Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Mona
On page 202 Williamson says to her niece, "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother." As you reflect on this chapter, to whom does this advice also apply? Use evidence from the chapter to support your response.
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I believe this advice applies to Williamson and her sister because the image their mother projected was not one that they should have followed. In fact, her behavior was quite contradictive because there were some things she ordered them to do that would defy other rules she suggested. Similar to their mother, Williamson's sister seemed very dependent on her child's father because she valued the importance of a two parent household. She explained to Williamson that she did not want to tell her about Leon beating her because she thought Williamson would kill him. However, Williamson said that the child wouldn't have her biological father whether he was dead or alive (204). It's hard to let someone go when you're used to them being around; especially when their behavior changes and they show you a contrast in their personality. One can often become blindsided and in denial in these cases because they're waiting for the person they first met to reappear. Williamson argues that women do need men; yet a bad man is not worth the trouble (206).
ReplyDeleteWhat about Mona? Does this advice apply to her as well? If so, how?
DeleteI do think it can apply to Mona because Mona believes in women being dependent on no one. Also, women not needing men for anything.
DeleteDidn't Mona depend on women so that she will be repaired from being hurt by a man?
DeleteI believe that it does not apply to Mona, because she grew up in a different life. Her experiences later on in lead to pursue the "Gay" life.
DeleteOn page 202 Williamson says to her niece, "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother." This relates to Williamson herself because her mother was bringing males in and out of her kids lives let alone her own. Williamson had to be smarter and stronger than her mother because her mother at a point in time was just "there" she was just a person watching them she no longer fit the criteria of a mother. On page 22 Williamson discusses her mother getting beat on by Tyrone and her mother telling her she is fine and to return to her room. This portrayed an image in little Williamson head that love allows one to stay involved in something that is no longer healthy. Her mother would give directives and do the complete opposite right in front of the kids eyes which caused confusion. Williamson going through all the men she went through transparently shows a replica of her mother. Although I believe this entire act was born out the absence of her father and now always wanting that male figure she lacked in her younger years.
ReplyDeleteI like the example you use to support your argument. So you saying the words Lisa shared with her niece are the same words she shaped her life around?
DeleteI believe the type of image a parent gives will feed onto a child and will teach a child the same what that parent does. In other words, the way a child acts reflect what they are taught at home. I believe the same words Lisa shared with her niece about the world is what she shaped her life around however she was not smart enough to hold that mentality
DeleteI believe that you are correct and Lisa needs to reshape her life around what she said to her niece. It is only right that she follows what she instills into her niece. That is hypocritical since she did not
DeleteI agree with what you have stated Jada. The mother figure that she had had changed over the transitions of their lives and she no longer fit the correct mother figure. Fortunately, Lisa was intelligent enough to guide herself in the right ways of life.
DeleteI agree with you, Jada. The absence of her father affected her more than she realized. She was too busy trying to be better than her mother that she forgot how to be herself. If she had a positive male role model in her life then she wouldn't go after certain men. The effects of her childhood resulted in her bad choice in men.
DeleteWhen Lisa was left alone with her niece she decided to instill a life lesson on her niece . "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother" (Souljah 202). I believed this advice applies to her niece and herself. I believed this advice applies to her niece because her mom is dependent on men and believe the only way she can survive in this world is having a mom. Lisa sister did not want to leave her boyfriend even after he abused her and abandon her with the baby. Williamson told her niece that because she wants her niece to be independent and would not need a man to survive. I also, believe this advice applies to Lisa herself. Those few words are what allowed Lisa to be so success. Since, growing up Lisa did not want to be like her mom having numerous unstable relationships. In addition, her mother was an educated women but wanted Lisa wanted to extended her academia past her mom. In conclusion, Lisa was saying that in order to succeed in life you have to excel past the person who came before you; and that you have to be strong to overcome challenges the world throws at you.
ReplyDeleteQuason, I agree with you and the last sentence is a great way of interpreting and analyzing the quote presented in page 202. Women often depend on men for many things which might be one of the many reasons why this is said to be a male dominant society. Her experiences cause her to see the world as a cruel world and she believes in order for a woman to survive and succeed, she has to do better and be smarter than her mother. You forgot to include how this advice applies to Mona because although she is said to be a lesbian, there is something that caused her to seek a same-sex relationship.
DeleteQuason you've made a valid point with your statement. While growing up Lisa did say that she did not want to be like her mother because of the situations that she had to watch her mother go through. You stated that since growing up Lisa did not want to be like her mom having numerous unstable relationships, but Lisa had a numerous amount of unstable relationships just like her mom did!
DeleteI agree with Quason and Tatiana with the point that Lisa tried her best to not turn out like her mother. She did not want to have to go through the same struggles of as her mother. Later on in life, I believe Lisa did become a positive leader to the community and financially stable, but still had a hard time finding a men who was consistent in her life.
DeleteIronically Lisa tells her niece "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother" (Souljah 202). I think that it is ironic because she technically did not survive since she said "smarter and stronger than your mother". Her mother was educated as well so Lisa is not smarter nor stronger. This stood out to me because it is a contradiction to her life. The niece's mother is not strong because she relies on the male for support. The overall moral of what she was saying is that as a woman you have to be strong and independent to actually have a say so in this world. If you are dependent on a man you will not succeed. If Lisa correctly applies this to her life it would be less confusion in her relationships. She is somewhat independent but at times need to come back to reality and understand that she does not need the men that she aims for.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement, In the beginning of this memoir Lisa was very knowledgeable of what to do and what not to do. She didnt really aim at men and always kept w far distance and was very smart but ss time progress and she got older it began to change , fkr her to give her niece that advice is ironic because she had the same belief but could not maintain keeping that mentality
DeleteOn page 202 Williamson says to her niece, "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother." I believe this quote applies to a larger society of females. Ever so often there are females who rely on man as a source of benefit. They shadow their own beliefs, desires, thoughts,and morals just to live under the cruelty of a man. Even when he treats them wrong, even when he abuse them, cheat on them, disrespect them, these females with lost of hope and themselves, pledge to believe that they cannot find anyone else. Lisa agree that woman do need man but yet a bad man is not worth the trouble (206). That's another thing Lisa Williams mother in the earlier chapters, we're abused and mistreated but she too stick around because of benefits. Since this chapter seen to be about Mona this issues should apply to her too wether she is gay or not. Mona I apart of the females who were a lot smarter. She has her own apartment, own job and hardworking money. Although she chooses to be a sinner she is more independent, seems to have more self awareness, sense of style and common knowledge.
ReplyDeleteRichard, I agree with you in certain aspects. Women do let cruelty of a man and lost hope to overshadow their beliefs, desire, thoughts and morals. But when it comes to Mona, although she is independent and self- aware, she is hurting and is searching in women a way to repair herself. Her experience allowed her "to be turn off by all men". She adapted this lifestyle and her feelings caused her to have a snap judgement. Therefore this advice does not only apply to Lisa and her sister but Mona as well.
DeleteLisa Williamson continued to learn many life lessons as she experienced many things. She uses her life experiences as a way to inform others a way to avoid being just like her. When she gets the time alone with her niece she says to her " Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother" (Williamson 202). This advice applies to many of the women in society but when it pertains to the text it applies to Lisa Williamson, her sister and Mona. Lisa Williamson gave up truly finding a right man and try to find happiness in a married man. This relationship was against her beliefs but she seemed desperate and influenced by society to find a man at any cost. Williamson's sister was constantly being beat by Leon but was too scared to say anything. In order to obtain a man, these women let temporary happiness overshadow their morals, beliefs and desires. Women lose hope because they begin to believe they would not be able to find anybody else. Therefore, they stick with relationships that are socially incorrect and abusive. Mona seems to be much smarter than Williamson and her sister by her sense of independence and self awareness. But she seeks for happiness in the same-sex which was born out of being hurt by a man. I believe some women do not involve themselves in same-sex relationship because they are interested in women. Oftentimes they "turn gay" because a man was unable to treat them the way they deserve to be treated. "But somehow you've allowed that experience to turn you off to all men. But sleeping with a woman does not guarantee you anything. Women, too, can be power-hungry exploiters" (Williamson 223). As I stated earlier, Mona used being hurt by a man as a reason to search for happiness in women.
ReplyDelete"Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother"(Williamson 202).This quote apply's to Lisa life because she has the same problems; even though she wasn't physically abused in relationships, she was mentally abused by the men she has meet. Lisa needs to take her advice because her mother didn't do a good job at raising her, after her father left her life, she struggled. Lisa had to observe the various men coming in and out of her life and left an impact on the family. I believe Lisa was able to take on the same characteristic as her mother, because she is isn't different, and as I reflect on the book she wasn't the strong independent women that I expected after all the triumphs and tribulations that she went through in her life. Williamson quotes "I looked at my sister and felt sorry for her. It wasn't her fault she was so weak-minded.My mother was not the same person when she raised her that she was when she raised me"(Williamson 204). How could she say such a thing, when her mother treated her the same way? Lisa and her sibling was impacted by the mothers decisions, because Lisa herself didn't change for the better, she was stuck trying to cope with the mistakes her mother has made. She wasn't a good mother to her children, but made their life horrible. Due to the lack of parenting each child didn't be successful or was happy. There childhood has changed there life for the worse, and if they had a role model I believe they would have made good choices in life.
ReplyDeleteStephanie I agree with your statement. I believe that we all expected Lisa to be a lot stronger and smarter than she was when it came to dating men. Are you saying that the reason why Lisa sister was going through obstacles with her boyfriend and the reason why Lisa wasn't stable with a man is because of their mother?
DeleteI believe Lisa was strong, she was just young. She was also confused and trying to find out who she wanted to be in life. There's a possibility that Lisa may have made the same mistakes with men even if she had her father in her life. Sometimes people have positive role models and disregard their advice because they need to learn certain things on their own. Deep down inside, Lisa probably knew she was wrong but had too much pride to acknowledge it.
DeleteThis particular chapter i believe shows the effects of bad parent guidance. When Lisa was younger her mother brought different men around their house so there was really no strong father figure, and due to the fact that her father believe men she do anything made Mona believe she must be dependent. However Lisa would break that corruption and keep a distance from that type of mentality. When Lisa spoke about the world being cruel for her niece and that she must be smart to survive i come to realize that it is true because women fall into pressure and feel the need to have a man . She tried to use this advice she gives her niece to warn her about the path of being dependent and independent especially because Mona depends on men, i don't necessarily believe it is Mona's fault that she grew up this way but i believe it was the bad parenting that led her this way.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean parent guidance? She is not the parent but i see what direction you are heading in. I agree that she had to experience the cruel world's effect to be able to tell her niece what not to do. That is like telling someone how to rob a bank and you never succeeded.
DeleteI disagree with you Daquan I believe that you can live within a bad environment and rise above the negative influence. However Mona wasn’t the one neglected by such environment. I believe you were referring to Lisa’s sister who came across having responsibilities at a tender age.
DeleteThe advise that Lisa Williamson gave her niece can also apply to Lisa herself. this is because while growing up Lisa would watch and experience the situations that her mother went through with men and continued to say that she did not want to be like that. As Lisa Williamson got older she ended up going through the same abused from men as her mother did. Williamson needed to be a lot stronger than her mother but she was not. By saying that she went through the same abused that her mom did, I mean mental abuse. Lisa Williamson watched the different men that game in and out of her mother's life. She saw the good and the bad in them, all so she knew the difference. As she became older i believe that she just wasn't strong enough or smart enough to know the difference of the men that she should encounter herself with. When Lisa Williamson was younger and she saw Tyrone beating on her mother, and then her mother still stayed with him, that followed Williamson as she got older. I say this because watching her mother stay with men who were treating her wrong, didn't help Williamson to know that when someone is treating you wrong, do not stay around. That is why this advise applies to Lisa WIlliamson as well because she somewhat followed her mother's footsteps.
ReplyDeleteIn the chapter Mona , the reader gets a different perspective on the different relationships women encounter including the "gay" relationship. Even though Lisa was not in a relationship with Mona, Mona still gave Lisa insight on the life she lives. On page 202 Williamson says to her niece, "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother." I believe that it does not apply to Mona, but is does apply to her niece as well as herself. Parental guidance is essential to a child's growth.The parent provides child with prior experiences that later on get shape how that child thinks. Mona grew up with positive care and decided on her own that she wanted to take on the gay way of life. Her personal experiences sculpted her into who she is as a person. I believe that Lisa and her niece will encounter situations in her life that they can not control because of how they were brought up into society.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your interpretation of what shapes a child into what they decide to be when they have matured. That quote doesn't pertain to Mona because it was not her up-bringing that made her choose the homosexual lifestyle but it was something in her past that made her make this decision to live that way.
DeleteOn page 202 Williamson says to her niece "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother."This quote applies specifically to the daughters of lower class single-parent families. In a family that only has a mother, a daughter only has her mother to emulate so a lot more falls on the mothers shoulders in terms of role-modeling. However, if a model is not the right example for a daughter, the daughter will never be better than her mother, or will find herself hard-pressed to understand the world. This is why they have to be smarter and stronger than their mothers, because if they don't they will pass bad traits onto their daughters and it will become a domino effect
ReplyDeleteI agree but at the same time why does this only applies to lower class single parent family? Love that you say if the model is not the right example then the daughter with not turn out better because both Williamson and her sister did not have the right model to make better choices.
DeleteAfter acknowledging Williamson's words of advice to her newborn niece, she brings up a bit of a significant phrase that is applicable to many others that she has met. This quote shows first off that some mothers often make unreasonable and mindless decisions that can affect the lives of those around her and her child as well. Looking at all of the people that she has met, this quote best applies to Tusani. I say this because her mother was a corrupted tyrant living under the oppression of the welfare system, thus degrading and stagnating the progression of her own children for the sake of her own mental good. She prohibited the success of her children, fearing that the child will soon be doing better than the family and her siblings. When Williamson purchased new clothes out of kindness for Tusani, her mother shot down the offering out of self-conceited hatred, saying that she could not afford to do better than her brothers and sisters and forced her to return the gift. Because of this, Tusani has always learned to be a lot stronger than her mother, since she has been on her own for pretty much all of her life.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter reveals the realities of today's society stirred in the wrong directions. Mona is a prime example of reasoning for homosexuality. However, homosexuality is not right in the eye of God. "Sex between two women cannot bring about life" (Williamson, 224). People fail to realize how much of an effect homosexuality can bring to the environment. On the other hand, Mona is secretive but it is oblivious that something in her pass caused her to turn to homosexuality. But, turning to your same sex doesn't prevent a hurt heart because women can hurt you the same way a man can. Also, Lisa Williamson's sister's issue with her baby's father is a common issue that occurs in today's society. She is too young to understand what to do when she not being treated in the right manner. But Williamson being her guidance for her and her new born helps her to get away.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point of view Chanel. This chapter definitely possesses experiences that lead to the outcome of the negativity. Lisa and her sister the conditions they grew up in by her mother resulted in Lisa’ sister to have a child. Similarly with Mona there was much beyond the surface of her being gay their must be hurt and fear behind her choice.
DeleteThe advice that Lisa gave to her baby niece "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother"(Souljah 202), I believe has applied to Lisa and her niece. Lisa’s mother was a very strong woman before she started have relationships with numerous men. When they moved to the projects in her younger years, her mother told her and her siblings that there are certain things that they should not do. She said “the more I saw and felt the gap between her words and her deeds, the more the gap hurt me”(Souljah 41). Her mother did not want her kids to do drugs or alcohol yet, she was fighting with her younger daughter of a bag of marijuana. Souljah’s mother went back on her words and she ended up as an “America’s creation and that did not belong to her”(Souljah 50). Now with Lisa’s niece, she is going to grow up without a father, the same way Lisa did. Her niece is going to need a lot of support and guidance and she does not want her sister to turn out just like their mother.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Shenika. Williamson's mother was a hypocrite. She said not to do something, but she did the same exact thing. This confused Williamson a lot through out her life.
Deletewhen you said "Her mother did not want her kids to do drugs or alcohol yet, she was fighting with her younger daughter of a bag of marijuana. Souljah’s mother went back on her words and she ended up as an “America’s creation and that did not belong to her”(Souljah 50)." i agree with your statement that her mother had now become what she didn't want her kids to be she was. She even let her daughter smoke and fought her for drugs like she was a stranger.
DeleteI agree with shenika, and i agree with you too Ronea but to a certain extent. I wouldnt say that Williamson's mother was a hypocrite, i dont feel like she met the typical "Hypocrite" mentality. I personally believe that she meant or intended better but due to her chances, her environment, her goal to provide for her children even through the embarrassment and pain, her opportunities of remaining herself ; was all influnced and changed as she went along. When you really look at it, it was just so much she could hold and bare, she just wanted the easy way out. She had little experience of being this individual woman on her own- what more could she have done?? How would you have handled it???
Delete"Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother"(Williamson 202).This quote relates Lisa's Life. Lisa Williamson dedicated her life to helping the black community and finding herself a good man.She didn't have any guidance on finding Love.Her mother failed at her attempt of Finding love and making something of herself. Her mother gave up on life and she didn't want help. Williamson little Sister faced the challenge of Domestic abuse.Her Sister was too young to understand what love was plus with her mothers guidance she was failed from the start.
ReplyDeleteInari I agree with you because Williamson didn't really have any guidance on life as she grew up. She pretty much figured everything out on her own and figuring things out on your own can sometimes be a bit complicated. One person can not know everything there is needed to know. If Williamson had enough guidance and support while growing up, she would have made better life choices.
DeleteI agree with you ahe did not have the guidance but you do not think she could have took her mothers life experience as a lesson of guidance if so how?
Delete"Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother." Even though Williamson said this to her niece, I feel as though she also wished someone said this to her when she was a child growing up. I believe that if someone told her this and helped her through it as well, then many of the things that she decided to do wouldn't have happened. Regarding Mona and her being a homosexual, I feel like that should not matter. The bible also says that we are not supposed to wear clothes woven of different fabrics nor are we supposed to have children when the parents are not wed. Mona's lifestyle shouldn't matter because who she decided to love has no effect on you. They're not stopping you from having clothes on your back, shoes on your feet or a roof over your head. When it does become a problem their sexuality isn't relevant. What's relevant is what they have done to you and how the issue can be resolved in a respectful manner.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the adivce Williamson gave her neice she herself did not have the potenial to live of to her words. She saw the stuggle her mother had to go throught to provide for her and the family being under the welfare system. She do want to she her neice depeneding on no man to survie but be independent for herself not like her mother who has to depend on a man to help her get through situtations. Her younger sister did not pick the right path to go down, she started having sex way before she should which only means that she will not help guide her daughter to the right path. This quote can also apply to her because she was not strong enough to make the right decisions by not entering teenage pregnancy. This means that she may not make smart decisions for the baby later on in life and the baby may have to learn to provide for themself.
ReplyDeleteYes!! I agree with you Priscilla, and i love how you said that she was unable to live up to her own words/advice. Through all of her struggles and experiences where she felt and needed advice or support, she indeed had it all along, but probably was not strong enough to bare her own advice. so instead she gives her own advice to her niece.
DeleteFrom reading Mona this chapter is all about experiences. On page 202 it states “I held my niece, who was only three months old. I looked at her beautiful innocent face and thought to myself, Little girl, if you’re gonna survive in this cruel world, you’re gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother”. I believe Lisa thoughts where to make her niece not experience the tragedy and the outrageous mind mocking experience that she grew up living in. This message was supposed to be implied towards her and her sister however her sister at the age of thirteen was having a child and unaware of the father. This is why Lisa is attending college to educate herself beyond what her mother didn’t contain in order to survive in this cruel world.
ReplyDeletewhen you said "This message was supposed to be implied towards her and her sister however her sister at the age of thirteen was having a child and unaware of the father." I don't understand what you mean by this ? are you saying that her sister child would have the same faith as her mother?
DeleteIn Chapter five - Mona, Lisa Williamson gives advice to her little niece, saying "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother." (Williamson,202). I strongly feel that her advice ironically applys to herself. Williamson suffers from childhood experiences and memories of her mother, who was her biggest role model and teacher growing up. When Williamsons mother brought her and her siblings to the projects for the first time, her mother came with an objective/ a goal/ a mission- which was to ensure that her children were better off than she was (succesfully). Her mother was strong, with pride and dignity. However, being that she had the support of a man ( the father of Williamson) prioir to the move, eventually the projects and its evironment and opportunities of success helped to crack down on her mother. Eventually the thought was that she would have to do whatever was necessary to provide and care for her children. For Williamson, being that she knew who her mother was before she moved and before she gave in, it kind of confused her. As Williamson grew with this background, she subconciously knew that she too would make similar mistakes and give in to society and pressure around her. But she wanted to somehow be better than her mother, she wanted to keep her pride and her confidence and not give in like her mother did.
ReplyDeleteOn page 202 Williamson says to her niece "Little girl, if you're gonna survive in this cruel world, you're gonna have to be a lot smarter and stronger than your mother. i think this has to do with a lot of female in today's society they value their love for a man more than their self-respect.her sister didn't see that love in many venues of lie is blind and it hurts when its over. her advice to her niece to be stronger than her mother means that she want her nice to be like her. with Mona she feels as though Mona is gay for the wrong reasons she feels as though men are to aggressive and abusive but fails to realize that not every man she fails to realize with love comes come pain in some cases. "turning to your same sex doesn't prevent a hurt heart because women can hurt you the same way a man can" (Chanel Ruff, blog)
ReplyDelete