Day 2: Richard

Hafizah's Response Questions

1. In the book, True Notebooks it grasp the insider and outsider dynamic with no sign of letting go. Mark Salzman, a novel writer basically is an outsider to the world because of his notebook; he always wrote reasons or things that he could not understand or he disliked in his surroundings. For example on pg. 9 he wrote reasons not to visit Central Juvenile Hall where his friend, Duane Noriyuki volunteers to teach delinquents. As you can see in his view he is already prejudging the inmates because of there record which makes him an insider in such a way. For the inmates for example on pg. 8, Santiago Diaz felt like he was a piece of shit because the prosecutor spoke foul about his tendencies in front of his family. So Diaz now is considered the outsider, someone who doesn't associate with the rest of the crowd. Everyone in this story is an insider and outsider you just have to look at it from each characters perspective. It's very explicit within the first few pages because the inmates address how they were in situations that made them who they were or how they were around such people that basically rubbed off on them.

2. I always feel like a outsider at times even now because I'm from another city and everybody that is Chicago native seems to know each other which automatically makes me the outsider. Now if was to go back to St. Louis then I'll be an insider because of my time and placement in my local community. Everyone would know who I am or has seen me so that would consider me an insider but to those who dislike me would consider me an outsider. If I were to take it to a global scale I would be an outsider to other countries because I'm American; but as soon as I meet someone from that particular country he or she wouldn't consider me an outsider because of our acquaintance.

Izzy's Response Questions

1. Raashad Carter, a 17 year old inmate who is now in wait for trial for reasons that wasn't mentioned in the book. Carter wrote in his notebook about his call in the middle of night in regards to his newborn daughter. His role is already set in stone; he is an inmate awaiting trial and nothing else but a criminal to guards and all others outside the Juvenile walls. After reading his writings in the first few pages you can tell he seemed innocent and sensitive in his case; he mentioned that he wanted to change his life around especially that now he has a newborn daughter he wants to be there for her. Out of all the kids he seems to try and focus on what is right besides still staying loyal to something that will make fall in deeper or six feet under. His calm attitude brings a whole new view to the table because the other delinquents seem to attach themselves to the gang lifestyle even at this point.

2. Society changes and so do people a lot of depending on how you are taught and what you exactly take in. For example if you were born in the inner city you would most likely pick up inner city tendencies or habits. Violence, drugs, hustling is all examples of what most kids pick up in regards to people who live in the suburbs. Eventually a very small portion of kids in each area will do the opposite of the place they were raised; A well off kid might want to not go to school and drop and inner city kid might want to succeed by any means necessary.