separated races, despite the negative backlash.

As a way to represent this key factor in history, Norman Rockwell painted, “ The Problem We All Live With” in 1964. A painting about a young dark-skinned girl, wearing all white to emphasize her color of skin tone. Surrounded by Deputy U.S. Marshall for protection as she embarked on a journey to a school that was not welcoming towards her race. The painting conveys her resilience and strength as her posture is held dignified and her focus is forward. You can sense the intent and the responsibility, heavy on her shoulders. The hard R, N-word is graffitied on the back, a racial slur she most likely dealt with daily. A tomato is thrown not too far from her, but still, she remains unwavering. This painting is meant to document this iconic moment that changed the course of history forever. It is meant to empower those who follow after Ruby Bridges steps. To prove to those who were hateful enough, that they couldn’t delay this moment. Perhaps, it is also meant to evoke sympathy for she is only a child, deserving the same as any other light-skinned child.

Instead of investing their time towards benevolent acts within the education system, people like Betsy Devos are hindering the development of public schools. A woman who paid her way into her position rather than through qualified experiences, was conveyed similarly to Ruby Bridges. The man who compared Betsy Devos to Ruby Bridges was Glenn McCoy. Within his political cartoon, he demonstrated Betsy Devos as a frailer character surrounded by larger and heftier men. She was labeled a conservative and also thrown a tomato. She is also looking forward and isn’t showing a sign of weakness. “Conservative” and the “N-word” are the key offensive label for both visuals. To compare this woman to this pivotal moment in history is considered ignorant.

Conservatives opposed the civil rights movement, so demonstrating the political cartoon in such a way can evoke much sensitivity. Betsy DeVos’ upbringing can make her very ignorant and subjective towards her political decisions. She has rescinded transgender rights and has even thought of taking away a regulation that prevents discriminatory punishment towards students of color. Though she advocates for better schooling, she does not consider the economic situation that can restrict one to a public school, a school in which she considers lacking. However, instead of visiting these “underperforming schools,” she neglects it. This stirs up tension. Her idea of funding other alternative forms of schooling besides a public school, leaves fewer funds for it on the long run. This then leaves many students at risk of not getting quality learning.

Glenn McCoy statement about hateful protesting can also be identified as ignorant. Yes, maybe Betsy DeVos is not given a chance due to her reputation and initial hate. However, her decisions have left many victims of sexual assault, discriminatory accusing and transgenderism, angered and unsecured due to her lack of regulating safety. Betsy DeVos was mainly protested against due to her character; rather than Ruby, who was protested against due to her race. The causes of hate are radically different. Therefore, I cannot agree with Betsy DeVos political cartoon as the comparison is frankly unjustifiable.

To sum it up, Betsy DeVos political cartoon can be viewed as something that diminishes Ruby Bridges legacy. It takes the light away from Ruby’s actions and it does not justify DeVos whatsoever. The education system is in need of improvement, however, the solution might have to be closer to the root of it all rather than simply just looking elsewhere and neglecting many families’ situation that perhaps restricts them from having much flexibility. Glenn was wrong to place these two on the same pedestal when Betsy does not choose to prove how she is qualified to the people of the United States.

An Internal Analysis

In the short story, “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allen Poe, readers analyzing the text through Freudian eyes can find hints of displacement and condensation. The narrators coping mechanism as well as certain subliminal associations ties back to Freudian dreamwork. The methods in which Freud would interpret dreams can manifest onto one’s normal waking life. The narrator in “The Black Cat” is no exception as Freudian concepts further explain his actions and the courses around his life.

Every name in this story is anonymous except for the cat, Pluto. The narrators closest companion, “Pluto” is commonly alluded to the Roman god of the underworld or hell, as we know it. This diabolical association intertwines with the narrators waning of morality and the emotions he experiences throughout his shift in nature. Though once a loving and compassionate man, the narrator ceased to maintain this good-natured disposition. He began to blame alcohol for this shift, even to the extent of calling it a “fiend.”(Poe). This represents condensation as he begins to label these things as something cruel and wicked; later, becoming something cruel and wicked himself. He began to drink profusely, leading to various atrocious acts. His close relationship with Pluto, however, held him back from committing these acts onto the cat, yet he had no hesitation abusing and mistreating his wife. This can further illustrate plutos significance as the narrator was most mindful of it, displaying the good in him that was slowly dying off. Unfortunately, this was short lived as the narrator could not control himself, “The fury of a demon instantly possessed me,”(Poe) he exclaimed as he impulsively cut Pluto’s eye from his socket. His choice of diction can represent condensation as he begins to embody something deeper than just a few violent mishaps. He becomes one with evil not only in tendencies but in essence. This illustrates condensation as it represents symbols in which, “branch out in two or more directions.”(Freud, 27). The way he explains his violence is once again connected to a malevolent being which can be connected to “Pluto.” Later he gave in to this spirit of perverseness which leads to the murdering of his once beloved cat. However, “on the night of the day on which this cruel deed was done, I was aroused from sleep by the cry of fire” he explains, as though the murder of Pluto had “jeopardized” his soul as he wished.(Poe). The fire can represent hell and how he completely submits to this formidable evil in him. He has converted to this perpetual state of perverseness. After crossing paths with another black cat similar to plutos image except for the white fur on its chest, the narrator began to associate its pattern on the chest with something. “it was now a representation of an object that I shudder to name- of the gallows!” he exclaimed. (Poe). The gallows, a place in which is associated with getting hung. This cat not only visibly looks like Pluto but the one distinction it has, ties to the cause of Pluto’s death. Associations that begin to condense into one symbolism is referred to as condensation. Later when the narrator is caught for murdering his wife, he refers to himself as, “a hangman.”(Poe). The guilt and consequences of his actions all ties to the murdering of Pluto. He could not rid himself of this image and so began to visualize and project what’s on his unconscious through similar associations in relation to the irrevocable murder of Pluto.

“The Black Cat,” without a doubt, showcases clear depictions of displacement. By abusing and participating in malicious behavior as an outlet, he displaces his irritability and anger on the innocent. Freud explains how, “the content of the dream,”(Freud, 35) which in this case is the narrators intoxicated self,“ seems to be concerned with the most indifferent trivialities, which would be unworthy of our interest if we were awake.”(Freud, 35) Meaning that whenever the narrator is in a state of intoxication, he inflicts verbal and physical abuse on his wife and his pets whom he regards with little importance or value. He does this as though they were insignificant to him and so does not have much to lose. So, he wouldn’t feel much guilt upon his “awakening,” which in this case is simply his sober state. Pluto being his, “favorite pet and playmate,”(Poe) had him restrained from unleashing these parts of him onto the cat. This can show how the narrator viewed the relationship with the cat as something meaningful and worth preserving. Thus, the aspect of displacement in which the individual only displaces his emotions onto something, “trivial, insignificant and unmemorable,”(Freud, 35) as Freud explains in dream work, is shown through the narrator and the disparate treatment between Pluto and the narrator’s initial victims. After the narrator murdered pluto and attempted to replace him through a cat with a similar image, He began to dread it and so it, “increased… Hatred of all things and of all mankind.”(Poe). His hatred was repressed with his dread and so he began to displace this hatred towards his wife, explaining how she, “Was the most usual and the most patient of my sufferers.”(Poe). Once again proving how the narrator intentions towards his wife were not, “justifiably stirring”(Freud, 36) as the process of displacement illustrates itself through something in which has no correlation to the cause of the inflictors emotions. The fact that his wife was also the most “patient” shows how the inflictor may not have felt like he had much to risk, for she complied to this behavior.

By analyzing one’s nature, we can come to understand ourselves. Though anyone might bat their eyes away from the narrator due to the actions he has committed, seeking a Freudian perspective helps us understand why these actions came to manifest. It is never as simple as he is angry, there is always a link to one’s emotions that may have spurred and repressed throughout one’s life. These things can then take the form of displacement and condensation as the mind must always release what has been repressed, whether through harm or projecting one’s fears and traumas outward.

Reflective essay

As I first laid my eyes on the historical painting, “The Problem We All Live With,” the derogatory word plastered beside the dark-skinned girl was written faintly yet rung loud in my head. I immediately understood its historical significance. However, the political cartoon in which I was then met with, did not give me the same level of relevance. As I analyzed the historical painting as well as the context behind its message, I came to understand the importance of it during a time of racial disputes. The little dark-skinned girl named Ruby Bridges was a pivotal factor in the integrating of two races. The political cartoon, however, was not exactly on the same pedestal as the painting. I could smell the ignorance behind its execution as it left a distasteful feeling in my mouth. This political cartoon was about a woman named Betsy DeVos, a conservative with a bad reputation on the left wing. Glenn McCoy, an American cartoonist, portrayed her in the same light as Ruby Bridges. He explained how he wanted to open up a dialogue on hateful protesters.

As I began to research more on Betsy DeVos and why she carried such a bad reputation, I began to wonder if she was ever given a chance to prove herself, as she was always met with hostility. She is known for using her wealth to secure a position in the educational system. She was viewed as unqualified and was subjected to a lot of hate. This made me wonder if I was allowing my judgment to be clouded by people who harbor strong beliefs. However, as I began to search more on DeVos, I discovered certain decisions she made that sprouted my suspicions of her. Her lack of support for victims of sexual assault as well as stripping the protection for people of color and transgenderism, clashes with my morals and beliefs. This proves to me how she doesn’t grasp the struggles of minorities. How she doesn’t have the right mentality needed to shift the educational system into a brighter direction.

Glenn McCoy stance was one of ignorance and mindlessness. The historical painting captured an immoral act of protesting that a group of people did not deserve. Betsy DeVos, on the other hand, is a controversial individual that is justifiably protested against. To ignore the causes of both events is to ignore the idea of right and wrong. Every cause has a reaction, yes. However, we need to acknowledge the reactions in which are rational and those that are simply irrational. Ruby Bridges did not deserve to be harassed and threatened the way she was. She was an innocent child who did nothing wrong. DeVos is a grown, privileged woman who needs to understand the roots of her privilege and how the system she works in, benefits some more than others. In order to have a fair and just system, we need to formulate the right arguments through compassion and understanding.

The idea of responding to the learning outcome seemed easy but I did struggle a little with reflecting back to it. Other than that, once I knew what I wanted to write about, I was able to respond in a quick manner.

The discussion board in which we had to participate in for homework allowed me to explore and analyze a variety of genres and rhetorical situations. We had to write about what surprised, intrigued and disturbed us about the variety of readings given to us while connecting it to Freudian concepts. This exposed me to genres in which expanded my perspective on Freud by giving me a context in which can bring his concepts into life. This constant act of reading and then responding to the same assignment of writing about what surprised, intrigued and disturbed me, gave me a solid rhetorical situation that I was able to master with practice. It also made the rhetorical situation an open one as we were simply reacting and responding to the prompt and the text while sticking to the purpose expected by the audience, my teacher.

After receiving my Literacy Narrative back, I was able to revise my essay. By gaining the feedback from Turnitin, I was able to see all the grammatical mistakes I have made. Looking back at what I’ve done wrong helps me realize that I need to become more mindful of not only what I write, but how I write it. We collaborated through peer review and gained insight on how others choose to write. By drafting, revising and editing my Literacy Narrative, I was able to reflect back on how I may improve as a writer. This helps me develop my strategies in this field and practice makes perfect and going over your writing as well as reading your writing out loud ca truly benefit the flow and structure of it all.

The first essay in which we had to incorporate a systematic application of citations was the summary and response. By using the in-text citation in order to properly cite our readings in a way that allows our claims to be supported, we can build a stronger argument. It may be hard to cite in a way that will make your writing flow but through the use of transition words and proper citations, it can work out in the end. I was able to get better at citing the text in a way that will benefit my writing somehow. It can be hard to determine which is the best evidence to use but that is something I’ve come to learn to do as I’ve progressed onto my exploratory essay, etc. Going over the MLA citation guide with Ms. K was also extremely helpful as it taught me how to properly cite the text depending on how you want to cite it. There are various forms of citations and various forms to execute them, this was something I learned through the basics in which this guide informed me of. The feedback I was given about how I cited also helped me take my citations into consideration for future essays.

Writing my essays helped me recognize  and practice key rhetorical terms and strategies as I had to stay conscious of who I was writing to. I didn’t necessarily need to summarize or write about the context of my story as the teacher I was writing to, was already informed of it. This helped me recognize the audience and so I molded my essay in accordance to it. Creating my thesis was a struggle for me. I didn’t properly state my stance and so I did fail with  the rhetorical term, stance. This does affect my how I portray my purpose as it did not connect back to my thesis well.

By attending tutoring sessions I was able to engage in the thought process of building my essay. This helped me articulate my ideas as having someone to talk to and responding to what i’m saying, helps me make sense of what I want to write. This social aspect made it easy for me to organize my essay as my tutor helped me go through what I wanted and create a cohesive essay. By collaborating in the peer review, I could get inspiration and see how I can reflect and improve my writing.

Ms.K made us watch a youtube video that explained to us the rhetorical situation. This gives us a visual representation that helped me understand more about what I was writing about. She also gave us a written explanation about the rhetorical situation online but I did find the video more helpful. I find listening and seeing a visual representation more easier for me to obtain the information.

For our critical research paper, we had to support our claim through scholarly sources. We were informed on how to use the CCNY library database in order to find the right peer reviews that will help strengthen our writing. Through evaluating how they were written and making sure it is legitimate, we can know if its accurate and dependable material. My CRP helped me better understand how to locate these sources and how to utilize them properly.

My CRP essay completely allowed me to integrate my language with appropriate sources, summarize, critically analysis, interpret, synthesis and argue my thesis. I did struggle with fully arguing my essay but as I did it last minute and wasn’t able to connect it back to my thesis in a concise and sensible way. I was able to critically analyse, “The Black Cat” and “The White Cat” in relation to Freud and a new reading I read called, “The Uncanny.”

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