Hank A person’s name is the very first impression they give. One’s name is the foundation of all interactions. A name is deeply important. A name sustains traditions stemming from family ties, cultural history, and personal beliefs all of which tie oneself into the surrounding community providing a level of relatedness. My legally given nameContinue reading “Names are Important”
Category Archives: novel
The Importance of Names in Homegoing
By Reina Ackerberg Homegoing, written by Yaa Gyasi, includes a vast variety of names, varying from extremely short to long, and common to unique. What are names? And why are they important? According to the Equity and Inclusion Office of British Columbia, “Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deepContinue reading “The Importance of Names in Homegoing”
“Family Is Like the Forest”
by Sage Marmet Yaa Gyasi’s epigraph in Homegoing, an Akan proverb, rings so undeniably true about families and each of their respective dynamics. The epigraph reads, “Abusua te sε kwaε: sε wo wↄ akyire a wo hunu sε εbom; sε wo bεn ho a na wo hunu sε nnua no bia sisi ne baabi nko”Continue reading ““Family Is Like the Forest””
The Power of Own Voice Literature
By Ella Deignan Own voice literature, which highlights marginalized voices and experiences, is critical in education and reconstructing this overwhelming narrative of a single story. #OwnVoices, a term coined by young adult author Corinne Duyvis, refers to books about characters from underrepresented/marginalized groups in which the author shares the same identity. (Orange County Library System)Continue reading “The Power of Own Voice Literature”
Gender Norms in Giovanni’s Room: A Reference Not a Rule
On Monday, our class had a discussion on Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, where we talked about Hella’s judgmental remarks after her return from Spain. My classmates Alana and Anisa provided ample evidence from the text showing when Hella protected judgement onto other characters. Even though it was clear their claim was true, I persistedContinue reading “Gender Norms in Giovanni’s Room: A Reference Not a Rule”
In The Shadow of The Castle: the Legacy of Ghanaian Slave Trade and What “homegoing” Means to African Americans Today
Above: Steve Harvey explores Ghana as part of the “Year of Return” for African descendants in the diaspora.1 By Taggert Smith In 2019, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo announced a “Year of Return,” inviting descendants of Ghanian people spread out across the world to return to the motherland. Though we didn’t read this far in class,Continue reading “In The Shadow of The Castle: the Legacy of Ghanaian Slave Trade and What “homegoing” Means to African Americans Today”
Silence: the Loudest Voice
Silence. The one word that once said, disappears. For many, there is peace in silence. It’s a place of serenity where one is left to their own thoughts and are given time to reflect. It can be an avenue to practice mindfulness and meditation. Yet, silence is also a defense mechanism; a method to processContinue reading “Silence: the Loudest Voice”
Strong, Independent, but Certainly not a Woman: How Peers Disrupt and Maintain the Gender Binary
Gender is something that everyone experiences, even if everyone is at a different point on the spectrum. From a young age, many children are taught the gender binary in nonexplicit ways. My brother and I had very different childhoods based on our genders. My brother grew up playing with blocks and learning about planes andContinue reading “Strong, Independent, but Certainly not a Woman: How Peers Disrupt and Maintain the Gender Binary”
Constructions of Gender in Literature 