Heavy: An American Memoir book. Define Black Abundance (more detail under “instructions”.

“Black Abundance” (100 points): Turning to the second section of Heavy: The American Memoir “Black Abundance,” the narrator, Kiese is in high school. For this second essay, we will interrogate the term “black abundance.” Laymon does not define this term. We must discern its meaning through critical reading of key scenes. To help get at the term’s meaning we will need to start asking crucial questions: What is race? What is AAL (African American Language)? We should also note that Laymon uses “black abundance” in the context of his education: his education at home (his mom, a professor, is his teacher) and in a white-majority Catholic high school. Some questions here: What do Kie and his friend Lathon mean by “black abundance”? How is “black abundance” and Kie’s use of language connected to whiteness? How does language affect Kie’s relationship with his mother? How is their conflict over language related to race? How does the language Kie uses reflect the effects of race (and racism) on his relationships with his friends, classmates, and romantic relationships? How does his language mediate his interactions with his teachers, coaches, and other mentors? For this assignment, write an essay that defines “black abundance” and how the term relates to Kiese’s identity as black teen in America. Key skills and goals of this project: Using evidence from the story to define a key concept; continued development of summary and paraphrase; refinement of in-text citations in an evidence-based essay; refinement of thesis statements; topic sentences and paragraph structure. Essay structure: Introduction: • Write a hook that clearly states the topic of your essay. • Use a concrete example (video, lyric, scene from a tv show, etc) to create a context for your essay. • Write a thesis statement that answers how “black abundance” resists the racist ideologies of segregation and assimilation by promoting antiracist ideas? Frame: Two paragraphs • Write one paragraph explaining race and related concepts such as segregation, assimilation, antiracism, behavioral racism and/or cultural racism. This section should use the skills of summary and direct quotation. • Referencing the chapter “Meager,” write one paragraph defining “black abundance,” putting the definition in the context of African American Language (AAL), sometimes also called “Black English,” and Language of Wider Communication (LWC), also known as “standard American English.” This section should use the skills of summary and direct quotation. Case: Two paragraphs • Describe two key scenes from the other three chapters – “Contraction,” “Hulk,” “Gumption.” The scenes you choose should be from separate chapters and they should illustrate how “black abundance” resists the racist ideologies of segregation and assimilation and possibly promotes antiracist ideas. This section should use the skills of summary and direct quotation. Synthesis and analysis: Two paragraphs • Write one paragraph explaining how the first scene you chose demonstrates how “black abundance” resists racist ideologies and/or promotes antiracist ideas. • Write a second paragraph explaining how the second scene you chose demonstrates how “black abundance” resists racist ideologies and/or promotes antiracist ideas. Focus these paragraphs by considering the following: o How does the scene relate to Kiese and his identity as a black teen? o How does the scene demonstrate the dynamics of race and the need for “black abundance” to resist racist ideologies? 2 o How does the scene illustrate the racial dynamics of language and how they are used to resist racist ideologies? o Make sure you connect the scenes to your thesis about how “black abundance” resists racist ideologies (thesis). Conclusion: Conclude by reflecting on what you have written and insights you have made through the process of writing the essay. Consider how your own experience relates to your analysis and how writing the essay has changed your understanding or clarified your own views on race. Along with race, consider how your language relates to your own identity. Have you ever felt that your language has been racialized? For example, have you ever been conscious of speaking in a way that identifies you with a specific community? Ideally, you will support your insights with specific examples from your experience. Be sure to use proper MLA formatting. Include a title. Use proper quotation and citation.

DISCLAIMER: I will provide the sources that are supposed to be used in connotation for the book Heavy: The American memoir below.
African American Language: So Good It’s Bad, Smitherin Link:
file:///Users/kaylahconcepcion/Downloads/Geneva%20Smithreman%20black%20language%20so%20good%20it’s%20bad.pdf

Micheal Omi: Living In Color Link:
file:///Users/kaylahconcepcion/Downloads/Omi_In%20Living%20Color.pdf

Kendi, Dueling Consciousness Link :
file:///Users/kaylahconcepcion/Downloads/Kendi%20Ch2%20Dueling%20Consciousness.pdf
Bell Hooks, “The Coolness of Being Real”
file:///Users/kaylahconcepcion/Downloads/hooks,%20Coolness%20of%20Being%20Real.pdf

I know this is extremely last second and overwhelming. If you need a link for the book as well I can provide it as well. Any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me at 516-737-5542. I appreciate it so much.