Saturday, February 14, 2009

What is the What Post #1

Quote #1: "'Just sit down, Africa,' he says, nodding to my couch.

I stand. 'What is she doing in my bedroom?'
'Just sit your ass down,' he says, now with venom.
I sit and now he shows me the handle of the gun."
The quote was said by first the burglar named Powder, then Achak ("Valentino"), then the narrator on page 10.

When this event happens in the book, Achak has been living in America for a few years with several other people from Sudan.  His family had been stolen from before, but he hadn't.  Other people in America did not treat him or the other Lost Boys the same as American citizen's.  They were treated bad because of their race, because they had accents, and because they were immigrants.

Powder is the accomplice of the other burglar, who raided Achak's and his roommate's house.  He is really intense, and not very considerate of other people.  He doesn't seem like he wants to be her accomplice, but he seems to have walked into the wrong situation, and it looks like she's the one in charge.

Question #1:  Why do you think he was treated badly only because he was an immigrant?

Quote #2:  " We wanted it all immediately--homes, families, college, the ability to send money home, advanced degrees, and finally some influence."
This quote was written by the narrator, from the point of view of Achak, on page 13.

I think that they are having a hard time achieving all of these things simply because they are not citizens.  Also, it seems that he is having a hard time in America because he was expecting a lot, and compared to his peaceful life, his life in America isn't meeting his expectations.

Before, I have expected a lot, and things have not met my expectations before.  Also, sometimes you think something will happen faster than you think, for example homework.  Even though his situation is much more extreme, it is easily relatable, feeling like you should be accomplishing much more than you are.

Question #2:  What are some of the reasons why you think he has not accomplished some of the things he wanted to?

2 comments:

Oliver said...

Quote #1: this is a similar quote to mine, it realy showed how disrespected valentino and the other lost boys are.
Question #2: I think he was treated badly because it is a territory thing and he is coming into their territory because they were there first.
Quote #2:I think you did a great job on tieing that gquot in with probably the least answered question. I agree that they have a hard time in America.
Question #2: one of the reasons I think they have not acomplished everything they want is because they just got to america and they are apendin most their money on the bare essentials.

lindsay m said...

Quote 1: I think that this is a very meaningful quote, because it really shows how badly Africans are treated.

Question 1: I think he is treated badly not only becasue he is an immigrant, but becasue he is black, and it was a time of harsh racism.

Quote 2: I think this quote really shows the expectations that some or most immigrants have. And most of the time, they dont really get all of that, and have a hard time in america.

Question 2: I think he hasnt accomplished some of the things he wanted to do becasue not all people accept him becasue he is black, and i think he might be scarred to do some things becasue he knows that he doesnt get a lot of respect.

~Lindsay