Research paper for Depression
Shrijana
Essay.docxRunning Head: THE 57 BUS 2
THE 57 BUS 1
Essay on the 57 bus
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Introduction
The story of 57 bus has many characters in which major characters are Sasha, Richards, Jamal, Jasmine, and Debbe. Dashka slater’s 57 bus begins as Richard a sixteen years African American by Oakland high school and Sasha genderqueer is from a private school in Berkley board the number 57 bus in Oakland California. Richard and Sasha don’t know each other but they travel on the same bus every day. Sasha is an agender which means they don’t identify as male or female. One day they are traveling together. Sasha wore a skirt and legs are uncovered. Richards and his friends noted that and they made a plan to make fun of Sasha. Richard tried to lit up the skirt of Sasha with lighter. He tried again and the skirt burnt which results in the burning of her legs. 22 percent of his body area was burnt and she was hospitalized. Same day Richard has been arrested by the police officials.
Explanation
Sasha is the child of Kerl and Debbie who lived in Oakland. Sasha was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome when she was seven years old. Sasha was deeply interested in language and he learned many languages which makes him unique. She likes to wear short skirts and her friends appreciated his selections and encourage her to do whatever she likes. Richard is from the flatland of east Oakland. He lives with his father and mother. Richard is of jolly habits and he likes to make jokes around. Sometimes his jokes gone too far but they always had humor in it. He was not good at studies and his grades are also not good. When he lit up the skirt of Sasha, he does not intend for it to actually happen but everything happens so fast and it burns the legs of Sasha and she was badly injured. She was admitted to hospital and she remained in the burn unit for a month. Several surgeries have been done on her. Richard was charged with the two hate crimes and he was supposed to live his remaining years in jail.
Richard was under the custody of police and police also got the video recording in which Richard tried to burn the skirt of Sasha when she was sleeping. Richard told his lawyer and his mother that whole was meant to be a prank but the video shows that he tried three times to lit up the skirt of Sasha and the next few seconds were hard to watch where Sasha crying help please help, I am on fire. People gathered and try to save her but 22 percent of her body was burnt.
The same day Richard was taken into custody and locked up in a room in jail where officer Jones asked him what you think about the dudes who dress up in skirts. Richard replied that I would not say that I hate gay people but I am very homophobic. Then the officer asks him why did you call yourself homophobic then Richard replied that I don’t have a problem with someone who loves gay people but if you do too much. Nobody cares. Then the officer asked him what you mean by too much he replied I don’t know maybe it too much when they try to show others that they are gay and that’s why I hate people. Then the officer revealed that he is homophobic and he must be punished for his mistakes.
Then the officer again asked him that you just did it because you hate gay people. He replied that I did not know the flame will burn the whole skirt I thought it was just going to go out. The javelin has ordered him to give a sentence of an additional three years. One thing is not mentioned that is the boy named Jamal who handover the lighter to Richard and he never summoned and interviewed.
Four days after the lighting Sasha wrote a letter to a teenager. He wrote that I apologize for my actions. I know I have hurt you and your family. I was wrong with what I did to you and your family. I had no reason to that I don’t know what was in my mind which makes me do a prank. I never thought of hurting someone the way I hurt you. I pray you to heel correctly and please forgive me for what I did and I am really ashamed of my actions.
After a few days, he wrote a second letter to Mr. Fleishman stated that I had a nightmare last night and I woke up sweating. He said that yesterday I went to court and they are still thinking that I am a monster who hates homosexuals. But honestly, I don’t hate gay people even I have many friends who are homosexual but I never had hated them. I am a nice person and I hope can meet you face to face so I can apologize. He tried to convince them that he is not a hater of gays, and he is ready to bear assault charges but he rejected the hate crimes enhancements.
As for himself, he said that he is not a thug nor he is a gangster but he is a child who is treated badly for no reasons, he said that I have been punished mentally and physically.
When Sasha arrived home from the hospital, the whole street was crowded with the reporters and photographers, there has been a march with the number 57 bus, with supporters tying rainbow-colored ribbons to street signs. An online medical fund was raised to 31000 dollars. Many school children wear skirts to show sympathy to Sasha. Sasha was interviewed where she said that I am excited that transgender like me is in the news. She also showed anger that does it have to be me who suffered a lot.
It was a very difficult period for Sasha because she was facing difficulties while taking a shower and while dressing up, she was in a lot of pain. This pain made it hard to sleep.
During lunch, the juvenile asked Sasha about how you feel about that guy who hurt you.
Sasha replied that I know he hurt me but I have to believe that he is a 14-year-old child who has done a mistake but it is hard to believe why he had done that.
Jasmine Jackson, the mother of Richard believed that everything that happened was part of a longer plan and it is the God who makes all the plans. No one can do anything against the will of God because he is the greatest. She was hopeful that Richard had learned the lesson of life and she said that Richard has to face punishment but I want him to have enough time to do something with his life.
Richard's first evidentiary hearing was in March and that day Sasha took the day off from the school and came into the court. She was wearing a navy-blue skirt with a golden hat on the head. She met Richard's mother who told him that my son is not like that he is so cute and simple child. She said he is a kid and no kid deserve this kind of punishment.
The corporation of Sasha in the next hearing court decided to charge Richard of assault. They gave him a sentence of seven years. Debbie said to Richard that what makes you do that with our child who is just sleeping and you tried to burn her skirt she said that this is not acceptable Richard we don’t want to see you coming out of jail with so much hate.
Debbe said that we wished that I would have turned differently for jasmine because we got our child but jasmine has lost his son for many years. Sasha and his family have accepted the apology of Richard but the court has decided to teach a lesson to all the people.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that no one has the right to discriminate against people on gender bases. The act of Richard shows anger that he just hates the homosexual if Sasha would have been a girl then Richard would not have any problem. Richard has cleared that he does not hate homosexual and asked for the apology of his wrong action that’s why the Sasha and its family has forgiven him. In the end, it looked like Richard has learned the lesson of life. This gives a strong lesion to everyone that never hates humans. All humans are the creature of God and God love his creatures. God loves those who love others and respect others. Never try to hurt someone because God never forgives those who hurt innocent people. The story tells about the life of Richard who was locked up in jail when he was just a child. This story of Richard gives the lesson that never tries to discriminate against people at gender bases. The misunderstanding of Richard indicates that we should understand the LBGT community.
References
The Fire on the 57 Bus in Oakland. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2015/02/01/magazine/the-fire-on-the-57-bus-in-oakland.amp.html.
Slater, D. (n.d.). The 57 Bus Themes. Retrieved from https://www.gradesaver.com/the-57-bus/study-guide/themes.
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater - Interview: BookPage. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://bookpage.com/interviews/22017-dashka-slater-true-crime.
