The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf

Mohja Kahf's novel "The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf" was a real eye opener for me. I have never read a novel regarding Muslim women or Muslims in general. I usually tend to stay away from the media and their views as well. As I read the novel, I learned more about the religion and the culture, as well as the views of both Americans on Muslims and Muslims on Americans. We discussed in class recently the concept of "authentic others." I begin to realize after reading the novel that we are all really an authentic other. This idea that as a western civilized American I study and try to learn about other cultures from the point of view of other western civilized Americans. I do not learn information and views from members of the other background. This does not allow me to fully grasp the concept of the tradition or culture I wish to understand. Reading Mohja Kahf's novel from her point of view as a Muslim from Syria allows me a greater insight into the Muslim culture than reading it from a textbook.
In this novel we also see signs of socializaton for Muslims and Americans. The socializations begins to create a battle among Americans and Muslims in society. Khadra is a young Muslim girl growing up in Indiana. Her family has come from Syria, a land predominatly Muslim. She has moved to a land that is predominatly non-Muslim. She is growing up in a small community of Muslims in a large community of non-Muslims. Khadra begins to discover her identity of a Muslim vs. an American. She discovers this through her socialization. Her parents have taught her that Americans are dirty, filthy people. They do not wash their behinds after using the restroom, they eat pig meat (which is considered filthy by Muslims), they own pets such as dogs (which are also considered filthy). As Khadra grows in her Muslim community, she discovers she could never be an American because they are filthy and dishonorable. She feels they will surely not go to heaven. We also discover that the Americans represented in the novel have been socialized by school and family to be against Muslims. The boys in school take Khadra's scarf and cut it. In her culture this is very sacred and a boy must not see your hair, however here the boys have disresepcted her. In the early part of the novel some people throw bottles and trash at their home in disgust of who they are. We see plain hatred by the Americans towards the Muslims in this novel.
Another depiction of socialization is discovered as Khadra makes the Hajj. She sees two American looking men on the plane. Khadra scourns at them and shows disgust for their journey to pray over oil. However, they inform her that they too are making the Hajj. Khadra has been socialized to hate Americans from her parents and her encounters in school and society. As this incident occurs we see Khadra grow as a person and as a Muslim. She discovers more or less not to label people as "others." She viewed them as Americans, instead of Muslims.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. At first it seemed a little drawn out and that the author could have narrowed it down a bit, but every story/chapter added to the understanding of the Muslim culture as well as being an authentic other and socialization.

Kindred

The novel Kindred, by Octavia Butler, is an eye opening piece of literature. It tells of a generation of our American past that has never seemed so vivid and harsh. The novel follows the flashbacks and life of Dana. Dana is a modern African American woman. She is married to a white man named Kevin and living in California. It is her twenty-sixth birthday and she finds herself in the middle of a dizzy spell and saving a young boy's life. Through several flashbacks she finds herself living as a slave on a plantation in the South, an area controlled by slavery. She realizes the boy who she has been caring for in her flashbacks is a relative of hers.
One aspect I found very intriguing is the art of reading. It is mandatory for Dana to teach white children to read, however, she cannot teach black children to read. She herself feels slightly threatened by knowing how to read. The slave owners inform each other that they would not want their slaves educated and literate because they may become so educated or able to read signs and learn ways to rebel and escape from their plantation. I feel being nonliterate would be scary in itself, however, I could not imagine fearing my literacy. Dana teaches Rufus to read, though she herself knows it is dangerous to teach reading.
Now that she sees what the plantation life is like, she becomes shocked and the idea of it all makes her ill. She watches as children, men, and women are beaten for petty things, such as learning to read or teaching to read. She herself is beaten for the first time. She also expresses her concern about her husband, Kevin, a white male, observing such treatment.
I enjoyed the story of Kindred. I feel that Octavia Butler's writing made it seem so realistic. The effects of slavery and the impact on their lives becomes a vivid part of our history in America throughout the novel.

The Bluest Eye

I think The Bluest Eye was well written depiction of life for African American girls coming of age in America. Young African American women who are beginning to search and find for themselves begin to question why they are always overlooked and not noticed. The protagonist, Pecola exemplifies a young African American female finding her self in this era. She sees the beautiful white girls with pretty blue eyes absorb all the attention. She looks at Shirly Temple's curls and blue eyes and begins to desire her appearance. She discovers more than anything she needs blue eyes to be noticed. I think it is a shame that a young girl has to desire a new appearance just to feel socially accepted. I also feel a great sympathy for the people of this time. A little sympathy even goes towards Cholly. I feel he acts the way he does; running about committing violent acts because of the way he has been treated because of his skin color. I also enjoyed Toni Morrison's writing style. I felt at times the lines flowed, almost lyrical.