reading journal 3

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Howard Community College *

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101

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Arts Humanities

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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3

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Zayd Dada Erin Nunnally HUMN101-N792 11 th January 2024 Reading Journal 3 For this assignment, consider these questions and answer all of them for your response based on your reading of "How It Feels to be Colored Me" from your course text: 1. How does Hurston envision her move from Eatonville to Jacksonville as a transformation? In "How It Feels to be Colored Me," Hurston describes her move from the small, all-black town of Eatonville to the more racially diverse city of Jacksonville as a pivotal moment of transformation. Eatonville served as a nurturing and supportive environment for Hurston, where she felt a strong sense of belonging and identity within the black community. However, her move to Jacksonville marked a shift in her surroundings and exposed her to a more diverse social landscape. This transition from Eatonville to Jacksonville symbolizes Hurston's entrance into a world where racial dynamics are more complex and where she confronts the reality of being a colored woman in a broader society. It represents her stepping out of the comfortable and familiar environment of her hometown and encountering the broader challenges and opportunities associated with her racial identity. 2. Explain the "sharp white background" and what it helps Zora realize. In the essay, Hurston uses the metaphor of a "sharp white background" to describe her sudden awareness of her racial identity when she moved to Jacksonville. The "sharp white background" highlights the racial differences that become more pronounced in a larger, predominantly white community. The phrase also implies a heightened visibility of her racial identity against this backdrop. It helps Hurston realize that, in Jacksonville, she is being seen and defined through the
lens of her color in a way that was not as pronounced in Eatonville. The contrast serves as a metaphor for the racial tension and scrutiny she experiences, prompting her to recognize and grapple with her identity in a society that is more focused on racial distinctions. And, from "The Violence of Naming": 1. When the author of this essay says, "Naming is about consent," what does she mean? The statement "Naming is about consent" likely suggests that the act of naming involves a power dynamic and should ideally be a consensual process. It emphasizes the idea that individuals or communities should have the agency and autonomy to determine how they are identified. This perspective highlights the importance of respecting others' self-identifications and acknowledging the significance of names as a crucial aspect of personal and collective identity. 2. How can language be violent? Language can be considered violent when it is used to harm, oppress, or marginalize individuals or groups. Verbal abuse, hate speech, discriminatory language, and derogatory terms are examples of how language can be wielded as a tool of violence. Moreover, language has the power to shape perceptions, reinforce stereotypes, and contribute to systemic inequalities. The violence in language often lies in its ability to perpetuate harm, reinforce power imbalances, and contribute to the dehumanization of certain individuals or communities. 3. Do you agree that not learning someone's name properly is an act of violence? Explain. Whether or not learning someone's name properly is considered an act of violence depends on the context and the intentions behind it. If it stems from a lack of respect or a dismissive attitude toward the individual, it could be interpreted as a form of disrespect or disregard for their identity. Names hold personal and cultural significance, and intentionally or repeatedly mispronouncing or ignoring someone's name may contribute to a sense of erasure or devaluation. In this sense, some might argue that not learning someone's name properly can be a subtle form of linguistic violence, albeit on a more subtle and insidious level.
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