People learn how to act, talk, walk, and dress from other people. These people may be friends, neighbors, or tribes. A tribe is a family, especially a large one (Webster’s Dictionary). In The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life by Frankie Lennon, in the selection “Tribes,” the narrator finds her tribe within the main black gay bar in Los Angeles. The narrator grows a relationship with this place, and the people within it and clearly sets the mood of the environment for her readers to grasp.
The main black gay bar I have previously mentioned is Jewel’s Room Bar. The narrator’s relationship with Jewel’s is a fresh start, because it is the place where she felt most comfortable in the big town of Los Angeles after living there for almost six years. In this place she is nervous at first meeting her tribe, grows in anger and jealousy because of feeling cheated, but in the end is excited with curiosity being a part of this tribe.
Taking her readers with her inside the bar we feel the sense of freedom and awareness she feels when she is there. She illustrates the place being filled with homosexual couples, carefree of what others may think about them and their homosexuality; a gay and lesbian couple dancing on the dance floor, a quartet of gay men laughing louder than the music, a bartender shaking his hips as he walked, and the three gay musketeers that gossiped with the other bartender. She is in awe and speechless towards these people’s actions, because it was something that she had never seen before. Witnessing this, the narrator felt cheated because before moving to Los Angeles all she knew was to camouflage her homosexuality. She felt cheated knowing that maybe her past relationships would have lasted longer if her and her significant others were surrounded by an environment like Jewel’s.
Though not letting go of feeling short ended, she took Jewel’s and the people enjoying their stay there to her advantage. Jewel’s is important to the narrator, because it has something to offer to her that no other place could. Not only was she relaxed at Jewel’s due to it being a bar, but it encouraged her to let loose and just be herself, black and lesbian. She took this time and opportunity to learn. I think that the narrator put the definition of a tribe in the beginning of the story is so that her readers can keep in mind that this is her new found tribe. As someone would learn from their family, friends, or acquaintances, the narrator learns from the people at Jewel’s. She learned from her tribe. She becomes excited, because she finally has someone to look up to, follow, imitate, and ask and take advice from. This is where she can learn to be who she is without shame.
With this, reader’s can follow the reoccurring themes or ideas in this selection, also known as a motif. Within the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender motifs a few can be found in “Tribes.” The narrator affirming her sexual identity is one, because at Jewel’s she felt satisfied with who she is, and where she is whole heartedly comfortable. Another motif is the awakening of the narrator’s lesbian sexual desire by remembering her encountering a beautiful lady dressed in white that left her shy and speechless.
As for the significance of the story, I think that this story is about the narrator finally finding her haven place in big Los Angeles. Being new to this city is hard and she has been blessed to find a place like Jewel’s for herself. She acknowledges Jewel’s because it is where they accepted her therefore, her accepting herself. Frankie Lennon was unmasked in 1987 at Jewel’s Room Bar.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Trickster
An archetypal trickster is a character or figure that uses his ingenuity to defeat enemies and escape difficult situations. Tricksters are most often animals, such as the spider, rabbit, coyote, fox, monkey, or raven although they may take the form of humans as well. These characters are portrayed to be mysterious, mischievous, kind and cruel teacher, punisher, guardian, magician, sinister, shape shifter, and comical.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Frog and Skunk
In the fables I have read in Talk That Talk, I have learned many life lessons especially in, “The Frog Who Wanted to Be a Singer” by Linda Ross and, “The Story of the Skunk and Why He Has Such a Bad Smell” by Jerdine Nolen Harold. Frog has taught me that courage in oneself surpasses any negative opinion about you. If you have to the courage to step out of your comfort zone, you will then know how far you can go. Though I know that everyone has a say in what I do, I’m the only one that can determine how it will affect me. Skunk has taught me that though I may not notice all that I have now, it is enough. Though people say that the grass is greener on the other side, I should be happy with my own grass. I enjoyed reading these fables and, took them as a reminder that who I am is what I believe in and what I see myself as.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Just Hide
In Frankie Lennon's Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman's Life "Fever", I felt the fear within the two lovers. I see the narrator fall in love with a woman who loved her back, sometimes. I was angry with how the two dealt with the situation in which they came to a conclusion that they had to hide away from society in order to love each other. They loved each other affectionately and passionately behind doors, but when in the public eye their love was kept a secret. The narrator and Stacey isolated their love from society by dating other men out of fear. However, when the two are alone and act spontaneously toward one another is where I saw the love and infatuation they had for each other. I understand that at the time it was hard to be a black woman, but with the narrator's situation she had something else to struggle with, being lesbian. As a result, hiding it is how the two felt safe and hiding it killed the narrator inside.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Baptism
In Frankie Lennon’s, Mee Street Cronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life, the selection “Baptism” reveals a new chapter in the narrators life. Baptism can be another word for reborn, a new beginning and an initiation. In this selection the narrator experiences events that will contribute to her baptism in life.
Growing up with the Jim Crow laws and having been segregated from white people all her life, coming back with the laws no longer being put into play is a big change the narrator goes through. The narrator experiences “black college students [storming] and [overrunning] ole Jim Crow’s fort with their lunch sit-ins… acting on their faith in The Constitution and The Bill of Rights, young Black students and their White compatriots would put life and limb on the line… starting the Voter Education Project.” She later witnessed the results of these actions starting of positively small to the abolishment of ““White Only” signs over water fountains and bathrooms” to the negatively big assassinations of the Kennedys’ and Slaughter of the children in the Baptist Church in Birmingham.
The narrator shares her feelings towards these changed society gestures in which she notices that though the changes have been made physically, emotionally and mentally is the true goal. The goal of acceptance because, if the changes were made due to common vote and pleasure to make one look good, the events that happened were bound to happen. People are stubborn and will act of just that, and their stubborn actions will result in the death of others.
In this selection, the narrator is baptized into the world of reactions to these changes, initiated to be able to stand up for who she is and reborn to be able to express her thoughts and not be condemned or damned for doing so. The narrator’s purification of innocence is now taken away and she is baptized into the new reality of her life now as a grown black woman living in America.
Growing up with the Jim Crow laws and having been segregated from white people all her life, coming back with the laws no longer being put into play is a big change the narrator goes through. The narrator experiences “black college students [storming] and [overrunning] ole Jim Crow’s fort with their lunch sit-ins… acting on their faith in The Constitution and The Bill of Rights, young Black students and their White compatriots would put life and limb on the line… starting the Voter Education Project.” She later witnessed the results of these actions starting of positively small to the abolishment of ““White Only” signs over water fountains and bathrooms” to the negatively big assassinations of the Kennedys’ and Slaughter of the children in the Baptist Church in Birmingham.
The narrator shares her feelings towards these changed society gestures in which she notices that though the changes have been made physically, emotionally and mentally is the true goal. The goal of acceptance because, if the changes were made due to common vote and pleasure to make one look good, the events that happened were bound to happen. People are stubborn and will act of just that, and their stubborn actions will result in the death of others.
In this selection, the narrator is baptized into the world of reactions to these changes, initiated to be able to stand up for who she is and reborn to be able to express her thoughts and not be condemned or damned for doing so. The narrator’s purification of innocence is now taken away and she is baptized into the new reality of her life now as a grown black woman living in America.
I Think This Key is Right
Reading Frankie Lennon’s, “Woman Dreams: Going Against the Grain”, in The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s Life, the narrator has taken me on ride into her world of her darkness. The narrator becomes intrigued and captured by the many desirable woman of Hollywood and questioned if she was the only girl on the playground dreaming about them.
During this story the narrator, as a six year old young girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the protagonist, falling in lust for Hollywood starlets. These woman being Rita Hayworth, Susa Hayward, Ava Gardener, and Dorothy Dandridge to just name a couple. These women cause conflict within the narrator herself. She states on page 53 that “At some point, [she doesn’t] remember when, [she] began to wonder if other girls dreamed like [she] did, not of men, but of women.” Hollywood is the antagonist in which it left her in the dark as she realized on page 53 that “Hollywood whetted and teased [her] appetite about sex,” straying her away from the desires of men onto those of woman on screen which she considered taboo. This taboo brings up another conflict between the narrator and the inner force of society. Having the curiosity and urge to ask her friend about her dreams are not fulfilled due to the fear of not being accepted and being viewed differently. As a result, “going against the grain” is understood to be going against what is considered normal and accepted in society back then.
Though the story explains itself better as a whole, it is on page 57 that I f ound closure with the narrator during this small journey. She states that the movie starring Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte, or their screen names Carmen and Joe, she “[remembers] that both became prisoners of their wanting… because later on, [she] became a prisoner, too, required to hide, required to put aside [her] own desires, unable to pursue and resolve them… as time passed, somehow, in [her] mind, that movie became a signal event for [her], defining thing taboo… defining limits and boundaries that you cross at your peril.” I understood that she was lost with what to believe until the next passage I read which states “[she is] there in the dark waiting anxiously… waiting for the camera to show [her] the next woman that will inhabit [her] dreams.” Here I grew in excitement because, I took this as her telling her readers that she understands the taboo of her dreaming about women. She understood that her dreams were not normal back then however, she does not care because this is who she is, take it or leave it.
While reading this story I thought of a friend close to me, she would always be different from the other girls at school but no one really could put their finger on it. It was not until high school when she told us about her bisexuality. She told us she noticed it herself back in fifth grade but, she never told us because she thought that we would treat her differently. This made me understand why the narrator did not want to ask her mother or friends about her thoughts of woman. This fear that some people have are understandable but, the reason to why people would treat them different has yet to be explained to me.
During this story the narrator, as a six year old young girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the protagonist, falling in lust for Hollywood starlets. These woman being Rita Hayworth, Susa Hayward, Ava Gardener, and Dorothy Dandridge to just name a couple. These women cause conflict within the narrator herself. She states on page 53 that “At some point, [she doesn’t] remember when, [she] began to wonder if other girls dreamed like [she] did, not of men, but of women.” Hollywood is the antagonist in which it left her in the dark as she realized on page 53 that “Hollywood whetted and teased [her] appetite about sex,” straying her away from the desires of men onto those of woman on screen which she considered taboo. This taboo brings up another conflict between the narrator and the inner force of society. Having the curiosity and urge to ask her friend about her dreams are not fulfilled due to the fear of not being accepted and being viewed differently. As a result, “going against the grain” is understood to be going against what is considered normal and accepted in society back then.
Though the story explains itself better as a whole, it is on page 57 that I f ound closure with the narrator during this small journey. She states that the movie starring Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte, or their screen names Carmen and Joe, she “[remembers] that both became prisoners of their wanting… because later on, [she] became a prisoner, too, required to hide, required to put aside [her] own desires, unable to pursue and resolve them… as time passed, somehow, in [her] mind, that movie became a signal event for [her], defining thing taboo… defining limits and boundaries that you cross at your peril.” I understood that she was lost with what to believe until the next passage I read which states “[she is] there in the dark waiting anxiously… waiting for the camera to show [her] the next woman that will inhabit [her] dreams.” Here I grew in excitement because, I took this as her telling her readers that she understands the taboo of her dreaming about women. She understood that her dreams were not normal back then however, she does not care because this is who she is, take it or leave it.
While reading this story I thought of a friend close to me, she would always be different from the other girls at school but no one really could put their finger on it. It was not until high school when she told us about her bisexuality. She told us she noticed it herself back in fifth grade but, she never told us because she thought that we would treat her differently. This made me understand why the narrator did not want to ask her mother or friends about her thoughts of woman. This fear that some people have are understandable but, the reason to why people would treat them different has yet to be explained to me.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Nice To Meet You
Talking about you can be hard for some people but, for myself I find it quite easy. Not in a cocky, egotistical way but, in a way I perceive how other see me as. i have grown for many years learning from many mistakes and, conquering many obstacles. Thanks to my parents, my brothers, and my friends I know who I am, not your typical teenage young lady.
As a daughter my parents have raised me well in teaching me right from wrong. Since kindergarten I have attended a private school. Transitioning from elementary school to high school most of my friends were to soon attend the near by public high school. During my sophomore year at a private high school I remember that I would ask my mom repeatedly why she would not let me go to a public high school. I tried persuading her by bringing up how much time, gas, and money she would be saving. I soon stopped asking when she told me that all she wanted was the best for me, she would rather work two jobs to pay for my schooling than have it easy and only work one. She says that since she brought me into this world it is her job to prepare to be able to live in this world. I never asked to transfer rather, take advantage of what I blessed to have. Since I can remember I have attended church every Sunday. Being in college has introduced a new life to me, my father never failed to remind me to not 'forget' to go to church. He would tell me "I know you'll be busy, I know you'll be everywhere, I know you'll feel like there is no time to do anything. But I also know that you can't be too busy to spend one hour with God during one day of the week. Just never forget about him." My parents introduced me to God and, withing the past three years I have grown into a great relationship with him and can truly say that my relationship with him can only get stronger. My parents have set the foundation for me to stand on. From them I know how to use my common sense knowing what I should do over what I want to do, I respect my elders, and use my manners to the best.
As a sister my brother always reminded me :no pain no gain." My strength grew from always competing with my brothers. Siblings fight and, my brothers and I were no different from pillow fights to literal fights. There was when the "sock-em-boppers" came out where we were younger. They are inflated boxing gloves that were bigger that ones head! We could not afford the real thing so instead, we would wrap pillows to mimic the inflated boxing gloves. One day my youngest brother, Keith, hit me dead on right in the middle of my face. I cried, but my eldest brother no only told Keith that hitting me in the face was wrong, he also told me that it was okay to cry. He told me that crying was okay, but not to get attention. Crying was something I learned how to stop doing because, it showed my weakness. From then on I became like one of the 'guys,' I was no 'ordinary' girl the other boys could pick on because, the know I was not going to simply sit there and take it. My patience grew from being the middle child and the only girl. My eldest brother was free to go and had so much freedom. My youngest brother got everything he wanted and is babied as if he was an only child. I, on the other hand, felt alone at times and not cared for. However, it taught me how to value what I have, what is given to me, and a sense of responsibility. I take this as if my parents trust me, and know I will just be fine without their constant parenting. My brothers need the attention, I get it, I am fine. I guess good stuff does come to those who wait. My brothers have taught me how to stand, chin up, and head high on that foundation, From them I know how far I can push myself, how much I can take, and how much I can tolerate.
My friends were chosen by me with what my family has taught me in mind. Knowing right from wrong, being strong inside and out, I know how to have fun the right way. I personally do not need to take drugs, drink alcohol, or even spend a lot of money to have a good time. I found friends that believe in what I believe in and, give off good vibes whenever we are together. I say that a good laugh is a natural high. That is the only "drug" I will ever need. i surround myself with people who have a good head on their shoulders because, like the old Japanese proverb goes "one can tell a lot about a man with the people who he is friends with." A couple if my friends are Edward, ,my best friend, straight edge, and is currently attending California State University Los Angeles majoring in Biology. Genevieve, the crazy one, is currently attending Santa Monica College and is majoring in Kinesiology. Ann Margret, the motherly one, is currently attending Mount Saint Mary's College and is majoring in Nursing. We all help out in our parish as much as we can. Since sophomore year we have been active in St. Dominic Youth Ministry. We do not as much because of college but, we still find time to visit. We have to visit sometime because; thanks to that ministry we are who we are today. We all have a work load so, our saying goes "Work now, Play later." We support each other in that and it works. My friends have tested me. They push every button they can push and from this I am able to put what my family has taught me into action.
I have good morals, I know what the right thing to do is, and most of the time I try my best to do just that. I know I am not perfect neither will i ever be nor do i want to be. My parents built this foundation with cement. My brothers molded me with their bare hands. My friends walk by my side on this journey we call life. I know who I am, and I know what I can do. I suppose one can say I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a child of God all in one.
As a daughter my parents have raised me well in teaching me right from wrong. Since kindergarten I have attended a private school. Transitioning from elementary school to high school most of my friends were to soon attend the near by public high school. During my sophomore year at a private high school I remember that I would ask my mom repeatedly why she would not let me go to a public high school. I tried persuading her by bringing up how much time, gas, and money she would be saving. I soon stopped asking when she told me that all she wanted was the best for me, she would rather work two jobs to pay for my schooling than have it easy and only work one. She says that since she brought me into this world it is her job to prepare to be able to live in this world. I never asked to transfer rather, take advantage of what I blessed to have. Since I can remember I have attended church every Sunday. Being in college has introduced a new life to me, my father never failed to remind me to not 'forget' to go to church. He would tell me "I know you'll be busy, I know you'll be everywhere, I know you'll feel like there is no time to do anything. But I also know that you can't be too busy to spend one hour with God during one day of the week. Just never forget about him." My parents introduced me to God and, withing the past three years I have grown into a great relationship with him and can truly say that my relationship with him can only get stronger. My parents have set the foundation for me to stand on. From them I know how to use my common sense knowing what I should do over what I want to do, I respect my elders, and use my manners to the best.
As a sister my brother always reminded me :no pain no gain." My strength grew from always competing with my brothers. Siblings fight and, my brothers and I were no different from pillow fights to literal fights. There was when the "sock-em-boppers" came out where we were younger. They are inflated boxing gloves that were bigger that ones head! We could not afford the real thing so instead, we would wrap pillows to mimic the inflated boxing gloves. One day my youngest brother, Keith, hit me dead on right in the middle of my face. I cried, but my eldest brother no only told Keith that hitting me in the face was wrong, he also told me that it was okay to cry. He told me that crying was okay, but not to get attention. Crying was something I learned how to stop doing because, it showed my weakness. From then on I became like one of the 'guys,' I was no 'ordinary' girl the other boys could pick on because, the know I was not going to simply sit there and take it. My patience grew from being the middle child and the only girl. My eldest brother was free to go and had so much freedom. My youngest brother got everything he wanted and is babied as if he was an only child. I, on the other hand, felt alone at times and not cared for. However, it taught me how to value what I have, what is given to me, and a sense of responsibility. I take this as if my parents trust me, and know I will just be fine without their constant parenting. My brothers need the attention, I get it, I am fine. I guess good stuff does come to those who wait. My brothers have taught me how to stand, chin up, and head high on that foundation, From them I know how far I can push myself, how much I can take, and how much I can tolerate.
My friends were chosen by me with what my family has taught me in mind. Knowing right from wrong, being strong inside and out, I know how to have fun the right way. I personally do not need to take drugs, drink alcohol, or even spend a lot of money to have a good time. I found friends that believe in what I believe in and, give off good vibes whenever we are together. I say that a good laugh is a natural high. That is the only "drug" I will ever need. i surround myself with people who have a good head on their shoulders because, like the old Japanese proverb goes "one can tell a lot about a man with the people who he is friends with." A couple if my friends are Edward, ,my best friend, straight edge, and is currently attending California State University Los Angeles majoring in Biology. Genevieve, the crazy one, is currently attending Santa Monica College and is majoring in Kinesiology. Ann Margret, the motherly one, is currently attending Mount Saint Mary's College and is majoring in Nursing. We all help out in our parish as much as we can. Since sophomore year we have been active in St. Dominic Youth Ministry. We do not as much because of college but, we still find time to visit. We have to visit sometime because; thanks to that ministry we are who we are today. We all have a work load so, our saying goes "Work now, Play later." We support each other in that and it works. My friends have tested me. They push every button they can push and from this I am able to put what my family has taught me into action.
I have good morals, I know what the right thing to do is, and most of the time I try my best to do just that. I know I am not perfect neither will i ever be nor do i want to be. My parents built this foundation with cement. My brothers molded me with their bare hands. My friends walk by my side on this journey we call life. I know who I am, and I know what I can do. I suppose one can say I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a child of God all in one.
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