Mother's Obstacles In The First Day By Edward Jones

America is made up from all different types of cultures from all around the world, such as Europe, Asia, and Africa. In America Street, there is a lot of different cultures in each story. Like in The Circuit, Francisco Jiménez talks about his family sharecropping and his opportunity and conflicts with going to school. The common theme of cultural, racial or religious differences appears in Sixth Grade, The Wrong Lunch Line, and The All-American Slurp.

One of the reasons I chose to the book Other People’s Children by Lisa Delpit was because I want to be aware of the stereotypes and prejudices this books might uncover that I had and didn’t know I has. Teaching in a DLI program there is big diversity in our school and community. I want to be able to be culturally competent and be able to eliminate my cultural assumptions. I want to be able to understand where my students are and families are coming from so I can adjust my teaching methods and strategies.

In Florence Kelley's speech (1905), she argues in favor of reducing child labor through the National American Woman Suffrage Association in Philadelphia, forcing the federal government to alter the amendment for child suffrage. Kelley expands her ideas by developing logos, pathos, and anaphora throughout the entire speech in an urgent argumentative tone. Using examples from children’s experiences, she successfully develops an effective argument that convinces the audience of the Suffrage Association to reconsider child labor laws and alter the working conditions of young children.

A sentimental item can allow one to tie their memories to it once a moment comes to an end, letting them continuously cherish that memory. The item can range from anything a person wants, depending on them and their experiences; such as, the quilts in the short story "Everyday Use" and the poem "My Mother Pieced my Quilts". Both Teresa Acosta and Alice Walker use imagery and figurative language to establish the quilt as the love and respect for both of their family's heritage.

The symbols present in “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara, depict the economic and social injustices faced by specific members of society, specifically the children in the story. The characters in the story are being mentored by Miss Moore, a woman from their block who has taken up the role of taking them out on weekly outings. The story touches on the situation of the children that are stuck in living in almost poverty. “The Lesson” focuses on the socioeconomic disparities between the different racial groups and how. Bambara uses several techniques such as irony, othering, and second person point of view to make the story meaningful and demonstrate the characteristics of the characters.

Everyone has an imagination whether in depth or simple. Imagination is just a reflection of one's free spirit inside that cannot be shown on a regular basis. “The Centaur” by May Swenson shows a girl’s expression of her free spirit contrasting with the constraints of normal, everyday life.

“The First Day” by Edward P. Jones is a short story written in 1992. The short story is about an African American mother taking her young daughter to school for the first time. The daughter becomes ashamed of her mother because she sees where her education level is at. The mother is also ashamed of herself because she didn’t get education throughout her life. In “The First Day” the opening scene sets the tone for challenging the status quo and creating a life of success.

Childhood is an age of bliss where innocence holds oneself tightly. Tragically, American history disagrees. As industrialization started to become one of the biggest leading powers in the American economy and society during the early 20th century, businesses began to hire whomever they could, including children. In July 22, 1905 in Philadelphia, Florence Kelley took an appalled, but determined tone when she spoke out against child labor in an effort to give women voting rights to right this wrong. By using sound rhetorical language, diction, and rhetorical appeals such as pathos and logos, Kelley was able to create a vivid speech that reflects on the inhumane ways child labor inflicts harm on the innocence that describes childhood, as well as convince the audience that women’s suffrage is the solution to this immoral problem.

Posterity is the survival of families through their children. In the book Krik? Krak!, author Edwidge Danticat uses several fictional short stories to showcase the daily struggles of Haitians. In her novel, the hope in future generations helps Haitians endure hardship.

Charles Baxter’s “Gryphon” provides an interesting look at standardized education and the way society views those who deviate from it. Baxter shows this through how the narrator Tommy views his new substitute, Miss Ferenczi. The character Miss Ferenczi tries to revolt against the clinical and strict standards of society and positively impact the morality and ethicality of herself, Tommy, and the fourth graders.

The Liberation of Aunt Jemima by Betye Saar describes the black mother stereotype of the black American woman. Aunt Jemima was described as a thick, dark-skinned nurturing figure, of amused demeanor. This stereotype started in the nineteenth century, and is still popular today. She features in Hollywood films and notably as the advertising and packaging image for Pillsbury’s ‘Aunt Jemima’s Pancake Mix.”

Maria Brito and immigrant from Cuba, came to the United States in 1961. Maria saw the U.S. as a place of endless opportunities, as many Cubans who migrate to the U.S. due to lack of opportunities, poverty and oppression that exist within their own country. Her piece El Patio de Mi Casa, symbolizes the struggles she has experienced with identity and a symbol of transformation once she arrived to this country. The wall in her piece, represents the threshold between the past and the present. The crib symbolizes her childhood and her experiences living in poverty. Now the gray crib and dreary room may perhaps symbolize her sadness, loneliness and isolation she has experienced due to oppression. Not to mention, the color gray also symbolizes modesty

“Charles” written by Shirley Jackson is a story of a kindergartener named Laurie who lies with his parents in his kindergarten school days whereas the “The Open Window” written by Saki is of a girl named Vera who recounts a story about how her aunt lost her husband and two brothers in a tragic hunting accident. In these short stories both main character tells a lie to an adult. However, in my point of view, “Charles” is better than “The Open Window”.

William Faulkner was an American author and Nobel prize winner of 1950; in his acceptance speech, he presented the idea that it is a writer’s duty to write about the compassion, courage, and pride of the heart. Faulkner says, “It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past.” In the memoir, Kabul Beauty School, a young American woman named Deborah wrote her truth about how she traveled to Afghanistan to support the women of Kabul, but she takes an unexpected turn and her heart leads her to help them in a totally different way. Deborah shows compassion, courage, pity and sacrifice through the women in Kabul. Deborah fulfills her duty through her compelling words and delineate observations of the people she is newly experiencing.

In fact, as the author in this story, Toni Cade Bambara, Sylvia grew up in a very poor neighborhood. Sylvia’s understanding of the world is limited to what she experiences within her neighborhood and her tiny apartment. Scarcity and want are no strangers to her. Luckily, Sylvia and the other kids have Miss Moore as a mentor. Miss Moore begins to work within the kids’ environment to enrich them inasmuch as possible with education. Confronted with much resistance; especially from Sylvia, Miss Moore introduces Sylvia and the kids to another social class; another