Author: DestinyLove

Destiny DeSilva 

 

 

      Both Hannah Jones and Sean Wilentz articles set two different point about slavery in America. The article by Wilentz gives me an idea on what happened specifically during the years of 1700s, and 1800s of slavery. In his article he states that “the byproduct, as some accounts say, of impersonal, amoral economics forces, or the unintended outcome of white people’s selfish squabbles over policy and profits, or even as an accident.” Throughout the years white people had been nothing but selfless and heartless people to the minorities which made policies, profits or even laws worse for them. “By the mid-1700s, in the American colonies as well as in Britain and France, a significant number of reformers and intellectuals had come to regard American slavery as pure evil.” Abraham Lincoln was a person who did not want slavery to end. “Abraham’s Lincoln rendered as a white supermacist who, whatever in qualms about human bondage, supposedly had no interest in ending slavery”. Unlike Lincoln not wanting slavery to end, Thomas Jefferson was against slavery and he believed that all slaves were equal, however he did not take any actions to make a change and help the slaves. Point of views like these made America’s role, Life, Liberty, and Property, harder for the slaves and other people themselves. 

       In other words, Hannah Jones The 1619 Project is more of gaining independence. She describes how her father joined the Army so he can be treated equally. Turns out, he was treated the same way like everyone else and he served the country. She did not understand the point I’d represent American when America could not treat minorities equally. Both articles set different points of view on slavery. Slavery impacted America very different because how people were treated back then. Up to today’s society people are still treated unequally and being mistreated because of the color of their skin or their race. Thankfully it’s not as bad as the 1700 and 1800s. Slavery took a big role in everyone’s life in my opinion and everybody had their own viewpoint on slavery

 

            

Hannah Jones 1619

Destiny DeSilva

 

For many many years African American were in search of freedom for decades. It was really hard for them as human beings because they were treated as animals and most especially slaves, as they were called. They were in search of a new life, something new, something different, a life with no worries, less beatens, no one controlling them or telling them what to do. They were looking for their rights, the ones they deserve. In the article The 1619 Project, Hannah Jones has made some key point during her fathers time of slavery. Her father thought that joining the military would he would finally be treated as a human being and an American, however he thought wrong. Although he has his benefits as a person who served the country he still treated as if he had no purpose being there. “He would be discouraged under murky circumstances and then labor in a series of service jobs for the rest of his life.” Hannah’s father believed in hard work no matter what the circumstances are, but she did not understand by representing something where you don’t feel welcomed? Where you’re treated as a human and not as a property, representing something or a place where you don’t feel safe or comfortable. To Hannah the flag was nothing but disappointment. African Americans were being sold to the white people, their children were not legally their own and they were also up for auction. Black women being raped by their own masters and no would receive no do seques whatsoever. On July 4, 1776 the Declaration of Independence “proclaims that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” ” Once it was signed white men did not like the idea of “all men are equal” especially for the hundred and thousands of slaves in “their midst.” The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution played a very big role in the slaves. They would fight for their rights no matter what the cost is but due to laws and the Constitution their effort to the white people was worthless.

In my opinion, African American did not deserve what they got from the white people. All they ever wanted was to live a normal life like the others and have their rights as humans and as citizens. White people took the advantage of their worth, which was low, and used them for their own purposes, treated them like animals, used them as property of their own, and sold them like objects. It is really upsetting to read these types of articles because people did not have a kind heart and think about these people as one of them. No matter the skin color, no matter the race or ethnicity, they are like everyone else. We all have our difference, but we are still people at the end of the day

 

Destiny DeSilva

ENG 1121 – D420

Reflection 

 

      After All, Didn’t America Invent Slavery?

 

Throughout the years school has taught us that slavery existed hundreds and hundreds of years ago. Black people being mistreated, white people being slave owners, black people did not know how to read or write and a few would try to escape the darkness of being enslaved but failed to do so. Black women would get raped by their own, as they say “slave masters”. Stories after stories were told generations after generations about slavery and how colored people were mistreated. Books, movies, and media would create things for us to see and believe that slavery existed. However, would you thunk that slavery was only an American thing? People only recognized slavery that happened in America but never realized that it also happened in other countries as well. For example, in the article it states that in 1619 “is the date of the arrival of the first slaves to the land that would a century-and-a-half later be called the United States.” This shows that majority of the people know that in America slavery was the foundation. Not knowing that slavery did not only took place in American but also in ancient times also.

During the ancient times slavery was much worse than slavery in American. Their punishments would be actual death, decapitating peoples heads, cutting of their body parts, etc. Slavery wasn’t easy during ancients times. In the article it states that “in the 1700s B.C., the Egyptian pharaohs enslaved the Israelites, as is discussed in Exodus Chapter 12. Later, the pagan Greeks participated in slavery, for ancient Sparta as well as Athens relied fully on the slave labor of captives.” Slavery was all over the not just in one place. The Egyptians pharaohs did not play when it insisted on their slaves and they would do anything in their power to have work for hours and hours. Slavery spread throughout the ancient times before it arrived to America. The Romans, Egyptians, Greeks, etc. Slavery existed century after century and generations after generations even. “By the year 1000 A.D., slavery had become common in England’s rural, agricultural economy.” Even in the most uncommon countries slavery occurred as well. History does not only take place in one setting, it takes place in  multiple places and different destinations. Our resources only show that history took place in one setting which is America, however it doesn’t show that slavery also happened during the ancient. In some resources it does include it but not as often for our people to be educated. In my opinion I also believed that slavery only happened in America. However, after being educated and reading different resources I now know it did not only happen in America. 

Destiny DeSilva

ENG 1121

 

Reflection #2

Reading along chapters 1-3 we see that Yunior went through a tough time growing up as a kid. He went through verbal and some physical abuse from his father, watching his father cheat on his mother, his brother being very mean to him, growing up poor with his mother and brother, having girlfriend problems, hormones flowing, and not having his father with him growing up. Growing up for him was not easy and he managed with them as he got older was a good way to go about with life. Selling drugs, doing drugs, having sex with his girlfriend and feeling confused about the love he has for her, and the relationship with his brother not well balanced. Yunior’s life has made a huge turn throughout the next 3 chapters.

In Boyfriend, it talks about Yunior’s different girlfriends and he speaks in 3rd person throughout the entire chapter. In the chapter it states “Boyfriend got himself to the hallway I was already in the apartment. Girlfriend would not stop crying. Twice she stopped, she must have heard me moving around right about her and both times I held my breath until she started up again.”  Yunior explains how his girlfriend would consistently do things to get his attention. All his girlfriends impacted him differently throughout his life and none of them spoke Spanish, which was really shocking to him. He learned something with every woman he was with. But as time passes by, Yunior meets other people along the way

In the chapter of Edison, New Jersey Yunior has a work friend named Wayne. They both work as delivery men and they both sell drugs. They work as partners to sell drugs and they both  talk about their experiences on the new job they have. They talk about who and where they deliver furniture to, and the type of interactions they have with the customers. As they work during their jobs hours, selling drugs is a side business for them. The type of woman they meet while they’re selling and how Wayne would entertain them. Also, towards the end of the chapter they meet a customer named Pruitt. As they go along to do their jobs, Pruitt’s wife and Yunior starts talking about life in general while they’re on their way to Jersey.

In the chapter of How to date a Brown Skin girl it talks about, in my opinion, a type of routine to trying to get a girl, meeting her parents, the job of being a boyfriend and things you should do and shouldn’t do as a boyfriend and meeting her parents. In the chapter it states “Shower, comb, dress. Sit on the couch and watch TV. If she’s an outsider her father will be bringing her, maybe her mother. Neither of them want her seeing any boys from the Terrace-people get stabbed in the Terrace-but she’s strong-headed and this time will get her way. If she’s a white girl you know you’ll at least  get a hand job.” In my opinion I think men have things hard when it comes to meeting the girl’s parents and these high expectations that are needed to be exceeded as a boyfriend. The same goes for women, she needs to know how to cook, clean, dress well and know how to take care of a man, however men’s expectations are very high.

Destiny DeSilva
ENG 1121- D420

Reflection
Throughout life we face obstacles and we learn how to face them and overcome them. Life is always described as sunshine and rainbows on a very sunny day as the birds sing along. Life isn’t always like sunshine and rainbows and singing birds. Drown by Junot Diaz is a perfect example of how life can really be. Chapters 1-3 reveal phases of the life of the young people. Chapter 1 is with young Yunior, Rafa, and Ysrael. Yunior and Rafa, his older brother, do not have a great relationship with him. Rafa is always teasing and picking on Yunior. Yunior growing up is learning new things and he’s trying to figure things out with his life along with dealing with the craziness of his brother. Also, not having their father around as much as they want him to. While Ysrael, on the other hand, is being aside and teased by the whole town of Ocoa because of his appearance. His face was eaten by a pig and he walks around with a handmade mask to hide his face. In chapter 2, his father was cheating on his mother and he struggled mentally with that, his father being very abusive towards him, his brother and his mother, and he explains how much a loving woman his mother is. In chapter 3, Yunior and his friend Cut are selling drugs and experiencing girlfriend problems. Situations like these are examples of a young adults life, and as a young adult I am, I can definitely relate to it.
In chapters 1 & 2 Yunior experiences family problems and a friend being picked on by the town. Growing up as a kid I’ve been picked on because of my race and my appearance. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, however it helped me grow and develop a mentality and a person that I am today. Growing up for Yunior and Ysrael was not easy. Having people or even your close friends pick or discourage you because of your appearance. People’s opinion should not matter to any of us because their opinion does not shape us as a person, especially if it’s a lie. As life goes on we experience obstacles on the way and those obstacles help us grow as a person and become a better version of ourselves. In chapter 3, things get worse. Yunior and his friend Cut start selling drugs and also experience relationship problems of their own. As a young adult, I experience relationship problems even with adults as well. However, drugs are not the best idea to take the pain away or feel numb for the moment. Drugs are a temporary solution and it will not fix the situation itself. We have to solve it and be adults and either accept the consequences or the outcome of the situation.
In conclusion, Yunior went through tough times as a kid. He learned new things and he experiences new things everyday. And he takes as a learning lesson through his path of life. Life wasn’t easy for him but he surely made it through. Having an abusive father and an older brother that does not show love to you is very difficult to bear with. Especially when you have questions and you need a male point of view, depending on what it is. As a young adult, I made it through life and I am here today to share my story and relating to the characters in the book.