SeniorMemoryBookBeginningStage(2ndQuarter)

1.Duringthisquarteryoubegintowriteabook,aSeniorMemoryBook.Itwillconsist
ofyourmemoriesandthoughtsfromyourwholelife.ItwillbedueinitsentiretyinMay,
butyoumustbeginnowbycreatingthechaptersfocusedonAPHumanGeography
elementsincludedinChapters47.ThesechaptersareduepriortoThanksgiving.This
springyouwillcompletethisanthologyofyourlifeastheremainingchaptersare
introduced.

2.EveryoneinthegroupisresponsibleforcompletingALLpartsofthisbenchmarkfor
individualpoints.Yourgroupwillearnpointsforcombiningyourworkinthe
culmination,soyouwillneedtodecideasacompanyhowyouwillcombineyourwork
withyourpeers.Inshort,yougetindividualpointsnowforthisassignment,alongwith
grouppointslater.

3.Itisuptoyouhowyoupackageyourindividualwork.Thefinalproductwillbe
packagedneatlyinasnapringbinder,ascrapbook,oraselectronicbookthatyoupublish
totheweb.(Ifyouhaveabetteridea,letmeknow.)Youshouldincludedrawings,
pictures,andgraphicstocomplementyourwriting.Remember:Pointsareearned
basedonthequalityofyourwriting,notyourabilitytomakesomethingthatlooks
cute.Basically,selfiesandglitterpenswillnothelpyourgrade,butyourewelcometo
includeallthesparkleandawesomephotosyoudesire.

4.ItisuptoyourCEOhowyouwillcombineyourworkfortheCulmination(Project
Presentation)andhowyouwillshareitwithyouroverseaspartner(s).AgoodCEOwill
listentohisorheremployeesforideas.

5.Youwillneedtobecreativeinhowyouwriteeachchapter.Usemultiplegenresto
expressyourself.Expositorywritingisfineforsomechapters,butdontlimityourself.

6.YourSeniorMemoryBookwilleventuallyinclude17chaptersandanepilogue.For
now,youwillcompletethefollowing6chapters:

Chapter1:WhoAmI?(Whoareyou?Wheredoyoulive?Whatareyourlife
goals?Howdoyouexpecttoreachthosegoals?Whatisyourethnicity?How
doesyourgenderempoweryou?Whatlanguage(s)doyouspeak?Whatdialect?)
IamPeace
Iamtheboatthatridesthewavetoitsfinaldestination,takingtherouteofgreatleaders
Theleafthatchangescolorswithchangingoftheseasons.
Thechangingoftime,ofideas
IamAfricanAmerican
IamNativeAmerican
Iamawoman
IspeakEnglishCincinnatiStyle
IspeakabitSpanish

Iamalwaysmovingforward

Iamalwayschanging
IamMetamorphosis

Chapter2:BeforeIWas,ThereWere(Yourparents,grandparents,aunts,
uncles,oldercousinsandsiblings,andanybodywhomaynotbearelativebut
whohashelpedtopavethewayforyouandyourfamily.Youmustincludeamap
ofwherethesesignificantpeoplecomefrom.Discusstheirculturalbackground.)

Figure1
http://www.cincinnativiews.net/images3/199293%20map.jpg
ThisshowsthelocationsofmanybuildingsinCincinnati

Figure2:
http://www.cincinnatioh.gov/parking/parkingfacilitiesmaps/greatercincinnatimap/
ThisfigureshowsmajorroadroutesandhighwaysinCincinnati.Therearealso
majorneighborhoodsaswell.

BeforeIwas,therewasawomen.Shewasayoungwoman.Downthestreetshe
walkedwithmuchcharacter.Mygrandmotheronmymomssidewasayoungwomen
also.Shehasspunkandisstrong.Herhandsarelinedwithbuildingveinsbutherface
glowswithradiancebecauseofherauthority.Herstandisprimitiveandworldlyandher
eyesarefilledwithgrace.TheAfricandialectisverynoticeableespeciallyintheway
shemurmursmmmhmmm.EsthermarriedamanwhoIhaveneverknownandhad
eightkidssixgirlsandtwoboys.

OutofthosechildrenPalettewastheyoungest.Shewaslovedandtheylookedoutfor
eachother.AndAlthoughshewasloved,shewasadragtotakeoutsideasiscustomfor
manysiblingsduringanytimeperiod.IcanremembermymothertellingmewhenIam
inmyelementtodosomethingasremedialastaketheratsoutside,inwhichIreplied
withalowgroanfromthebottomofmythroat.

Estherspeaksofherchildhoodandshowsherstrugglesthroughheroutburst.Inhermind
theworldisntchanging.Whitepeoplestillareasracesastheyhavealwaysbeen,
leavingnoroomforourpeopletogrow.Mymotherstillhasthisstruggleinsideheras
wellbutitisnotasprominent.Formeitisevenlessprominent.

Onmyfatherssidethereisaprominentfeelingofthewhitepeopletryingtocontrolas
wellTheyarelesstalkativeaboutthesituationthanonmymothersside.My
grandparentsonhissidehaveaveryweirdandsweetstoryabouthowtheymet.They
livednexttoeachotherforbasicallytheirwholelife.Whentheyfinallybecamemarried
theydecidedtohave5childrenmyfatherbeingtheoldest.CharlesandPamelaWilders
childrenweretaughtfromayoungagetotakeonresponsibility,thereforeowningupto
thehardshipsoftheworld.Alltheirchildrengrewuptobesuccessfuldoctors,engineers,
orcommunicationsmajorswhileonmymotherssidetheirsuccessesrangedfromonthe
streetgangbangerstocollegegraduatesontomasters.

MyauntKenya,whoisnotreallymyauntbutmycousin,isoneofthemanyimportant
familymembersinmylife.Shehassixkidsandeachoneisclosetooneofus.Correal,
Deqwaun,Berry,Davin,Kevin,andKaniyaareallwildchildren.Sheisloudand
completelyopenandisagreatfriendtomymother.

NowmyoldersiblingandtheonlyoldersiblingismybrotherHosea.Iasayoungchild
alwayslookeduptohimthroughouthiswholecareerinthehousehold.Eventhough
whenhebecameolderandwalkedoutofthehouseoften,Istilllookedathimasahero.
Itseemedsocooltobeabletodowhateveronewantedtodolikehedid.Hecameback
homewheneverhefeltlikecominghome.Hisrebelliousspiritandpowerwasthemost
appealingthingtome.Igrewupon2PacandBiggieandknewaboutthelatestfashions

becauseofhim.MymotherhadahardtimetryingtokeephimontherightpathandI
creditedherforitbutmyfatherhadnosayintheaffairssinceheishisstepfather.Ifelt
badformymothersinceshecarriedtheweightofthehouseholdonhershouldersmore
thanmyfatherwhobelievedhehadrightfultitleasheadofthehousehold.Claiminghe
wasmakingawebsiteandstartingabusinessfortheHouseofYahWehwhichdidnt
seemtobemakingmuchoranyprofit,hewouldsitalldayonhiscomputer.Whilemy
fatherdidthismymotherkeptusmovingforwardoftenworkinglatenightsindowntown
Cincinnati.

Itissurprisingthatmyfatherdidntturnoutlikehissuccessfulfamilymemberswhoall
havebecomedoctors,engineers,orsocialtranslators.Itwasifmymothershouldhave
beenbornfromCharlesandPamelaWilder.Theyhavebecomesomeofthemost
influentialpeopleinmylifenowbecauseoftheirwillingnesstopushmeforwardinmy
highschoolcareer.TherearemanyofmyfamilymembersIlearnabouteverydaywho
striveandhavepavedthepathwayformeandmysiblings.ManyofthesepeopleIdonot
knowandwouldliketovisitthemoneday.Perhapsatafamilyreunion.

Chapter6:IGrewUpHere(Describeyourtown,neighborhood,community.
Youmustincludeamapofplacesyouhavelived,andimagesofyourhousing.)

Figure3:
http://img23.timeinc.net/toh/i/g/09/houses/05savetoh/04availablehouse.jpg

ThesetypesofhousesarecommoninSt.BenardhoweverthehouseIlivedinwas
attachedtoanotherone.Theyaremuchbiggerintheinsideandlookmuchnicer
thanontheoutside.

Figure4:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beech_Avenue_Houses_in_Cincinnati.jpg
ThishouseissimilartotheonethatIlivedinonEvedaleexceptitwassmaller.

Iseethesidewalkthatispartoftheroad.Itcontinuesdownintothepathofthestreet.
Treesflowingfreelyandbendinginthewindmakesshapesthatseemtocontortintothe
facesofpeople.Meanfacesthatpokeoutandsneerintoyourdeepestthoughtsand
secrets.Theboyswalkingdownthestreet,yellandscreamaboutthenextpartythats
comingup.IwasntallowedtostayoutlateforfearofdangerousshootingsinEvendale.
InSt.Bernardstackedandclosedhousesmakeahugeunityasifitisanapartment.
Howeverwhenonestepsinsidethehouseonecanseeitdeceivesquitewellits
personality.Abrightglowgreetsyouasifinarichhouse.Thestairsarelongandseem
neverending,turningaroundandaround.Thekitchenisnicebutthediningroomiseven
nicerandcanholdmanyguest.Goingupthestairsoneisgiddyandexcitetoseethenext
arrival.Upstairstherearefive3roomsaroomforparents,fortwogirls,andanolder
brother.Mybrothersroomwastheheightofbadvibes.Fromthehivesofbeeslivingin
theattacktothemusicandcussweheardinourinnocentears.

Beingyoungandinnocent,wewereforcedtogooutsideinthehotboilingsun.Thedays
seemedsolong.My,blisteringfeetpushedmyheightofanxietyevenfurtherduringthese
times.Iwouldalwayslookdownandtrynottogivedirectcontact.Theseweremy
childhooddays.AsImovedfromhousetohouse,Ibegantoliveinmuchsafer
neighborhoodsandbiggerhouseswithnoisierneighbors.

Chapter7:PARTONE.HideandSeek(Describeinsomedetailgamesyou
playedasachildandthegamesyouplayasateenager.Whatdotheseactivities
reflectaboutyourculture?)PARTTWO:MyFavoriteStories(Whatstoriesdid
yougrowupon?Discussyourfavorites.)PARTTWOANDAHALF:Folk
Culture(Describefolktalesyouarefamiliarwith.Whattraditionalideashave
youbeenraisedon?)


Poem
Runningthroughthehuckleberrybush

Wegointoahush
Hecomesaroundtofindus
Hushchildren!Hush!
Runningthroughthecoldair
Aboypantstear
Agirlhairflowsfreely
Behindthebrokentreechildren
Takethepathontheright
Butitsgettingalittletight
Hushchildren!Hush!

Quiteintheleaningtree
Herecomesabuzzingbee
Thegirlcouldnttakethepain
Shescreamsandrunsouttothewarfield
Nowshefreezesandtheirisnocure
Thechildrenwhinefortheyarenotsure
Sureoflossanddoomanddespair
Hushchildren!Hush!

Frisbee
Frisbeenevergetsold
Theraving5yearoldchildstumblesandfalls
Hereshecallsherfathersname
Thefrisbeefloatsthroughtheair
Ittwirlsandspinsandalmostflies
takeontheweightoftheskies
Godsareinthewakeofthewind

Thesegodsstayandholdthechild
Takesherupinmorningswake
Shetakeswithherheryouthfulglow
Butherinnocencestraysaway
TheFrisbeesitsinthecorner
Waitingforitsuse

NewGamesArePlayed

Newgamesareplayed
Gamesparentswouldn'tallowontheirpresence
Abottlesitsinthemiddleoffloor

Youngteenscomeinwithnewbreastandbutts
Laidbackattitudesandknowledgebeyondtheirown
Thebottlespinsandlandsonher
shesitsupandgoestothecloset
Herheartbeatsloudly
Fearcreepsinherskin
Butthisisgrowingup
Iamawomennow
Shekisseshim
Iamawomennow

Harmancasstories

DarkspookyterrorroarsloudlythroughHarmanacasears
R.LSteinisheldtightlyinsmallhands
Beginningtounderstandthemysteriesofhiddenlands

AtnightHarmanacasbrotherspeaksoftheBoogyMan
Heislargegrosslyinhuman,eatingthefingersoflittleones
Louringthemoutintothewoodshesums

Onebyoneandtwobytwo
Hebeginsthetraditionalstew
Butevenmoreinsanethanthis
Istheclownwhopacksquiteatwist
NameisItandhowclever
Hekeepsthekidsintheholeforever

Jasoncomesandgrabstheteens
AndFreddysonhisusualroutine
Tostealthosewhoareintheirsleep
Somakesuretonotgodeep

Attheclimaxofhisheight
Hisbrotherleavesandlaughsominously
AndHarmanacas,eyeswideopen,staysupallnight

BlameGame

Thesunrisesintheeast
Evehaseatentheapple
Whatafoolshewas
Manmusttakethefall

Adamwasnextfortheblame

Forhehasforsakenusall
Inhearingthethunderousvoice
Theyhidandcoverthemselves
Fortheyknewtheywerewrong
Buttheycontinuedtoprolong

Itwasherfault
Foritisalwaysis
Awomanhaspersuadedme
Tocompletethedeed
Andheretheycontinuedtoplead

Butitwasthesnakesfault
HeismuchmoresneakythanI
Heisananimal
Fulloffoolishpride
Hetrickedme
Sodonotpunishusbutpunishthee

Godwasangrywiththeresayings
Takeblameforyourowndoings
Evewillbarechildrenwithgreatpain
Adamwillworktillinsane
Snakeyouwillloseyourpride

Chapter11:PARTONE:LetsGoTotheMovies(Favoritemoviesatdifferent
timesinyourlife:childhood,earlyteenyears,now)andPARTTWO:LetsGo
ToaConcert(Favoritemusiciansatdifferenttimesinyourlife:childhood,early
teenyears,now).Howdothemoviesandmusicyoulikereflectyourculture?
Favoritemovies:

SinginganddancingispartofDisneyandapartofme.AtayoungageIwas
gluedtotheTV.BalootheBearsingshissignaturesong.Thesongcontinuesfora
while.Irememberallthelyrics.Everywordisabloomingandajoytomyyoung
ears.Disneywasmylifeandsparkedmypassionformovies.Itsparkedmy
passionfortheater.AttheageoftwelveIfinallygotmysingingvoice.HereI
learnedofTheWizardofOzandotheramazingmusicals.Thesemusicalsmade
feelasifIwasapartofsomething.Anything.Strugglinginschoolinthesocial
realmwasverydifficultbutDorothy,andSingingintheRainwasmygateway
outofmysocialdisadvantage.Strangelyinmyphasetotransitionfromyoung
childtoadolescentIgainedadeeploveforhorror.Probablybecauseofthegreat

storylinesandmystery.Ineverwasreallyinterestedinthegoreorspecialeffects
persaybutmoreintowhythiswashappeningorwheredidthecreaturecome
from.IrememberstayinguplateatnightwatchingTheGrudge,Halloween,and
SilenceoftheLambsinadarkroomunderneaththecomfortablecoversofthe
bed.EventodaythesemoviesstillplayanimportantroleinmylifebutIhave
gainedafascinationwitholdermoviesespeciallyscifiones.Thereissomething
remarkableabouttheoutskirtsofEarthandbeyondthehumanknowledge.So
moviessuchas2001:ASpaceOdyssey,TheThing,andAliensarehelddeeplyat
thecoreoftheheartinmymovielist.

Moviesisagreatwaytoloseyourselfinanotherworldbutmusicwasthemedia
thathelpedmethemostwhenitcametothesocialdisconnectIexperiencedat
school.ItwasthemainwaytoescapetheabuseIfeltIendured.Icouldnt
connecttopeoplesoIstrayedaway,however,thelyricstoBeyoncesListenand
ChristinaAguilerasBeautifulexplainedexactlymyfeelings.Theartistwere
talkingtomeandlookingatmeintentlyastheresensualvoicesboomedoutthe
computer.Itookthisasmycalling.Iwatchedthelyricsasiftheywereascriptor
aplay.Iactedoutthescenesinmyhead.ThismustbelifecallingIthought.What
elsecoulditbe?MymothersmusicwasMichaelJackson,WhitneyHuston,Boys
IIMen,andDestinysChild.Ihadalwaysgrownupwithmusicinmyhouse.Itis
apartofmyfamilysoitisapartofme.

Chapter17:ReligionandMoralCode(Whatreligion,ifany,doyoupractice?
Describeindetailsomeofthereligiousholidaysyoucelebrateandhowyour
familycelebrates.Whatdoesyourreligiousroutinelooklike?Beyondreligion,
whatmoralcodedoyouliveby?Whatpersonalvaluesdoyoufeelstrongly
about?)

Therewasmirthinmylife.Iwasacarefreechildwithfewworriesintheworldexcept
maybenotgettingasnackorhavingtogotobed.Iwouldalwayscopyapictureofthings
Ihadseeninmylife.Iremembersluggishlygoingdownthestairstothediningroom.I
remembereatinghotdogsandgreensfordinner.Myfatherinlivingroom,wasgivenfood
bymeandmysisters.DuringthistimeIquestionedthepowerandauthorityofhimas
headofthehousehold.ItfeltlikeeverytimehewasoutofviewIwouldrollmyeyesbut
wouldntdaremumbletomyselfinfearthathewouldhearme.Iwassoafraidthatin
eveninthesolidationofmyroom,wordsstillstruggletocomeoutofmymouth.

Ineverhadaconnectionwithmythefather.Inallofhislovingcaringattemptshenever
wonmyheart.WheneverthethoughtofhimpopsinmyheadIhavevisionsofarbitrary
commands.Howevertheholidayswereveryfun.Atmychurchorratherbibleclasswe
wouldcelebratetheDayofAtonement,FeastofUnleavenedbreadandthePassover.This
wereoftenfilledwithhappinessandlaughter.ThewholetimeIwasthereIfeltacquired
andoutofplaceunlessIwastalkingtomysisters.Onweddingstheclasswasdressedup

andseemedbiggerthanusual.Thewhiteroofwastallerthanusualandthebluevelvet
curtainsweredarker.Themillionsofrowsofchairswhereencircledwithpurplecurtains.
AstheceremonystartedourteacherbegantospeaktheworldofYahWeh.YahWehis
one,butwearenothimbutratherapartofhim.Yahisourkingandwewillservehim.
Aftertheprayerwasoveritfollowedaregularmarriageceremony.Theykissedandwe
atethecake.TheKosherhotdogswerethemajorfoodandwerepraisedfortheir
tastiness.Thoseweremygoodmemoriesofmyreligion.Nowmyfamilyhassplitapart,
breakingthebondbetweentheClassandus.Stayinghomeisnowouronlyoption.I
neverreallyagreedwiththereligionsinceitembracedaparticularraceAfricansrather
thanthehumanraceasawhole.ThisreligiondisownsthenormalimageofaJew,oftena
lightskinnedpersonwithstraightorcurlyblackhair,asafake.This,inmyopinion,was
foolishanddidntmakemuchsense.Ibelieveinalifefullofpossibilitiesforallpeople.
Religionoftenembracesacertainpeopleanddoesntallowforonetoembracetheirfull
potential.Forthisreason,Istrayedawayfromreligioningeneralandjustembracethe
world.Iembracemychange.Iembracemymetamorphosis.