Kennedy Fields

Ms. Pahomov

English 2

4 April 2018

Imagine someone is meeting another at a party, and that person has a meaningful discussion. That someone becomes very social and comfortable speaking to them, saying whatever they please. Now imagine the same person going to the party in a police uniform. Does this change how that person would act? Would that person become more mindful of what they’re saying? Talking to someone with higher power and authority, influences people on what to say-- and count on physical aspects to show us who has that power. When society’s status symbols aren’t physically with someone, it changes the dynamic between the two becoming arbitrary. Being entitled to status symbols, or honorary items has the ability to upgrade someone's role in status.

In the novel, Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, a group of young boys crash land on a remote island with no adults. They battled to survive on this island and needed to designate someone as chief. The leader, Ralph, has a right hand man, Piggy, who gives smart, meaningful ways to advance them in survival. After the crash, the two meet and discovers a conch on the beach. Piggy explains that the conch can be used as a way to call others by blowing into it. After more boys join them, they establish a rule for everyone to follow: whoever holds the conch has the right, and authority to speak, no one else. The conch symbolizes power.

When seeing an officer in uniform in badge, the natural instinct given is to act accordingly, drawing no negative attention or showing the fear of  being cuffed. Holding a badge shows power because it’s a representation of an officers job in protecting law, and no one is to be superior to the law. Fifty-one year old, Louis Arcila, was caught in a misfortunate event; groping a 30 year old woman. It was later discovered during investigations that Arcila was an off-duty police officer. The heinous crime was deplorable, leading to the press to follow the case. In the Long Island Newsday article by Bridget Murphy it says, “..defense attorney Joseph Lo Piccolo had contended Arcila wasn’t wearing his badge that night and never touched his accuser.” There was controversy over him wearing the badge. one side says he had it on the other disagrees. The crime remains the same, but what he was wearing matters all the more. Saying Arcila wasn’t wearing his badge declines his status in society. A responsibility that comes with an officer's badge is to protect others from wrongful crimes. The responsibility for the boys is to honor the rule that comes with the conch shell. Wearing or not of his badge in his crime had the ability to change his notability, and superiority in being an officer who holds power in enforcing the law.

In the novel Lord of the Flies, Ralph, the chief decides that the conch would be of great use to call and gather others. When he does, the reader is introduced to many of the other boys on the island, who came seeking to find the noise coming from the conch. Ralph, blowing the conch, formed a meeting to discuss the idea  of someone becoming the leader. On page 22 of The Lord of The Flies, William Golding wrote, “But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet the most powerful, there was the conch.” (22) After the author describes Ralph in that moment it leads to the election of Ralph. The author gives the reader clue Ralph has become leader due to the “most obscurely, yet the most powerful conch.” Ralph was a highlighted because of appearance and size, but what really sold him in changing his status was the conch. The conch was used to unite the group of boys, which shows the power in the conch. Ralph goes from being a good looking boy in a group of lost boys to the leader due to a mysterious conch. His election to power was counted on a physical cue to the group.

A police badge today is a modern symbol of law enforcement. Wearing it on the job gives on significant power. Badges during the middle ages were worn by commoners and those noble, and during this time, power was not strong or prominent. The badges were to show ranking and nobility in the house or group. They weren’t even used to show a specific job or duty. Eventually, over time, it became a symbol for servants to use in households, that established their status role. Timothy Roufa, writer of History of the Police Badge says,” To the police officer, the badge represents the public trust, with which she has the authority to act and to which she has the duty to remain true.” Once an officer receives a badge after rigorous training, he is obligated to maintain a trustworthy environment for the public. This is similar to the Lord of the Flies, relating to the conch because once someone holds it they are obligated to respect the rule of only one person speaking. Respecting the rule is a way the young boys can remain true on island with one another, without it the “society” they’ve tried creating falls. When the conch is present between the boys it changes the dynamic between the two versus when it is not.

Immediately after Ralph is elected roles, rules and regulations are set. There’s Ralph the leader, and Jack Merridew the hunter. Jack was a candidate in the election of him and Ralph, but was not chosen. During the meeting many of the boys begun to all call things out desperate to be heard, leaving Ralph unpleased. He suggested using the process of hand raising as done in school, but then explained, ”I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak...and he won't be interrupted. Except by me.”(33) Similar to a badge the conch gives authority. When a boy has the conch in possession he is to perform a job, speaking. When a cop has a badge in possession he also embodies a performance, to protect. The boys become vulnerable without the conch because they can’t speak. Without it they’d have no voice in the larger picture. A police officer without a uniform and no badge is taking away authority when in the presence of another individual, because symbol and job is no longer present.

The conch throughout William Golding’s, Lord of the Flies gave the boys the utmost power on the island, only if it was in your possession. As for a police officer they reach maximum strength and power. Items that symbolize power and boost one's rank in society have become an arbitrary because it’s a random decision people make based upon an item.

Works Cited:

Murphy, Bridget. “Off-Duty Officer Found Guilty in Groping Case.” Newsday, Newsday, 24 Mar. 2018, www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/police-trial-groping-1.17632387.

Roufa, Timothy. “Find Out What the Police Badge Means and Why Officers Carry Them.” The Balance, 15 Nov. 2017, www.thebalance.com/why-do-police-officers-wear-badges-974606.

Takes place in a dark corner of stage.

Be quiet, not a sound I think he’s coming. Don’t breathe too heavy, don’t show fear, it’ll be over soon.

(pause)

Where’s my mother? Where’s my father? Why hasn’t anyone come yet? Is it my fault? What did I do wrong? All I was doing was coming home from practice right around the corner. The man didn’t seem like a threat then. He just asked which direction he needed to take.

“Hey, excuse me miss which way to the park”

(Character shivers)

I can still hear him in my head...why! (Crying)

He went the opposite direction of where I was walking when he pulled off, and then turned around. Why? Did I have something? Does he hate me? What does he want to do with me?

I don’t even know where I am. You know what, where’s the freaking police?

Can they not do there job, correctly? What if I’m dead, is anyone even worried? Does anyone even know I’m gone?

I’m only 15 years old. I thought I was doing everything right. I didn’t act older than my age, behave well in school, got involved in programs. Most girls my age now a days don’t even take care of themselves. At least I don’t go around… ughhh they're all boy crazy. But not me, I try to stay on task. And of course this happens to me.

Silent pause.

Crazy thing is, I watch shows like this almost everyday. Criminal minds, law and order, how am I not prepared for when something like this happens. In most situations like these something bad happens within a short time frame to the victim in kidnaps.

Investigates body for marks of any kind

Oh god, I have scratches all over my arm. I must’ve put up a fight, at least that’s good, right? I did what I could. Now it’s up to the police to do what they can and find me. I hope there's good evidence left behind.

Maybe I dropped something, or he did.

Maybe there’s already a suspect in mind.

What if I, actually do know him.

There’s a good chance I may. (panicking)

You know what, maybe if I just count in my head they’ll be here sooner than I anticipate.

1….2…..3…...No I can’t

They’re taking too long to get here. Maybe they can’t find me, it was a random man that took me I think. How will they find him! Maybe they will like in those shows, they always find them. Yea ,okay I’ll be fine. I’ll be back home with my parents fine and okay. Yes, The place where I’m the most comfortable. Right about now I’d be in my room listening to my playlist, scrolling through Instagram feed. But, I just want to go home!

Hears Footsteps.

Oh no, I think he’s coming. What to do, what to do? Should I act sleep? Fight back? Act brave and speak? Ask him questions? Make him feel guilty? Pause

*Gasps

The door

“...And It’s Not Funny Either!”

“Ughh, I know and I just can’t help it”,

“What, but I wasn’t even… nevermind”

“Aw, thanks.”

I respond to remarks such as those on a daily. I hear them at school, dance, and sometimes even outside of those two main places. The last response is usually what I say to people who enjoy my personality and identity. The responses I make to people leave me feeling as though my smile and upbeat personality is a curse and joy. Throughout my life, I’ve always had questions and incidents where my smile and cheery personality caused chaos and joy.

The day I realized my uppity personality and smile caused trouble was in 7th grade. I got in trouble by the new math teacher in her class one afternoon. It was a day of school were we attended mass, since I went to a private catholic school. The mass service was divided in two separate times, grades k-4 attended first then 5-8. One of the boys in my class, Dan, happened to be apart of this mass as an altar server, someone who assists the priest during church. It just also happened to extremely hot that day, and there was no air conditioning.Math class is finally over and to conclude our day we were about to walk over to church. As we were wrapping everything up, putting books away and talking amongst ourselves and...

“Oh my gosh, Dan passed out in church! ” Said one of the fifth grade girls while passing through the hall.

The whole class immediately started mumbling talking to each other about the new gossip. Then in walks one of my close classmate friends who wasn’t up to date on the recent information we just heard from the fifth grade girl, and of course being the excited person I am,  I wanted to tell her. I explain to her exactly what we just heard then, suddenly  all I hear is:

“Did you just laugh, Kennedy?  This isn’t funny at all. He could really be hurt.”  

I was totally confused in the moment seeking for someone in the room who also felt the same way for self-comfort. I questioned myself in my head asking,  “What in the world is she talking about.” Then just by looking at her facial expression I realized this was serious, enough for me to get in major trouble. The teacher and I then went back and forth:

“I never even laughed,” looking around confused trying to find a witness to agree with me so i didn’t feel uncomfortable.

“Yes, you're over there smiling and happy that he just fainted, this isn’t a joke he could really be hurt,” the teacher claimed.

It took my close friend to explain to me that my face did seem a little happy, but she knew I wasn’t making fun of him because this is how I looked when I talked to her majority of the time. After, I realized this out about myself It seemed as though I  started getting more bad than good comments about my personality from others.

Growing up as a kid, I always received positive notes on my identity and how people enjoyed my enlightening presence. They all told me  how my smile was nice, and my goofiness  wasn’t a problem. As I grew older the more negative comments there became.  I guess this was because I started getting to  know more people. Yes, many people take my personality the wrong way. Sure I can be silly a lot, and keep a smile on  my face, but sometimes I feel as though people suspect that as weakness. I say this because people get the idea that I can’t focus or take things serious because I like to laugh and have fun, and it annoys me. I tend to be perceived this way a lot in school and at dance school (the two places w here I spend most of my time).

The dance studio is my happy place, I love what I do as a hobby the only thing I don’t love are comments.I tend to get yelled at alot for taking my happy energetic personality into class. For example; Say I mess up on the dance routine by an accident, and get called out on it she’ll then proceed to say something along the lines of “...and it’s not funny either!”

Sometimes, I may get a little out of hand when it comes to goofiness, but I can manage to control it. I feel as though my goofiness is what makes me, me. It’s a part of my natural identity. I love my personality, I’m someone who likes to bring in fun energy. I’ve come to the point in my life where negative comments on my “bubbly” personality become something where I respond, “Well, I can’t help it.” I’d rather go through life being the person who you can always count on to make a slow weary day come alive. I want people to know just because you laugh, joke, and act silly it doesn’t make you less of an achiever. My self-identity is very meaningful to me and don’t ever want to have to change my personality.

Hello, to my faithful blog readers. Also, If you aren’t one of my faithful blog readers go check out post number one and two. I’m back again. My first blog post informed readers how ballet is known to be dominantly white sport. I also stress how the black community of dancers is slowly growing but still fails in being showcased in big productions. In blog post two I got to interview my friend, Sabree Primus. In this interview I asked her opinion on the dance world and the black dance community. She also gave suggestions on how to fix problems in this community.

After doing long research on my topics, I had to do something to make a change. I wanted to know what I could do to make a difference in a topic I resonate with. As you know, I interviewed a friend not too long ago. To close this interview I asked what she believed was a good idea to help do anything about keeping the dance world diverse. Sabree thought a good approach would be to have more integrated dance school, dance products that come in color, and more people spreading the word. I would would also love to see these changes, but there’s only so much you can do (especially when it’s a school project and you have deadlines).

As an agent of change in this topic, my goal is to create a hashtag for social media. I gathered members from my dance team, to take professional dance pictures around the city, to spread the word. I did this because I was inspired by a page I found not that long ago on Instagram. The page is called, brown girls do ballet, and they have hashtags and all. It is a page where they repost many aspiring colored ballerinas and dancers in general. This page is very well known. Many dance studios follow this page to support what they stand for. This organization stands for everything I believe, being a dancer. They also have there own website with propaganda.

This is one of the individual photos of me during the photoshoot. This is also a picture that is similar to pictures the page posts, that's why I chose to send this in. I also chose this one because it was a ballet photo.

My goal in doing this photoshoot was to send it to the page on instagram so they’d post my picture as apart of raising awareness. I also asked the participants in the photoshoot to do the same with their individual pics and post them. The page hasn’t gotten back to us yet, but I have no dont they wont.

THANKS FOR READING! Check out my citations!

My first blog post informed readers how ballet is known to be dominantly white sport. I also stress how the black community of dancers is slowly growing but still fails in being showcased in big productions. I showed how discrimination in an art also ties to social issues. If social justice is something you believe in, my blogs should resonate with you. Different forms of the arts are meant to express the human creative skill. Skills can be mastered by anyone with practice. The main idea and question focused on is; why are colored dancers discriminated? From past research I found out how old sayings and practices got in the way, of their being colored dancers, and  more.

There is one more topic to add onto my past research on roadblocks in the dance world for African American ballerinas. That is the fact that “raising graceful little toe-touching, leotard-clad ballerina children—now, that's a big ticket item,” according to Katy Osborn’s truthful blog “This is how much it Cost to Raise a Ballerina. As you may know, dating way back to Civil Rights Movement Era and before then many African Americans didn’t receive luxury, high paying jobs due to racism. Besides the fact that many African Americans weren’t allowed to dance, I believe ballet not being diverse relates back to that point in time where many couldn’t afford its expenses.  Therefore, children doing extracurricular activities such as dance wasn’t possible. The items needed to practice and train as a dancer include leotards, tights, costumes, tuition fees, ballet shoes, $100 pointe shoes, and that’s not even all.

I created an amazon shop cart including, the basic necessities for practice. Imagine thes prices times maybe 2 or 3, because you need more than one thing to practice in, and have just in case. Also, imagine adding additional items such as dance school tuition, and costume fees. This picture is just a small expenses to cover a dancer.

In addition to my last ballerina’s who sought to defy racism, there’s also Misty Copeland's mentor, Raven Wilkinson. Raven Wilkinson made it to the well known, famous Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1955. This was way before the Civil Rights Movement begun. During, her time as the first black ballerina touring the Jim Crow South she was told to blend in, even by applying white powder to her face. In WEB exclusive interview with her, she told them how if someone asked if she was black she’d have to lie. She even said in the interview, “I didn’t want to put the company in danger, but I also never wanted to deny who I was.” Margaret Fuhrer, the interviewer asked Raven a question that's centered around what my project is about. “What are your thoughts on ballet’s continuing diversity problem?”, was the final question. Raven Wilkinson responded in a series of question many do not know. “My never-ending question is: When are we going to get a Swan Queen of a darker hue? How long can we deny people that position? Do we feel aesthetically we can’t face it? I think until we start seeing it regularly, we’ll never believe it. But I’m sure that won’t take another 60 years to happen.”, she said.

Besides investigating other interviews done by others, I decided to hold one of my own with an African American dancer since the age of three, Sabree Primus. She is one of my teammates at “The Pointe Dance Studio” and “Straight to the Pointe! Dance Company.”  She also dances at The High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), a place she believes is diversified to it’s best ability. My first question for her was: Do you believe when dance departments/theater is searching for new dancers do they look for a specific race? Sabree gave an interesting reply saying, “Yes, I do believe they look at race, because they’re looking for the race that fits in with the race they already have.”  She then touched on what I wrote in my last blog about how African American bodies are different than others. She also believed that white people have better technique because, of that.

This is “Straight to the Pointe Dance Company.”

Next, I wanted to speak to Sabree about blacks in dance worldwide. Some of her beliefs were very different, some were also the same. Sabree Primus said Blacks in dance get the recognition they deserved which surprised me. When I followed up with the question;” Does it depend on the style?”, her answer was still no being that she thinks blacks get recognition for the new styles and creating new techniques. She gave Hip-Hop as an example to look at. Her answer for this was skeptical for me. We then talked about differences in black and white dance schools, and how we think white dance school focus more on technique and black dance schools focus on the soul, embracement in movement, the performance, and some technique. As black dancers we also talked about how being an African American dancer is physically and mentally hard. It’s physically hard because we have to build better techniques, and mentally challenging being that you don’t see as many professionals which brings your hopes down.  

Finally, to do something about dancing being diverse, Sabree thinks a good approach would be to have more integrated dance school, dance products that come in color, and more people spreading the word. I would love to see these changes. As an agent of change in this topic, my goal is to create a hashtag for social media. I would gather my dance team, to take professional dance pictures around the city, to spread the word.

Check out my citations!

Hello, my name is Kennedy Fields and I'm currently a “African American ballerina” in training. Since the age of three, dancing became a passion of mine. As I grew older I studied various dance types but ballet became my  obsession. The tedious corrections given daily by teachers propelled me to become the best black ballerina I could possibly could be. The dance style ballet is known to be showcased dominantly by the white, a race I don't identify with. There are many famous dance companies with ballet pieces performed by white dancers, yet there aren’t many black ballerinas. For example; the familiar famous shows like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake don’t have a diverse set of performers. The black community of dancers is slowly growing but still fails in being showcased in big productions.

The following picture is an example of the many rules in executing a pirouette turn. A ballet education, has done a wonderful job in showing how ballet isn’t just twirling around in tutu’s.

Black dancers seeking to pursue the ballet craft weren’t able to in America as early as the twentieth century. There are beliefs the famous, George Balanchi started the discrimination.  George Balanchi is the choreographer of The Nutcracker and is the “Father of American ballet.” Besides his positive contributions to the dance world he also diminished it. Balanchi’s idea of proper “structure” for ballet didn’t mingle with “African American body features.” With research found in an article, It is factual that different races contribute to their body health. With that being said many excuses for blacks not to enter the study were gathered. Three factual rejects included: blacks have flat feet, leg limitations, and curved bodies. Although, these discriminants may sound absurd they meant a lot in ballet. As a part of the technical style some necessities require arched feet, straight backs, flat chests, etc. With these discriminants set it makes “black” ballerinas work twice as hard.

Since the twentieth century many of the beliefs about African American’s in ballet still exist. The pressure has eased from the young generations shoulders slightly from many people who really pushed away from ballet discrimination. A recent podcast interview, interviewed colored dancers sharing their first-hand experiences. All of their stories corroborate having one essential theme, struggling to make a career out of their loved art. Joan Myers is from Philadelphia and had her hopes crushed in her hometown right along Chestnut st. She was walking up and down the street seeking a ballet company she could audition for-but all gave her the same turn around. Joan Myers made success out of the fault in the ballet community by founding a black derived learning environment, Philadanco. Then there’s the famous Misty Copeland who changed the game for black girls all over. She has become America’s most famous ballerina of color. Her recent accomplishment has even made it to The New York Times. Misty has been promoted to a principle at the American Ballet Theatre. This means she will now be seen with lead roles in choreography. This is fantastic but the only concern is she’s the first African American female to become a principal ballerina, since its founding in 1939.

This is a picture of  ballerinas from American Ballet Theatre performing a trio. One also happens to be Misty Copeland. This was from opening night of their show in Brisbane, Australia called Three Masterpieces. Check out this page for more details.

Discrimination in an art ties to social issues. If social justice is something you believe in this should resonate with you. Different forms of Arts are meant to express the human creative skill. Skills can be mastered by anyone with practice, so why are colored dancers discriminated? There’s a difference if you don’t take a liking to one dancers style, but to not like them for a skin-deep reason is harsh. I believe if we don’t start seeing more diverse changes in the ballet profession, it will start to diminish. Young girls today need to see the diverse changes for the cycle to continue and right now there are very few heard of.

Check out my works cited!

Soy yo

La hija de padres apartado

Nina con dos hermanas

Y un producto de Filadelfia,

Soy nueva, la historia me hizo.

Veo unidad en mi familia

Oigo historias del paso

Huelo Comida para el alma

Soboreo Recetas de las familias

Toco el amor

Bailo, desde mi cuerpo

Hablo ingles con pasión

Juego con miedo

Corro es mi destino

Somos africano Americano,

Enraizada en la historia de mi continente:

Volamos alto y

Nosotros estamos alto

Personajes:

Kyle come Rico

Kai como Julio

Kennedy como Juanita

Abraham como criminal

It was all going well with the three amigos at school until one makes a huge mistake. Someone receives a strange message and chaos occurs.  In this telenova you will watch the three amigos fight for their life.

When first assigned the media fluency slide presentation I had some pretty good understanding of what could be a job well done. Unfortunately, as I opened a fresh slide to express my thoughts in a presentation I couldn't start.  I knew the way I had things visioned I would be breaking guidelines for the best ways to create a presentation. For example: In the Presentation Zen learning site I’d be avoiding the second rule, “one slide, one point.” Since my, Me Magazine scanned over some key detail things about my life, I thought to just incorporate everything that shapes Kennedy. Clearly that point created a setback, so I waited. Then I thought why not choose my passion I wrote about, it’s the center of my world and it’s dancing.

To create this slide I thought of a simple title, Kennedy’s World. Only because dancing is literally my world it’s the most time consumed part of my life, next to school of course. So, then I made title big, to match how big it’s apart of my life. Making words in presentations big is something both, Presentation Zen and Zach Holman discuss. Zach Holman also talks about how letters can even act as “visually interesting shape,” which explains the stretched, different looking font in the title. There is a contrast between the background and subject. One is on top of the other, which may describe importance. Final photo composition techniques added includes, symmetry. I centered everything to make it more appealing to the eye.