Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Haley Reading (Group 1) Nafissa Thompson-Spires's "Fatima, the Biloquist"

[Haley Reading groups Spring 2021

By Lakenzie Walls and Howard Rambsy II

In Nafissa Thompson-Spires's story “Fatima, the Biloquist: A Transformation Story” a teenage Black girl questions her identity and sense of self while attending a predominantly white school. She struggles to feel black enough and befriends Violet, a black teenager with albinism. Violet provides Fatima with guidance—teaching her different connotations and phrases with secondary Black-inflected meanings.

In one example, Fatima considers the racial implications associated with her brown top lip and pink lower one. At school around white people, “she talked with her pink lip, and with Violet, she talked with her brown one” (75). Fatima’s observations about navigating different environments as a Black girl persist throughout the story.

Identify what you thought of as an important scene from the story about the challenges awaiting a Black girl who “felt ready to become black, full black,” which is to say, a Black girl who embraces aspects of African American culture in more deliberate ways. How did that scene confirm or alter your views concerning what a Black girl might face? Please provide the page number for the scene you identify.

49 comments:

EvanCeleste said...

While reading this passage, I identified more with Fatima that I wanted to admit. I attended a private Catholic grade school where I was the only Black girl and I found myself is very similarly uncomfortable situations. It's very difficult to have pride in yourself at such a young age in a situation where you are the anomaly. I really felt for Fatima during her struggle and it was a bittersweet experience for me to read this and kind of relive it all.

Thomas Siganga said...

Reading this part was interesting and I related in some ways being called "white", or sounding white in the past(68). It is hard, feeling like you are out of place or you are not acting in your "role" in society. It is also harder to embrace something that you never grew up with from my own personal experience.

-Thomas Siganga

Alexis S. said...

A scene that I thought to be important was on page 80 when Rolf stated, "Anyway, it's not like your'e black black". That statement re-confirmed the different struggles that black girls have to go through in a predominantly white environment. I definitely related to Fatima as I also attended predominantly white schools and got called an "Oreo" and described as someone who "talks white". Being put in these uncomfortable situations definitely makes you question yourself and your identity as it makes it feel like you are not accepted.

- Alexis S.

Samantha A. said...

I think an important scene is when Fatima had to say that she was not trying to be white as she was just being who she is. This scene portrays what many black girls go through as they feel that they have to explain why they are who they are. Many black girls are judged for being too black or being too white, when they are just being themselves. I feel that no one has the right to judge how black you are as no one can change the color of your skin. Fatima felt like she had to listen to Violet as she said she was "not black enough" (69). I could relate with Fatima as people used to say that I am not black enough or that I am an "Oreo", and I would listen because I wanted to fit in.

-Samantha A.

Phoenix Johnson said...

Page 72 showed a very common scene about learning black diction. Many of times I have heard people and been called white because I do not speak like them and am grammatically correct. This is a heard concept for a black girl or any gender of color to understand in my opinion. She has to learn a certain diction of words, phrases, quick text, and more to assimilate to their culture. As well you could already know black language where you live and meat someone from a different and have to learn another black diction to understand. The main thing though at a young age is understanding when to speak the culture ,"black", and to be proper, "white".

Jaydyn Z. said...

I think an important scene to me was when Rolf said "Anyway, it's not like you're black black" to Fatima (80). Growing up as a biracial kid and attending a predominantly white school, it was awkward to find a group of people that related to me. I was often told that I was "too white" to be black based on the way I spoke and the things I enjoyed; therefore, I was also told that I was not able to be upset when someone made a racist or insensitive remark.
Jaydyn Zykan

Anonymous said...

Page 73 was an important part for me because

In that reading they started to understand each other and they got more comfortable with knowing as being black it was things they understood about each other that others wouldn't get. this feeling gave them joy and happiness. For example on page 73 second paragraph it was stated that " Violet understood things. Fatima never had to explain why she wrapped her hair in a silk scarf at bedtime or why she always carried a tube of hand cream to prevent not only chapped lips, but ashiness .

-Courteona Combs

Danielle Hawthorne said...

An important scene from the story about the challenges awaiting a young black girl was on page 68 “Fatima had been accused of whiteness and being a traitor to the race before.” Fatima was not only called white by girls her age but boys, people at church and even family members. This scene confirmed my views concerning what a black girl faces on a daily basis. If you a young black woman who is educated and speaks proper you are considered white but if you use slang and hang out with people your race you are considered ghetto. Black woman are the most put down race/gender. The real battle is to be educated and know how to speak and be professional but at the end of the day never forget who you are. In reality no one is acting black or white; you can’t act a color, we all have individual personalities.

Danielle Hawthorne

Anonymous said...

One moment that stands out to me the most is on page 66 after Wally gave his speech and looked to Fatima for some type of approval as i.e. expecting a high five. This idea of interacting with people who do not know much about being black or in some cases when you are the first and probably only black person they have interacted with. This awkward air that comes when their attempt to connect with you falls so flat that it completely kills any potential companionship. I have experienced these interactions multiple times and when I read this part it brought back all those awkward interactions I've been through.

Chris W.

Alayna M said...

While this whole story really resonated with me, the scene that stuck out the most was Rolf telling Fatima on page 80, "Anyway, it's not like you're black black." I'm biracial, and like Fatima I had a lot more white friends growing up than black. Part of it likely stemmed from my previous desire to be popular, which the white girls always were the most, and parts of my personality that are stereotypically deemed "white" like my love of reading or country music. I've been told my whole life "you're so white," and once had a white male friend tell me that he didn't acknowledge my "black half." These are things all black people, who don't fall into white people's categories for us, face.

-- Alayna M.

Anonymous said...

I am mixed (white/black), and through out my school years I experienced at lot of comments from white peers on how they “feel comfortable with me”, “why is your hair so big?”, or that I’m “an Oreo”, white on the inside, black on the outside. Like Fatima I tried to fit in with my white peers because I was not black enough for my black peers. I still do not feel like I belong in either group.

The part that really stood out to me was when the girls are in the mall talking about their insecurities and Fatima thinks about people looking at Violet trying to see if “she warranted any of the benefits of whiteness (74).” This really hit home for me because from my white up-bringing I feel like I get treated differently by people. At my current job, I am the resident black person, the person who diversifies the team while still keeping it white. This happened at two other jobs I had where I was the ONLY black person to work there. I’m so tired of feeling like the ‘safe black person’.

--Alexys Williams

Tracy Long said...

Page 68 stuck out to with the situation of “talking white” , going to white elementary and middle school then going to a diverse highschool I heard that a lot. To fit in I tried to put more bass in my voice , I felt out of place when I first heard it .Whenever someone talks proper they are “ talking white” .

Tracy Long

Teighlor Traywick said...

An important scene about the challenges awaiting a Black girl who felt ready to become black full black, is when Rolf said to Fatima “anyways it’s not like you’re black,black” …Violet, of feeling like a colorless gas and tried, in spite of a dull ache and the numbness of her brown lip, to take Rolf’s words as a compliment” (p.150 E-book). This moment shows the weight many black people carry because they are placed into a box of black or not black enough. Black people are not monolith, and there should not be one set of words, dress, or behavior that defines blackness. As the reader, you could feel the conflict Fatima felt because she has to be a different person depending on who she is around, instead of just being her. If she was “pink lip” Fatima around Violet, she would disappoint her ,and if she was “brown lip” Fatima around Rolf she would be like all those other black people.

Teighlor Traywick

Kenisha Townsend said...

One important scene in this book that stood out to me is when Rolf told Fatima, "It's not like you're black black" (80). This scene brought to light how both black girls and boys can have many white friends or even date someone that is white without that person ever truly embracing them as black. The whole conversation started off wrong when he said he doesn't see color. If you don't see color, you don't see someone for who they truly are. As a black female, I find that once you truly embrace your black culture, it makes many uncomfortable.

Linda H. said...

On page 80 when Rolf tells Fatima "I don't see color" and then goes on to say "Anyways, it's not like you're black black" how would he know if he doesn't see color? I dislike how people who claim not to see color still commit the same ignorant acts as racist people. I also dislike the constant educating black people sometimes have to do with their white friends or even strangers as to why this or that is inappropriate. But if they don't they will probably continue to make ignorant remarks and end up offending someone like what happened at the end when Rolf offended Violet.

Linda H.

Isaiah Jackson said...

I think one of the more important scenes in this story is on pages 79-80, when Fatima is telling Rolf about Violet. Up until this point, she had compartmentalized those two parts of her life. When the two parts finally start to meet, Fatima gets caught in the middle, unable to commit to either identity, or even a mixture of both. By the end of the story, she is in a worse position than she started. Still, I can understand why Fatima ended up the way she did. There was a lot of pressure on her, and a lot of people wanted to assert her identity on to her, preventing her from being able to fully grow into her identity for herself.

-Isaiah Jackson

Ehriana . C said...

An important scene for me was pg 80. when Fatima's Boyfriend referred to her as "not black black". I find myself really relating to this because I went to predominantly white schools all throughout my life and there was a time where I would try so hard to be considered that phrase "not black black". Now I look back at those moments and just laugh because being black should not be seen as negative and as a young lady I realize that.

H. Rambsy said...

I identified with the bottom paragraph on page 68, that talks about Fatima’s whiteness and being a traitor to her race. I identify with this because as I grew up in a predominantly white school which as a black girl growing up showed itself throughout my life. I would always get talked about for talking white and doing or not doing things that other black students did. For example, speaking correctly and not using slang made me be looked at differently.
I’yauna B

Adejoke Adanri said...

I really relate to the last paragraph of page 70. I’ve lived in a predominately white neighborhood my whole life and attended predominately white schools, especially my high school. Growing up in this environment and in an African household, I struggled with my identity because I am black, but I didn’t grow up around black-American culture and I felt myself trying so hard to catch up. I didn’t grow up with shared experiences from a lot of my black friends. We had similar struggles, but completely different cultures. I’ve been called an Oreo by both black and white peers, so it always felt critical for me to learn “how to be black”.

Kelsey McNeil said...

A scene in this story that stood out to me was when Fatima said "It's not that I'm trying to be white. It's just that's what I'm around" (pg 69). This quote stood out to me and I related to it because in grade school I was the only person of color in my class and then I went to a predominately white high school. Since her reply came after Violet called her a white girl, it makes sense that Fatima would respond this way to defend herself.

Kelsey McNeil

Samontriona P. said...

What stood out to me was in the last paragraph of page 70 and on page 71 when the author stated "She immersed herself in slang as rigorously as she would later immerse herself in Spanish for her foreign-language exam in grad school" This resonated with me because it reminded me of how many peoples in the black community vernacular tends to change around family and friends when compared to being around white people. Rather that is at a job, school, or just in public. This form of code-switching plays a large role in presentation of self. The book stating that Fatima would have to learn to be black included learning how to speak and act in a manner that did not make her "sound white" as many people would say.

Noah Joens said...

In the story on page 68, there was a part where Violet said "To everyone who asks right?" This quote was when she was trying to get free makeup samples, and I just was thinking, it is sad that this even has to be a situation that could happen. The cashier/salesperson may not have had a racist bone in her body, but just the fact that enough people do that Violet felt the need to have to say this speaks to how much of an issue this is in our society.

-Noah Jones

Torian henry said...

My example will be from the scenes in the pages 68-71, but what really caught my attention for this prompt because it was a great portrayal of a very relatable experience for many people including myself. Growing up in predominately white schools and neighborhoods can be very trying on your self image and relationships with other people who look like you.

Torian H.

Alliyah M. said...

A quote that I thought was an important thing to talk about was when Fatima said "The allegations offended her but never moved her to any action other than private crying or retreating further into her melancholy belief that her school, Westwood Prep, and her parent's high-paying jobs, had made her somehow unfit for black people"(pg.69). The fact that Fatima has to feel that being successful or wealthy makes her unfit for black people shows a major problem in our society. Society constantly tries to discourage black people from being successful and even when they are successful, they are still constantly judged and face many struggles.

Justin Jubert said...

Growing up as a POC in the US can be difficult because you have to deal with racism in all aspects of life from school to work. One of the worst things is for people to ignore the problems that people face. This is exemplified on page 80 when she is told "I do not see color." It's a statement that people use to show their allyship, but it comes off as tone-deaf and lazy. The struggles black people and all minorities face are real and cannot be solved by ignoring them. - JJ

Ayo said...

An important scene that shows the difficulty of what a black girl might face in life is having the sense of generalizing some characteristics among black culture which would be seen as been different from other culture such as white, latino, etc. A quote that I find really important is when Fatimah says "It's not that I'm trying to be white. It's just that's what I'm around".(Thompson-Spires 69). Fatimah not wanting to use terms that might commonly be used among the black culture, does not show that she trying to be white, as she is shown wanting to keep to the advice of her mother. She might be embracing the black culture but might not be wanting to be overly expressive.

Ebonie Byrd said...

On page (81) when Rolf states “Even your black friends are white” is identifiable with because there are these certain standards the world has for black women or they are supposed to appear a certain way. This causes black women to become boxed in , not allowing black women to choose their own identity.This creates limited space for black women to expand and grow because society views them as something else.Also I think it is ironic how the author reverse the roles of have a girl that appears white teaching the black girl how to be “black”

Devin Ellis-Martin said...

When the insult of being called an "oreo" was used, I felt that, as a mixed man in America. Growing up, I acted civilized and was questioned why "I don't talk/act like I am black.". This is something I think most people of color face, when they act out of stereotype. - Devin Ellis-Martin

Anonymous said...

My favorite part about the competition was on pages 37-38 when Fatima’s mother Monica was trying to encourage them to take a different approach to the situation. She didn’t want them to put an even bigger target on their backs, “I’m not of the mind that the only two black children in the class should be enemies, nor do I like the attention it draws to them (or their parents) when they’re already in a difficult position” (pg 37). She wants them to be more civil and not try to attack or belittle each other. It’s nice to see that people still want to work towards getting along instead of attacking one another. It was very immature for Lucinda to attach Fatima, but it was also immature for Monica to respond with the same behavior. However, seeing that they got past it was really nice.

Alexis H. 3/1/21

Anonymous said...

It stood out to me on page 80 when Rolf said " Anyways, its not like you're black black". I related to her and this scene so it definitely confirmed not altered my views. I grew up in predominately white schools and areas, and I talk very proper so I was always considered "white" or not black enough for my own people and wasn't considered actually black to the white people surrounding me. Its as if you have to fit the stereotypical view of a black person to actually be considered black and it's very sad but these are the things that we have to deal with as black people.

- Tymera W. 2/25/21

Anonymous said...

I think that page 80 in the scene referring to her as not "black black" was something that identifies challenges throughout the story and is important. Relating to this a bit too much, I noticed how hearing this phrase never really has a good outcome no matter if she accepted her full blackness or not. Its like a double edged sword, if to another race she isn't "completely black" then there are some black people who would agree the same and judge/make fun of her for not fitting into the sterotype. It just shows how noone really accepts anyone unless they fit into this generic mold of what they're supposed to act like which for someone with her situation is already hard enough without this added societal pressure.

-Brooke Harris 2/27/21

Kalonji said...

In my eyes scene that really provoked Fatima to make a commitment to embrace her blackness fully is the following, "When a black girl with natural green eyes and blond hair and big chest and bubble butt tells you, with your sable skin and dark hair, you are not black enough, you listen"(P.69). The reason why this scene was so impactful to me has a lot to do with the context leading up to it. Fatima attended a school that was predominantly white, and where her identity as an African-American girl was never fully embraced by her classmates, meanwhile her caucasian classmate, Wally who claimed to identified black people because he to was "oppressed and stuff" and acted black gained popularity for his pseudo "blackness". Fatima had been accused of "not being black" or being white before by other black people, but having an albino black girl tell her she wasn't black enough was ironically the last push she needed. Any time where you're being called something that you're not is pretty annoying, so I can imagine Fatima's frustration.

Anonymous said...

The part that was really important or connected with me was on page 80 when the passage says, “Anyways, it’s not like your black black”. I have been told many times I’m not “black” because I talk proper and enjoy things that are “stereotypically” things that Caucasian people do or like. That part of the passage really seemed to hit home because I’ve lived it and heard it. It only confirmed some of the things I thought black women had to endure

Kenyon Davis 3/3/21

Philip Bowen said...

The statement that stood out to me was when Fatima was accused of being a traitor to her race and being call a white girl. This stood out to me because I've seen the struggle black women go through when they attend predominantly white school based on their different views among others by the way they talk and acted. This makes hard for some to identify with themselves and be comfortable in who they are

Marianne Huck said...

The scene That stood out most was when Rolf told Fatima she wasn’t “black black”(80) and he was “colorblind”. As a black girl fully ready to accept herself and her black identity, a huge challenge is confronting that you have to act a certain way to be respected. We don’t have to be stereotypically white to prevent being followed in the store, or being called ghetto. It’s confirmed for me the challenges we face because I also grew up as one of two black kids in my private school from grades 4th-8th. Then once in high school, one of ten. It’s isolating and so suffocating. It always feels like a piece of you is missing.

Marianne Huck

Jayla Pierce said...

The scene on page 80 when Fatima asks Rolf if she was his first black girlfriend and then he replies “I don’t see color” made me cringe, because I expected that response before, I read it. And then he goes on to say, “Anyway, it’s not like you’re black black” adding to the ignorance he has already shown. It is obvious that he is not directly talking about her skin tone because she described herself with “sable skin (69),” but that she does not act black. Confirming that he likes her because while she is black, she does not embody who he believes a black woman to be. As if Fatima being “black black” rather than black would change the answer. That he could overlook or “not see her color” because she did not act “black” or how he excepted a black woman in particular to be.

Anonymous said...

Personally, as a black, light-skinned girl from the suburbs of Chicago then to the inner city, I can definitely relate to this scene on pg.68 that discussed the feelings associated with being called “white girl” when you know your individual truth, or when you’re still growing to figure it out. I can relate to Fatima, but in this scene I also caught myself feeling frustrated because being accused of “whiteness” is something that as a culture we need to address as an issue. It offends us Black women, and causes us to limit our vision and abilities, along with the understanding of our greatness. Therefore, I think this scene is super important and major for Black women and all of us within Black community, as it causes discussions enabling us to grow and uplift each other rather than criticize.”

Keaira Cox 3/2/21

James Beverly III said...

I found myself relating to Fatima in this reading. I went to a majority White charter school as well as a PWI in High School. I was always the token Black student when it came to representing Black males in AP/Honors classes. It can be daunting and it can even get to you - but it forces you to turn those lemons into lemonade. It also forces you to persevere a little more.

-James Beverly III

Anonymous said...

Having grown up in a predominantly white environment, I very much related to Fatima’s struggle. The quote “it’s not like your black black” is a lone I have heard many a times all throughout my life. A line that white people have used towards me in order to excuse their racism but at the same time tell me that I’m somehow different that the rest in their eyes. This is something I’ve overcome over the years and a struggle I relate with Fatima on throughout this novel.

- Raillane Kamdem, 3/7/21

Anonymous said...

I understand Fatima's struggles as I myslef have been called the "whitest black girl". It makes me uncomfortable that people used this excuse for their bias. There are people who have a specific view of how African Americans should act and anyone who acts different is either acting "outside their race" or "privileged". It is frustrating that other people believe they should be able to dictate what people say, feel, or act.

Breann Walton

gabby said...

A scene that really resonated with me was found on page 80. A short quote read, "Anyways, it's not like your black black." I found this quote to stick out because experienced similar rhetoric like this when I was growing up. I attended predominantly white schools in which my blackness was constantly being questioned. This is where I feel like I relate to Fatima as living in a environment such as hers can be challenging and demeaning.

Stella said...

As a black girl who grew up in predominantly white areas, I understand some of what the main character was going through, especially with African parents. I also have been told that I act white or that I am not “black black”. It calls into question what stereotype of being black people like and shoes that they have a stiff view of the mold they want you to fit in if you are black.

Anonymous said...

Being rejected by your community for any reason is disheartening and unfortunately, many black kids of the middle/upper class have similar experiences. I very closely identify with Fatima and as stupid as it sounds, you do get embarrassed for having what you were simply born with(69). All lives transpire differently and for African- American women, being cast out by the people from which you seek acceptance, can cause you to seek validation in other people and things. This definitely just confirmed the trials and tribulations that coincide with growing up a black woman.

-Ronald Allen

Anonymous said...

Much like many of the other students, I found the phrase "...it's not like you're black black..." on page 80 to be very significant. I have heard this phrase over and over again throughout my life. My father is a bi-racial man and my mother is white, therefore I am a smaller percentage of African American. Many times I will call people out for their microagressions and inappropriate/derogatory terms, and I will receive a response like "Oh I didn't think you would mind because you're not really black black." These phrases can be confusing for young black individuals. They may be ready to accept and embrace who they are, but if society is telling them otherwise it can get confusing.

-Jada Baker

Youssef Hassan said...

An important scene for me was on pages 73-74 as Fatima tries to immerse herself in slang. It may not sound like a big deal but you never know when it can be useful. This would not be important to her in her home or school, but her willing to work on it like an exam signify her wanting to be considered similar to others. In the end, it hints at her being more seperat to violet which shows that it does not matter which community you belong to as long as you be and love yourself.

Kristian Beal said...

An important scene from the story was on page 68 that states “Fatima had been accused of whiteness and being a traitor to the race before.” Fatima was being called white by her peers and even people in her family, and that scene is something that I see happen all the time. Black people are always met with these disrespectful undertones if they talk like they are well educated and proper. Society does not consider black people to be educated, so when someone is, it’s “shocking.” It disrespects the work that Black people have put in to be their best versions of themselves. Black girls experience this disrespect a little more than black men because they get the female disrespect along with being black in America, and it’s not fair.

geonel m said...

The conversation between Rolf and Fatima about "not seeing color" and Fatima not being "black black" caught my attention and made me realize once again that the person who started the saying " I don't see color" led people unto a wrongful path. Him not seeing color took away some of Fatima's power. What he meant to say was: Fatima, you're actually not like your own kind, you look more like me than your people and simply for that, that is fine with me".

-Geonel M.

Jasmyn Kloster said...

One quote that really resonated with me was the one on page 80 that stated, "Anyway, it's not like you're black black." I really felt this because I grew up here, in Edwardsville, and from preschool-8th grade I attended a predominantly white Catholic school. As I grew older, middle school into high school, people would constantly invalidate my "blackness" and tell me that I talked "white" and I didn't "act" black. As someone who has lived through "what a Black girl might face" it is very concerning that entire culture can be invalidated by those around you and even worse, by yourself. I feel for Fatima because I too once felt like I was not "black black".

Jasmyn Kloster

Donovan Washington said...

The scene on page 72 where Fatima is learning slang words that are commonly used in black culture resonated with me and my past. When I grew up in a predominately white environment, I never really heard slang words used. I realized the impact of my environment increasingly whenever I would visit family in ESTL where slang was is common as the air we breathe. Similar to Fatima, I learned what it meant to speak "black" once I began to surround myself with people who look like me.