The Poet X Chronicles 2
The Poet X Chronicles 2
One of my favorite books from last year is Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. One of the things I loved the most about the book was how the main character loves writing and the way that writing helps her cope with the challenges she's facing in her life. We see this through different writing prompts that Xiomara gets assigned in English class. I am going to be answering these writing prompts through a series of blog posts.
Second Prompt: Describe someone you consider misunderstood by society.
I feel misunderstood by society. I'm not American enough because my accent is too thick and my hair too curly. I've been asked about my citizenship status. I've had people question why I teach english language arts instead of Spanish since I'm a Spanish speaker. As though I wouldn't be proficient or capable enough to teach english. Because I dance bachata and merengue and find peace in a mangu with the 3 golpes. It was easy being Dominican in New York but anywhere else I feel like an unicorn.
"I'm from the Dominican Republic"-
Where's that?
"an island in the Caribbean"
(confused expression)
"it's near Puerto Rico and Cuba"
I am not Dominican enough because of my ideas about women's rights and racial equity. I've been told no one will ever marry me because I think men and women should equal in a relationship. I am not religious and sometimes I question whether God even exists. I value knowledge and work over being married and having children. Because I live here and I couldn't possibly understand what it's like over there so I shouldn't have opinions about what happens in the island and the way people live.
I don't belong anywhere. Why do I have to be one thing or the other? Why can't I just be me in all that it is and be free in that? Why must we box ourselves- our identities?
I keep searching and searching but I won't apologize, I wont stop being me.
One of my favorite books from last year is Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. One of the things I loved the most about the book was how the main character loves writing and the way that writing helps her cope with the challenges she's facing in her life. We see this through different writing prompts that Xiomara gets assigned in English class. I am going to be answering these writing prompts through a series of blog posts.
Second Prompt: Describe someone you consider misunderstood by society.
I feel misunderstood by society. I'm not American enough because my accent is too thick and my hair too curly. I've been asked about my citizenship status. I've had people question why I teach english language arts instead of Spanish since I'm a Spanish speaker. As though I wouldn't be proficient or capable enough to teach english. Because I dance bachata and merengue and find peace in a mangu with the 3 golpes. It was easy being Dominican in New York but anywhere else I feel like an unicorn.
"I'm from the Dominican Republic"-
Where's that?
"an island in the Caribbean"
(confused expression)
"it's near Puerto Rico and Cuba"
I am not Dominican enough because of my ideas about women's rights and racial equity. I've been told no one will ever marry me because I think men and women should equal in a relationship. I am not religious and sometimes I question whether God even exists. I value knowledge and work over being married and having children. Because I live here and I couldn't possibly understand what it's like over there so I shouldn't have opinions about what happens in the island and the way people live.
I don't belong anywhere. Why do I have to be one thing or the other? Why can't I just be me in all that it is and be free in that? Why must we box ourselves- our identities?
I keep searching and searching but I won't apologize, I wont stop being me.
Comments
Post a Comment