NOTE FROM MS. ENGLART:
     Welcome. This section highlights work done in English classes, especially research papers. To the right is a paper from Dr. Sapienza's AP Literature class. Below are papers from English Honors 3 students. The unit was "The American Dream." Students wrote these papers after studying "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller and "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry, as well as a variety of other supplemental texts.
     Note: These are "final drafts" for class, not originally intended for publication. This is to say, I want to present the students' papers as they are (without my corrections) so other students can see and be inspired from the papers as they really are. 

English Honors 3: Five-page papers

Yari Jones
English 3 Honors
Englart, Period 2
December 7, 2017
RITS/ DOAS

The New American Dream
     The new American Dream builds off of the dreams of people, regardless of gender, race, religion, etc. Nowadays, every American is legally allowed to pursue the same elements of their dreams: college, job, home, family. We’re now living in a time that has more to do with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream than the old-fashioned, patriarchal (male-dominated society) dreams of the founding fathers, who could only see the dream in one color and one gender. Their own. Nowadays, everything has to be legally accessible to everyone. Even with all of this, the American Dream only remains a dream to a lot of people.
     Two plays about chasing the American Dream in the 1950s definitely made me realize how tough life can be and the financial and mental problems people can go through. In both Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, and A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, it was upsetting to see how the circumstances that both  families lived through affected the fathers and therefore their families. In Death of a Salesman, the father, Willy Loman, went insane because the downfall of his job and unsuccess of his dreams and plans affected him and the people around him, mainly  his family. In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter experienced similar stress, because he was struggling to provide for his family , along with a job that was not only paying him little but but perishing his ego. Along his struggle to provide, his wife was expecting another child when they did not have much and barely had food to eat and also having family problems as well.
     Watching the films made me realize how fortunate and blessed we are and how we can be either unaware or ungrateful when there are people like Willy and Walter who wish they could have half of what we have or  just enough to put food on the table and make his family happy. It’s sad to know that Willy never got to fulfill his dreams and that all the issues he was going through whether it was work, money or his family made him lose touch with himself and others.
     Overall, both of the films were good because they were relatable to real problems that go on in the world. For example, in The Raisin in the Sun, they had a lot of the same issues but their struggle was much deeper because they were an African - American family in the 1950’s. Even though Willy and Walter had the same problems Willy was more privileged because he was a white man and during that time period, it was still a lot of discrimination going on. Walter and his family did not share the same advantages as Willy and his family who were white. This is relatable because before and  after and during this time period, issues like this were really happening. People of color were not given the same advantages and pleasures as White people.
     So my point in saying all this is that trying to live by the American Dream can be hard to live by because many problems can come along with it. I think it's pretty safe to say that it's almost impossible to live the American Dream and if not impossible, it's very rare for someone to live in it. Honestly, how many people do you know live by this so called “American Dream”? Not a lot of people can say they have 2 parents with good jobs and are successful with good pay with 2 children, lives in a nice home, etc.
     The idea of the American Dream is that all “men” are created equal, that all “men” have the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” What we can see from these films and from the way the “dream” has evolved is that ALL Americans have a dream. That was shown in both films as the men would go to work and be more involved and women would stay at home cooking, cleaning, taking care of the children and house as housewives should. The American Dream did not involve a women doing much of anything but being housewives. Men were to do and be everything and portray the idea of a man in the American Dream.
     The American Dream is almost idealistically impossible in reality because people, (mainly women) have fought  and are still fighting for their rights and  what they believe in. For example,  Feminism. Women want to be so much more than just an accessory to their men and want to be equal to men when economically, politically, socially, etc.  So when it comes to this vision of the American dream where women are to be housewives and take care of the kids and house and not work while their go out and work and more, they're not for it and I don't blame them. Women should be treated equal when it comes to some things(not all) as men such as economic, political and social issues along with other things.  
     As for both of the films, both films had families who attempted to live in this American Dream and pretty much failed it because of money or race or whatever they’re personal issue might have been. They were so stuck in issues with their  jobs and families that they didn’t get to live the life they intended for themselves and their families and as  result they both had mental breakdowns and made poor decisions that would worry and effect them and the ones around them.
     So the American Dream is looked at as only a dream by most people because it is difficult to live the dream  in this type of world with all the issues that go on in society. Issues from economic, political, social issues and things like poverty and jobs prevent people from living their intended successful, goal-oriented lifestyle.
     All this to say that the American Dream is not commonly lived up to because it is hard to live by such expectations in this society when you see what this world has come to. Instead of everyone having a steady job with good pay and a roof over their heads , people are homeless, jobless and sometimes struggling to take care of their families or even just themselves. People should not have to worry about when their next meal will be and be able to take care of themselves and whoever else in their life they need to take care. They need to live up to their own expectations and not the expectations of this so called “American Dream”.

Sophia Coppola
Eng 3 Honors
Per 2
DOAS/RITS
​12/5/2017

Pursuit of the American Dream
     The American Dream is a concept most Americans are familiar with. It is referenced in media, entertainment, and in everyday life. Modern society tends to glorify this American Dream as a strong, patriotic set of beliefs that, if followed, will result in a fulfilling, happy life. This dream finds its origin in the founding of the United States.
     Before modern American life, the founding fathers faced a challenge: to create a definition of what differentiates America from other countries. They built our political ideology upon the idea of natural human rights given to man by their creator, and within the Declaration of Independence, it is stated that the government’s purpose is to protect these inalienable rights of its citizens, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness being regarded as a legitimate right was revolutionary, yet it established a concrete foundation for American lives.
     Over the years, both ordinary people and leaders in our political system have debated over and thought about the exact meaning of “happiness” and its derivatives. From this cogitation of self arose the idea of the American Dream. Although the fundamentals were first developed by the American founding fathers, the exact definition of the American Dream has been changed and distorted according to the wishes of those in power. Since its first stages of development, the definition of the American Dream has evidently been altered. In 1931, James Truslow Adams first publicly defined the American Dream as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement,” (Adams, Epic of America). He also notes how this idea is often misinterpreted, stating that it is not “... a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position,” (Adams, Epic of America). As he illustrates, people tend to  excessively associate ideas that are supposed to regard equal opportunity with wealth. Why is this? Over time, the face of the American Dream has been warped and worn, then molded into a leash to curb and control the residents of this purportedly great nation. People are driven by desires, and there is no better way to control a man’s actions than by controlling what he wants. This makes sense, when you consider what drives people to push for change.
     The American Dream, formally, constitutes the set of ideals that allow for success and happiness through hard work and perseverance. When people are introduced to this idea, it undoubtedly gives them hope for their future; it gives them fixed guidelines to live up to and sets up a framework for a happy life. If you ask individual people what the American Dream is, most will make some mention of fortune and of a functional family, and they may indicate some personal aspirations. Predominantly though, they will, in their description, lean toward a financial methodology. So why has the original definition of the American Dream changed so much? As the country progressed on to becoming an industrial capitalist superpower over the course of American history, people unknowingly began to feel that financial success meant happiness; even the idea that happiness cannot be found without money was able to be deviously put into the subconscious through the routine pumping of success stories into the American people's mind. Adults, children, and seniors alike, even today, have unavoidably experienced some form of advertisement for this American Dream.
     The suggestion that money means happiness was primarily planted  into the minds of the underprivileged by those born into wealth and prosperity. In this society, what money does do is allow for an “easier” life. This is absolutely not synonymous with happiness, though easily confused. One can find happiness in hardship, contrary to the implications spoon fed to citizens by the powerful hand of capitalism.
    Controversial ideas questioning the traditional lifestyle of the common, working, “worthy” American have been touched on by multiple forms of literature and entertainment. The exposure of these ideas to members of society began an uprising in the intellectual world, and led thinkers to ask “Why?”
     For example, in the play Death of a Salesman, the protagonist Willy Loman, a traveling businessman, is struggling to reach his life’s goals. Faced with this ideal of the “American Dream,” Loman found himself in unsuccessful pursuit of something he barely knew the definition of. What was the American Dream? Was it all it was made out to be?
     Loman’s story brought these issues to light, outlining questions of happiness and what mainstream clichés depicting happiness tended to emphasize. Willy does not take into consideration the real nature of people in the world and wants to believe that there is an achievable, concrete definition to the American Dream -- which is something he pushes his whole family to follow.
    Quite similarly, characters in  A Raisin in the Sun feel pressure to follow the American Dream -- particularly the husband, Walter Lee. The family experienced active racism and discrimination, being black in the early 1900s. In addition to this, I believe some contributors to Walter’s actions may have been the mourning of his father, the stress of having a baby on the way, and the general desire for himself to be successful and to do what he thought his father wasn’t able. He didn’t want to live out the rest of his life in a dead end job, living in a small apartment, and raising his children in poverty-like conditions. His stubbornness reflects his desperate and passionate feelings about making money quickly and in any way he can. He truly believed that he could instantly obtain what he has always wanted through a deal no one else supported, and rashly made decisions to go through with the deal that gave him this hope. Even if the deal had gone through the way he had expected, he would still have struggled with questions of the morality of the deal, being that it is tied to capitalizing off of alcoholism. Additionally, he would be forced to deal with the weight of going against his mother’s wishes, which he has never really done before. His own struggle with alcoholism was also emphasized toward the end of the play; his mental health and addiction issues would inevitably worsen, regardless of financial status.
     For a long time, Western society has fallen victim to the American Dream and its fantastical allure. They have seen images of wealth, stability, and beauty plastered over the true face of American society and willfully succumbed to the messages forced upon them by media and popular culture. As inaccurate as these messages may be, they served to characterize the identity of Americans--a perfectly flawless selfhood that many refuse to abandon.         The American Dream’s definition varies among all of us -- whether we are man or woman, black or white, native or foreign. Social and financial pressures to achieve this idea of the American Dream and high financial status often disregard one’s health and happiness, and tend to drive people into deep holes within themselves. This makes no sense to the person, given that they were raised being told that financial stability is the root of all happiness and they were taught that if you have money, you should and will be happy. Unbeknownst to them is the idea that happiness can be found not only within money, but within yourself and the people you surround yourself with.  
     Human nature is not objective, and the source of our happiness cannot be quantified. Rarely does one derive stability from financial success; often you hear that people who are the most financially successful are the ones who are most likely to crack. They expect a life of glamour and riches, and when they reach the top, only then do they see how small the world can be. Even people who find themselves in a place of wealth and power can still fall into a dark place within themselves. When you are at the top, there is no where else to go but down. Although money and financial stability may eliminate economic stressors, if one is unhappy, money may not fix their issues. Even in A Raisin in the Sun, money was the source of the family’s primary conflict.       Sadly, yet truthfully, happiness is very rarely ever derived from money.  
     Instead of seeing money being the draw of American life, people should instead push for ideas of opportunity and freedom to be advertised. People will start to realize that it is in their power to define their own American Dream, and that is is in their power to steer their own ship in the direction they desire. Everyone on this Earth is on a quest for happiness and reason, and there is no universal path for us all to follow that is carved in stone. Everyone is an individual and should live their life as such. Our personal humanity is flexible. It is time the American Dream is changed. Redefine what it means to be an American!

Iyana Galan
Honors English 3
Ms. Englart
Dec 5, 2017

The American Dream
     The American Dream is the ideal that every citizen of the United States would have an equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work and determination. Is it still attainable?
     The families in Death of a Salesman and A Raisin in the Sun had completely different societal, cultural, and historical backgrounds, but they had their similarities as well. Both Willy Loman and Walter Younger had problems within their households and neither of them achieved the American Dream. Like those who surrounded them, they worked hard and to the best of their abilities, and provided for their families, but struggled with depression and unhappiness along the way.
     The American Dream didn’t really work out for many people, because some citizens could not live up to society’s expectations in the 1950s. Being successful took more than working hard and being determined. Personal and family values, like achievement or freedom, were viewed as irrelevant and had less worth.
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman addressed the loss of identity and a man’s inability to accept change within society and himself. It was quite interesting. The Lomans struggled to realize their dreams, fearing their goals were unreachable.
     Willy Loman worked as a travelling salesman and dreamed of success. The destruction of his dream destroyed him. He began losing himself and basically drove himself crazy. He’d have bipolar episodes and struggled to tell the difference between his “dreams” and reality. His older brother, Ben, passed away but appeared in these dreams (hallucinations). Ben accomplished the American Dream through his independence and diamond mines. Willy regarded him as a symbol of the success he craved for his sons and himself. He often compared himself to Ben and that only made things worse. His behavior affected those around him.
     His sons, Biff and Happy, focused on their futures. Biff tried to make his dad proud but ultimately failed to reconcile his life with his father's expectations. Happy tried to be what his dad wanted Biff to be, but kept failing. His wife, Linda, had to deal with and try to hold her discombobulated family together. Compared to their neighbors, their lives were unstable. The man and his son next door were successful. You could say they achieved the American Dream, but the Lomans were unhappy and failed.
    In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, the Youngers, a poor African American family that lived on the Southside of Chicago, struggled to deal with the oppressive circumstances that ruled their lives. Walter Younger was a desperate man, shackled by poverty and prejudice. Mr. Lindner, for example, from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association visited the Youngers to dissuade them from moving into the home they were interested in.
     Like Death of a Salesman, A Raisin in the Sun focused on dreams. Walter just wanted to provide for his family and set a good example for his son, Travis. He wanted Travis to know he could be someone in the world and didn’t have to work as a servant or chauffeur like him. To Walter, money was everything. Lena, his mother, disagreed. She believed having freedom was everything and tried talking sense into Walter. “Once upon a time freedom used to be life—now it’s money. I guess the world really do change...In my time we was worried about not being lynched. You ain’t satisfied or proud of nothing we done. I mean that you had a home; that we kept you out of trouble till you was grown; that you don’t have to ride to work on the back of nobody’s streetcar—You my children—but how different we done become.” He valued money, which was important, but he should’ve valued his freedom more.
     Lena also valued a withering houseplant, because it represented hope and her dream of someday having her own house with her own garden. At times, she thought about giving up, but the fact that she still nurtured the plant, which symbolized her faith and hope in the future, showed how much it meant to her and that she never gives up on her dream, herself, or her children. Her son didn’t actually seem to have that. The plant didn't get enough sun and neither did African Americans in the 1950s.
     Walter wasn’t happy with his lifestyle which is why he wanted the best for his son. He had no room for advancement and disliked the feeling of “sucking up” to his boss. He also felt like less of a man because he was in his early thirties and couldn’t provide for his family. His father achieved the American Dream and died a successful man. Walter was ambitious and wanted to do better than his father, but he didn’t follow his footsteps. He ended up doing worse. He wasn’t losing his mind like Willy, but he was becoming just as stressed. He tried to self medicate with alcohol which made things much worse. He put his trust in someone he thought was his friend and got scammed. He began losing hope.
     Things have changed since the 1950s. For starters, teenagers today. I believe they’re lost. Most people are trying to find themselves and determine where they fit in society and in the process of doing that, they come across people who either push them to better themselves or bring them down. Some end up up hanging with the wrong crowd and moving further from finding themselves and figuring out their purpose. Some may be surrounded by the right people but can’t find the motivation and determination within themselves. It can be anything. Back in the day, children followed their parents steps. I feel like teens have more freedom to do what they please now. Speaking from what I see, most people this generation are doing their own thing. They’re being influenced by adults/those who surround them and that can be for the better or worst. Then there’s family. The American Dream for family consist of “two children with happy, married parents.” Not everyone has that life. I, for example, am the only child and my parents aren’t together. My mom got married almost two years ago. Many people today have broken families and not saying broken like terrible and unstable. Just that all relationships don’t work out. My parents are a perfect example. A child’s background can affect their behavior. Time has just changed since the 1950s.
     What is my definition of the American Dream? Well I’d say happiness is key. Putting time and dedication into something that would make you happy and successful sounds two times better than working just to have money in your pocket for bills, necessities, and family. I believe that’s what many people are doing today. Not everyone is going for what they dreamed of and by “going for” I mean putting in the time and effort to achieve their dreams. My parents, for example. My mom works for CT Transit and doesn’t like her job. She’s not happy with where she is at the moment and she’s trying to figure out how she can change that. When she graduated high school, she thought she wanted to be a teacher but didn’t go through with that. Years later, she ended up getting her CDL to drive city buses.  Then there’s my dad who works for Apex, delivering medicine. He had a rough past and because of that, he didn't go for his dream. He used to say he’d like to have his own business one day. Now he doesn’t mention it at all but I believe he still can. If you put your mind to something and seek potential in yourself, you can pursue your passion. I don’t want to turn out the way my parents did and they tell me the same. They push me to do better and often tell me I need to figure out what I want to do after high school so that I have a plan. To find something I’m passionate about and go for it. If I’m going to be working the rest of my life, I’d like to do something that makes me not only successful but happy, too. I don’t hear many say that but that’s what I believe.

Peter Hines
English 3
December 1, 2017

America’s Views 
     I look and see all the promises that America makes but most of society does not  receive. America create flashes of freedom. Everyone desires to be free and have liberty. In America if you’re not well liked or have connections and have a good lump sum of money, people will submit to struggle. Yes they are often committed to the idea that everything will be okay. They’re also committed to the idea that they have to settle for less when they definitely deserve much more. Loneliness is the quality of being unvisited and remote; isolation. This is how everyone feels at some point. In America, we see a lot of rich and wealthy individuals get this feeling.   
     This is called The American Dream can either be a reality or a nightmare depending upon the cultural prejudices and availability of freedom. Individuals who are united through some common bond, which may be religion social status of color, create a group or class of people. While individuals are subject to racial prejudices, which often makes up upward mobility not possible. Without equal opportunities to move upwards within society, the American Dream is not attainable. But it is possible in cases where people are willing to sacrifice their heritage culture etc.
     Through their sacrifices, they may lose the true meaning of what Happy and healthy is this idea that proclaims never  stress over things you can’t control. As we see a lot  of people ask question like “Why is this happening to me? ” ; “how can i get my life together?”. People don’t worry about what option they have such as making progress they worry about how to get out of the situation. People don't consider how to better their lives they just try to make it through on the outer part of the social and economic part of america even the world. Even if they do consider there is always a obstacle in front of them.
a guide full of examples, life lesson, using The famous books “Raisin in the sun” and “Death of a salesman” with my personal   In death of a salesman show the dreams in america and how they shows false hope.

Death of a salesman
     Willy is an individual who craves attention and is governed by a desire for success. He constantly refers to his older brother Ben, who made a fortune in diamond mining in Africa, because he represents all the things Willy desires for himself and his sons. Ben was a rich man at the age of 21, while Willy must struggle to convince Howard to let him work in New York for a reduced salary after working for the company for 34 years. Willy does not envy Ben, but looks to him as model of success. False hope  has  killed him. He has failed, what it seem to be the American dream.
     Because I am a black man, I can only see things through my own experiences and my own eyes.
     We are who we are because of how we grow up. “The process through which an individual learns to become a member of society.” I look at this process as the internalization of the societal norms. Whether an individual grows up poor or rich, the values and norms they are taught as a young child will affect them throughout their lives. The way they are socialized will affect the decisions they make, the careers they choose, the majors they decide on in college, friends they make, etc. The largest influences an individual has in their lives are their significant others. The way someone learned values and behaviors to how close they felt to find their inner peace . there are countless way that will determine how much of an effect your inner peace ill have on you.
     As an African american male it us hard for african Americans to live in such conditions such as We are seen as rapist, robbers, unpleasant, even thugs. As we look at the news, we see very little or no African Americans on the news for good reasons, it shows our flaws, our weaknesses as a people, and shows false representation to how we help our community, our nation, even the world.
What is the american dream, really, for a black man such as myself today?
     For example, Ms. Englart took us to the New Haven Hotel to see the art. As we walked in a lot of Caucasians looked threatened and uncomfortable. I wanted to leave and cry because i’ve been dealing with this all my life.
     I felt very disrespected and get judged before anyone gets to meet me because the stereotype of all black aren't good enough keeps me oppressed and don't feel human or American.  Why do stereotypes take over America??  As humans we should have sympathy towards others, compassion towards the hurt , and try to heal the suffering. Anger turns to hate that makes hate turn to bitterness.
​     Anger impacts a person's mental health as well. Studies have linked anger  to loneliness, chronic anxiety, depression, eating disorders, sleep disorders, obsessive-compulsive behavior and phobias. ... Angry people have trouble being effective people in general .

“Raisin in the sun”
     African-American family living on the Southside of Chicago, the Youngers are about to receive an insurance check for $10,000. This money comes from the deceased fathers life insurance policy. As the play progresses, the Youngers clash over their competing dreams. Ruth discovers that she is pregnant but fears that if she has the child, she will put more financial pressure on her family members. Mama puts a down payment on a house for the whole family. She believed that a bigger, brighter dwelling will help them all. This house is in Clybourne Park, an entirely white neighborhood. That made the whites feel uncomfortable  and made the youngers feel un pure not human like object that they can just move around.
      This book shows this has been happening for a long time since the 1950….slavery  my great grandfather was a slave he was beaten treated like an Animal picking cotton and aching at night on the cold wood floor and no heat this shows that america wasn’t built for people of color or anyone poor in general.
     The American dream is not actually attainable for everyone. We need to sit down and actually talk about the hardships and what we can do to be better Americans. The american dream is more like a trophy that not everyone can have. A race that everyone is trying to win. It’s an old folktale, not reality. Just look at the way our economic structure is--there is a top 1-3% who achieved the trophy, and then there are the rest of us, who are struggling to make ends meet. Things have been like this for a long time. Even on the news today, taxes are going up for the people with barely any money. Middle class and lower. The rich, they get tax cuts.
     In the end we have to pray to God. at the rate we’re going everyone will be broke. We’ll have the Great Depression times two. There is no solution. Actually there is one solution. We all have to look at each other as humans. Some humans are treated as lesser, not worth as much. People with high net worths leave their communities. They forget where they came from.
     If people who did find success in america would……..come back and share their wealth, things could actually change for the better. For all of us.

AP Literature

Racial Identification
Daniella Ruiz

     In The Social Construction of Race, Ian F. Haney Lopez states that race mediates every aspect of our lives. In the beginning of the article, Lopez introduces the Hudgins v. Wright case. To determine whether the Wrights were black and slaves or Indian and free, Judge Tucker devised a racial test. The case provides a definition of race. In fact, Hudgins states that one is black if they have an African antecedent or if one has a ‘flat nose’ or a ‘woolly head of hair’. Unfortunately, human providence still rides upon ancestry, appearance and the characteristics of our hair, complexion, and facial features. They still have the power to influence whether we were figuratively free or enslaved.
     The article Believing Is Seeing: The Effects of Racial Labels and Implicit Beliefs on Face Perception by Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Nilanjana Dasgupta, and Tracy L. Banaszynski argues that “the simple act of assigning a racial label to a face can powerfully influence one’s perception of, and memory for, that face”. Two studies were tested.
     In the first study, participants were given two faces, one labeled ‘Black foil’ and the other labeled ‘White foil’. At the top was an ‘Ambiguous Target’, where one of the two faces morphed together. The participants were asked “Which face did you see?” and they had to choose between the two faces. In the second study, the participants had to draw the ‘Ambiguous Target’ twice: a ‘Black’ drawing and a ‘White’ drawing. The ‘Black’ drawing had a wider nose, big lips, big ears, the eyes were closer together, the eyebrows are bushy, the hair was curly and it was given facial hair with a round chin. The ‘White’ drawing had a skinny nose, small lips, small ears, the eyes were further apart, the eyebrows were thin, the hair was straight no facial hair was given and it had a rectangular chin. As a result of the two studies, it was confirmed that racial labels can affect how physical features are seen and remembered by ones of the society.
     However, if someone looked around a room of a large group of people from all over the world, they will notice that there are countless things that make people unique: likes and dislikes, appearance, characteristics, interests, background, experiences and ethnicity. These differences cause people to label each other which can result into stereotypes. The article Difference between Stereotyping and Labeling, states that labeling is usually followed by stereotypical beliefs that allow someone to place an individual under a category due to their definitions. Stereotyping can be defined as a form of generalization or a simplified outlook of a group of people while labeling can be defined as a categorization or putting someone in a category. An example of a stereotype is that girls are weak and boys are strong. An example of labeling or categorization would be black, white, gay, straight, nerd, criminal, gangster, etc.
     The poem Prejudice And Stereotypes by Robert Mestre is a very powerful piece that communicates the many stereotypes our world has made about various cultures and races. These stereotypes are often used by people who want to fit in with the environment they are in. Mestre states that stereotypes ‘sound stupid’ when ‘read’ and ‘said’. He connects with the readers feelings by relating it back to them, their friends and family, ‘Better yet, how would it feel if said about you, your family, your friends, or just someone you knew?’ At the end of the poem, Mestre states that stereotypes affect the whole ‘globe’. In other words, labeling impacts the internal being: causing one to struggle in a sense that creates inner turmoil that affects one's true identity.
In Beside Oneself, Judith Butler states that "... in this experience something about who we are is revealed, something that delineates the ties to others, that shows that those ties constitute a sense of self, compose who we are ..." (Butler 18). This is evident in the novel Passing by Nella Larsen. The narrator presents a passage that shows the humankind categorization, "Absurd! Impossible!...No, the women sitting there staring at her couldn't possibly know" (Larsen 16). This passage reveals that Americans are very stereotypical and will treat you differently depending on the color of your skin. They suspect that since you look a certain way you must be a certain race but that is not always the case. Lots of people are mixed with many races and their skin tone can give off a certain race that they might not actually be. For example, someone with tanned skin can be looked at as hispanic when in reality they might be biracial meaning they are mixed with black and white. Unfortunately in the world we live in, if you are black you will get treated differently from those who are white. In other words, African Americans get treated as inferior while whites get treated as superior.
     Clare Kendry is put in many situations where her identities and ties to others reveal who she really is. Jenn Cataldi states that Clare attempts to navigate through both sides through this novel. Because she is a light skinned African American women, due to her light complexion, she is able to 'pass' as a white women without anyone suspecting otherwise, "Suppose the woman did know or suspect her race. She couldn't prove it" (Larsen 17). Jenn Cataldi states that although Clare chose to pass as a white woman in order to obtain privileges that would be denied to her if she were to remain her true identity as an African American woman, her desire to reconnect with Irene and the way in which she navigates between these two worlds, shows the separation by color. Clare permanently crossed over the color line, taking on the identity of a white women, yet at the same time, she longed to return to a past culture that she left behind.
     When Clare does pass, her light skin makes her environment believe that she is in fact white when in reality she is mixed. Clare desires to be recognized as a white American because she gets treated as superior. She gets to have certain privileges that African Americans do not have in her society. Some privileges she expects are not privileges rather, it’s just to be treated as an equal. With being treated as equal, to white people at least, comes social and financial advantages. These advantages are important because she will be seen as if she belongs when in reality she doesn't. But being an African American means that she is limited to certain things so she chose to pass to get better treatment, knowing her privileges are limited.
When Irene, Clare’s childhood friend from Chicago, didn't recognize Clare, she seemed pleased because she didn't look like herself; she looked like someone from with a higher social status, in other words, a white women: "...the trick which her memory had played her was for some reason more gratifying than disappointing to her old acquaintance, that she didn't mind not being recognized" (Larsen 18). Clare’s obsession with fitting in with the white culture causes her to be proud to been seen as a white women rather than an African American women. She's confusing her true African American identity with her fake identity as a white women.
     But as you look deeper into Clare’s identity, it's revealed that she doesn't really care about being a certain race, in this case white. Clare just wants the special privileges that come with the race. In other words, she believes that race is just a social construct.
The poem Mexicans Begin Jogging by Gary Soto (1981)  is about a mexican worker who was forced to run because the border patrol arrived at the factory the worked at. This poem doesn't rhyme because it would just make the point of the speaker comical he needs to be heard in a serious matter. This poem uses many poetic devices such as tone diction and figurative language to show that being an illegal immigrant in America comes with a lot of inequality and it's just something Mexicans have to become accustomed to.
     The overall tones in this poem resemble how the Mexican immigrants live everyday. They live in anger, sadness, desperation, and being scared and ashamed for who they are as Mexican immigrants due to the inequality of American society.
In this poem, there is dialogue between the boss and the worker. The boss tells Soto to go over the fence and Soto shouts that he ‘was an American’. Soto later states that the ‘yells’ ’vivas’. Shouting and yelling are signs of hopelessness. The realization that this will be his life as a Mexican immigrant in America resulted in him not wanting to be treated like this anymore. Soto just wants to be treated equally with everyone else.
An action the boss takes in this poem is when he passes a dollar into Soto’s palm. The dollar resembles Soto’s last payment. It's only a dollar because they already don't get paid enough and it's probably all the boss has. You see that even the income is low due to his race.
After giving Soto the dollar, the boss ‘hurries’ him through the backdoor. Hurrying is the same concept as running, something Mexicans must always do in America. Soto knows he must ‘run’ because he is on the bosses ‘time’.
      Soto then states ‘became the wag to a short tail of Mexcians’. This line of imagery shows how Mexicans are not in control of their own rights thus showing that being a Mexican immigrant comes with many inequalities.
     Lines 14-16 express imagery that shows the treatment Mexicans receive in America. These lines give off a negative tone of sadness and being ashamed and scared. The words ‘blurred like photographs, in rain...paled at the turn of an autumn sky’ show that Mexicans futures are getting washed away.
     Colin Thomson is the fourth generation of his family to be born deaf. He is a freelance BSL/Deaf Awareness trainer as well as a poet. He wrote a poem called Labels. This poem uses diction and imagery to show that it's about finding one's identity rather than letting the labels identify him.
     The poem begins with rhetorical questions to make the readers rethink their actions towards labeling. This is a powerful way to start a poem with a topic like this because it really gets the audience engaged and participating. In between the questions the speaker states that he is ‘still trying to find’ his ‘identity’. This shows that labeling really affects how someone grows and shapes one's identity.
     Thomson uses diction such as ‘scars’ to create a negative image of what labeling can do to ones identity. When you look up the definition of a scar the definition from google states that it's a mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely. This is exactly what labels do to someone's identity: they leave marks within them that never heal completely.
     Thomson’s use of imagery shows that labels can make you feel abandoned and not important: ‘ leave me behind’ and ‘closed the door’. Leaving someone behind and closing the door can make someone feel really bad about themselves especially if they are trying to find their identities. Thomson states that he just wants to ‘love’, ‘integrate’ and ‘explore’. These words show that he doesn't want labels to exist anymore. It also shows what we should be doing as a society rather than what we are actually doing: hating and being closed minded.
    Towards the middle of the poem, Thomson explains that he is simply trying to communicate and relate to people but of course the people just look at him as a disability and nothing more. He asks another rhetorical question: “Does a label give you identity”. This is another powerful statement because within ourselves, we let the labels identify us when the labels don't and we shouldn't let them. Labels “tie you down, instead of setting you free” like Thomson states in his poem. They cause you to have inner turmoil and begin to lose your identity because you are too busy with trying to fit in with everyone else in society. But Thomsons takeaway message of this poem is to be aware of labels and try to stop labeling people. He wants us to ‘share’, ‘love’, ‘communicate’, ‘open up’, and ‘help’ our society become better and stronger for one another.
     According to An Overview of Labeling Theory, Ashley Crossman states that the labeling theory propose that people come to identify and behave in ways that reflect how others label them. She states that it is most commonly associated with the sociology of crime and deviance which studies have shown that these deviant behaviors are often performed by poor, racial minorities. Differences of class and race play an important role in assigning labels of deviance. Deviance is defined as one that differs from a norm, especially a person whose behavior and attitudes differ from accepted social standards. According to Sociologist Louis Wirth, a minority group as “any group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination.”
     This is evident in a research that has shown that Black girls and boys are disciplined more harshly by teachers and school administrators than are their peers of other races, though there is no evidence to suggest that they misbehave more frequently. This is also evident in poor areas. Young teenagers are often involved in stealing, drug abuse, and pregnancy. These acts of deviance are unfortunately accepted as part of their social and racial standards nad as a result from their identity.
These behaviors shape their identities and cause others to identify them with labels like untrustworthy and irresponsible. The sad truth of the matter is that these young individuals are likely to accept these labels and fulfill the expectations the labels have created. Thus, the identity that they created while they are young stays with them to their adult years and the rest of their lives. They must make an important choice to change it to become a better them and create a better reputation for themselves.


Works cited
The Social Construction of Race by Ian F. Haney Lopez
Believing Is Seeing: The Effects of Racial Labels and Implicit Beliefs on Face Perception by Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Nilanjana Dasgupta, and Tracy L. Banaszynski
Difference between Stereotyping and Labeling
Prejudice And Stereotypes by Robert Mestre
Beside Oneself by Judith Butler
Passing by Nella Larsen
Mexicans Begin Jogging by Gary Soto (1981)
Labels by Colin Thomson
An Overview of Labeling Theory by Ashley Crossman
  Racial, Ethnic, and Minority Groups