This week, Rhiannon, Elizabeth and I all presented on our selected passages from the book “Worlds of Difference.” The book is a compilation of short stories and poems based on the experiences of aging, aiming to view the experience from various perspectives and socially constructed lenses. The introduction explains the difference between homogeneity and diversity in order to understand the incredibly complex systems of aging. Diversity refers to inter-locking, structural positions of groups within a society. One individual could be a part of many groups, but each group contributes to a diversity within a specific characteristic, such as gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. Heterogeneity refers to the individual level in the sense that within each group, there also occurs intersectionality. The inter-locking groups can present complexities that may or may not allow people to benefit from the group that would normally provide benefits. For example, within the category of white, there are still several people who struggle and face other types of discrimination based on presence in another group. The experience of aging is heterogeneous because of diversity and the facts that all aspects of our lives more or less connect. There are shared experiences amongst people we may not generally expect. The book explains the “life course perspective,” an all encompassing, complex, interlocking system of the aging experience.
In the introduction, I also really loved that when speaking about marginalized minorities, the book aims to contextualize these groups of people as “active creators of culture rather than passive victims.” This is something that as an ultra compassionate person, I struggle to properly grasp, especially when learning about the horrors both in history and in the present world regarding marginalized people. As a white person, I generally take on excessive amounts of guilt and I genuinely resent the choices my predecessors made regarding the treatment of others. At the same time, pity and victimization is not an effective solution to what I am feeling. Adaptive strategies should be appreciated for their strength and resilience. It is still important to address and condemn the perpetuation of the reasons adaptation is necessary in the first place. The introduction quoted Nicki Giovanni (one of my FAVORITE poets) and said “all the while, I was quite happy.” By victimizing and pitying an entire group of people, we play God and discount their entire existence as something to be sorrowed, when in reality, there is beauty in struggle, although this should not mean it should continue.
My favorite passage that I chose to read and present on was titled “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens” by Alice Walker. This poem explains from the author’s perspective, the struggles of her grandmother and her mother, living in heavy discrimination eras. Walker explains that the treatment that black women endured conjured many emotions, most of them being anger, sadness, confusion, and other negative feelings. The beauty of black women’s art during these times is owed to the fact that these emotions needed an outlet. Walker questions how the creativity of black women was able to be “kept alive.” From experience in theatre and other art forms, I have learned that one common thread is that emotion and experience are the basis for true art. Walker expresses sadness about the fact that much of the poetry written by black women remains anonymous, due to fear of the expression of the emotions defined in the words of the works. The role of being a mother is one that is not glorified enough. Mothers are also generally too humble and shameful to acknowledge credit due towards themselves. Still, the joy mothers and artists get from existing as themselves is a humble one, as they benefit the most from this fulfillment. My mother also loves the garden metaphor. She writes poetry as well and is humble about both of her talents. It seems to be some sort of mother thing. ) :(
The poem also does an excellent job of using the garden as a metaphor for life as many poetry and stories do. She explains that no matter where her grandmother lived, she was still able to cultivate a garden in any conditions. Walker refers to the rocky soil as an obstacle for her mother’s garden, which is symbolic of the societal barriers that black women have historically faced. She confidently proclaims that black women is the most oppressed group in the history of the world. Still, her life and her family’s lives are beautiful, and she is proud of who she is.
This passage was very moving and I had a lovely time reading it. I’m looking forward to reading the passages that my classmates will select in the coming weeks.
In the introduction, I also really loved that when speaking about marginalized minorities, the book aims to contextualize these groups of people as “active creators of culture rather than passive victims.” This is something that as an ultra compassionate person, I struggle to properly grasp, especially when learning about the horrors both in history and in the present world regarding marginalized people. As a white person, I generally take on excessive amounts of guilt and I genuinely resent the choices my predecessors made regarding the treatment of others. At the same time, pity and victimization is not an effective solution to what I am feeling. Adaptive strategies should be appreciated for their strength and resilience. It is still important to address and condemn the perpetuation of the reasons adaptation is necessary in the first place. The introduction quoted Nicki Giovanni (one of my FAVORITE poets) and said “all the while, I was quite happy.” By victimizing and pitying an entire group of people, we play God and discount their entire existence as something to be sorrowed, when in reality, there is beauty in struggle, although this should not mean it should continue.
My favorite passage that I chose to read and present on was titled “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens” by Alice Walker. This poem explains from the author’s perspective, the struggles of her grandmother and her mother, living in heavy discrimination eras. Walker explains that the treatment that black women endured conjured many emotions, most of them being anger, sadness, confusion, and other negative feelings. The beauty of black women’s art during these times is owed to the fact that these emotions needed an outlet. Walker questions how the creativity of black women was able to be “kept alive.” From experience in theatre and other art forms, I have learned that one common thread is that emotion and experience are the basis for true art. Walker expresses sadness about the fact that much of the poetry written by black women remains anonymous, due to fear of the expression of the emotions defined in the words of the works. The role of being a mother is one that is not glorified enough. Mothers are also generally too humble and shameful to acknowledge credit due towards themselves. Still, the joy mothers and artists get from existing as themselves is a humble one, as they benefit the most from this fulfillment. My mother also loves the garden metaphor. She writes poetry as well and is humble about both of her talents. It seems to be some sort of mother thing. ) :(
The poem also does an excellent job of using the garden as a metaphor for life as many poetry and stories do. She explains that no matter where her grandmother lived, she was still able to cultivate a garden in any conditions. Walker refers to the rocky soil as an obstacle for her mother’s garden, which is symbolic of the societal barriers that black women have historically faced. She confidently proclaims that black women is the most oppressed group in the history of the world. Still, her life and her family’s lives are beautiful, and she is proud of who she is.
This passage was very moving and I had a lovely time reading it. I’m looking forward to reading the passages that my classmates will select in the coming weeks.