Research Project Drabbles

Being an English major with a passionate (and at times questionable) love of young adult novels, I thought I should center my final project on teen readership. Aside from the obvious issues of lack of black representation in the genre, I had questions about how black teens are reading these texts, and what they’re reading.

When I reflect on my teenage years, most of the stories I remembered reading and loving were supernatural, sci-fi, and… well, white. This wasn’t to say I didn’t read any Morrison and the like, but in the young adult section all the black authors had stories of tragedy. In my time as a teen I maybe came across 2 books that had main characters of color doing “normal” teen things or were in fantasy worlds. Too much of our stories centered on gang violence, slavery, or some tragedy stationed in an ambiguous Africa (shade to publishers, not the authors). I recognized that these stories being told were necessary to our literary canon, but I hungered for stories of black teens being black teens. So with no solution in site I continued to read fantastical novels.

But when I look back I wonder to myself was that really it? Was it because I couldn’t find black fantasy or was it because my environment was predominately white? I wanted to be able to relate with my friends in school and read what they read, and they weren’t reading Octavia Butler, Jamaica Kincaid, or even Sista Souljah. My mom was the one who introduced The Coldest Winter Ever, the novel that spawned street lit as we know it and rocked almost every black girls’ world but mine, to me. My church friends and Del-teens group* (read: my black girl friends) loved the novel, yet I couldn’t even finish it. I hated it and I felt defective for it. I wondered why I could relate or at least sympathize with characters who time traveled, started revolutions, or saw ghosts, but couldn’t find it in myself to even like Winter Santiaga. So this served as a driving force for my project. “How do predominately white environments (in academia) effect black female readership?”

Together with Prof. Manigault-Bryant, we formulated the idea of a book club with primarily underclassmen at Williams to read The Coldest Winter Ever and The Hunger Games to see how black women are reading blackness and alternatively whiteness (in THG) in these novels. So far I expect questions of desiring a mirror vs. window out in literature/reality vs. fantasy, urban vs. suburban environments, and school vs. home in dealing with books to crop up, but I never know what this will bring. I’m hoping for 5 sessions (two with THG, two with TCWE, and 1 wrap-up) to take place in November, but we’ll see.

This is where I’m at now.

*Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Albany chapter had a female youth group I was a part of until my senior year in high school.

Tags: , ,

12,554 Responses to “Research Project Drabbles”

  1. Edibles says:

    Edibles
    This web site provides amazing layout, keep it up.

  2. Hier sind über 300 beste geburtstagswünsche kostenlos für Ihre Freunde, Familie und Lieben.

  3. Amazing post
    Desde frases frases de feliz cumpleaños inspiradoras y humorísticas hasta lindas, explore nuestra lista de citas para encontrar la perfecta que resuene con usted.

  4. Desde frases frases de feliz cumpleaños inspiradoras y humorísticas hasta lindas, explore nuestra lista de citas para encontrar la perfecta que resuene con usted.

  5. Sepanjang artikel ini, kami telah menyediakan berbagai caption aesthetic yang dapat Anda gunakan untuk posting Anda. Apakah Anda sedang mencari sesuatu yang inspiratif, lucu, atau menggugah pikiran, caption aesthetic ig di sini akan sesuai dengan kebutuhan Anda.

  6. ¡Un gran artículo con una excelente idea!Gracias por un artículo tan valioso. 바카라사이트닷컴 Realmente aprecio esta gran información.

  7. Su Arıtma says:

    thanks for share

  8. Gopal Ji is a provider of Cricket betting ID services. Many people come to us and earn lots of money with Cricket betting. Our specialists will resolve all the problems regarding online Betting and they will make you ready to bet online.

  9. Gopal Ji is the Best Cricket Betting id platform well-versed in Cricket betting. It offers online cricket betting id for various games like cricket betting id, football, Online Casino id, and teen patti. it can guarantee your success. it helps you 24/7 with our Online Services.

  10. Contact the Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. for legal help on fight a car accident. Our lawyers will be glad to help you anytime by putting forth the personal injury laws.
    Comuníquese con las Oficinas Legales de SRIS, P.C. para obtener ayuda legal en la lucha contra un accidente automovilístico. Nuestros abogados estarán encantados de ayudarle en cualquier momento exponiendo las leyes de lesiones personales.

  11. Fantastic article Really looking forward to read more. Awesome it feels good to read such a great content. Thanks for the post vinilos decorativos

  12. Very nice post. Visit our ԝebpage now https://hydracampaign.com/

  13. Thanks for another wonderful post. Take a look on our webpage now https://sachmoinhat.org/

  14. Thanks for another wonderful post. Take a look on our webpage https://sachmoinhat.org/

  15. POKA88 says:

    This post is good to read. Check our webpage https://timegeography.com/

  16. poka88 slot says:

    Thanks foг sharing your thoᥙghts. Visit our ԝebpage https://serotinalakes.com/

  17. slot online says:

    Wow great post! Take a look to our webpage https://garagemultinational.com/

  18. togel online says:

    Awesome! Its really an impressive post. Take a look on our webpage https://marcuspassey.com/

  19. pgslot says:

    The hottest promotion That saves investment up to 10 times, you can use it with slot games. pgslot

  20. Rey says:

    This article you write on this blog is interesting and incredible.
    Keep spirit on posting and sharing Bonanza88 thank you.

  21. pakar69 says:

    Situs alternatif paling baru dari pakarnya slot online Indonesia ;
    Pakar69

  22. John says:

    Thanks for sharing this amazing post with us.

  23. skool says:

    Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It’s so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also skool

  24. apkrabi says:

    When your website or blog goes live for the first time, it is exciting. That is until you realize no one but you and your. apkrabi

  25. Ikaria Lean Belly juice Review says:

    Hey what a brilliant post I have come across and believe me I have been searching out for this similar kind of post for past a week and hardly came across this. Thank you very much and will look for more postings from you. Ikaria Lean Belly juice Review

  26. Alpine Ice Hack for Weight Loss says:

    I have read all the comments and suggestions posted by the visitors for this article are very fine,We will wait for your next article so only.Thanks! Alpine Ice Hack for Weight Loss

  27. darth vader og strain
    I’m extremely pleased to find this website. I really like the knowledge you present here in this article.

  28. Buy Weed Online
    I found this blog site it’s very informative and helpful.

  29. one punch man manga says:

    You make so many great points here that I read your article a couple of times. Your views are in accordance with my own for the most part. This is great content for your readers. one punch man manga

  30. I like the way of writing. Any way You are a good writer. Your blog is very nice. You have done a great job on this article. It’s very readable and highly intelligent. You have even managed to make it understandable and easy to read. You have some real writing talent. Thank you.
    Fortune atta review – Fortune আটা খাওয়ার উপকারিতা ও অপকারিতা। Fortune atta 1KG, 5KG, 10KG OR 25KG Price in India

  31. lucifer says:

    Thank you for your post, it’s really very great information. I want to see your new post, too. Thank you for letting me gain new knowledge. generic medicina

  32. JOHN says:

    Thanks. It’s really nice and meaningful. it’s really cool blog. Linking is very useful thing.you have really helped lots of people who visit blog and provide them useful information. Genericmedicina.com

  33. gabierlakla says:

    i like your article and please keep update for another article.. for other information i have too and please visit my blog slot

  34. migsun group says:

    Very nice blog post; it is informative, and I subscribed to this blog for all its future posts. There is some helpful information I think I must share here. Migsun Atharva, affordable 2/3 BHK flats in Raj Nagar Extension, Ghaziabad, is a perfect destination for you if you are searching for a perfect house.

  35. Very nice blog post; it is informative, and I subscribed to this blog for all its future posts. There is some helpful information I think I must share here. The best SCO Plots are available at Gurgaon’s Spaze Grand Central 114. Sector 114 of the Gurugram project contains the best office, retail, and food court areas. For your investment in industrial real estate, it is the ideal project.

  36. idnarena says:

    online Pragmatic antara lain:

    – Tampilan gambar yang indah
    – Deposit murah iconplay dan taruhan murah
    – Game slot online paling sempurna

  37. Life has instructed us that adoration doesn’t comprise looking at one another, but in searching externally together in a similar heading. christian dating site

  38. BK SEO says:

    I have been checking out a few of your stories and i can state pretty good stuff. I will definitely bookmark your blog Bagged Packaged Goods

  39. vouraniscom says:

    I really like looking through and I think this website got some really useful stuff on it! .

    https://vouranis.com/

  40. However, I think it will be more wonderful if your post includes additional topics that I am thinking of. I have a lot of posts on my site similar to your topic. Would you like to visit once?

    메이저놀이터

  41. Alex says:

    i like your stories you written for public keep it up bro … thumbs up …

  42. Thanks for sharing the post.. parents are worlds best person in each lives of individual..they need or must succeed to sustain needs of the family. cheap puppies for sale

  43. mcdvoice says:

    Very informative post. We’re new to blogging as our primary source of income has always been freelance software engineering.
    https://mybalncenowguide.cc/mybalancenow-check-your-target-gift-card-balance-now/

  44. mybalancenow says:

    cool work and thanks for sharing.

  45. Thanks a lot for this amazing post. I suggest having a great time at 1 deposit casino Canada. Good luck

  46. This is highly informatics, crisp and clear. I think that everything has been described in systematic manner so that reader could get maximum information and learn many things.

Leave a Reply to mybalancenow Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.