Questions 4-6
Questions 4-6 are based upon the following diagram.
Figure 1: A first generation Asian-American.
Question 4. Actions taken by the organism in Figure 1 are:
A. A denial of culture
B. A perpetuation of a stereotype
C. All of the above.
Easy.
Easy.
Lead scritch scratches
And the empty whole note C
Becomes filled with charcoal darkness.
I’ve always been good at taking tests
All “my people” are.
Question 5. Racism is:
A. Whites condescending upon blacks.
B. Dead.
C. Still alive,
Tacitly seething
Behind veneers of
#AllLivesMatter
C. It’s always C
But no one seems to see
That behind my narrow eyes
And beneath my yellow skin
All I want is to feel like I
Belong.
I have an idea!
Perhaps identity is not defined
by skin color, diet, or academic achievement
And we should not
Assume
That all people of a certain demographic are the same because of the
Proximity of their eyelids to one another.
Question 6. Is the proposed solution realistic?
C. Asian Americans have small eyes and eat rice for dinner every day.
Your formatting is incredibly creative; it creates a very appropriate illusion for the poem. I like how you take the idea of test-taking (which we can all relate to) and incorporate the concept of racial identity. I enjoy your last line where you take advantage of your test-taking format; it tests the reader on what they think of racial identity after reading the poem - it makes them take a side.
ReplyDeleteThe way this poem was written was actually extremely creative. It paints the meaning of the poem right onto the format itself, the way that you write about stereotypes and then proceed to write the poem in the form of another Asian stereotype. It's a very powerful message that takes on an uncommon stance on racism that causes more awareness in readers. I thought one of the most powerful lines was when you say "All 'my people' are."
ReplyDeleteI really like the format of your poem and it's kind of "risky" but it really works. I love your entire last stanza. I think the poem really makes you think about racism and stereotypes, especially towards Asian Americans, and gives everyone a reminder that it's still something that's prevalent and it's something that's not ok.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the format of you poem because its nonconventional. It has more of a subtle indignant feel, which makes the message tone really strong when I read it. My favorite line is probably the last two because they really tie the poem together while only using show not telling mechanics.
ReplyDeleteI love how you incorporated stereotypes into the theme of your poem which is pointed out with the line "I've always been good at taking tests. All 'my people' are." The way in which the poem ends also gives your poem a sort of "call to action" about ending racism so that people aren't pushed into these sort of stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteYour last line is fantastic.
ReplyDelete