Randy's Malcolm X Response

It seems as if the purpose of this section of the autobiography is to establish Malcolm X’s credibility. Who would trust and look up to a man that was convicted of a crime and was sent to jail? I think Malcolm X is trying to relay that he simply didn’t waste away his in jail; he tried to better himself by learning to read. He showed that he is a dedicated person when it comes to learning in order to bolster his reputation as a leader of the black Americans.

What strikes me as interesting is the books Malcolm X chooses to read. Must of them were either about history or black people. Why didn’t he read books of other subjects? He even states, “On the prison library’s shelves were books on just about every general subject.” I think it’s a matter of relatability. He can relate to how the slaves felt in the novels; he understands what it was like to be discriminated and wants to put an end to it. It seems to me that these books are where he gets the motivation and interest to lead the black Americans.

I found it astonishing how much force and vigor Malcolm X used to attack the white race. He used phrase like “White men had indeed acted like devils.” This phrase is a powerful attack on the white race. Granted, white men did enslave the Africans for hundreds of years so Malcolm X has some reason to talk like this. However, I feel like Malcolm X doesn’t simply want equality for the black Americans, he wants comeuppance. I think he is lumping all white men into one category, namely, pro-slavery. He is forgetting about the white men who did not support slavery and tried to abolish it.

Cody's Malcolm X Post

This reading was actually my first experience reading material by Malcolm X, and I must say, I quite liked it. His diction was engrossing, his topics were interesting and very real, and, much like we discussed in class today, his ability to persuade through thesis driven argument was fantastic. He could back up everything he said with evidence from his reading and was very specific in his citation.

I found it very interesting that Malcolm X, much like Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass, used a new found literacy as a means of gaining freedom in a sense. When Malcolm X got his hands on a copy of the dictionary while confined to his cell, he used it as a springboard to explore entire worlds of new information. As Malcolm X said, “the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive” (RA 217).

His dedication and engrossment with reading was particularly impressive to me: “Right outside my door was a corridor light that cast a glow into my room [after 'lights out']. The glow was enough to read by, once my eyes adjusted to it” (RA 213).

His unwavering dedication certainly paid off, as his knowledge grew by unbelievable bounds. I really enjoyed seeing how he related information from his reading into his battle against racism with real facts and vivid detail.

The final item that impressed me in this reading was his work ethic. I felt that I could take something from his incredible desire to further his education. As a new college student, I would love to have the drive to study for fifteen hours a day!

Grace Lee's Douglass Post

Frederick Douglas’ autobiography documents a critical era in the United States, exposing his miseries as a slave and ultimately his state of freedom. Personally, while I was reading his Narrative, I almost got the sense that Frederick Douglass did not realize his complete hatred towards slavery until soon before his liberation. For example, Frederick recounts stories of watching as his family members were punished and his own experiences under the whip but does not reflect deeply on these issues. Although he mentions the inhumaneness of these events, he does not show much initiative to escape from the wretchedness. Rather, it was the idea of education that really allowed Frederick to realize the severity of slavery. He used education as a means of motivation and encouragement to outsmart and deceive his masters. In a time when he was limited to strictly harsh labor, he used his ability to read and write to keep his dream alive. He dreamt of proving to himself that he was not inferior to the white slave holders. Education, he believed, was the safest and most efficient way to display that he was capable of more than the constant humiliation he faced everyday. He was constantly demeaned by the masters through his punishments, demands to give up all his wages, and refusal of receiving education.

Upon receiving education, Frederick began to view his seriousness about escape differently. He had been practicing his reading and writing to eventually become a freeman and never return to slavery. He therefore convinced himself that if he did not at least make the attempt to escape, he should forever remain a slave. His dedication to education allowed him to believe that he did not deserve to be free if he did not attempt to escape because a hesitation proved he was accepting his status of inferiority.

Adam Perez:Douglass Blog Post

I completely agree with the post below commenting on the restriction of education from lower classes to keep them clueless as to how they should be treated. This brought an interesting point to my mind. In class we have been discussing the relationship between technology and race. This narrative helps prove the correlation between the two. There were many technologies that were controlled by just white men. Education can be related back to that as well(books, paper, pencil, etc. are all basic forms of technology denied to slaves). Technology was also used by white men to keep slaves in check(ex:whips, guns). There was also one more thing that technology influenced, this being the freedom of the slaves. Over time more and more slaves filtered into the north where they began to use some technology for their own good. The same thing that kept the slaves in check also helped liberate them. Technology like the printing press allowed abolitionist papers and books(such as this narrative) to be printed. Douglass was one of these slaves that took advantage of such technology and this made a large impact on the entire tone of the United States on slavery, which in the end helped to abolish it.

Eric Douglas post

Man controlling societies have used education as a tool to keep the lower class from coming up. Kevin stated that he found it interesting that Douglas was able to overcome this and teach himself to read and many of my thoughts while reading this autobiography paralleled this. It is interesting to think what would have happened to Douglass if not for his hunger for knowledge which lead him on his quest to read. Throughout the story Douglass states that reading opened his eyes to the evils that slavery presented and showed him what a better life would look like. Without being able to read he would have never discovered these ideals and may have thought that slavery was his only option. This fact leads me to believe that the reason the upper class in many ruling societies prevent reading and education is because it creates the possibility of longing for something better. This longing has been seen in many societies in which the ruled class was allowed an education such as the various revolutions that have taken place within our world. In retrospect, if slaves had been allotted the opportunity for an education maybe slavery would have been a shorter period or might have ended before it got out of hand.

What Kevin Berman Found Intersting in Douglass Article

I haven’t really blogged much and I don’t really know what to do so I thought I would just tell yall what I found interesting and maybe this can start an interesting decision or something. First in chapter 6 I thought it was interesting how grateful Fredrick Douglass was to learn the alphabet from Mrs. Auld. I found this particularly interesting because, today, the alphabet is something everybody learns in lower school. Also how mad Mr. Auld got after seeing Mrs. Auld teaching Fredrick Douglass this and the fact that he says education ruins slaves and from this Douglass is able to deduce that the slave owners are able to control their slaves through the slaves’ lack of education. In ch. 7 I was impressed on how determined Fredrick was to learn how to read. How he would “pay” school children to teach him how to read. Also I found it interesting to see the chain of events that brought Fredrick from a slave that doesn’t know how to read to a persuasive abolitionist. It was also cool to see how resourceful Fredrick was in learning how to write. In ch. 10 I thought it was crazy how aggressive and violent Covey was and would whip Douglass just because he was being awkward. Finally in ch. 11 I thought is cool that Fredrick would not reveal exactly how escaped from his slave owners because he did not want other slave owners to know how he did it. So yeah, that’s kinda what I found interesting.

Eric Blackmon Douglas post

Fredrick Douglas’s autobiography is one that can provide a lesson to not just African Americans but also to any individual that has a hardship to overcome. Throughout Douglas’s life he had to endure many monstrosities that seem unfathomable to people in the modern world. Even though he faced these many problems Douglas’s was not only able to survive them but also to thrive and create a better life for himself and those to come after. Although slavery is a much bigger issue than the problems that many of us face Douglas’s actions laid a template for how to overcome difficulties.

eric blackmon rules

Rule List

1. Wait for prior speakers to finish before interjecting
2. Respect all other speakers even if you do not agree with their statement

Eric Blackmon Benjamin franklin post

Benjamin Franklin's memoirs continue to be read for a variety of reasons, the biggest being the humor and wit that he implores. As many people know reading a book without humor can sometimes be a dry, humdrum and difficult to task to complete. Franklin does a great job counteracting this by inserting lines such as "And, lastly (I may as well confess it, since my denial of it will be believed by nobody), perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own vanity. Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words" (Franklin, 6). We have all read the story which has put us to sleep or has made our mind wander while trying to finish it, but using the humor that is shown within these lines Franklin is able to bring excitement and style to his essay which makes it much more enjoyable to read. Overall, Benjamin Franklin is a master of wit which appeals to readers from many different eras, because of this Franklin’s memoirs have been and will continue to be at the forefront of reader’s list.

Adam Perez's Response to Franklin Memoir

Benjamin Franklin's autobiography is compelling because it was a prime example of a rags to riches story. He came from a big family where his parents could not support him fully in schooling. Instead they put him straight to work. Over time Franklin met more and more people that helped him accomplish what he wanted to do, which is to become a well established writer/printer. This was his calling, and from the very start he had the potential to do it. Since he began as a poor man it took him much longer. Even after being recognized for his natural talent early on by a governor, it took him many more years of hard work(some of which not in his desired profession) to own his own printing house. His tone was very humble(coming from a man as great as he), and his voice was very settle making it a very relaxing piece to read. It wasn't as serious and dull as other memoirs(part of the reason also being because it was filled with many little side stories to keep things entertaining). This story of Franklin's life is an example of the American dream of starting with nothing and achieving much more, which is what makes it so interesting to read.

1. Thoroughly explain your point as to not leave anyone confused about where you stand on an issue.

2. Take time to think about what your going to say before you speak. This will keep the conversation flowing better because it will help to avoid any awkward silences filled with meaningless sayings like “uhm” and the extremely popular overuse of the word “like” which are used often used as placeholders.

Zach Moore's Ben Franklin Analysis

1. One of the more interesting readings that I have done recently is Ben Franklin's memoir. It tells the story of his astounding progression in life. He was able to go on to become one of our countries great leaders with a sub par background and very minimal formal schooling. The way that Franklin expresses his story is a welcome change from the way that memoirs are traditionally presented; he uses very informal diction and tone to get his point across. He also uses occasional wit and humor in order to keep his audience interested and engaged; this is very unusual for a memoir written in this time period. Franklin's organization of the memoirs also keeps the reader from getting confused by telling his story in a very structured manner.

Rules of the Class

1. Always be mindful of other people's statements and never try to downplay anyone else's arguments
2. Never interject when someone else is talking, even if they are wrong

Thomas Smith's Franklin Response

It is not very often that we find a literary work that is able to keep the interest of people, even after a few centuries. However, Benjamin Franklin was able to do exactly that; capture the minds of people with his life’s story of how he achieved the American dream. Most everyone enjoys a feel-good story. Franklin’s life story shows that with dedication to one’s goals, you are able to get to true happiness. “But, on the whole, tho' I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it;….”(Franklin89). Even if one is unable to ultimately achieve their goal, sometimes the experience of trying to reach your goal makes you a better person. Franklin’s autobiography is not only a great historical writing, but it provides great insight into how people should live their lives. Franklin’s story can be applied to most everybody, which is why his autobiography remains one of the most read literature works to this day.

Rules:

1.       Be conscientious of other people’s opinions. Just as you are entitled to your opinion, everyone else is allowed to have their pinion. Don’t try to force your thoughts on someone else.

2.       Try not to attack a person with your opinion. Attack your problem with the opinion.

Eric Pinsker's Response to Part One of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

1)         Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography remains a significant piece of literature in the U.S. not only because of the fascinating stories he tells, but also because of the way in which he recounts them.  Franklin establishes a relaxed, casual tone; however, despite this familiarity, Franklin still maintains his well-established diction and maintains a formal writing style.  The long, well-written sentences make his life seem like a fantastic tale.  One amusing and somewhat ironic account was when Franklin was on a boat during a time when was vegetarian and realized that his logic for being vegetarian went against nature as he said, “I balanc'd some time between principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, ‘If you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you’” (Franklin 36).  His transitions between anecdotes and insight make his autobiography resemble a novel.  Franklin’s tone and writing style in this well balanced mix of personal stories, life lessons, and family history makes his autobiography an American legend.

2) a.  If you agree with a classmate's statement or idea, piggy-back on it to expand the discussion before a   new opinion is brought up or before another question is asked.

   b.  If a statement is made in a discussion that you disagree with, before offering your opinion, try to view the issue through the other person's perspective.  It is sometimes difficult to do this, so maybe ask the other person to elaborate in order to help you fully understand their stance.

Andrew Murray's Response to Benjamin Franklin Autobiography Part 1

The most intriguing aspect of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography in my opinion was his ability to unfold the story using words as if you were watching in in a movie. When Franklin wrote, he did not just write about himself, most of his writing deals greatly with his relationships with other people he knew or met throughout his life. It was easy to tell that he was an incredible writer by the way he's able to incorporate every detail into his memoirs, each story he told had a different theme and tone relating to what was going on in his life. What was very interesting to read was that Franklin was a paper boy before he became published at his brother's newspaper in Boston. Even when he was a gifted writer, he proved to be very humble about it seen through these lines,"They read it, commented on it in my hearing, and I had the exquisite pleasure of finding it met with their approbation, and that, in their different guesses at the author, none were named but men of some character among us for learning and ingenuity. I suppose now that I was rather lucky in my judges, and that perhaps they were not really so very good ones as I then esteem'd them"(20). His life epitomizes the American dream because of his constant rise to success and how he did it on his own by constantly studying, reading, and opening himself up to new ideas and people.

1. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. We are not always going to agree on everything said so it's better to go into a discussion with an open mindset to hear new ideas and thoughts.

2. Respect what others have to say, allow other to share their thoughts and agree not to judge what he/she might be saying.

2.

The Original Big Money and the American Dream

1.

1. 1. No one can personify the “American Dream” more than one of our founding fathers, BenjaminFranklin. Living in this country entitles all of us to the right of the “American Dream” but we might not all what that is. Benjamin Franklin was one of the first people to experience and create the undefeatable yearning for success that now is associated with America. His autobiography walks the reader through his experience with (at his time) this new found opportunity for greatness in the land soon-to-be-known as the United States. This memoir is written as a letter to his son (or is it to any American as he is one of our founding fathers, get it?) to give the reader the feeling of being close to Franklin and allow the voice of the text to be rather informal. This autobiography is so famous because it is a quintessential account of what it means to be an American but also Franklin’s voice and humor allows the reader to be able to relate to his story over two centuries later.

2. Rules

2. 1. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion no matter what it is and that should be respected.

2. Stay quiet and listen to others for their ideas and opinions are equally as important as your own.

Miles Mobley

Taylor Nichols Franklin Blog Post

To me, the two most compelling aspects of Franklin's memoir are his lack of intricate description, and adventurous tone. These devices make the stories come alive; instead of boring the audience with his interpretations of the events, he depicts them and moves on. His tone keeps the reader interested, and willing to continue reading. The memoir takes on the feel of a Mark Twain novel, but with less plot structure and more obvious humor. Franklin recounts, "We landed in Philadelphia on the 11th of October, where I found sundry alterations. Keith was no longer governor, being superseded by Major Gordon. I met him walking the streets as a common citizen", causing the reader to experience the raw events of his travels without being drowned in a sea of description. One can infer the colors and smells of Franklin's surroundings, leaving Franklin free to keep the story moving. All in all, the words left unsaid are what make the memoir so compelling.

Rule List:

1. There are wrong answers in discussion.

2. That being said, we should not admit that we are wrong until all our logical arguments have been proven false.

Kevin Cho-guideline for discussion

1. Understand others' point before disagreeing with them. It is important to fully understand other people's point before potentially arguing about something they didn't bring up.

2. Always be respectful of the person.