#bethany hodkinson

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X-Factor

I remember the first time I had to read this book in my Sophomore history class and how tedious and frustrating it was to keep up with then. Compared to now, I found that reading it was easy and satisfying. I feel like I'm equipped to compare and contrast this book and Malcolm X as a person to other things than I was when I was in high school. It was a huge change from the last two autobiographies we've been reading and I feel like, because Bradley and Franklin were so different between just the two, that adding in another type of person with a different story and fight really makes us separate them all and analyze the stories more effectively.

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Franklin, Shmaklin

I had a really difficult time focusing on Franklin this time. I feel like after our discussion and more passionate focus on Bradley lately has kind of put a sheet over Mr. Ben. Maybe because the things Franklin is focusing on don't feel as relevant or open to the public like Bradley's do. But, yeah, this reading had me putting it down more than picking it up.  

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Lets have a moment

I want to talk a little bit about Bradley when he talks about being a winner and a loser and walking the same street. It makes me a little angry that this is so true. That based on our outward accomplishments or failures is the only time people find interest in each other. That we immediately shame someone who doesn't do what we'd hoped and we put on pedestals people that overachieve our expectations. And it goes so much deeper than just winning or losing, too. It was a huge throwback to the old saying, "don't judge a book by it's cover," and yet, we do it all the time. To everyone. We use so little to base our opinions on people we don't know or understand. Does winning or losing deeply define someone's character? Does it define their morals and beliefs and their background? 

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Whoa, Someone's an Adult

As a writer, I usually pay close attention to character detail because it's my favorite part about stories. And it's sometimes hard to remember that I'm reading about a real person with Bill Bradley because his character is so particular. His jump at the party for his future career and the way he handles himself with his life and choices is just so mature and real. It kind of makes me feel less of an adult a little bit. If I were to meet him in real life, we would possibly clash. I think the way we handle things and think would be very different.

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Steal it Like a Journalist

I liked the distinct difference it explains between a blogger and journalist. But I think that blogging inspires tons of people to feel and act like journalists. And there's this book out call Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon who talks about if you want to be something, you have to act the part. If you pretend to be a journalist while blogging and you write like one, you essentially will become one. And if the blogging universe is filled with journalists, will we need news anymore from tv or papers? I just think this idea is cool and I hadn't thought of it before.

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Food, Glorious Food

Food is the number one thing all humans have in common. We all eat. No matter where we are or who we are we need to consume food. I for one think food is highly important in understanding the world all together. I feel like people have to have an open mind about it and not be afraid to explore it. But I'm not the type that can just eat whatever I want when I want. And I live in America where most of my food isn't really food. It's frozen, processed something or another. I think it's important to understand what our food is made of and where it comes from, but not to the extreme Yemma talks about. He kinda made me roll my eyes and go, "well humans lived this long, so, yep." And even though I know my fruit loops are nothing but dyed sugar circles, I can't help but eat a bowl as I type this.

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Roots

Reading Urban Cool made me think how we as humans have started to identify ourselves loudly. Now there has always been the lingering question, "Who am I and what does that say?" but I feel that more recently it's become important to identify ourselves by our roots. Where did we come from and what does that do for us? I for one was born in Texas and lived in America all my life, but I was raised by a mother born in Cork, Ireland and a father born in Berlin, Germany. They identify as Irish and German and taught us the importance of our cultural background, but when I'm asked where I'm from, I always say Texas. When I hear good things about my state and the beautiful things it has, my heart swells with pride. But I also get excited when I hear people talk about Germany or Ireland. I know Yemma doesn't really talk about this specifically, but it sure did make me contemplate it.

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Sayer say what?

I think it's really interesting that Sayer talked about how autobiographies were one of the oldest forms of literature in America. It just makes me wonder what motivated all these people to write about themselves and their lives here over all the other things that could be talked about. I certainly would be so caught up in the fact that I made to America to begin with because boat journeys were so sketchy that I would feel like a kid at Disney World for the first time. I would be more excited to write about all the things that are new like flowers and animals and natives. But that's just me.