The Final Liberation of Martine

He put you inside me without my permission
He grabbed me, touched and violated me
He put you inside me without my permission
I carried you and birthed a child with the face of a man that put you inside me without my permission
It wasn't your fault, I know this
I knew this but I couldn't look at you, your face, my daughter
And not remember
He put you inside me without permission
5, 10, 25 years later and all I see is the faceless ghost who put you inside me without permission
In my dreams, the canefield,
crippled
screaming
shaking
sweating
crazed
screaming
Now this child
Was put inside me without my permission
It want salt
My soul need peace
This child inside me without permission
Shadow child be gone
No salt for you
Shadow man be gone
No me for you
This night,17 times I exorcized you from my body
This child no longer inside me without permission
I am free, Mama
Oui, je suis libre
I am free

--- Crystal O'Hearn

Guinea

Guinea is mentioned in three of the books we've studied this term. Why? What's so special about this place according to the characters we've met?

Haiti Cuba Venezuela

 

 

In particular, Click the "Haiti to Guinea" tab at the top of the website.

 

 

Martine"s liberation...(Danticat, 215 - 217)

Joseph & Sophie and

Charlie Parker....

http://youtu.be/nnReaaJwloI

DBQ #4 Song of Choice - Tyrell Gittens

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=iKeKJx_nQhc&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DiKeKJx_nQhc

I didn't want pick song that would be in relation to the actual relationship of both Coco and George, but a song that reflects and effects their relationship as it grows...

The song isn't necessarily intended for Coco and George; but intended for the negative, naive, and ignorant mindsets of people that attempt to cloud the relationship of Coco and George out of envy. One with such a clouded mindset, never likes the upbringing of any type of enlightenment; and would rather AVOID it by any means necessary. Everything happens in a subconscious level before you begin to notice any change. Although it can manifest in different ways,the conscious mind is force to accept that change. However, as soon as that happens, the subconscious mind would automatically catch on to that change and SABOTAGE that acceptance to that change right away! Characters like Rudy with his sinister ways of bewitching people and Dr. Buzzard's cheating way of winning every round of poker plays into the epitome of what this song is explaining. Despite the ulterior motives that you may have for other people; there's always someone up above watching your every move; and when your time comes, you may be the one at the end begging for the same enlightenment you've been desperately avoiding.

The Song I Choose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIQ_lsuuzjg



I CHOOSE THIS VIDEO BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT RELATED TO GEORGE AND OPHELIA'S RELATIONSHIP THE MOST. BOTH CHARACTERS ARE STRUGGLING WITHIN THEIR SELVES. THEIR LOVE FOR EACHOTHER IS THERE BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO.

On behalf of Dorett Francis . Two songs

Dorett Francis

DQ4

Reading in the Diaspora Spring 2013

  

The two songs I choose is You Really Got a Hold on Me by Smokie Robinson.The Second one  is Cold Shoulder by Adele.

The reason I picked this song is, the first time George saw Ophelia at the office he thought she was the one waiting for him. Ophelia did not understand the kind of man George was. George just wanted someone to love him, keep his past behind him and move on in a positive way. As Ophelia kept taking George back to his youth and she being spoiled looked own on George. The relationship between Ophelia and George is different. George sees himself in a different way and Ophelia seems to be confused about the way things keep changing and George's behavior. First of all Ophelia is from a small community where everyone knows each other. There is strong family traditions and events that she looked forward to each year in the community. They exchanged gifts at the end of the year, she is loved by her family she tried to understand why things keep changing not like in her community where almost everything remained the same.(146) Ophelia used symbols for people and things in New York(126). She wanted to show George where she grew up and what the community was like. On the other hand George is from a big city, not family oriented like Coco and doesn't see eye to eye with her. The dialogue with George about the past was like pulling a tooth “when she asked questions”. George did not want to talk about his childhood life where he grew up in a boy’s shelter and did not have much experience with females. George was found in the newspaper by a man when he was three months old and was given to the shelter. He did not have family while Ophelia had her family and friends behind her she always looked forward to seeing her family and staying connected by mail. 

The song I picked

Musiq- teach me how to love

On behalf of Dorett

Cry of Nature

I was around  dumbo Brooklyn over the summer underneath the Manhattan overpass and  noticed  this one pot with these beautiful flowers in it.The other pots plants that were either withered from lack of water/attention.

For the pictures of the Horses

During a drive to my daughter's house one weekend, a man was riding a horse in the street, I attempted to get a few photos while waiting at the red light however they all turned out bad. I was not sure if the man would let me take a picture of him and his horse, however I asked and he gladly said sure.

Rikers island

I went to go see a close friend of mine I never been here before last week was my first time there I wish I could have took more pictures like of the water and everything bus the bus was going to fast and when you get inside there's no phones allowed but the place I not really a great experience it's just that this gate amazes me I never seen anything like it my uncle is up north and his gates aren't even that steep

DBQ# 3

http://youtu.be/dEWuAcMWDLY

I chose this song because it describes Ophelia before she met George. After they met she started seeing things in a different perspective. Even so their relationship wasn't perfect this man gave her more than love.

Second song describes how Ophelia feels about George. She is proud of marrying someone like him successful and intelligent. Entire town was talking about the man she married from NYC.

True Love - P!nk ft. Lilly Allen

I chose this song because it makes me think of the tumultuous relationship George and Ophelia (Coco) shared. Her indecision and conflicting feelings about George. Their strained relationship during the "courtship" and in adjusting to each other after they are married. Nonetheless, they truly love each other in spite of their differences.

I DECIDED TO TAKE THIS PICTURE BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS A PERSON ON 42ND OR 34TH STREET PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT, DANCING, SINGING CREATING SOME FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR TRAIN RIDERS. THIS IS WHAT MAKES NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK CITY..... YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER WHILE RIDING THE SUBWAY.

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty was just another monument to me but it means so much more. The people of France gave the Statue to the people of the United States over one hundred years ago in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution.

A regular day in NYC

Most of us dont realize we live in one of the greatest city in the world unless we see things we never seen before.I my self did not appreciate what city has to offer until six months ago. My job is located in Time Square . One day during my lunch hour stopped in the center of Times Square and watched  Pharrell Williams performed live at no cost. I thought it was amazing how much NYC has to offer and we dont take advantage of it. Stayed for one hour and returned back to work. It was one of the best lunch break I had since I moved here. :)

Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn

I chose to take this picture at this particular cemetery because I pass it everyday and never been inside of it . You have a view of New York City from the top of the hill . The scenery brings me back to George and Ophelia's trips around NYC and the grave yard takes my mind to "the other place".

From Brooklyn, With Love (for DBQ2)

(Before and after lighting/size edits included)

I chose the Brooklyn Promenade (located in the Brooklyn Heights) as a place for George and Ophelia to visit because it is one of New York City's most visited places in Brooklyn without the Time Square tourist attraction feeling to it. You can go by yourself or bring a date to enjoy the view/walk with. The view of Manhattan is not the only thing worth a look. As you walk along, you will see old, beautifully kept houses/buildings along the way that have beautiful gardens. As a bonus, there is a Häagen-Daz ice cream shop nearby to grab a few scopes for the stroll.

John Legend- stay with you (group 3)