My Thoughts on Kristen R. Lee's Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman
Eye-opening book. This book exposes us to many uncomfortable topics. It lets us know that the black community is disadvantaged and is shunned when speaking out on these disadvantages. Black people in this novel are presented in fantastic ways.
After reading Lee's Sun Keep Rising, I just knew I had to read this book. This book offers me a wonderful perspective of a black girl trying to fit in and find her way into a white-majority campus. The book highlights topics that most white people feel uncomfortable talking about and are easily offended by. Many white characters in this book are ignorant and don't understand the dangerous effects of racism. Black characters are treated with disrespect and are dismissed. Whatever happens to them is covered up. Many things I've noticed that have happened to black people in real life happen in this book.
Lucas represents the privileged, white, wealthy, people. Meggie, although not as privileged as Lucas, is still privileged. She doesn't have to deal with racial discrimination of any kind. Tasha, one of my favorite characters, is stylish, appears to be rich, well-spoken, and incredibly smart— but she has faced so much discrimination on campus and hid it— because blacks are underrepresented and underappreciated on campus.
Wooddale represents blatant institutional racism. One of the privileged white students, Elaina, does drugs because of her boyfriend, Lucas, the same boy who is very popular around campus for his fraternity parties, which are so... ugh. Elaina does drugs and nothing is done about it until the end of the book. They don't do anything when Savannah reports Lucas for defacing the statue of George Clive or spray-painting a racial slur on her door, even though there is a lot of evidence that points out to him. Lucas and other white boys on campus openly say the n-word, which is a slur that can only be reclaimed by black people. When black boys fight back, they're punished and one is even at risk of losing his scholarship. Savannah is falsely accused of vandalizing Lucas's car and the campus is quick to open an investigation on her, but whenever white children are caught doing anything, or whenever racism against blacks is the topic, they do very little.
During a peaceful protest against racism in Wooddale, Savannah and other fellow protestors are maced. Tear gas is thrown at them. The police use violence to disperse a peaceful protest where black students are demanding fair treatment at that horrible, sloppy, nasty university.
I liked how in the end, Savannah decides to expose Lucas and his family using evidence, and how Tasha changes her mind and shows her story. I love how black students end up teaming together against racism, debunking the popular stereotype that blacks can't get along at all.
I only took one star off for the fact that racism is all that's focused on in this book. I understand that racism is a serious topic and can't be watered down at all. But the racism sometimes felt like it was unrealistic because of how in every chapter, we never got to get away from it for a minute. All Savannah thought about was Lucas. Lucas seemed to be more of the main character than Savannah. I didn't like how the author gave him unnecessary extra attention. Savannah thought more about Lucas than she did herself. Another issue related to racism was the ending. Just like that, Lucas and Elaina got what was coming for them. But there isn't a move to change Wooddale for the better. Despite all of Savannah's efforts, all of the evidence, the radio interview, and the protest, we don't see any changes at Wooddale. At all. I'm so proud of Savannah for leaving Wooddale for Booker T. Washington University, a place where she will be respected as a young black girl and won't be surrounded by snobby white students who are ignorant and fuel anti-black racism.
The ending was very good. Savannah came to terms with being herself, decided that she was;t going to let the white supremacy win, exposed Lucas and other racists at her university, (or trash-versity as I call it) and makes the decision to leave Wooddale. But I wish the ending had more to it. For instance, I wanted to see more of Savannah's mother's reaction to her daughter's decisions. I wanted to see Savannah's mother open her eyes and be more accepting of her daughter's perspective. I wanted to see Savannah, Tasha, and Benji talk to each other about this decision and decide what this all meant for their friendship.
Still a great story, though! 4.5 stars out of 5!
After reading Lee's Sun Keep Rising, I just knew I had to read this book. This book offers me a wonderful perspective of a black girl trying to fit in and find her way into a white-majority campus. The book highlights topics that most white people feel uncomfortable talking about and are easily offended by. Many white characters in this book are ignorant and don't understand the dangerous effects of racism. Black characters are treated with disrespect and are dismissed. Whatever happens to them is covered up. Many things I've noticed that have happened to black people in real life happen in this book.
Lucas represents the privileged, white, wealthy, people. Meggie, although not as privileged as Lucas, is still privileged. She doesn't have to deal with racial discrimination of any kind. Tasha, one of my favorite characters, is stylish, appears to be rich, well-spoken, and incredibly smart— but she has faced so much discrimination on campus and hid it— because blacks are underrepresented and underappreciated on campus.
Wooddale represents blatant institutional racism. One of the privileged white students, Elaina, does drugs because of her boyfriend, Lucas, the same boy who is very popular around campus for his fraternity parties, which are so... ugh. Elaina does drugs and nothing is done about it until the end of the book. They don't do anything when Savannah reports Lucas for defacing the statue of George Clive or spray-painting a racial slur on her door, even though there is a lot of evidence that points out to him. Lucas and other white boys on campus openly say the n-word, which is a slur that can only be reclaimed by black people. When black boys fight back, they're punished and one is even at risk of losing his scholarship. Savannah is falsely accused of vandalizing Lucas's car and the campus is quick to open an investigation on her, but whenever white children are caught doing anything, or whenever racism against blacks is the topic, they do very little.
During a peaceful protest against racism in Wooddale, Savannah and other fellow protestors are maced. Tear gas is thrown at them. The police use violence to disperse a peaceful protest where black students are demanding fair treatment at that horrible, sloppy, nasty university.
I liked how in the end, Savannah decides to expose Lucas and his family using evidence, and how Tasha changes her mind and shows her story. I love how black students end up teaming together against racism, debunking the popular stereotype that blacks can't get along at all.
I only took one star off for the fact that racism is all that's focused on in this book. I understand that racism is a serious topic and can't be watered down at all. But the racism sometimes felt like it was unrealistic because of how in every chapter, we never got to get away from it for a minute. All Savannah thought about was Lucas. Lucas seemed to be more of the main character than Savannah. I didn't like how the author gave him unnecessary extra attention. Savannah thought more about Lucas than she did herself. Another issue related to racism was the ending. Just like that, Lucas and Elaina got what was coming for them. But there isn't a move to change Wooddale for the better. Despite all of Savannah's efforts, all of the evidence, the radio interview, and the protest, we don't see any changes at Wooddale. At all. I'm so proud of Savannah for leaving Wooddale for Booker T. Washington University, a place where she will be respected as a young black girl and won't be surrounded by snobby white students who are ignorant and fuel anti-black racism.
The ending was very good. Savannah came to terms with being herself, decided that she was;t going to let the white supremacy win, exposed Lucas and other racists at her university, (or trash-versity as I call it) and makes the decision to leave Wooddale. But I wish the ending had more to it. For instance, I wanted to see more of Savannah's mother's reaction to her daughter's decisions. I wanted to see Savannah's mother open her eyes and be more accepting of her daughter's perspective. I wanted to see Savannah, Tasha, and Benji talk to each other about this decision and decide what this all meant for their friendship.
Still a great story, though! 4.5 stars out of 5!
No comments have been added yet.
