Boy Meets Boy

I was very curious when I saw we had this book on our required texts list for class. I have been exposed to much literature involving LGBT issues. Also bringing this issue in the classroom is a mystery to me. I was not sure how to represent the topic to my future students or how comfortable I would be discussing it with them. Because of these future obstacles I was extremely glad we not only read this book, but we brought the topic alive in our classroom.

I have in between feelings about the book. I thought it was great how the author wrote it so LGBT society was very common and familiar in the society. These people were not an outcast at all. I only had one issue with the book. I did not think it was realistic at all. The world these students were living was not something you would find in society today. I first I thought it was giving students a false image of what it would be like to be someone living one of those lifestyles. After our class discussion a different aspect was thrown my way. A member in my group stated maybe when some who is LGBT this world would be something they would hope for. Even though they know it is not that way know, maybe this will give them hope that someday more and more people will be accepting of them. At the very least it is just a good book for these people to relate to. Many times students in this age group are still discovering themselves and if they do have some of the feelings or tendencies brought up in the book, the student will not feel so alone and feel as though they are a place in society just like everyone else.

Confessions of A Closet Catholic

I found this book to be very interesting. I have never read a book for young readers about religion and trying to find their identity in connection with it. I am Catholic and reading this book was quite and experience. At first I was bothered by the fake confessional in the closet and the first communion process being portrayed as a game or scene to act out. Later after reading the book my opinion changed. I tried to put myself in her shoes. I saw it from an outsider's point of view. She was not trying to offend people who were Catholic. Instead it was put of her search to find her true identity and what religion meant to her. Also I realized that I probably do the same thing when I have a lack of knowledge on a certain ethnic group or religion. For example I might believe certain stereotypes about Native Americans or Asian Americans, but not because I do not like them as a race, but I just have lack of knowledge. In Confessions Of A Closet Catholic, as the book went on when she gained knowledge, her views were different and became more aware of her stereotypes. I think this is the best way to attack these situations. Once you realize your perpections are negative,the want to gain knowledge and be educated more on a topic will help reduce negativity. Overall I have learned not to judge books until you are fully finished reading and can take all the information and form observations from that.

The Mali Exhibit

I am really glad we went to the MSU Museum. I went there my freshmen year with one of my classes, but I did not pay much attention to the exhibits. I just did the activity give by my professor and that was it. When we all went to see the Latino/Latina exhibit it was a great experience. Even though that exhibit was nice, my favorite was the exhibit done by the children of Mali. I never appreciated my life and the many privileges I have so much until I saw these photos.
As I went around the exhibit I just looked at the pictures at first and did not notice the captions. The pictures had their homes, schools, and family members of the children. The conditions were really poor and did not seem like a healthy environment at all. I began to feel sad and wish that the children could have better places to live. About half way through the exhibit I started to read the captions. I noticed the pictures I was viewing were not filled with sorrow, but filled with joy. These students were happy to live in these communities and it was very important to them. Then I found out what the assignment given to the children was truly about. The students in Mali were given cameras and were to take pictures of things in the community that meant the most to them. For example there was a picture of a mother who just gave birth to her child and she was holding the child with blood all over the place. I would have viewed this picture as the family was unable to afford a doctor to deliver the baby and it was unsanitary to have the baby out in the dirty house and still bloody. In the student's eyes they saw a new life was brought into the world and their family was growing with love. Also the mother was wiping the baby down with alcohol to clean the child of all bacteria. Another picture was of a run down house with a girl standing against the wall and someones face on the side of the photo. I would have viewed this as a student taking a picture of the terrible conditions these people have to live in and a girl looking sad and lonely. Instead the student asked their friend to strike a pose for the picture and also the student was happy they were able to catch their other friend off to the side with a big smile!
It is amazing how people perceive things. I decided to go back around the exhibit one more time and get the full effect. I really got a lot of excitement from this exhibit. It definitely shows me the having less is not a horrible thing. I could never imagine living in the conditions the people of Mali deal with on an everyday basis. For them it is a way of life and a big part of their culture. It is who they are and they seem very proud of it. It has surely taught me to be proud of who I am, of who my family is and what my family and I have. My challenges in life that I think are problems are just mere obstacles. There are people out there who live in a world a lot worse then me and as happy as ever! I have learned numerous things from this exhibit. Thanks for the experience Deb!

Reading Different Dialects From Various Points of Views

Last class towards the end we got in groups and read a couple books with dialects from several ethnic background. In my group one in particular stood out. We read a book from the times of cotton plantations and it was written in African American dialect. One of the members in my group was reading at loud, while the other two of us read silently in our heads. She stumbled upon the words, but successfully got through the book. After she was done we discussed what was difficult about reading the passage. I expressed that I was use to seeing this dialect. Since I am African American I have grown up with books similar to this one telling about my history and how our culture was back in those times. Also I shared with them how just because I am African American does not mean I nor my family talk like that now. If I was to read the book aloud now, I would still struggle a bit because that is not how I talk in my daily conversation, but I would definitely be able to relate more to what the words in the book mean. On the other hand my two classmates who are Caucasian said it was totally unfamiliar to them and at some parts they concentrated more on the words instead of the meaning of the book. As a group we really found this two be interesting. It is always create to see so many perspectives on the same topic. I truly feel this is how we learn more about diversity. It is knowledge that is gained more through experience then anything else that helps built a person diverse background.

Should we all be considered the same or different?

Today the discussion was very interesting. The discussion about people with disabilities brought up several questions. One question that really stuck with me was, should everyone be considered equally the same or should people with disabilities embrace who they are?

I honestly think everyone should have the right to be who they are. Why should everyone try to fit under the same category in society? Yes we should all be treated the same equally as far as rights and other choices as a citizen, but not out personal make up and identity. I personally take pride in being a minority and an African American woman. My culture has not always had the easy life in the past and still in some situations present day, but it is who I am and I would not change it for the world. This is how I feel people should view those with disabilities. Yes their physical make-up might be different or the way their brain works, but it is all apart of their own culture. I have a uncle who had a disability. He is 47 years old and his mental state is the same as a 6 year old. He knows he has a disability and is proud of it. He does not choose to let that bring him down while living his life.

Overall I feel as though the differences of people is what makes our world so beautiful. I know it might be easy for me to say all these things because I do not have a disability and that may be true. I just see how happy my uncle is and he never complains. He is very smart and he focuses on the positive aspects of his life and having a disability is one of them. Yes he has his bad days, but so does everyone else. I believe it is only fair for society to accept people with disabilities just as they do for other people from various cultures. We prompt diversity all through society and it is time for people to start letting their guard down to groups of people who come from all kinds of cultures besides those based on the color of skin or religion.

Asian/Pacific American Award

1. Is there an official website for the award?
No there is not an official website just for the Asian Pacific American Award, but there is a website for the Asian Pacific American Librarians Assiociation with a list of the Asian Pacific American Awards and the winners.
http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/awards.htm
2. Are there other resources that provide information about the award?
Yes, there are various website with a list of the Asian Pacific American Award winners, but also inform people about other issues going on in the Asian Pacific American community and not just dealing with literature.

3. Why and when was this award created?
The goal is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit.

4. What books, authors, illustrators are eligible?
Works eligible must have had premier publication during the calendar years from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, and must have been published for general commercial release in the U.S.
Award categories are:
a. Adult (fiction and nonfiction)
b. Young Readers fiction and nonfiction – for text
c. Young Readers fiction and nonfiction - for illustrations.
Works must be related to Asian/Pacific Heritage, not necessarily written by or illustrated by an Asian/Pacific American. The individual must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Works must have been published by a large publishing house, trade or small press/publisher located in the United States or one of its territories. Self-published works and exclusive internet publications are not eligible.
Anthologies or books containing the work of more than one author are not eligible.
Works must be originally written in English.
Works that have previously won other prizes or recognition are eligible.

5. How are the books judged?
6. Who sponsors it?
The Asian Pacific American Librarian Association
7. Who chooses the winner?
The Literacy Award Committee under the Asian Pacific American Librarian Association.
8. How do you get on the committee?
Membership is open to all librarians/information specialists of Asian Pacific descent working in U.S. library/information centers and related institutions/organizations, and to others who support the goals and purpose of APALA (Asian Pacific American Librarian Association).

Can lack of knowledge affect you decision making? Even opinions?

When we were discussing Habibi in class last week I definitely supported the argument about bashing the Jews. I was totally stuck to that thought until I came to class the next day. My group gave me a different outlook on the issue. Some of them educated me on the issue between Jews and Palestinians. I found it to be very interesting. I had no idea the horrible things the Palestinians and Arabs went through. After receiving this information I changed my opinion about the book. I no longer thought of the book as bashing Jews. I am not sure how I exactly feel about this piece of literature. I know for sure that I would put this in my classroom because I am not as confident with introducing the book to my class, but the book is not as negative as I first thought.

Overall I have found when reading literature I always have to realize there are two sides to a story. Along with that if I am not as educated on the issue I am reading about, it is not fair to make strong judgements without knowing the true story behind the book.