Author Archives: athenam2015

Gender Identity

Athena Malta

English 11

What does it feel like to be transgender?

 

 

In the TED Talk spoken word “What it feels like to be transgender” by Lee Mokobe, (Lee) the author is talking about his experience of being a transgender man. The poem talks about him feeling out of place while praying in church. He says, “I asked Jesus to fix me, and when he did not answer I befriended silence in hopes that my sin would burn.” Lee feels shameful. He feels as if he is sinning in the Christian church; like he doesn’t belong. He was a tomboy who “…had snapback, toothless grin [and] used skinned knees as street cred”. “when I turned 12, the boy phase wasn’t deemed cute anymore. It was meant with nostalgic aunts… who reminded me that my kind of attitude would never bring a husband home, that I existed for heterosexual marriage and child-bearing”. The stereotypes and expectations of women that he didn’t want to live up to. At school kids already knew, and when he wasn’t ready, they opened the closet for him; calling him “’lesbian.’”  Although that didn’t feel quite right either; he “was more boy than girl”. He didn’t hate his body; it just didn’t feel quite right. Being transgender is scary; his mother thinks “that I’ll die without a whisper, that I am a walking casket”. Being transgender feels as if you’re a spectacle, being looked at constantly; like “[you’re] the best attraction” in the exhibit. The suicide rate for transgender kids and adults keeps going up. Parents are scared for their kids. At the end of the poem he mentions “maybe I just don’t care”. I think he’s finally saying that he is now comfortable the way that he is, and that he has come to the point where other people’s opinions can’t bother him as much anymore. He has become content with himself, and in the end that’s the most important. One who is transgender may feel out of place, and feel like they don’t belong, but once one finds the right group of people they can become comfortable with themselves.


 

Works Cited

Lee, Mokobe. What it feels like to be transgender. May 2015. 12 March 2018.

 

Narrative Essay

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2 things that I need to improve are:

  1. Being aware of my past and present tense when writing especially with a narrative essay.
  2. I could’ve also showed more in my writing, instead of telling as much as I did.

2 things I think that I did well with are:

  1. Using a lot of dialogue to help explain emotion and feeling within my story.
  2. Having a voice throughout my story.

Why the Cleveland Indians should change their logo

Why is it acceptable for people to go to a Cleveland Indians game with their faces painted red? Is it okay to wear a headdress or draw on other sacred tribal tattoos that you do not know the meaning of? I don’t think it is. Well, “The Cleveland Indians have now realized this. Starting in the 2019 season, the logo will finally be removed” (Waldstein). This caricature that is drawn and based off of unrealistic stereotypes. Some fans of the Indians are upset by this, but you can’t make everyone happy. If Chief Wahoo isn’t personally offending you then what’s the big deal; however, for the First Nations people who have been protesting outside the stadium for years, it is a big deal. The logo is racist in so many ways: the teethy grin, big nose, and feather. I personally think “using a whole race of people as mascots is a big issue. It’s as if they’re subhuman. We don’t see the Winnipeg white boys or the Jersey Jews” (Cole). There would definitely be controversy over names like those. So, why is it not okay for a team to use “Jersey Jews” but its totally fine to use Chicago Blackhawks or Cleveland Indians? Many indigenous people also find the name “Indian” offensive; however, they’re happy the logo change is a step in the right direction. The logo promotes coming to games dressed up, whether that’s painting your face red, or literally drawing on a huge smile and wearing a feather on the back of your head; fans do this. The logo also promotes use of made up Aboriginal chants, when the team hits a home run or to hype up the crowd. The team does not have an Aboriginal mascot dress up as the logo for games, but it still remains on jerseys. The removal of the logo can help prevent all of these offensive actions towards First Nations. Fans who are upset about the logo change comment on YouTube videos and blogs: “I’m mad that the Indians have been bullied into changing the logo. Why do we have to cater to the First Nations who chose to view the logo in a negative way. Most Americans and Native Americans view it in a positive way not a racial way and it is your choice on how to see it” (Fuzzy). What do you mean bullied, obviously it was a well thought out decision, and the right one. If you are not Aboriginal, then how do you know that the logo doesn’t offend First Nations because for many it does. Sure, the logo has been in many Indians fans lives for decades and some may think it’s just a harmless drawing which in a way is understandable, but if it is offending so many is it really worth keeping?. The Cleveland Indians logo change should get the ball rolling for other teams to step up, and change their logos, like the Redskins and the Braves.

 

“Make an impact”

“Make an Impact” uploaded by Ben Lionel Scott; is a motivational video telling you to be your best self and to help. It mentions that when you are on your deathbed you are not going to look back on your life and think about how much money you have made. You will look back and think about all of the lives you have touched, big or small, the impact that you had on others lives and how you have personally grown. At your funeral, they are not going to talk about your success, they will talk about the person you have become, how you lived, who you were, and how you loved. “Success is incredibly important, but even more important than success is having an impact.” What is more important than success is knowing you have blessed lives, that you have helped to develop people and you have made the world a better place. “The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.” Humans feel a sense of purpose when they can make others lives better. This video shows that in the end, success won’t matter as much as an impact that one can make in the world and that kindness can affect oneself and others in an impactful way.