I know I'm not crazy. How do I know? Well it's quite simple, I'm a normal girl with a normal brain who lives with a semi-normal family. So why do I feel crazy when reading the second half of Chapter 10? I respect Malcolm and the Religious journey that he went through. But did he actually believe (and later preach) his religion to others?
Now, don't start thinking that I'm not open to other religions. Actually, I enjoy learning and exploring other views on how life was created, and so on. But Malcolm X's religion is bogus. I don't think I've heard of anything more rediculous. Apparently, all whites are Satans (who currently teach black history in school). Not only are we satans, but we were genetically created from blacks by a man named Mr. Yacub more than 5,000 years ago (you know, since people were so advanced back then.)
I don't know about you, but for me, Mr. Yacub is someone who sounds made up. Not only did he die when he was at the age of 152, but he discovered the law of magnetism at the age of six, according to this website: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/4623/frolinan/blackhist3.html. It also is believed that Yacub was born in the year 8400 (assuming that it's B.C) and thus founded his religion, before the Jews, the Christians, and apparently before the religion of Islam in the East.
So to conclude this note, why is the "Black Islam" religion called Islam when in fact the actual Islam is the youngest religion to this day? Why, if this religion is apparenly so old, was it not practiced what so ever before? And, if anyone can answer this question to me and to Blogfrog, where is the island of Patmos and why hasn't anyone discovered it yet?
I guess some things are better left unanswered.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Analyzing what it means to be privileged
With an outer appearance, it definitly looks like I'm the kind of girl with the privileged life. But what does it mean to be privileged? Does it mean to have a great family? To have a fine education? To have white skin? There are many different reasons why I am considered "privileged" among society, and those are just to name a few.
Around 30 years ago, my dad's family immigrated to America from the Soviet Union. I know I've told this story many times, but it's part of me, and it always ends up sneaking in my thoughts when talking about the effects of society. Anyway, both of my parents since then have almost literally drilled the phrase "You should be so lucky that you get to grow up in America and are able to have any job opportunity that you could ever ask for." Or, "I remember when I had to hide the fact that I was Jewish and when people found out, I was never treated the same." (Mind you, this was said in a THICK Russian accent.)
When reading the Article today by McIntosh, I understood what she meant by whites constantly carrying a knapsack. But, I wouldn't exactly only give it to whites. In her time, almost 20 years ago, maybe some of her points are correct. But, now adays, blacks have a different image. To me, it seems that they are proud of who they are. I mean, we have an African American president. If we still thought like we did back then, then Obama wouldn't have won the election. It is clear that we are making progress.
It's not exactly our fault that society is the way it is. Sometimes it feels like whites are blamed for being racist against African Americans, when most of us aren't racist at all. We will never know where society takes us. Maybe some day whites will be considered inferior to blacks. It is already the case when speaking of college admissions, since now it is easier for an African American who lives in an inner city neigborhood to get into a better college than a white immigrant from one of the outer cities. Is that racist to the whites? Maybe Whites aren't the only ones who were racist, maybe African Americans are racist against whites becasue they believe that they are racist against them.
Unfortunately, this topic can go in circles forever. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, let me know! Thanks for reading.
Around 30 years ago, my dad's family immigrated to America from the Soviet Union. I know I've told this story many times, but it's part of me, and it always ends up sneaking in my thoughts when talking about the effects of society. Anyway, both of my parents since then have almost literally drilled the phrase "You should be so lucky that you get to grow up in America and are able to have any job opportunity that you could ever ask for." Or, "I remember when I had to hide the fact that I was Jewish and when people found out, I was never treated the same." (Mind you, this was said in a THICK Russian accent.)
When reading the Article today by McIntosh, I understood what she meant by whites constantly carrying a knapsack. But, I wouldn't exactly only give it to whites. In her time, almost 20 years ago, maybe some of her points are correct. But, now adays, blacks have a different image. To me, it seems that they are proud of who they are. I mean, we have an African American president. If we still thought like we did back then, then Obama wouldn't have won the election. It is clear that we are making progress.
It's not exactly our fault that society is the way it is. Sometimes it feels like whites are blamed for being racist against African Americans, when most of us aren't racist at all. We will never know where society takes us. Maybe some day whites will be considered inferior to blacks. It is already the case when speaking of college admissions, since now it is easier for an African American who lives in an inner city neigborhood to get into a better college than a white immigrant from one of the outer cities. Is that racist to the whites? Maybe Whites aren't the only ones who were racist, maybe African Americans are racist against whites becasue they believe that they are racist against them.
Unfortunately, this topic can go in circles forever. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, let me know! Thanks for reading.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Malcolm X and his Family
It was the hardest thing--to read what Malcolm had to say about going through his mother's mental illness. It might be even more difficult than a parent physically leaving, but fortunately I wouldn't know from experience. I can't imagine either of myp arents going through what his mother went through, slowly deteriorating, while her kids who are too young to care for themselves, are forced to.
I also realized that his family, his seven other brothers and sisters, stuck together through their hard times. I think the reason Malcolm became so strong in the end is because of them, because he wasn't alone. I really respect all of them for not listening to the welfare officers and staying together as a family, even when everyone else around them discouraged it, if they meant it intentionally or not. I don't know if I would be able to stay that strong if I was in that situation. So, I respect Malcolm and his siblings for sticking strongly together, which for me, made it easier to read about Malcolm's mother's mental condition.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please let me know!
~B
I also realized that his family, his seven other brothers and sisters, stuck together through their hard times. I think the reason Malcolm became so strong in the end is because of them, because he wasn't alone. I really respect all of them for not listening to the welfare officers and staying together as a family, even when everyone else around them discouraged it, if they meant it intentionally or not. I don't know if I would be able to stay that strong if I was in that situation. So, I respect Malcolm and his siblings for sticking strongly together, which for me, made it easier to read about Malcolm's mother's mental condition.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Please let me know!
~B
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Malcolm X: Lesson in Life
"All I had done was to improve on their strategy, and it was the beginning of a very important lesson in life--that anytime you find someone more successful than you are, especially when you're both engaged in the same business--you know they're doing something you aren't" (Haley 21).
When first reading this book, I didn't think that I would relate to Malcolm at all. But, after reading this quote, I realized that even he had something to say about life that even relates to the generation of today. I've always wanted to know what to do to make more successfull decisions in life. But, I've never had the ability to put it into words. When I read what he had to say about life decisions/strategies, Malcolm made it clear that first I have to admit that I am wrong, and second I have to change what I am doing and find out what they are. It's a very simple, but at the same time complicated process that's hard to do, especially if you are subborn like myself. But, when reading what Malcolm X had to say about strategies in life, it is clear why he is known throughout history, he was extraordinary from the beginning till the end.
When first reading this book, I didn't think that I would relate to Malcolm at all. But, after reading this quote, I realized that even he had something to say about life that even relates to the generation of today. I've always wanted to know what to do to make more successfull decisions in life. But, I've never had the ability to put it into words. When I read what he had to say about life decisions/strategies, Malcolm made it clear that first I have to admit that I am wrong, and second I have to change what I am doing and find out what they are. It's a very simple, but at the same time complicated process that's hard to do, especially if you are subborn like myself. But, when reading what Malcolm X had to say about strategies in life, it is clear why he is known throughout history, he was extraordinary from the beginning till the end.
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