Betsey Brown

The second part of the novel was different from what I expected it to be. After reading Huck Finn and Rise, Fall of the American Teenager, Charlotte Temple and my individual book Native Son, I expected something bad and unfortunate to happen to the characters. However, the only thing we find in this novel is that Regina, like many young girls today, is left abandoned and pregnant by her "beau" who turned out not to be the knight in shining armor, come to take her away and start a family.

This novel turned out to be pleasent to read. It mostly displayed to wondering, adolescent mind of Betsey Brown. I could very much relate to some of the ideas she had when I was her age: having a secret place to mellow out, secret romance, views about race issues, and micheviousness like when she made Mrs. Callhon leave. Before reading this book I was familiar with the bussing law passed during that era. This book gave me a sense of what black children had to do in order to abide by that law. It also gave me a sense of how they might have coped with this new experience.

Overall, this novel well represented not just a black family, but I think any family with adolescent children. There were ups and downs, problems and disagreements, but the fact still remaid that they were a family and the stayed together. I like this aspect Shange brought out.

Rough Outline for Essay on Teen Pregnancy

This is really a rough outline on the topic. I wanted to look into asking questions about teenage pregnancy; questions that I often hear from others and questions that I've had myself. I copied it from a word document so it may look a bit strange.

Topic: Teen Pregnancy
I. Introduction
a. Thesis: Sexuality is explored almost exclusively in the time during one’s adolescence, which often times leads to unwanted pregnancy. Today, it seems teenage pregnancy has become a commonality, that to most seems, normal. But is it really?
b. 1st point: Why are teenage pregnancy rates so high these days?
c. 2nd point: What was the rate of teenage pregnancy 20 years ago? 30 years ago? Maybe even further in the past?
d. 3nd point: What are the health effects of teen pregnancy
e. 4th point: What can be done about high rates?
f. 5th point: Why are males excluded when we think about pregnancy prevention?
g. 6th point: Reflection of this topic in my own adolescence
h. Closing Sentence
II. Body
a. 1st paragraph (s) on why teen pregnancy is high
· Teens are careless. This is why many teen pregnancies are unplanned. On the other hand many young women want to be mothers. So, many teen pregnancies aren’t accidental but intentional because. Girls see no life goals other than to be mothers
b. 2nd paragraph(s) about history of teen pregnancy rates from years past
· 1979 The use of condoms doubled meaning more teen were having sex Until 1988 the use of condoms continued to double. 1990s.
c. 3rd paragraph (s) about Health effects
· Possible complications: High blood pressure ,Anemia, Babies likely too small These can be prevented if Mother stays healthy eating right; staying away from alcohol
d. 4th paragraph (s) Lowering teen pregnancy rates
· Sex education classes, Contraceptives
e. 5th paragraph (s) Males and teen pregnancy
· Males must be involved in policy solutions to prevent teen pregnancy
f. 6th paragraph (s) Personal experience
· Common for peer to explore sexuality coming up
III. Conclusion
a. Restate thesis
b. Restate several points
c. Concluding sentence(s)

Huck Finn

In chapter 31, when Jim and Huck were planning to leave the Duke and King because of their crazy antics, the conning pair sell Jim into slavery. At this point, when Huck's discovers Jim is gone, he "set down and cried" (Twain 220). Huck's reaction to Jim's disappearance was that of someone who cared and had a sense of value for the friendship. Society would have viewed Huck's actions as questionable, wondering if he was on the side of the whites or that of the blacks.

After, Huck had to make the decision to save Jim, or let him be sold into slavery. When he wrote the letter to Mrs. Watson about Jim's whereabouts, he thought that if word ever got out that he helped a black man escape slavery, people would look down on him. He also remembered what he learned in Sunday school about helping a black fugitive slave: that he "goes to everlasting fire" (222). This idea is completely, false, I think. Furthermore, I think those who were trying to "sivilize" Huck with the Christian religion and manors, were hypocrites because one of the Christian themes that rings in my head is "do unto those as you would have them do unto you."

Jim also had the decision to help Jim and "go to hell" (223). So, he decided to help Jim and I think this was the best thing he could have done to go against the norm and prove to others that blacks are not just objects, but human beings.

Finally, this novel made me realize the horrible attitude America has had toward blacks and other minority groups throughout history. It reminds me of the hardships they had to endure in this country. However, I'm thankful that today, society has turned away from the mentality of discrimination, racism, and race superiority.