Blog #7

A collection of phrases and overheard conversations:

Lots of people have been critical of President Obama's first year in office. Its hard for a lot of people to truly understand the impact that he has made on most african americans as he has given new hope to those without much of a past. Thos destitute now have someone to look up to and have a beacon of hope.

There is a growing concern that Obama's allegiances are not so much split, but that he is not completely for the african american race as he should be. Unlike Martin and Malcolm, he not only is the voice of a race but of the most powerful country in the world. Whereas there allegiances and energies were completely poured into the black race, Obama never had that luxury and was forced to relate to all people rather than a specific segment. Some people resent this and wish he could all be for ourselves.

Blog #5

Reflective:

What is the importance of keeping yourself together while in the midst of turmoil? What is the value of this? do you adapt to the turmoil or hold your ground? And before you answer, think carefully: What if the situation is overwhelming and you almost have no choice but to adapt? What if the pressure is too great?

I'm asking as have a friend conflicted about what to do when placed in a suffocating situation. He is in an environment that forces him to change. Does this question how I look at him or hold him high? At what point do you snap and finally give into the pressure? Or are you expected to hold strong? It's almost robotic to ask people to hold themselves and withstand the pressure despite all that is going on around them.But how tough is the human mind? How much can it stand?

Blog #4

In a reflective mode...

Have you ever felt "So Far Gone"? I'm using the term as a result of a popular hip hop mixtape by Drake. The term means have you ever felt been so over gone that you can't remember how it was beforehand. Things get so out of hand that even though you know what you are doing is wrong and you shouldn't be doing it, you can't stop yourself. You've gone over the hill and can't you get back.

Blog #3

Writing a poem using Bly’s formula is proving to be more difficult than what I originally thought. I am very used to writing in free form and without a real structure. Bly general advises beginning a poem with a simple “assertion”. An “assertion” is a statement that a reader is comfortable with and can relate with. This statement is something that most people resonate with and readily accept. If I was to put, “I ate cereal” this is an assertion that is accepted universally. Bly advises using simple assertions early in the poem to draw the reader in. Starting off too strong would chase the reader away and alter his views on how the poem would go throughout. Starting off slow allows the reader to ease their way into the poem. As the poem develops, you can begin to make stronger assertions. This technique is new to me and has taken a while to adjust to. Every time I begin to write, I keep checking the first couple of lines to make sure they are not too strong or overwhelming. It’s a very delicate balance between too much and too little. I don’t want to start off a poem weakly, but at the same time do not want to become too overbearing. With more time and effort and practice, I know that it will become easier and more natural. For now though, it’s been a very difficult transition.

Blog #2

One of the interesting concepts that we discussed this week was how poetry can be broken down line by line. Before entering this class, I generally focused on one general concept of a poem or a prose and usually went off of that as the theme. However, when critically analyzing a poem, a myriad of questions pop up and arise. We had an interesting discussion in class today when I was the only one who pulled a sexual connotation out of a seemingly harmless line. It goes to show you that poetry is all in the eye of the beholder. It also might be as a result of being the only male in the class, I have a different insight on things. That is another element that you have to consider when analyzing poetry; the audience. A poem will be interpeted differently from audience to audience, so you should never expect the same reaction from everyone. For example, a juvenile love poem might be seen as brilliant to a class of 11 and 12 year olds. However, it might be eaten up as trash by a group of upper division college students. All of this goes into account of how poetry is construed.

Weekly Blog #1

Hello, my name is Joshua S. Yarbrough. I am a junior at the University of West Georgia. My major is English and I plan on pursuing a career in education after I complete my undergraduate studies. I am taking this course to help broaden and expand my skills as a writer. I’ve always been a fan of poetry and hope that this class will introduce me to unknown works and give me more of an appreciation for a wide range of collections.
I am a native of Atlanta, Georgia, graduating from Stephenson High School in 2007. I live in Lithonia, GA, 5690 Albans Way. I am 20 years old and will be 21 on April 17th. I am an active member of the Student Government Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, as well as a Fall 2008 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
Some of my hobbies include reading, writing, working out, shopping, sleeping, and eating. My favorite album of all time is “Reasonable Doubt” by Jay Z, my favorite song is “Across the Universe” by The Beatles, and my favorite movie is “Cool Hand Luke”. I am a huge fan of African American history and I plan on teaching it in some form later in life. I believe its important for young African Americans to know the numerous contributions that have been made by their own race, and how they can make a contribution to the future. I also am a huge advocate for community service. I’ve worked with a variety of different organizations to help benefit our community and to give back. When I decide to work with an organization, it is typically with a topic or area that is close to me. I worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Association because my best friend was diagnosed with it in the 4th grade and I’ve witnessed his struggle with it. I also helped raise funds with the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy in an effort to combat childhood illiteracy.
I hope this helps everyone in getting to know me a bit better. If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me and I’d be glad to answer them.