Comments by Renée Ehle Most recent public comments by Renée Ehle https://nowcomment.com/users/37078 Yeah--but when he starts to lose weight he becomes SO obsessed with it. It's still his weight that's defining him. https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275747 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275747 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 Reading as a way to begin to know people not like us. https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275743 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275743 It's so important for white people to read books, watch tv & movies, by and about blacks, especially if they live in fairly homogeneous communities. It may be the most important first step in understanding, the first shaving off of inherited racism & ignorance. Also why class texts should represent a broad range of authors & characters. Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 Yes--your comment connects to his statement in the next paragraph about wanting to be told to be 2x as good as the excellent black women in his life--because they are the most excellent people he knows. https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275735 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275735 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 Unless they are GOOD poetry lessons! Poetry is a great way to play with language & should be taught as such! https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275733 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275733 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 paradox & bravery https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275729 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275729 I like that Kiese was able to notice & admit both reactions. Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 language grants privilege... https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275717 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275717 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 "Be twice as..." https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275712 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275712 How would this advice have changed Kiese's life/thoughts/attitude/experience? Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 "Be twice as..." https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275711 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275711 Is this advice a challenge to rise, or an expectation that oppresses? Or both? Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 Reminds me of Sonia Sanchez & "BaddDDD" https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275707 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275707 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 Audacious approach to language--taking ownership of words & communication. https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275705 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275705 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 Prompts me to self-reflection https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275703 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275703 This is the kind of paragraph Kiese writes that makes me (as a white person) reflect on my own words, facial expression, and almost-unconscious thoughts. Tue, 12 Oct 2021 14:44:48 -0400 black abundance https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275700 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275700 Kiese uses this phrase "black abundance" throughout the novel. I like how it relates to--and changes--the word "heavy" to such an overwhelmingly positive thing. Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 Range of vocabulary/diction is exciting & fresh. https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275698 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275698 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:58:46 -0400 Challenges of heterogeneity vs common ground https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275696 https://nowcomment.com/documents/123558?scroll_to=1275696 This reminds me of the challenge of heterogeneity in an Internationals classroom. For example, a teacher may put 3 Bengali students at the same table so they can support each other, but then no one else in the room is getting any benefit from their different experience. But if the teacher separates them into different tables in order to get more heterogeneity, then they risk feeling isolated. Sun, 16 Jul 2023 16:48:06 -0400 This is such a scary way to grow up African-American. I can only TRY to empathize, and I'm sharply aware of how limited my empathy really is. I think. https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129150 https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129150 Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:45:34 -0400 The hood makes me think immediately of Guantanamo and torture--linking street violence to police violence to mass murder to governmentally sanctioned violence--we are part of a violent society, through and through. https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129145 https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129145 Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:45:34 -0400 Sudden violence, but still there's strange disjuncts in his gestures and expressions--his whole body communicates confusion, and the strange way we live contradictory lives--joy and violence. Brilliant and powerful. https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129126 https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129126 Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:45:34 -0400 Hints that the "party" isn't all joyful--not in really obvious ways/words, but in subtle disjunctions of movement and facial expressions. https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129123 https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129123 Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:45:34 -0400 I like how joyful this song is at the beginning. The empty space with monotone colors emphasize the j oy of the music. Now that I've seen the whole video, this way of beginning sets us up for strong contrasts. https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129121 https://nowcomment.com/documents/104072?scroll_to=1129121 Sat, 26 Sep 2020 08:45:34 -0400