Dreamers// Freedom Over Me

Overview: This week's blog post looks a little different. Instead of writing up my thoughts and opinions, I have decided to present this weeks literature review in the format of a screen cast. Please find my short video Blog listed down below.

These are all of the resources that I used to formulate my response to the this weeks topic of immigration. Books:

• Dreamers by Yuyi Morales: (Link to her website is: http://www.yuyimorales.com/ )

• Malala: Activist for Girls' Education by: Raphaële Frier and Illustrated by: Aurélia Fronty

Movies and Short Clips:

• Short Movie: Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryant: (Link to his website is: https://ashleybryancenter.org/ )

• Short Film: I Was A Boat Person: Vietnamese Refugees Look Back

• Sea Prayer, based on Khaled Hosseini's book Sea Prayer (Link to his website: https://khaledhosseini.com/)

• Yuyi Morales Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF8Qb6S2RME

Journal Articles:

•  Walking into the Wardrobe and Through the Sliding Glass Door: Writing Persona Poems with A Crack in the Sea by Elizabeth M. Frye, Brooke L. Hardin, Heather Bouwman, and Adrienne Stumb

• The Voices of Children: Re-imagining the Internment of Japanese Americans through Poetry by Elizabeth M. Frye and Lisa A. Hash

VLOG: Hi weekly blog visitors! This week I am presenting my thoughts and opinions about the multi-model text set, listed above. This text set has included a variety of journal articles, videos, movies, and texts. I was tasked with filming my vlog in 5 minutes or less. . so I was unable to specifically mention every resource that I used. However, the thoughts and main ideas of each story are represented in some way, shape, or form, during my presentation! I hope you enjoy.

P.S. When I first filmed this video, I talked for 20 minutes on camera (lol). I have so much to say. Maybe I need to start a podcast.

Statement About Immigration:

---

Persona Poem

Warrior of the Pen

Written from the perspective of Malala Yousafzai

By Ally Hennington

The men try and silence me

But silence me

They will not.

Silence is fright

Defeat, and terror.

That is what they want,

To instill the terror.

I am not silent.

I am strong, loud, and unafraid.

I am a voice for the silent Pakistani girls.

I hear the cries of my people

I feel the fear instilled in their

Beating hearts.

At dawn when children open their eyes,

At dusk while eating biryani and naan,

My heart beats for those tears.

Something must be done.

I am a heart for the afraid.

Pen, paper, and a voice; the combination to create power.

Men are given power, voice, and pen.

Women must take power, their oice, and pen back.

I take off the burkas that shield my lips,

Voice, and power.

I take back my voice.

I take back what is mine.

I take it back for me.

I take it back for you.

I take it back for the girls of Swat Valley,

The town they control.

I take it back for our freedom.

Back from our oppressors.

I am a criminal to the Taliban.

I hear men.

I hear loud sounds, voices, and angst.

I hear the footsteps stomping

Up the steps of the bus.

‘Who is Malala?”

They demand answers.

I am met with my match.

The face of iron and death.

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

I am silent.

My eyes creep open to sounds. . .

Beep..beep..beep.

Am I dead?

Am I quiet, silenced, and gone?

No,

I am reborn.

I am Malala Yousafzai, a warrior.

I have my voice and freedom.

It was taken back with bullet holes.

I was weakened but strengthened.

It is now time.

Time for me to aid,

Bring education back to you,

Your sisters, nieces, daughters, and mothers.

It is time for us all, to get our voices heard.

I am Malala Yousafzai.

Now, let’s find out who you are.

---

Sources

Bryan, A (2016). ​Freedom Over Me. Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ​ Frier, R (2015). Malala: Activist for Girl's Education. Published by Penguin Random House. ​ Morales, Y (2018). Dreamers. Published by Penguin Random House.