“Gun
Violence,” the topic that walked upon us. Gun violence, is a type of violence
that is used with a firearm to threaten or inflict harm against someone or
something. Violence, behavior involving physical force intended to hurt,
damage, or kill someone or something. Well, first, we brainstormed ideas. We
thought of different type of mind changing situations, marked them on the
board, and wrote which three we’re most interested in on a card. But me, I
wasn’t in class that day. Well mainly, that whole week maybe. I forget. Then, I
arrived back in class, the topic already handed to us as well as the
introduction of the benchmark. I wasn’t worried about what we had to do, I was
more worried about getting it done and being there to communicate and
collaborate with my teammates. My group mates suggested that we all do two
video’s each. One person did videos and everyone else did the stats, the
weebly, editing… etc. I don’t exactly remember everything. My group mates
guided me in the right direction to do well on my part of the benchmark, but
then again they didn’t want to put too much on me. But overall, it turned out
to be a pretty good project!
Nasir was the biggest bully in the 5th grade. I didn’t know what he meant so I responded with “Whatchu mean?”
“I heard you talk like me mane. You talk hood.”
“Uhm Ok?” (But I didn’t understand what he was talking about). “I do because I’m from the hood.”
“Well you need to turn dat around cuz I’m da only white boul dat talk black up in here.”
“Yea whatever u say. I talk the way I talk and if you don’t like it we can walk to walk.”
“I was just saying cuz everybody in this jawn think and call you a ‘wanna be.’”
“Really?”
“Yep just thought you would like to know.”
From then I reacted thoughtfully and feelingly. I felt as though I wasn’t welcomed or wanted. I was pretty much the only kid that didn’t talk to anyone except for when I was doing my work and the teacher called upon me. I didn’t bother talking to anyone because the kids were all rude and whatnot. I already knew how I was and if I got into trouble with anyone it would not be pretty. So I sat aside from everybody. Then I come to find out no one really liked me in the first place. Consequently I reacted like I cared a little bit but not in front of Nasir’s face. While I was talking to him I acted like I didn’t really care but deep down inside I did. I should have just accepted it originally because I shouldn’t care what people would think. The voice is the power of me, and the power of me makes my internal identity wise. This is important because I’m different from the inside to the outer edge of me. I may act tough externally. But I have a sensibility side inside of me. Therefore, my internal identity is the voice and accent I hold. Even though people didn’t buy/accept my speech, it was just my identity.
In the words of James Baldwin, “The price for this is the acceptance, and achievement, of one’s temporal identity.” He believes that identity is rated from acceptance and achievement. By rated I mean its settled between acceptance and achievement. Voice is the stability of acceptance. Back to my case I accepted my own act but no one else did. My vocals grew into me by the surroundings and areas I live in. I speak “black English” because of some of my brothers, the people I grew up with put together my voice.
I really don’t care about how I talk anymore, unlike when I was in the 5th grade. This changed overtime by maturity levels. From starting off caring at a non-mature level to concerning-free at a matured level. I used to feel embarrassed until people started talking to me. Without this characteristic, I wouldn’t be the person I am now. So the way I speak defines who I am and who I am defines the way I speak. Now the way I look at it, as it’s the trait that makes me internally; it makes me feel good to know whom I am!
