When James Baldwin stated, “I would try to make [the student] know that just as American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it, so is the world larger, more daring, more beautiful and more terrible, but principally larger – and that it belongs to him. I would teach him that he doesn’t have to be bound by the expediencies of any given administration, any given policy, any given morality; that he has the right and the necessity to examine everything.” He meant that America has so many accomplishments and is such a great country yet people are suffering. He is saying that there is a lot more to Americas history, no matter what anyone says about America, you cannot describe Americas history in one aspect. James Baldwin is also saying that everyone should be able to do what they want freely, learn as they please without anyone holding them back. They should not live through someone else’s eyes or minds. Everyone should be able to do as they please, without being shut down.
In school I wish they would teach us more about life skills, self-defense, money management, etc. These are things that will help us in life. Having life skills is important, it will teach us how to be a better person and be better at decision making, problem solving and much more. Crime rate has gone high, something is always happening, nyc does not even feel safe anymore and with self-defense, there is a better chance we can help ourselves. Students need to learn money management because they go to school, then get a job, but they do not know how to save up or manage their money or even write checks.
Annotations:
Paragraph 3: “…that his past is nothing more than a record of humiliations..”
It shows that America is like such a great country, people have so many hopes and dreams, America has so many accomplishments, yet the African American race yes gone through so much and they were kept form everything, they were not able to do anything. They could not go to school or vote. They were living through someone else’s mind. It was unfair.
Page 5: “That is up to him to change these standards for the sake of the life and the health of the country.”
This quote means that only you can change standards, do not wait for anyone else to change it, it is all on you. It is your ability to push yourself and be your best self.
Fahmida, your annotations and response to Baldwin’s excerpt are quite thoughtful. In the future, please don’t restate any quote for your response as this brings your word count below the required 300-word minimum. Also, always be specific. Who are “they”? Additionally, NYC is a proper noun and should be uppercased.