Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Haley Scholars (Group 2) Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "The Era"

[Haley Reading Groups Spring 2022]

Since 2009, we've done this reading group and in the process covered dozens of readings. But perhaps we've never read a short story quite like Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's "The Era." It's a story set in a future world after various wars and a re-organized society where genetic engineering has apparently gone to extremes, and brutal honesty has quite brutal. 

After reading "The Finkelstein 5" and now "The Era," I think we have to say something, really a lot of things at some point about the creative and intriguing ways that Adjei-Brenyah's mind works. 

Alright, I'm not even fully sure what questions to ask you because "The Era" disoriented me in unexpected and ultimately useful ways. So for now, let's do this: imagine several of us were in a room discussing this story. What should we focus on first concerning "The Era"? Why? 

61 comments:

Taylor Corbin said...

An important focus in The Era was how parents of the future would be able to optimize their fertility when trying to have a child and pick certain characteristics. It's sad that the people could not just be happy and love the child no matter what. And they felt like picking certian things to so call improve the child would make it better.

Josephine Kanyi said...

I haven't had a passage throw me in for such a loop as much as this one did. It's important to focus on the constant dissatisfaction that people living in the industrial era are facing. The era is not just about futuristic predictions but does a good job at depicting mental health specifically depression. To the main character Ben, Good is simply an escape from the sad reality his life is and reflects on how a lot of people find different avenues to distract themselves from their current reality, and some end up being addictive coping mechanisms like "good" was for Ben.

Mysaiah Chambers said...

For me, in the Era, it's just so sad and disappointing. What happened to loving yourself for who you are. We are unique in our own ways and shouldn't change our genetics because of what we might see as a flaw, but in reality it's true beauty. When we start loving ourselves for who we are and be blessed that we can be our own person then we can start to move on a little more in the world.

Layla Brooks said...

An important focus is how harsh they are towards each other or they seemed so mean to themselves. Like for example, Samantha would talk poorly about her self or even the teacher and student dynamic seem harsh. I would want to talk as a group saying do we feel like the chapter reflects how people are in real life.

Cidney C. said...

An important focus to go into is how the new society is run. If genetic engineering is supposed to be a utopian society, then that is truly sad. This new way of living is not any better than the way we live now; there are divisions between the rich and poor and judgmental people.

Maya Chapman said...

How the new society is run is a crucial point to consider. That is extremely terrible if genetic engineering is supposed to be a utopian society. This new style of life is no better than the way we live now; there are still divisions between affluent and poor, as well as those who are judgmental.

Anonymous said...

If we were sitting in a room I would make a case about the shoe lookers. This may not be super important but it does play a role in what the setting and society of this story is suppose to look like. We could connect the so called shoe lookers in this story to whom we may call shoe lookers in our every day society. We also could connect the meaning of good to what our own "good" maybe symbolized in our world.

Tomia B. said...

An important focus I would have mentioned during our discussion would be how this story gave me "a look into the future". Society is constantly changing and because of that the "do's and don'ts" are changing along with it. The more I read the passage, the more I could connect with this passage in an oddly yet valid way. The characters talked in the unspoken way of Americans. In today's world, judging has sadly become a norm for many. The way these students spoke was considered "truthful" in their world. which would be offensive in ours. The reason I made this connection was because looking at today's society, sooner or later that may be what's "normal" one day. The loneliness and low self-esteem that the character unknowingly was going thru is another valuable connection. Teens now adays often go thru depression and/or feel lonely and take that sorrow to hurt someone else. Although the way they spoke to each other is how it's always been, at the end of the day, their still human. People were being judged and got called nicknames like "shoelookers" because they simply just wanted an escape from reality.

Unknown said...

Charles R
The Era focus on the future, society, family, and how emotions are handled in a dystopia. In Era, the sister Leslie is judgmental of others while the brother works on being good. Also, the parents telling their child that he was a mistake show how emotionally disconnected families are to each other.

Marlon C. said...

I think if we were all in a room together, I would bring up the importance of them treating themselves. I think they are all either mean to one another or to themselves. The students in this book are so disrespectful to their teachers, and it's sad. As an Education major, I couldn't imagine teaching in this era.

Justin Burns said...

In a discussion group for the chapter we've read, I'd find it immediately more important to make concerns of the society's similarities to our society. When examining behavior's of specific characters I found it interesting to see the direction of their slowly developed mental illness and living status. Rather than going in a direction that rings happiness for those surrounded, the chapter shows everyone falling into an increase of poverty and mental illness. The environment is very concerning.

Harrison B. said...

I would want to talk about why the "good" is considered a good thing during this time, and why people with emotions are considered "shoe lookers". I just find it weird that people with emotions have to hide them, but I can also see a similarity in today's society. In most black households we grew up to hide our emotions because mental illness is not common in black families. Now things are changing and more black people are going to therapists and getting help because we have emotions too. Generations before us basically grew up as shoe lookers and were forced to become "good" and tried to make their children "good" as well.

Kendall B. said...

An important focus is mental health issues with-in the passage. A lot of the mental health issues and society standards made it hard for the characters to know the true meaning of self love . Reading about the events made me sad because I focused on how important mental health is in this era .

Anijah Barringer said...

After reading about “The Era” what caught my attention the most was the fertility topic. I know that in today’s society you’re able to basically “make your own baby” as far as choosing the ethnicity of the child (Which is not important at all). But in the reading the parents were able to choose more specific characteristics of what their child would have. It was kind of sad because, your child is someone who you should love unconditionally and the parents basically “shopping for the genetics” of their unborn child was disheartening. It doesn’t matter what your child looks like or what gender they are, you should be blessed with what you receive naturally.

Anijah B.

Ruth B. said...

After reading The Era, if we had a discussion, I would talk about how the story relates to the real world at times. In the story, it mentions how society doesn't allow the people to "show emotion" or "be emotional", I think that relates to our society in real life when it comes to men. It was sad when the narrator stated, "And then there's Nick and Ralphy, who are who are the class shoelookers. Being emotional is all they are, and it means they aren't good for anything." This quote was sad because it shows how much society rejects the mental state of individuals. This ties back to real life because this happens often. It is detrimental especially at a young age because kids grow up to think that their emotions don't matter. Calling them "shoelookers" in the book was a way to make them feel inferior. This, in the real world can relate or look a little different. Overall, this part of the book related to the society in the real world.

Ruth B.

Shaquerria Cole said...

Lots of things kind of got my attention in this reading; the ability to have control over the genetic makeup of kids, the status of different people, and the use of "Good". I felt sad for the main character because his parents didn't care about his genetic makeup like his sisters causing him to feel like he needed "Good" to be a good person. After he visited Samantha's weird family, he understood why people thought they were weird, and it started to change how he looked at things.

Willie D said...

In “The Era”, it was sad to read that the parents didn’t love their child for who they are. Just like every human being, we have our flaws in our systems that we just have to continue to live through. Regardless of how your child look, you should love their your child more than anything.

Elizabeth Alao said...

In The Era what got my attention the most was the dismissal of individuals feeling in society. I believe that every human should viewed as their own people and in the book it really emphasized how individualism is overlooked. How every human has their flaws and their beauties. Especially at a young age where people are builds their personalities, if that whole concept of individualism is dismissed then it can greatly affect the whole concept of personality as one is growing up.

Unknown said...

In discussing "The Era," the point of focus I would like to address is the standard of perfection/ "optimal" being. It's fascinating that some of the qualities that makes human beings beautiful (empathic, sensitive, genuinely loving) are considered as a weakness/defect.

_Jacqueline Smith

Jordan L Allen said...

This chapter holds a special setting within a classroom, filled with students who don't really care about the lesson they're being taught. The student's mental illness can be conveyed bi-polar because, in their mind, they keep calling others ugly or stupid based on being aggressive and mocking.

Anonymous said...

Something that stood out to me in the era was the mental health. What, I mean by that is the lack of genuine love and overlooking of individuals. The society standards made it hard to love yourself let alone others.

-Latavia B

Alexis D said...

The focus that I feel like is important was how the chapter talked about the future. Society is constantly changing whether it is technology, parenting skills, school, school system, the law, and more. I connected a lot with the chapter because I can see how the world is changing and how us as a society are always trying to adapt to it. I feel like this would be a great topic to have a discussion on.

Alexis D said...

The focus that I feel like is important was how the chapter talked about the future. Society is constantly changing whether it is technology, parenting skills, school, school system, the law, and more. I connected a lot with the chapter because I can see how the world is changing and how us as a society are always trying to adapt to it. I feel like this would be a great topic to have a discussion on.

Chidi Anyamele said...

In "The era" one thing that sticks out to me is how uniqueness is just overshadowed by "perfection". It's truly sad how the parents couldn't just be happy and love the child for who they are. Instead, they genetically optimized their fertility and chose certain characteristics to make the so-called wonder child.
-Chidi A

Saniya Buck said...

This passage will have your thoughts all over over the place while reading it. As I was reading the passage it's hard to just focus on one part but, something that stood out to me the most is the feeling of the society and how everyone was treated and viewed as a person. being judged before evening knowing how someone really is unrealistic. In the Era, its upsetting how people can judge you without even knowing you and what your capable of.

Airika Carr said...

If we were to discuss this topic in class I would talk about how they speak and think about it each. They come off as very rude and hateful when they speak to each other. The sad part about it is that many people actually act like this towards each other and it's very sad.I feel like we should learn to speak our minds without talking to each other in such disrepectful ways.

Kelan Branch said...

After choosing "The Era", I noticed it's lack of empathy for other people. Instead of helping those in need, we simply judge them based on their flaws and push them down for it. This is concerning because of how harsher society is becoming each year. I want people to reflect on this so that they too can realize how insensitive we are becoming as a whole.

Jordan Brawley said...

I'd talk about parents having the ability to choose the characteristics of their children. It makes me sad because I believe you shouldn't care how your children look as long as they are happy and healthy. I also believe you should love your children for who they are, flaws and all.

Starr C said...

"The Era" showed how a utopia can truly be a dystopia. By trying to be"perfect" people lost what made them human. What stood out to me the most was the ignorance of mental health and the ignorance the parents had towards their kids. This truly showed me how important empathy is and how it keeps us human.

-Starr C

Itangishatse Bujeni said...

I’ve always been one to make a case for honesty but after this short story maybe not so much. This society may have honesty but I feel as if it is missing everything else that makes living with other human beings bearable. Does honesty mean ranking children, isolating what we think is undeserving of praise based on some score, some are the “shoelookers” and others perfect like Marlene? The thought that I kept circling back to is that this society is ironically lying to itself if it really believes that this honesty is not just as brutal as the lies that brought them war before. This “utopia” has all of the negative components of any but to an extreme. Any society that ranks or oppresses will face the same consequences of any dystopia.

Jasmyne Rush said...

My case for the readings this week would pertain to how someone is viewed and how they feel about it. In the beginning of this section, The Era, the teacher, Mr. Harper, is doing a terrible job at building his students confidence. He is instead pointing out and telling them how imperfect they are and why they'd always be "unoptimal" to others. The students can't even express their emotions truly because their emotions are disregarded by others because it shows them as being inadequate. Also, I instantly noticed how some students have an implanted chip in their bodies while those who are "unoptimal" don't.

Damilola Adebisi said...

Damilola Adebisi
I thought the reading was pretty interesting but when I first started reading it, I thought the plot was confusing at first. If we were in class discussing this, something I would want to talk about is that specific era. In the beginning, it talked about how the main character described the classroom setting in the story. The main thought school was stupid and basically thought he was too dumb to learn anything, so did other students. I also feel like this reading focused on America's education system.

Unknown said...

Damilola Adebisi
I thought the reading was pretty interesting but when I first started reading it, I thought the plot was confusing at first. If we were in class discussing this, something I would want to talk about is that specific era. In the beginning, it talked about how the main character described the classroom setting in the story. The main thought school was stupid and basically thought he was too dumb to learn anything, so did other students. I also feel like this reading focused on America's education system.

Damilola Adebisi said...

Damilola Adebisi
I thought the reading was pretty interesting but when I first started reading it, I thought the plot was confusing at first. If we were in class discussing this, something I would want to talk about is that specific era. In the beginning, it talked about how the main character described the classroom setting in the story. The main thought school was stupid and basically thought he was too dumb to learn anything, so did other students. I also feel like this reading focused on America's education system.

Raven Dewalt said...

Raven DeWalt


"The Era" is set in a futuristic future where it is forbidden to express one's emotions. While trying to evaluate a child, future guardians will want to streamline their ripeness and pick specific features. We are all unique in our own ways, and we should not alter our DNA in response to what we perceive to be a flaw. They're either ruthless to one another or heinous to themselves. Despite her sibling's efforts to be great, Leslie condemns others. Additionally, guardians telling their child that he made a mistake. What happened to accepting yourself exactly the way you are?

kelly said...

I find the drug outrageous.There is nothing wrong with trying to improve yourself but it shouldn’t take a drug to force it. I don’t blame the parents for modifying their children, they were giving them the tools needed to survive in their harsh and judgmental society.
-Amoya B

Muhammed Aboderin said...


I would make a case on how genetically engineering your child to be "optimized" is a terrible thing to do and is basically plastic surgery for newborns. Additionally, reading this story has taught me how important caring for your mental health actually is.

Aaron Crawford said...

To me an important focus is the way they did fertility. I honestly think it's crazy that parents can essentially changes things about their child to "improve" them. I think that's sad, your parents are supposed to be your biggest supporters and not judge you over things like appearance. Reading this made me a little sad because what they're not doing is out of love, it feels like personal gain.

-Aaron Crawford

Unknown said...

One thing I would discuss is how they handle emotion in this dystopia, and the lack there of. Another thing that caught my attention was the heavy use of the word "good" in the chapter. There were so many instances where "I haven't had any Good since..." or just simply "I haven't had any Good" would be said. This brought the question of what is the definition of "Good" in both the story and the real world? What constitutes something as being a good thing?

- Camille Brown

Shakyiah C said...

A point that I would focus on is the drug, "Good", they use to stay prideful and happy to some sort. The dosage reminds me of a game called "We Happy Few". Where society relies on a drug called "joy pills" to make it through the day in the aftermaths of a terrible war. The Joy Pills only allows them to feel happy and view nothing is wrong with the world. They choose to push away all their emotions through Good or just not show it at all because they saw it affected people in the past and view it as the reason for the wars. But emotions are one of the things that make humans, humans. I believe that there is a point they have with the honesty part. But not as blunt that we forget about emotions. I also think even if we had the honesty as "The Era" demonstrated, it would not make a big of a change that it did in the story.

Jordan Barnes said...

When I was reading this article "The Era" I was really sad and kind of bummed out. First, I didn't like how the teacher was treating the ben and the other students. I didn't like how the teacher was insulted the students. But I believe that the teacher was trying to toughen up ben and the student in his own way.

Alex Childs said...

An Important focus for me from "The Era" would. be self love. It goes to show that in the real world we feel as though we are not perfect when compared to others. It makes us feel like we have to change something about ourselves to give us gratification. When in reality we are perfect just the way we are and there is no need for comparison amongst other people. Worrying about such things can cause emotion stress and it can kill your motivation. In this futuristic society these concepts do not apply they are not allowed to show emotions. Which in my opinion takes the humanity away from the people because emotions are how one expresses themselves.

Arieona B. said...

After reading “The Era '' I would most likely first focus on the translation of the terms used like shoelooker, times they are learning in school (old vs new), different statuses of families/children, the “good”, etc. After decoding what everything actually means it helps you to get the message of the bigger picture. Which I think could be the effects of how you are raised, what you are taught, and your environment has on your personality and mental health.

Arieona B.

Erin Myers said...

Abdixakin A.:

Reading the era I noticed how these blows at the student were so personal. I could not imagine how he felt when he called him stupid and the whole class laughed. Saying things like this would hurt the student's self-esteem and lower their confidence. Also, the students in the classroom judge people and how 'ugly' they are based on how they act at a certain moment.

2/25/22

Naomi B. said...

While reading "The Era" I was a bit confused as to why everyone was so truthful. For example, when Ben told his teacher that he basically wanted to beat him with a rock, I was shocked at the teacher's response given the fact that in today's world that would've been considered a threat and extreme consequences would've followed. As I read along one small detail about the "Shoe-lookers" stood out to me. The fact that they were seen as weak, emotional and untruthful for crying all the time really said a lot about the society. Sadness is a true emotion and if they are simply expressing that emotion because it is how they feel all the time how they are being untruthful. Obviously if you cry it's for a reason, and them simply crying and expressing the sadness they are feeling is them being true to their emotions, so I didn't understand how they were seen as untruthful.

Anonymous said...

While I get that the father is trying to prepare the kids for the harshness of the real world, the harshness still caught me off-guard. The kids might end up resenting him cause at the moment they don't understand the "lesson" he is trying to teach them. Just felt so dismissive.
-Udochukwu Chikere

Shelbe Davis said...

I'd talk about parents having the ability to choose the characteristics of their children. It makes me sad because I believe you shouldn't care how your children look as long as they are happy and healthy. I also believe you should love your children for who they are, flaws and all.

Erin Myers said...

Sheena C.:

A great discussion topic would be acknowledging the threat that our world could possibly turn into theirs. For one thing, their society does not want nor seek emotional value. They make fun of others who do exhibit these attributes of feelings. Even their teacher allows for students to be called ugly and fat in the classroom. This could relate to the idea that many experience in their households, friend groups, classrooms, jobs etc. Where people do not value others feelings or take time to have empathy for you. In the chapter, it is interesting that the people who do have emotions are called “shoe-lookers” because if this is supposed to be a better way of life then why are people seemingly heavy from their emotions. That they droop down and only look at shoes? Similar to in our world, social media is supposed to give us serotonin when we scroll on our phones, so why are people becoming more unhappy?

Anonymous said...

Corey Anderson,
I want to talk about how crazy it is for adults to "make" their children how they want them to be. The point of haveing a child is to watch them grow and form personalities, whats the point if you already did that for them.

Kambria C. said...

A main element in The Era was how future parents would be able to improve their fertility and select specific qualities while seeking to conceive a kid. It's a pity that the people couldn't just be pleased and love the child regardless of the circumstances. And they believed that picking certain things to "enhance" the child would help. 

Kambria C.

Anonymous said...

One of the major things I focused on was parents being able to pick out their children's characteristics. All children are blessings. So how they come into this world is how they are supposed to be. I also thought that the dad was being a little hard on the kids. It is important to raise them in the right manner though. Everyone is different, but everyone is perfect as they are. It was really hard for me to see how other kids were treating each other.

-Rotrisha Epps

Erin Myers said...

Chanel B.:

The important focus in the book is family and society. Mainly through the story the things that would catch your eye is how the family treat each other harsh. How strictly the parents and how they raise them . It also focuses on the society how society is now days. How they let that guilty man walk off away not guilty and they had all the evidence to prove that he was guilty. That's how society it is today.

Erin Myers said...

Amy-Myriam D.:

What I would bring up, is the importance of mental health and self-awareness. Many people neglect caring for their well-being and find their feelings being invalidated. It's good to spread awareness over these issues.

Erin Myers said...

Deborah A.:

In “The Era” it was shocking to see how people chose how their kid looks instead of wanting them to have characteristics of them. I would think it’s more important for my child to feel a part of the family. But in “The Era” they judge so quick, if you don’t look one way, you’re disregarded they don’t care about what’s real they just want a fantasy it was very saddening.

Tyler Butler said...

The main thing I was concerned about was the ability of the parents to control their child's future "decisions"I would technically say they were dehumanizing their children to their standards as they are choosing specific characteristics in their future lives the children can't control. So the children end up living the ideal lives of their parents instead of learning and doing it on their own!

Jasmine D said...

I thought the reading was interesting but as I first started reading it, I thought the plot was a little confusing at first. If we were in class discussing this, something I would want to talk about is that specific era. In the beginning, it talked about how the main character described the classroom setting in the story. The main character thought school was stupid and basically thought he was too dumb to learn anything, so did other students. I could relate to that because in most of my classes it feels like i'm the only one who doesn't know what they are doing is me and it feels embarrassing I also feel like this reading focused on America's education system.

Erin Myers said...

Thiane D.:
I feel as though we should have a lot of concern for Ben because he is taking a lot of the "good" medicine and pill in order to keep him happy. There is a fact that no should rely on a pill to keep them happy or sane because its unhealthy and you can be addicted to the substance. Mental health was shown a lot in this piece of literature. I liked how the author provided intake in all of this and said how the drug "good" was consuming Ben and how he could not go without it. I feel as though this is a good example of how society is today when it comes to mental health. Most people do not want to go to therapy or things like that so they try to find the easier way out which is taking pills and not actually doing the work to get better.

Marina B. said...

changing things so that one fits in is something we all would do even in minor ways, but to change someone before they could even be appreciated with their faults kind of takes from the heart of humanity and humanism. There will always be faults regardless of how hard one tries to rid of them.

Unknown said...

I would say we should start off with parents and the toxic control they have over their children. I believe parents should not dictate their child's life but instead support them and help them. Children should have love and support from the parents no matter what.
-Ivorie Arthurs

Unknown said...

With this story the focus of conversation should be how the parents interact with their children. They did not seem in touch with their emotions which is concerning. A child should not have to rely on drugs to deal with their emotional trauma. It also makes me think of generational trauma and what the parents went through as kids to want to live through their children.
-Memory

Erin Myers said...

Allana B.:

After reading this and having a group discussion about it the first major thing I would want to discuss is mental health. I am a big advocate for mental health and none of them displayed good mental health. With everything going on around them and society’s standards it makes it hard for them to be able to have self-love for themselves and no one else is telling them to have it either, they were overlooked, and treated very inhumanly.