Essay --

The first poem that I chose was by the poet Julia Alvarez titled â€Å"Queens, 1963† this told the story of a family that has moved into in Queens, NY. The writer and narrator of this story is from the Dominican Republic. One year has passed for the family to finally settle into the neighborhood. This time an African American family has moved right across the street. The young girl notices how her neighbors have not treated this family with kindness and respect. More police have been seen patrolling through the neighborhood. When reading this poem my initial thoughts were that â€Å"Queens, 1963† describes the American people's behavior towards foreigners and their reactions. Alvarez states, â€Å"Mr. Scott, the retired plumber, and his plump Midwestern wife, considered moving back home, where white and black got along by staying where they belonged.† (Alvarez, pp 952) It will take another year and another family that will move into their neighborhood, than once the African American family settles in another family will be placed under the same scrutiny. The narrator also discusses about a girl about the same age as her would have never been the â€Å"right kind of American.† Minorities such as the African Americans, Dominican Americans and any other ethnicity that came to America were looked right under the microscope. This perplexed me I do not understand why they are treated unfairly by the â€Å"True Americans.† There is no such thing as True Americans and that this poem definitely targeted it's audience through racial discrimination rather than cultural changes within a neighborhood in Queens, NY. Another Poet had a much refined and unique style of another part of New York City, he is one of my favorite poets Langston Hughes. The poem that I chos... ...ability to write out whatever she desires definitely has been therapeutic for her. I believe that my Dad knew all along that Rabia had amazing writing ability. The success that she has had with her writing will only grow more and more. As for this poem it shows how my dad truly was angel in a humans body. He has been watching over Rabia and I as well as my family. Though the trials of life haven't come very easy I am sure he is proud to see that my sister has found something in life that she enjoys. I love him and my mom and my family and friends. Thank you Rabia for being the best sister a little brother can have. Thank you for being someone I can look up to. You have been an amazing influence and role model to me. You have endured so much and I didn't experience as much pain as you because I was so young. Your an amazing sister and I know you will do great things.