Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Chance
Explore how the name "Chance" is applicable to the events in the chapter. On what does the city take a chance? On what does Williamson take a chance? On what does Tusani take a chance? As you evalute the characters you have encountered, what larger societal issues are uncovered in this chapter? As Williamson takes a chance with Chance, what does she place at risk?
Because there are several issues and conflicts presented in this chapter, you may choose to explore another aspect of interest to you.
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Positive parental involvement is a crucial aspect of a child's life. Even if the parents in a child's household do not serve as positive influences, then it is crucial for a child to find an adult that can serve as their role model or mentor. For example, Tusani's mother thought it was a good idea for Williamson to visit her daughter and "help out". I think her mother was pleased with the relationship Williamson had with Tusani until she started helping her fix her appearance. As Tusani stated her mother was "jealous of her" and probably felt like she should be the only one trying to "teach her daughter how to be a woman" (240). The most interesting part of the chapter is when Tusani has a discussion about Chance with Williamson and suggests that she asks him if he has any children because of his good looks and environmental background. Williamson was skeptical taking relationship advice from an 11 year old girl (as any grown woman would), yet she still took a chance by asking him anyway (279). It's nice that Tusani made the suggestion and was trying to look out for Williamson; however has to be wrong in society when an 11 year old girl knows more about dealing with a man than a grown woman.
ReplyDeleteThat's is a good point that parental involvement is important to a child life. Also, the type of parenting can influence the choices that child makes.
DeleteI agree with you Sarye. Positive parental involvement is one of the biggest issues presented in this chapter. It was something Tusani lacked in this chapter and that Williamson lacked throughout the book. Williamson used her experience as a way to help change a young girls life. She does not want to see others going through what she been through. Although she been in many failing relationships, Lisa feels as if she found the right one in Chance. She was obviously blinded by his deceptive tactics and turned out to be heartbroken and used.
DeleteI love what Quason said i also believe that a child that the type of parenting can influence a childs behavior or ways because thoughout this entire memoir Lisa was making the same mistakes her mother made but unconsciously . I also agree with Sarye and Lisa the biggest issue was postivie parental guidance which was what Tussni lacked in this chapter.
DeleteI agree with you Sarye because positive parental involvement is necessary. Without a parent, many children lack the ability to be successful. As a result, kids such as Tusani don't know how to love or even take care of herself. In this society, it become difficult because the mother is influenced by drugs. Tusani is a young girl that doesn't know her way in this society, and needs help. Williamson ability to help is positive because she know how it feels to live in the projects. Living in the project could be a struggle.
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ReplyDeleteThe title entitled Chance speaks for it self. In other words Chance is another person in which Williamson encounters where she takes risks and chances getting involved with another man. Due to past relationships Williamson has guarded her heart because she continuously gets hurt in the end. Also, with Chance she took many things into consideration that she would have never thought about before all the heartbreak. Desperation took place in that she decided to share a man with another willing sister because black males that she was interested in was already taken. During this phase she did on to others that others did on to her that made her retaliate in the manner she did. Williamson is a strong and educated black female whom lacks street smarts. This missing piece causes her mishaps in relationships. As she takes a chance with Chance she places at risk her image and level in society. Being that she is with a man that already have a woman and she is aware of the other woman lowers others respect they have for her. Me for example I respect Williamson and what she stands for and what she did for others but, I lost respect for her when she stooped to a level where she got hurt at more than once. If anything she should know the feeling yet, she still did it to someone else. But my level of understanding is still there because she was hurt several times she did not know what else and where else to turn to and she needed that attention from a male
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said the lack of streets smarts cause mishaps in her relationships. I believe she talked to chance to find balance.
DeleteI agree with you as well as Quason when lack of street smarts is presented. Lisa's lack of street smart made her oblivious to Chance plans of using her for money to maintain his family. She was blinded by his charming ways. She thought she had found the right one in Chance but she turned out to be wrong.
DeleteI agree with Quason , i believe she looked at Chance as someone she can love , only being oblivious to his plans of using her for profit. All together, she is blind by his personality and charm but like everyother chapter she is still heart broken only to be blind but charms and love.
DeleteJada and Quason is exactly right. She is book smart but is not street smart. All of these relationships did not include book smarts. It was simply playing the game of dating.
DeleteI agree with Jada as well when she shared that she is book smart but not street smart. She held a sense of street smarts when she moved from house to house in her early years. As she grew up and tried to escape the horrid life she lived, she gain book smarts and lost all street smarts she had.
DeleteI agree with you, Jada. However, I think Williamson was street smart. She just didn't have any knowledge of how to deal with men. The only example of "good men" she knew were the men her mother brought home. Therefore, she didn't know what it meant to have a real man.
DeleteThank you Sarye but if she was street smart wouldn't that indicate she could handle the guys coming from the street? or wouldn't she be able to see the fraud happening right in front her eyes? or even know when a man is playing her ? no because she was only familiar with what men did to her mother and did not know how to handle it when it happened to her.
DeleteAgree! Lisa Williamson did choose book smarts, not knowing that she got involved and became a victim to a game in which only the streets was good at playing. She had somehow forgot that in this socirty, life and people naturally doesn't play fair, and forgetting the lesson her father taught- not to trust anyone!.
DeleteLisa Williamson could not have named chapter six of her book no other name but chance.Throughout, this chapter all she did was take various chances. Her first chance she took was coming the New York City. She wanted to reunite African Americans. She took a chance trying to survive in NYC. In addition, took a chance trying to change the life of people living in the shelters. One of the people she tried to help took many chances also. That character Tusani, took a chance to still see Lisa after her mother disapproved. In addition, taking a chance of dating a boy who was much older than her and believing he would truly love her. In this chapter, it is revealed to the reader that many people have to take risks in order to survive in NYC. I believe that Williamson took a big chance dating someone that was not her norm when it comes to dating. She decided to date a man name chance; a man who was a liar, cheater and excellent code-switcher. He made her believe he was better than the business man who wanted Lisa. Only, to find out he is married and used her for financial gain. I believe Lisa took a chance dating chance because she wanted a sense of protection and wanted a sense of love.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Quason. I also believe that she wanted to reunite the African Americans. She attempted to make her community better and for the children and her blacks in all. The risks she took were all meaningful but the results weren't what she expected.
DeleteYou are right this is the best name for the chapter. Everything that she did took a chance. You explained all of the chances that she took to be who she is. The biggest chance that was a major mistake was dating chance. He did all the things she was told to look out for and was blinded by love.
DeleteOut of all the relationships that Williamson has gone through in this book, Chance drained the most out of her. Not only did he suck the money out of her, but traumatized her mind when he was supposedly was having some sort of gang war. The end of this relationship was also very shocking. Chance had no real reason other than he "never loved her" to leave her. Nathan turned out to be gay so that is somewhat of a reasonable reason to leave, Joseph was married and that relationship was not supposed to exist in the first place, and there was one relationship where she did not even love the man. All of the relationships sort of had a slow decline, but the abrupt severing words Chance spoke would be enough to put someone off at trying to get a relationship ever, I would not blame Sister Souljah if she became asexual. However this was the chance she took, a chance at love again after being put off so many times, and a chance at finding the right black man when everyone says that they are all unfaithful and messed up.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Dale. I felt bad for her because she is much smarter than what her actions showed. Williamson appears to be a traditional woman. In other words, she believes in a woman needing to find a man to stay with. I think she chased after Chance because she didn't believe she could find anyone else.
DeleteI agree with both Sarye and Dale, that her education background does not show when it comes to relationships because the same thing repeats itself
DeleteI agree with Jada, Sarye and Dale. She is a very smart girl however, I feel like when it comes to love, it is like she is confused. She was trying finding a man she knows that will stay with her and she was deeply in love with Chance. I do feel bad that Chance did that to her.
DeleteWilliamson was able to quote “I thought that the generation gap in the African movement was a severe problem and had to be bridged… so the objective of the job, in addition to the creation of a nationwide student and youth movement, was to help close the many gaps that existed in our community: gaps between young and old, between young people who attend college and young people who did not, between the under, lower, and middle classes. I was to try to bring together African youth from Africa, Caribbean… “ (William232-233). In the chapter, William main objective was to take a chance in helping this community and society. Even when she was involving herself with Chance, she took a chance to help him out financially, but ended up getting hurt from his lies. When she was involved with Chance she put herself at risk. Her feeling for Chance was real, and she became heartbroken. It is evidence, every time she gives a boy a chance, she is lost from the outside world because she hurt . Lisa Williamson personal life living in the project was very empowering to helping these young kids, such as Tusani because she was in the same position. As I read this chapter, many of the people in these welfare hotels don’t have a chance in the living conditions, because as an African American they have a hard time. Is there any hope (chance), that these people will make a positive choice in their life, or rely on negativity in this society? How can any teenage girl/boy overcome adversity, when they are impacted by their parent foolish behavior? Her mother for example, is the definition of ignorance because she doesn’t make Tusani life any easier; she explains that as a nigger we are supposed to fail and suffer through the conditions living in the welfare hotels. When I come across Tusani in this chapter, each one is significant, because she deserve a chance to fix their mistakes. What are the different ways into helping these young kids get out of poverty and being homeless?
ReplyDeleteIn society many people succeed and some do not because of "chances". When we prepare ourselves and get the one opportunity to shine that's known as a chance. When god open doors for us, that's known as a chance. When we come across the right people at the right time, we're not lucky it's just a chance. In this chapter Lisa Williams did meet a "Chance" but it's not just him that is the moral idea of this chapter. It's also the young kids, like Tusani, the ones living in the hotel. Whose mother is a single parent, who has raised themselves because of little to no guidance. They are the ones that this idea of Chance surrounds. That if given a chance by being place in a better environment, they too could and would succeed. However, they are young innocent children of this society who sometimes never receive chances to shine, they don't know how it feels to have someone believe in them, so they eventually turn out to be corrupted. Raise by the streets, live by the streets and die by the streets. These little kids remind me of chance. Not chance the opportunity rather Chance the character. Lisa William's met a empowering character who she believe was different because of his aggression, something about him was "Strong" she claims. After giving him a chance, and trying once again to take a chance at love her life changed forever. In her task to change she winded up changing herself. Williamson quoted “I thought that the generation gap in the African movement was a severe problem and had to be bridged… so the objective of the job, in addition to the creation of a nationwide student and youth movement, was to help close the many gaps that existed in our community: gaps between young and old, between young people who attend college and young people who did not, between the under, lower, and middle classes. I was to try to bring together African youth from Africa, Caribbean… “ (232-233). In this chapter, William main objective was to take a chance in helping this community and society.
ReplyDeleteTo take chances is to take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome. In chapter six entitled Chance, Lisa Williamson encounters a man named Chance in which she takes risks with. She hopes she has found the right man. Her past relationships have all ended in a disaster. She comes to New York City to reunite with her race and learn new things. She takes a chance coming to a new place and trying to survive on her own. She also takes a chance opening up to a new guy and giving him her all. She helps others in her journey such as Tusani. Tusani's mother is jealous of how Tusani is advancing from the point she was at. Lisa is teaching Tusani how to be a woman and carry herself properly. Tusani is given the chance to fix her mistakes and turn her life around. This chapter uncovers many societal issues such as parental involvement as Sarye stated earlier. I believe this chapter unveils Psychological manipulation. Chance uses deceptive tactics to reel in Williamson into his plan of wiping her out economically which led to emotionally wiping her out. When taking a chance with Chance, Lisa puts at risk her beliefs, emotions, and body.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Lisa that this chapter uncovers many societal issues. These issues in this chapter just emphasized how African American men and women fail to love one another the right way.Despite the love Lisa Williamson distributes to the community, there are few like her.
DeleteI agree with Lisa on how the chapter reveals many societal issues. Those issues impact the African American male society created. Society has created a men that not only destroys his self but everything that is surrounds him as well. This leads to the deconstruction of the women as well.
DeleteI agree with you all. Refered back to Lisa Williamson's text, in the note to the readers, it is a system designed to fail. Society has placed an influence (one that is strongly negative and degrading) that has African men destroying themselves and placing an effect of woman as well.
DeleteIn this particular chapter Lisa finds herself being emotionally driven by a man who has charming ways to get what he desires from her. She is blinded but love and is oblivious to the fact that this man name Chance is using her for money. she us misled and when dating this man she puts her ideologies at risk as well as her emotions and body. This chapter mainly subjects around guidance and psychological manipulation such as Lisa said. Tusani's mother envys Tusani simply because of the changes she mad it order to become a better person. Chance can be described as a con artisit simply because he was able to manipulate Lisa's mind and destroy her economically, mentally and emotionally.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Daquan,Williamson was in love with his man.When you said "She is blinded but love and is oblivious to the fact that this man name Chance is using her for money." How was she suppose to know he was using her for money? Towards the end of the chapter i agree he seemed skeptical but in the beginning he wasn't. By the time he started to act out she was already in love.
DeleteI agree with you Daquan because she was blinded by love to actually see what was going on. She thought he loved her, the same way she loved him. However, it was all just a game.
DeleteMeeting Chance was just another lesson for Lisa Williamson in her love life. Giving love another chance, she repeatedly continued to get her heart broken after putting her trust into a man. Chance becoming another example of the prejudices of our African American men in the society. This chapter's name not only relates to the character is focuses on but also on the amount of chances and risks she takes on in her life. Chance was one of the biggest heart breaks that she encountered and it change her outlook on love and trust. This chapter reveals and exposes the reality of love between African American men and women and how it fails. After being broken for the first time by Nathan, she finally opened up to someone else who is Chance; and got hurt even worse than before. However, along with her manipulation, she still sustains a heart for her community. She gives back to the environment and helps kids like Tusani in their situations that are common and crucial.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Lisa's relationship with chance definitely was a learning experience for her. Even through all the heartache she experienced in the past, she still allowed her self to love again. Chance is a prime example of the society effects the man. The different relationships and experiences with men, put Lisa in a place in her life where she was left vulnerable and looking for love. Chance was an example of the many attempts it took to find a partner. He was an example of the chance she took with him while being skeptical of how trustworthy he is. I believe that she will not only remember chance because of the times she had with him but because of the mindset he lead her to. Now she is looking at life in a whole new light.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Correl , this experience was something to learn from. I believe Chance also took her confidence with him. Her confidence was the thing that motivated her to move on to find another relationship. She wanted to companionship so she could feel complete.She wanted to become a symbol of Black Love , so that others may want to have black on black relationships instead of looking outside ones race.
DeleteThe chapter of Chance was the breaking point where we seen how vulnerable she was on her own. She was told over and over giving her a "Chance" to understand that "Chance" was not for her. She was still naive although she got older. As the readers we would believe that she grew up and took advantage of the opportunities that she got, unfortunately she proved us wrong. Like Chanel said "This chapter reveals and exposes the reality of love between African American men and women and how it fails". She knows that she is falling in love all of these men and failing in all of the relationships.
ReplyDeleteLisa Williamson's relationship with Chance was definitely a relationship that pulled her all the way down. By that I mean that, that relationship really hurt her the most. Meeting Chance was just another lesson for Lisa Williamson in her love life. The different relationships and experiences with men, put Lisa in a place in her life where she was left vulnerable and looking for love. When Lisa first started talking to Chance she thought that she had finally found the man of her dreams but he turned out to be her worst nightmare. Chance used her for money, and she is misled and when dating this man she puts her ideologies at risk as well as her emotions and body. She was hurt and he taught he a great lesson.
ReplyDeleteThis Chapter "Chance" was where Lisa became vulnerable because she allowed herself to be fully committed of Chance, she allowed him to control her life. The name "Chance" related to the chapter because this chapter was based on giving and taking Chances. Williamson took a Chance with a man she didn't know at all and fell in love.Chance was taking a Chance in getting involved With Lisa while he was involved with a woman. Like Correl said "I believe that Lisa's relationship with chance definitely was a learning experience for her." This was definitely a experience for her that taught how a man is , and what you must do in order to find a good man.
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ReplyDeleteWithin Lisa Williamson’s text No Disrespect, I analyzed the sixth chapter of the text “Chance” as his name defines the way Lisa was manipulated into him. I believe that Williamson take a chance when she started working in Manhattan. She took the negative effects and try to make a change within the housing system. As I continue reading this chapter she then falls in love with Chance. But how could she? After getting hurt repeatedly and knowing that he was too good to be true. Tusani take a chance when she went to meet Lisa. Due to the comments from her mother it was evident that Lisa believed the conclusions that were drawn by mother when she was in the hospital. As Williamson takes a chance with Chance, she place at risk her job been once scared of loving a man that’s going to fail her eventually.
This particular relationship Lisa had had a very different predicament than her others. She did not know it was a game. She was deeply in love with Chance. The first time she met Chance was at a pizza shop. She really did like him once she got to know him. He even told her he was going to get married. He went to a party she held and became even more close to her. Even Tusani, a girl she met while doing a project who lived in a welfare hotel, said she should not let him go. When she heard that he was in jail, she had to get three thousand dollars for him because she wanted him out. She really cared about him. However, he started to changing his ways. Chance started to act differently and he told her he was in a gang war and did not want to hurt her. She eventually found out Chance had a wife and a kid. He was only using her for her money and the sex was only for the money. In the end, he was playing her the whole time but, she was devastated when he said “I don’t loved you and never did”(Souljah 306).
ReplyDeleteI believe that boys will be boys. He is simple a player who robs her physically, mentally and emotionally. Chance knew that he was able to manipulate the mindset she had for him to fall in love. However I blame Lisa for her actions towards her giving Chance a chance.
DeleteThroughout this chapter, Lisa Williamson really defines the meaning her "Chance". within this chapter, Williamson takes some chances and risks. This chapter was Williamson's way of revealing how openly weak she is on her own and with this man Chance. This chapter was a bit shocking and dissapointing only because from the beginning of her book, we meet this head strong, confident African American women who will fight for what she wants- even if she has to somehow manipulate and twist things for/to her own advantage. In this chapter, she is blindly used by Chance for her money to provide for himself and for his family. It is really heartbreaking to see such a strong dignified character go down like this. Her heart was exposed and open to to love, in which relates back to the title of the chapter "Chance"- where she took a nother chance at finding love on her own.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Nia because you stated how Lisa took chances and risks within this chapter. I believe not only was it mind blowing but I believe Lisa should have known better from not only her experience but from her observations with her mother and sister and her environment.
DeleteI believe that chance, is a meaning for a positive thing, everyone deserves chances. yet in this chapter Lisa Williamson shows that every chance isnt a chance worth taking as she put her mind, body, soul, street reputation and heart on the line to take a chance with Chance and ends up not only alone but devestated and terribly heart broken. However even though Chance showed us in this chapter everything dealing with taking chances doesnt always have a positive outcome, while Lisa Williamson was taking a chance with Chance, Tusani took a chance on her. There are negative outcomes dealing with taking chances, that can cause a terrible downfall and then there are chances that can be taken that can cause a come up. Thats what Lisa Williamson would have been for Tusani if her mother hadn't taken the opportunity way from her before she could have benefited from it. Still Tusani took another chance by dealing with Lisa Willisamson with out her mothers permission. Tusani took a chance on Lisa while Lisa took a chance on Chance. Tusani benefitted from the chance she took with Lisa, while Lis had a downfall dealing with the chance she took with Chance
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