A Raisin In The Sun Chorus

In my third unit of Drama, we read A Raisin In The Sun, highlighting a character, Mama as the matriarch of the story. She is a wise smart and strong woman. For our Action Project, we had to choose a scene of A Raisin In The Sun and follow a main character of that scene through the story. We had to find what they were good, what they did bad, and the consequences of their actions. Also mentioning we had to comment on the character's different moments. I chose the character, Walter, because he is a person that likes to take the risk for the better good of the family. In this Action Project, I chose to address the issue of Walters mistake that he made in the play and wanted to argue if he was justified or not. This causes drama and tension in the family. Anywho here's what I did.

Prologue

On the south side of Chicago in the 1950s in a 2 bedroom apartment lives a normal black family. This family is named the Youngers. The Youngers are hard working class individuals and don't like to settle for less. The Youngers had a major loss in their family and with that loss came insurance money. This money came to the ends of the families heads. It turned into greed and lies. Mama wanted to get a house because she never had anything of her own. That was her dream. While her son Walter wanted to use that money and start up a business to make the family wealthy. Things turned south at the end but in a way, raisins are still sweet right? The Youngers come to find out that the money that Mama gave to Walter was misused and conflict erupts.

Script

First scene: MAMA You making something inside me cry, son. Some awful pain inside me. 

WALTER Don’t cry, Mama. Understand. That white man is going to walk in that door able to write checks for more money than we ever had. It’s important to him and I’m going to help him … I’m going to put on the show, Mama. 

MAMA Son—I come from five generations of people who was slaves and sharecroppers—but ain’t nobody in my family never let nobody pay ’em no money that was a way of telling us we wasn’t fit to walk the earth. We ain’t never been that poor. (Raising her eyes and looking at him) We ain’t never been that—dead inside. 

First commentary:

Here Walter is trying to redeem himself and be a better man. He is taking initiative by trying to get even more money for the family. Walter is bringing light to his mistakes and changing for the better. This sudden development of change can be an awakening for the future of the family.

Second scene:  

WALTER What’s the matter with you all! I didn’t make this world! It was given to me this way! Hell, yes, I want me some yachts someday! Yes, I want to hang some real pearls ’round my wife’s neck. Ain’t she supposed to wear no pearls? Somebody tell me—tell me, who decides which women is supposed to wear pearls in this world. I tell you I am a man—and I think my wife should wear some pearls in this world! (This last line hangs a good while and WALTER begins to move about the room. The word “Man” has penetrated his consciousness; he mumbles it to himself repeatedly between strangely agitated pauses as he moves about)

MAMA Baby, how you going to feel on the inside?

WALTER Fine! … Going to feel fine … a man … MAMA, You won’t have nothing left then, Walter Lee. WALTER (Coming to her) I’m going to feel fine, Mama. I’m going to look that son-of-a-bitch in the eyes and say— (He falters)—and say, “All right, Mr. Lindner—(He falters even more)—that’s your neighborhood out there! You got the right to keep it like you want! You got the right to have it like you want! Just write the check and—the house is yours.”

BENEATHA That is not a man. That is nothing but a toothless rat.

MAMA Yes—death done come in this here house. (She is nodding, slowly, reflectively) Done come walking in my house on the lips of my children. You what supposed to be my beginning again. You—what supposed to be my harvest.

Second commentary:

Walter although is a man he is acting like a child. He was overconfident about his business with his friends. The mistake that altered the mood of the play was when he gave the money that his mother gave him to one of his partners. He didn't even take the other half of the money and put it in a bank for Beneatha. This action tells that Walter is an independent thinking person he only cares for himself at times. The consequences of this action was the family feeling like it has been broken, the trust in the family was a little broken, and tons of money that came from the death of their loved one was lost.

Third scene:

LINDNER (Looking up, frozen) No, no, I’m afraid I don’t— 

WALTER (A beat. The tension hangs; then WALTER steps back from it) Yeah. Well—what I mean is that we come from people who had a lot of pride. I mean—we are very proud people. And that’s my sister over there and she’s going to be a doctor—and we are very proud

— LINDNER Well—I am sure that is very nice, but— 

WALTER What I am telling you is that we called you over here to tell you that we are very proud and that this— (Signaling to TRAVIS) Travis, come here. (TRAVIS crosses and WALTER draws him before him facing the man) This is my son, and he makes the sixth generation our family in this country. And we have all thought about your offer

— LINDNER Well, good … good

— WALTER And we have decided to move into our house because my father—my father—he earned it for us brick by brick. (MAMA has her eyes closed and is rocking back and forth as though she were in church, with her head nodding the Amen yes) We don’t want to make no trouble for nobody or fight no causes, and we will try to be good neighbors. And that’s all we got to say about that.

Third commentary:

A lesson that I will like to share based on Walter is that we all make mistakes and try to do things that fail but you should always try. Walter made up for his mistake by standing up to the “man” he told him very clear and bold. We are moving into our new home. We don't want no trouble and that's it and that's all

Preventing Things Before They Happen

This Action Project is for my Spring S.T.E.A.M. class, Cure. In this unit, we learned about different disorders, how they affect the body, and how our immune system reacts when we have a disease in the body. In the course, we learned about experimental probability, which I didn't understand too much. For this AP, we had to pick a disease that could be hereditary and find out the risk of a fictional person in that is getting that disease and write out ways for the person to prevent it. I chose Breast Cancer for the disease in my family. Doing so, we also had to list ways that we could possibly prevent the disease, including a lot of factors. My patient has a very high risk of developing Breast Cancer, but the more people that can support the better. Here is my patient profile; enjoy.

Patient: Brittany Sanders

Age: 55

Race: African' American

Sex: Female

Height: 5"2

Weight: 123 pounds

Disorders trying to prevent: Breast Cancer' symptoms include a lump or mass in the breast. swelling of part of the breast, breast or nipple pain, and discharge.

The experimental probability that Brittany's family tree affects her chances: Brittany’s mother Mary Jane had breast cancer and so did her mother. 

                         J.L 2019

Risk assessment: African Americans are the second most likely to get breast cancer. Breast cancer death rates are 40% higher among black women than white women. Brittany exercises once a week, but she eats a lot of unhealthy food. She lives in the country and visits her care provider once every 1 year. She mostly eats fast food though which isn't so good all the time.

2 Medicaments: Tamoxifen and Raloxifene are the only drugs approved by the US to help lower the risk of Breast Cancer. 

Tamoxifen is used mainly to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (breast cancer with cells that have estrogen and/or progesterone receptors on them). Side effects include vaginal dryness and vaginal discharge. Rare effects include serious blood clots and cancer of the uterus.

Raloxifene is used mostly to prevent and treat osteoporosis (very weak bones) in post-menopausal women. It reduces the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis or who are otherwise at risk of invasive breast cancer. Side effects include early symptoms of menopause.

Nutrition plan: Start eating more of a plant-based diet: plants have rich sources of fiber that are great for helping the body.

Examples:

1 cup leafy greens- Collard greens, Lettuce, Spinach,

½ cup raw chopped vegetables- Bell peppers, Carrots, Broccoli, Onions, Asparagus

½ cup fruit (or the size of a tennis ball)- Apples, Pineapples, Blueberries, Watermelon

100% fruit or vegetable juice- Fruit smoothies, Tomato juice 

¼ cup dried fruit- Banana chips, Strawberry chips, Raisins 

Vitamins/Minerals: Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains normal mineralization of bone and to prevent hypocalcemic tetany. One pill a day would be very beneficial. A mineral/supplement that can be used to help the body is fish oils omega 3 fatty acids which appear to stop or slow down the growth and development of breast cancer cells. Take these once a day also.

Overall lifestyle recommendations: Exercise regularly, maintain a healthy and constant diet, try to reduce stress amount, and stay positive.

2 Alternative therapies: (Intended effect for all is to reduce cancer in the body and prevent further damage.)

Breast-conserving surgery– A surgery in which only the part of the breast containing the cancer is removed. The goal is to remove cancer as well as some surrounding normal tissue. How much of the breast is removed depends on the size and location of the tumor and other factors.

Mastectomy – A surgery in which the entire breast is removed, including all of the breast tissue and sometimes other nearby tissues. 

Chemotherapy- uses anti-cancer drugs that are given into the vein or by mouth. The drugs travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells and eliminate them.

3 Specific goals: January till December 2019 to start

• Eat healthily and track what you eat using an easy food app. (Myfitnesspal, Spark people and Lose it.) 

• Drink 8 bottles of water a day to maintain healthy body functions to flush out toxins.

• Visit the healthcare provider every 2-3 months

In conclusion making, risk assessments for your self earlier in your life can prepare you for the future. Knowing what might be passed down the family tree can be scary, but you can change some lifestyle choices and decrease the chance of getting any disease. This AP has taught me to look at my family tree more and be more careful of the things I do. Also, this reminded me to be prepared which the BS motto.

Works cited

“Breast Cancer and Vitamin D.” Healthline, Healthline Media, www.healthline.com/health-news/vitamin-d-may-reduce-risk-for-breast-cancer#1.

“Breast Cancer Prevention.” Stanford Health Care (SHC) - Stanford Medical Center, stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-clinics/cancer-nutrition-services/reducing-cancer-risk/breast-cancer-prevention.html.

“Breast Cancer Rates Among Black Women and White Women | CDC.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/research/articles/breast_cancer_rates_women.htm.

“Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.” American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy-for-breast-cancer.html.

“Office of Dietary Supplements - Vitamin D.” NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/.

“Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for Lowering Breast Cancer Risk.” American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/tamoxifen-and-raloxifene-for-breast-cancer-prevention.html.

Control your Breathing.

For my second unit in our STEAM class Cure, we learned about different treatments and medicines. We studied how different drugs affect the body and how the body can handle things.
We went to the International Museum of Surgical Science for a Fe. There we looked at the history of the medical field before groundbreaking medical improvements and advancements.

On one of our FE's, we did a miracle berry lab. I wasn't here on that day but did the lab at home. In the lab, I had to take a miracle berry and try it out with different foods. The results were pretty cool and interesting since everything I tasted was sweet. The berry worked a lot better than I thought they would, and it was amazing to experience that feeling. At first, I thought it wasn't gonna work but it did.

In this action project, we had to choose a symptom to study. I chose shortness of breath/wheezing.

We then had to research three treatments for the symptom, prescription, over the counter, and one home remedy. I chose Dulera, Primatene Mist, and Steam treatments. We then had to create a medicine box to show our research and show if we understand how it worked. We also had to create drug facts for each of the treatments and make a comparison of the three. This project was a little challenging for me but I overcame and prevailed. So without further or do here's my medicine box.

 JL " Shortness of breath" (2019)

 JL " Shortness of breath" (2019)

 JL " Shortness of breath" (2019)

 JL " Shortness of breath" (2019)

 JL " Shortness of breath" (2019)

 JL " Shortness of breath" (2019)

Lock and key method for my box would be the reliving of stress on the lungs and chest. From the medicines listed and one treatment, they all block out pain receptors and allow your body to adjust as needed. They allow your body to keep damaged cells from making and releasing prostaglandin. When the cells don't release this chemical, it means that the brain won't get the pain message as fast. So when the pain goes away you still may have it, the brain just won't register it.

Works Cited

“Ascorbic Acid.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/ascorbic_acid. 

“Asthma.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 13 Sept. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369660.

“Asthma Symptoms.” ACAAI Public Website, 8 Jan. 2019, acaai.org/asthma/asthma-symptoms.

BarbyIngleAuthor. “8 Home Remedies for Asthma.” IPain Foundation, 13 Feb. 2019, internationalpain.org/8-best-home-remedies-for-asthma/.

“Common Side Effects of Symbicort (Budesonide and Formoterol Fumarate Dihydrate) Drug Center.” RxList, www.rxlist.com/symbicort-side-effects-drug-center.htm.

Felman, Adam. “Asthma Treatment: Controlling Asthma, Medicines, and Emergency Treatment.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323524.php.

“Mometasone Furoate D3.” Mometasone Furoate D3 - Service by CLEARSYNTH CANADA INC. | Labs Explorer, www.labsexplorer.com/service/mometasone-furoate-d3_4127. 

Solving Family Issues

In this class, Drama, we looked into the play, A Doll House. This play also looked into gender roles just like the play from the last unit, The Taming of the Shrew. We went on multiple FE's to the Goodman Theatre where we got some training on how to act and make sure that the plays that we curate are the best they could be. What we were asked to do for this term is have the main character from A Doll's House, Nora, a man, and a character who was a part of The Dinner Party. The Dinner Party was a famous feminist art installation by Judy Chicago. She featured multiple different influential women. We decided to choose the Indian God, Kali for our mythical character. The guiding question for this AP was, What would happen if gender roles were switched in society? Read and watch the rest of this AP to learn more, and check out my group AP's as well! NB &PA.

 

Jl, NB, PA (2019)

The Effects of Open Heart Surgery.

 

Over the last couple of weeks, I think I have been in this class called Cure. In this class, we learned about different factors that cause diseases and how to look at cells through a microscope. We went to a Feild Experience to a Musem about surgery and there we learned about the different time periods. Also how medicine and medical physicians have changed over the years. For this project, we had to present surgery and explain about it and tell why people why they may need it. Overall I think I did alright. Heres my presentation.

Sonnet to Petruchio

In my Humanities class this year called Drama we read the play The Taming of the Shrew by W. Shakespeare. We studied the difference in gender roles in the Elizabethan Era and today. Women in Elizabethan Era were stuck to chores, cleaning, washing, cooking things of this nature. Women that wanted to speak out were called shrews or being disobedient. In this play, Shakespeare wanted to shed upon this situation by bringing joy or lighthearted laughter to it. From the play, the two characters Petruchio and Kate's relationship with me isn't good or bad. She basically goes by whatever he says and obeys his commands like a dog. In my class, we also went on Trips to local theaters to get the scoop about plays, and how they impact people. For our Action Project, we had to choose a character from a play, and write a sonnet in Shakespearean style. In our sonnet, we had to give advice to the person we chose. I chose to write my sonnet to Petruchio. I wrote it to him because he was the main character that had his own view on life and gender roles. I wanted to write a sonnet to tell him how he should treat a woman. What I liked about this was I got to create something on my own. The challenges that faced me was finding the words that rhyme and that also made sense. I'm not good with my words, nor have I ever been. This for me took longer than expected but here you go. Hope you enjoy!



Sly like a fox, you seem to be fine sirs,

Petruchio it appears you lackwits.

Tending to gals like water rushing blurs.

You can’t let loose hate to whom thou emits.


A man should love with heart, not for riches,

Thou woman is precious like a flower.

Time has a toll over peasants who are vicious.

You know you can change actions any hour.

Sir, Kate is superior to dumb games.

She is a goddess that shall be worshiped.

Whom is the beast that intends to be tamed

Whose pointing fingers he knows his verdict.

"Katherine the curst," rowdy fellows say.
 Kate just be bold and say have a nice day.

(J.L) 2019

Banning peoples thoughts and ideas

In my Humanities class called Forbidden books, we have been learning about the history of book banning. Also, what are the reasons people ban books? People ban books based on biased opinions of either race, religion, politics, and ideas. For our assignment, we were put to the test of writing an essay on a book that we wanted. The topic is should the book should be banned or not be banned. During the course, we visited a feminist book store that talking about the challenges they face in their community. In the course, I learned so much and will stick with me forever. Without any other introductions here's the essay.

Jahsia Longstreet

Forbidden Books

Sharon Holmes
March 22, 2019

Why is The Catcher and the Rye Banned?

First, imagine a book being banned just for its foul language, and funny comical jokes here and there. Why do people even ban books? What happened to our right to free speech? To get into more context, The Catcher and the Rye is a novel that was published 1951. This book was originally published for adults, but over the years teenagers have begun to enjoy the book as well. Throughout the book, the main focuses are identity and belonging as the point of interest. This book starts in Pennsylvania at a school called Pencey Prep. Here, we are introduced to the main character, Holden Caulfield. His story begins off where he had just been kicked out for failing all his classes except English. The story then tells the reader about his past of failing in school and how he basically feels about people and education. In the beginning, the word that is often used is phony. This word is used a lot through the duration of the first couple of chapters and sets the tone for the book. Throughout the book, the common theme is loneliness, death, and people being fake in front of one another. People are fighting this book because it uses a lot of profanity. But it is not just the language that got the book banned. It’s for the ideas given off into the world to other people from this book. This book should not be banned because of its profanity. It's not right to ban or censor literature because banning and censoring go against the right of freedom of expression.

The first record of The Catcher in the Rye being banned was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1960 after an eleventh grade English teacher was fired for assigning the book to his class. Banning a book should be a crime, and no one deserves to lose their job over something so little. Here's a quote from the text that intrigues some readers. “Girls with their legs crossed, girls with their legs not crossed, girls with terrific legs, girls with lousy legs, girls that looked like swell girls, girls that looked like they'd be bitches if you knew them. It was really nice sightseeing, if you know what I mean” (Salinger 72). This quote is an example of explicit sexuality expressed by the main character, Holden. This is seen as intolerable to some in the extent to calling women bitches, and basically staring at them for their attractive looks. Readers can infer within the second chapter that Holden is interested in sex. Therefore use of language, and insight of women during this time period in America people didn't expect this to be in books. The reason is attributed to its ban would be time period and diversity of certain opinions.

Books are temples to the soul mind and body. What if your religion was tested and talked about in an appropriate manner? What would you do how would you feel? This topic is though very controversial but has an effect on the structure of The Catcher and the Rye. In the book Holden says this, “I'm sort of an atheist. I like Jesus and all, but I don't care too much for most of the other stuff in the Bible. Take the Disciples, for instance. They annoy the hell out of me if you want to know the truth.”(Salinger 58). Since this quote from the text was very rude to believers of the Christian/Catholic faith many believed it should be banned because he talked about their savior. Another piece of text that goes on to why people wanted this book banned was that it had lots of frequent use of vulgar language being said by the main character Holden. The book does it a little often, one goes on to say, “Get your lousy knees off my chest,” I told him. I was almost bawling. I really was. “Go on, get off me, ya crumby bastard.” He wouldn't do it, though. He kept holding onto my wrist and I kept calling him a sonuvabitch and all, for around ten hours. I can hardly even remember what all I said to him. (Salinger 57). For many Americans in the year, 1950-1960 times were very different. The culture was calm and people young and old alike followed group norms rather than striking out on their own. So for this book to use inappropriate language like that was almost an instant ban. Especially in institutional schools. To really understand a person's ideas, and stories you sometimes need to be as truthful as possible. This book really portrays just how difficult it can be for some teens at times in life. It displays an important message for teens to be reminded with that dealing with change involved in the transition to adulthood isn't so bad. It can positively shape you for the rest of your life. The Catcher and the Rye also shouldn't be banned because we all know what swear words are. Heck most of us use them on the daily to express how we feel whether it's in a good or bad way. Language can be taken to serious at times, then in all becoming too sensitive to little things.

Finally, The Catcher and the Rye should not be banned or censored because it goes against our first amendment Constitutional right. Which states that all who are citizens have the right to free exercise, freedom of speech, and of the press. If books are able to be banned and censored our government is unlawful and unjustified for not living up to their expectations. Books are people's vessels of self-expression, taking that away from a reader can change time itself on people's perceptions. While doing a little more research I have found J.D Salinger saying this about the banning of his book, “I'm aware that many of my friends will be saddened and shocked, or shock-saddened, over some of the chapters in The Catcher in the Rye. Some of my best friends are children. In fact, all my best friends are children. It's almost unbearable for me to realize that my book will be kept on a shelf out of their reach.”(Salinger). This quote shows how he feels about the situation, and it sounds like he's broken down by his book being banned.

Book banning has been presented all throughout history and is very much alive and well all over the world today. Books are banned from two major factors. First, because people of power try to suppress minorities voices that might spark change and independence of thought. See the change in society makes tension and digressions amongst other people whose views are different. 

This leads to the reasons why books shouldn't be banned. This relates to The Catcher and the Rye because it's portraying a message that life's hard as a teenager, with that comes many problems too as the main character talks about. In the text, Holden's dialogue can be rude, and a bit offensive but if you don't like it just don't read it. Another reason books shouldn't be banned is because the government is trying to control the ideology of society. Our world is contempt of controlling others while banning books is unnecessary, and wrong to block others opinions based on your biased factors.

Works cited 

Bantam - Photo shot by Derek Jensen (Tysto), January 14, 2006

J, Anon. “BrainyQuote.” BrainyQuote, BrainyQuote, 25 Apr. 2010, www.brainyquote.com/quotes/j_d_salinger_752582.

“LibGuides: Banned Books: Reasons for Banning Books.” Butler.Edu, 2013, libguides.butler.edu/bannedbooks?p=217686.

Salinger, J.. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company, 1951, p. 277.

“SparkNotes: The Catcher in the Rye: Key Facts.” Sparknotes.Com, 2019, www.sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/facts/.


“The Catcher in the Rye.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye.