tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post2434748180579894169..comments2024-03-19T01:19:55.789-05:00Comments on Cultural Front: Haley Reading (Group 2): Nafissa Thompson-Spires’s “The Body’s Defense Against Itself”H. Rambsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16862209871277442972noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-62502795597620308942021-05-06T23:49:05.705-05:002021-05-06T23:49:05.705-05:00I first wondered about triggers after reading this...I first wondered about triggers after reading this story. I felt as though seeing the woman and analyzing her made reflect on these times from her childhood. Thinking about these times has also brought out insecurities she developed, which I think she used looking at the woman. I feel like she looked at her to validate herself. Nylah Muldrownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-59698607758288476672021-04-06T01:18:52.709-05:002021-04-06T01:18:52.709-05:00I wonder why she feels the need to compete with ev...I wonder why she feels the need to compete with every black women she sees. It seems like her experience in school has really had an impact on her, and each day she feels the need to prove herself.Avery Owusu-Asiedunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-66780255739578736562021-03-31T20:27:01.838-05:002021-03-31T20:27:01.838-05:00I am curious as to why is everyone trying one up a...I am curious as to why is everyone trying one up and compete with one another. It's not surprising since it's always been like this. It's the modern-day system that was built for old-time views. To pit minorities against each other is to blind them from the greatness they can achieve if they banded together. I guess I just hoped to be surprised by people banding together even though I know that it will more than likely never happen. My curiosity is naive, my mind overwhelmed, and my heart numb to it all.<br />Chantay PeoplesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-3763634403884191202021-03-29T15:17:18.718-05:002021-03-29T15:17:18.718-05:00I'm curious about how she conditions other par...I'm curious about how she conditions other parts of her life; since we mostly focused on the school, we ended up skipping over a decade worth of information. The fact that she went on the pill seems more impactful than it was portrayed to be. I think it's important to see how whatever decisions she made between 19 and 33 affect her now.Mark Steven Lewisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-71692351150141083402021-03-26T17:36:34.656-05:002021-03-26T17:36:34.656-05:00This made me wonder why does she feel the need to ...This made me wonder why does she feel the need to be more evolved? Who has she compared herself to that makes her feel like she should be better? I agree with wishing to be better because as Black Women, society has definitely made us feel less than others, even our counterparts.Cheyenne Carpenternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-59130491921829001442021-03-25T13:57:38.334-05:002021-03-25T13:57:38.334-05:00Being a mixed girl and woman I hate trying to comp...Being a mixed girl and woman I hate trying to compare myself to other girls rather they are of a different race or ethnicity. I hate that in this story Fatima is always comparing herself to others when she is her own person and I hate that Christina and Fatima were the same race and they hated and despised each other. It also did not help that their own mothers put that mindset of hating each other when they actually needed each other in many ways. Competitiveness and judgemental, unfortunately, is a mindset most women have because women can be very self-conscious about themselves and they are always wanting to look like victoria's secret models which not many women can look like that it can make women look at their bodies and hate themselves for it. I just wish women would work together instead of against each other and be unique and not copy others, just be your true self. <br />-Alexis ShortAlexis Shortnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-28510620518102045342021-03-25T09:44:16.793-05:002021-03-25T09:44:16.793-05:00A question that kept coming to mind is why Fatima ...A question that kept coming to mind is why Fatima feels the need to compare herself to other black women in a setting like this. It appears to be the product of fear and low self-esteem. Minorities in a social setting are often attracted to one another because they have a common history and can better understand one another.<br /><br />Ashanti Young 3/22/21Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06066292692564228125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-75622098581675338192021-03-25T05:21:49.457-05:002021-03-25T05:21:49.457-05:00After reading this I wondered why as black women w...After reading this I wondered why as black women we're always compared. I think it's important because Fatima felt the need to compete with every black woman in her life, but society makes us compete regardless. It's almost treated like diversity is a huge need and we wanna see black women eat, but there is only one seat at the table.<br />-Deja LaneDeja L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02859155599589801767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-717502227572765542021-03-24T13:12:47.232-05:002021-03-24T13:12:47.232-05:00Throughout reading Fatima's story, I questione...Throughout reading Fatima's story, I questioned why she felt competitive towards other black women and if her first interaction with Christinia caused it. I think this is important because this was her perhaps her first memorable interaction with another black girl and because they were the only ones, it felt as if they were pitted each because of their environment. Instead of coming together they became enemies and from that point on Fatima seemed to connect black women with Christina (that being their negative relationship) and thus view them as enemies.Kamya C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-65500391462136357342021-03-24T00:42:04.936-05:002021-03-24T00:42:04.936-05:00After reading the story, the question arose is why...After reading the story, the question arose is why we as women, especially black women can't love ourselves fully flaws and all. This story shows two young women who were given a unstable defense mechanism to shield against who they really are mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. To stow away their feelings and how they perceive things. This story tells us there is a lack of true self love for ourselves as women and for one another.A'nyse Huddlestonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-5974678072244073162021-03-24T00:18:56.255-05:002021-03-24T00:18:56.255-05:00After reading the story, the question raised of wh...After reading the story, the question raised of why can't we as black women learn to accept all of who we are as a person and as a woman. That includes mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually; also knowing that it is okay to show emotion and we don't always have to be strong. God didn't give us emotions to not use or experience them all. With us as black women, we are the most degraded and underappreciated by the world and the sad part is it's also within our own community. These two women have a trait of not loving all of who they are for it was past down from their mothers who do the same thing, but it is also a defense mechanism to shield the truth about what all that consists of their true being. A lot of times we don't allow ourselves to feel and have a moment to not have it all together or taking a moment to express how we feel in that moment and release it. All of this comes with time and self discovery and knowing it is okay to be human and to be no more than what we are.A'nyse Huddlestonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-20335247777912807842021-03-23T23:08:45.456-05:002021-03-23T23:08:45.456-05:00This story made me question why women, especially ...This story made me question why women, especially black women, aren't allowed to see each other as equals when put in the same situations. Fatima and Christina had a lot in common yet they were almost always at odds with each other for no reason other. I wish they had been friends rather than rivals.Janielle F.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-21962145921151742732021-03-23T21:44:26.621-05:002021-03-23T21:44:26.621-05:00Reading this story made me question why women feel...Reading this story made me question why women feel like their image have to meet a certain standard and why they feel as if they are in competition with each other. I believe that your image should be based off of yourself and how you want to be viewed, not based off of what the next person or woman is doing. African American women specifically should try to look at each other as friends and peers, not as competition all the time.Ta'mya Cummingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-69918029742277781302021-03-23T11:32:02.033-05:002021-03-23T11:32:02.033-05:00Something I became curious about while reading thi...Something I became curious about while reading this story is the competitiveness between women. I find this to be true especially with black women and I wish that we could use this energy to come together and create instead of using this energy for rivalry. I think sometimes we aren't even aware that we are doing it, it has just become a part of society but we can change it.<br />Fatima BashirAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-24649823895433570052021-03-22T21:24:33.847-05:002021-03-22T21:24:33.847-05:00This story made me question why women, especially ...This story made me question why women, especially black women feel as though they have to always compete with one another. Fatima always saw Christina as a competition and their mother's made them feel that way. It is a very challenging thing to be black AND be a woman in society and we need the empowerment from other black women instead of competition.Tymia Sleetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-75565724774753365612021-03-22T17:34:13.801-05:002021-03-22T17:34:13.801-05:00 In the story, Fatima is constantly in competi... In the story, Fatima is constantly in competition with Christina. This made me question why sometimes women see other women as a competitor rather than a teammate. I ask this, not solely because I am a feminist, but also because women empowering other women is important. As a woman in society, it is HARD. We already have to deal with the patriarchy, societal expectations, and so much more, that other women should not be one of our issues. If all women viewed other women as friends instead of potential enemies, we could be so much stronger as a whole.<br /><br />Kylie JacksonAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12481794108642649614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-43223517207497083502021-03-22T12:20:01.377-05:002021-03-22T12:20:01.377-05:00Ebonie Byrd said...
From reading this portion in ...Ebonie Byrd said... <br />From reading this portion in the book, my question would be why does Christiania hold so much significance in her life still? It seems Fatima still has issues that have stemmed from Christiana and I think she should focus on how she can get over these issues.Since Fatima didn’t grow up around a lot of black girls I feel she has a need to constantly compete with other black women to prove her place. <br />March 16, 2021 at 8:48 PM Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-58637202649747899262021-03-22T09:07:07.763-05:002021-03-22T09:07:07.763-05:00Something this story stirred up in me while readin...Something this story stirred up in me while reading it would be my own identity as a black person because this book showed me that there are so many different walks of life and not one single black narrative we all relate to. The question of who am I as a black woman is important because I’m gonna be this person my whole life or I need to make changes to be more of an asset to my community and figure out how to navigate spaces in the best way for me. Once I know and am secure in my identity everything else should flow with me.<br /><br />Kaelyn Cupil, 3/21/21Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-29879266761379612892021-03-22T09:05:30.492-05:002021-03-22T09:05:30.492-05:00I was really curious about how her experiences wit...I was really curious about how her experiences with other black women early on in life shaped who she was today. It seems like her interactions are driven by comparison and competition, and I wonder how that has affected her personal life up to this point. It’s a common expression that black women have to work twice as hard to get half the credit, and seeing how Fatima places herself in competition mode constantly seems to point at societal pressure for her to act that way.<br /><br />Jalen White 3/20/21<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-75187741721785073952021-03-22T09:04:18.095-05:002021-03-22T09:04:18.095-05:00One thing I became curious about after reading thi...One thing I became curious about after reading this story is how common it is for minorities to compare themselves to others in search of differences rather than in search of similarities. This entire book has had moments of highlighting the differences between characters and the individual character's struggles over said differences, such as Fatima competing with the only other black girl in school and even seeing her think back to that years after the fact. Rarely in my personal life do I experience the opposite, where similarities are subconsciously highlighted and appreciated, most commonly it is differences -both good and bad- that are first drawn to my attention. To a degree I agree with Fatima and share a similar mindset which in and of itself is an example of just the opposite. I think it is important for all of us to realize it is okay to be similar and different to other minorities. It is good for us to maintain diversity in our personalities and presentations, to not fit stereotypes and to express individuality. More importantly, to not compete with or judge each other for our differences and similarities. <br /><br />Kendall Fry 3/19/21<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-10636306339080583762021-03-22T08:56:12.504-05:002021-03-22T08:56:12.504-05:00Thaira Mason said...
One thing I questioned was w...Thaira Mason said... <br />One thing I questioned was why did Fatima always feel the need to compare and compete with the other black women? This is something that happens often and it is very sad. As black women we need to stick together and come together because we are very powerful individuals. I think women as a whole should be uplifting one another but especially black women because it is a true proven fact that we are the most disrespected people in the world. We need to stop judging one another including me.<br />-Thaira Mason <br />March 20, 2021 at 12:07 AM Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-69469004340756978912021-03-22T08:30:04.857-05:002021-03-22T08:30:04.857-05:00My question is what’s an appropriate amount of tim...My question is what’s an appropriate amount of time to allow your past trauma and childhood issues rule your life? I absolutely believe that everyone should confront and acknowledge it. However, some don’t realize you should just move on. It seems so exhausting to keep worrying about the past. Carah F.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-57047330367760364652021-03-22T01:08:44.223-05:002021-03-22T01:08:44.223-05:00A question that has risen in my head is, is compet...A question that has risen in my head is, is competition worth the possible relationship you could have with someone? In my opinion I think competition is healthy. Its one of the reasons for self improvement. For example Samsung and Apple are in continuous competition with one another but with that, they are constantly pushing out better more innovative products to keep up with each other, thus making their consumers happy in the process. The reason this question was relevant to me is because even if competition leads to self improvement, is that worth having a genuine relationship with someone of your same demographic. Relationships are something of high substance when you are living in todays society. In Fatima's situation a good relationship with another person who looks like her would do wonders. But she only cares about being better than her peers. Which could possibly lead to more negative effects rather than positive.Byron Coulternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-70931638226146367232021-03-21T23:45:55.289-05:002021-03-21T23:45:55.289-05:00My question is when will we, as African Americans ...My question is when will we, as African Americans stop degrading and alienating each other rather than encourage, shield, and enlighten each other? It is what other races slap us with that we can't defend against until we come together and negate those faults. It is imperative to uplift our race so that our unity can be a weapon rather than our dissociation being our downfall.Ilysa Walkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-31346673035280191692021-03-21T23:45:27.184-05:002021-03-21T23:45:27.184-05:00My question is when will we, as African Americans ...My question is when will we, as African Americans stop degrading and alienating each other rather than encourage, shield, and enlighten each other? It is what other races slap us with that we can't defend against until we come together and negate those faults. It is imperative to uplift our race so that our unity can be a weapon rather than our dissociation being our downfall.Ilysa Walkernoreply@blogger.com