Respond to a class mate Peer review

William Matter

English 1301

February 25,2018

Spirit of Determination in Changing

In the provided image, untitled- from the Gordon Parks’ famous photographic, a boy is seen doing some academic work from the bed with some books and files. The environment is in a deplorable condition. This image is very relevant in the endeavor to establish the interaction between determination and the environment where a person operates in, the image included of poverty, racial discrimination, and economic marginalization is documenting the dire living conditions of the Fontenelles family, an impoverished African-American family in late-1960s.

Going by the image’s content, the bearing of environmental factors to individual efforts, economic condition, and ethnic discrimination are vividly illustrated, with a spirit of determination in changing.

The general setting overview of the image is shows a low social status, the boy reads from the bed, which has no quality beddings and lives in a house that is in a deplorable condition (Reid, 2001 pg. 85). This shows the economic condition of the boy or his parents is not generally good and the image points to differences in ethnicity are at the root cause of poverty, However, there is a spirit of determination in the boy to alter the existing condition. It is a strong image, your eyes immediately fixate on the background, where there are large holes that have penetrated layers of dry wall, exposing the plaster and how the boy looking for warmth in bed.

The general lighting of the house is generally dim or not very bright. This illustrates the kind of hardship the boy is going through; however, the dim light also provides some hope. It indicates available opportunities and potentials that should be harnessed to change the scenario. This is only possible through unwavering determination, hope, and resilience (Reid, 2001 pg. 85). Some level of darkness portrayed in the picture also illustrates the uncertain situation the boy is operating in. However, he has to do something, however much the situation is uncertain to cut his own niche in the world, through his individual effort and output (Imamu, 1969, pg 103).

The general framing the image puts a confirmation of the conditions. It stresses that the conditions depicted in the photo, are part and parcel of the boy and it is upon him to work his way out. The boy has found himself in the deplorable economic and social situation, therefore if wants to disengage himself from it, it is upon him to find ways of moving from it (Imamu, 1969, page 103). The posture of the boy points at the level of commitment towards a move to get out of the deplorable condition. It shows the acceptance of responsibility to change the situation, which has been bestowed upon him. The huge volume of books before him points on the amount of work before him, which he should do, in order for the condition to be altered. He has to work hard, he has to do a lot, and he has to be smart. All these combined if he does, he will be able to change the situation.

The availability of the bed points at the fact that in order for him to achieve his desires of altering the deplorable condition, he requires some level of support. He requires some little degree of comfort so as not to struggle so much. The support should be given by people around him, and the support must be consistent and available every time he wants to work on something meaningful (Imamu, 1969, pg 104).

In conclusion, the picture brings out the condition that most people in the current generation leaves in. Ever bulging population, in conjunction with poor economic trends and policies, has made it difficult for most governments of different nations of the world to provide for their people. The result of this, is discrimination in terms color or ethnic inclination, in order to sufficiently and effectively access the services. However, with determination, resilience, hope, and a given degree of support each and everyone, especially those born from humble homes, can alter the situation.

Reference

· Baraka, Imamu Amiri, ed. Black fire: An anthology of Afro-American writing. Vol.220. William Morrow & Co, 1969.

· Reid, Margaret Ann. Black protest poetry: Polemics from the Harlem Renaissance and the sixties. Vol.8. Peter Lang Pub Incorporated, 2001.

· Gordon Parks. The Fontenelle Family, Untitled, Harlem, New York (1967)