This next post is a response to John's assignment.

It is a journal entry of an American illegally entering an exclusively French-speaking part of Canada to look for work.

I can't believe I can't find any work. A college degree doesn't even mean anything in these tough economic times. I've heard there is a much better job situation in Canada, but I have no time to apply for citizenship. I believe I have no choice; I must hop the Canadian border and press my luck up there. A very close friend of mine works as a border watchman so he will do me a favor and look the other way while I go through with this. I will be leaving tomorrow. I need all the luck I can get.

I was successful in my crossing, but it was very difficult trying to find an affordable place to stay. I didn't realize everybody up here spoke only French; I feel like a latino worker migrating from Mexico. I must learn some of the basics of French. I wish I took it in high school instead of Spanish. 

Finding work without speaking French is a very difficult task. I met with 8 employers, and half of them kicked me right out upon finding out I am not familiar with speaking French. The others were very disrespectful, and I believe if they hired me, I would earn much less than somebody who spoke french.

Finally landed a job, but it was a rough day. I worked on a construction site, but I think all the Canadian workers were mocking me behind my back. I couldn't understand a word they said, so I was alone for the entire day. I don't know how much longer I can deal with this.

I can't last up here in Canada. The little extra money I make is not worth the terrible discrimination and racism. I went my whole life without this kind of discrimination, and I just don't think I can put up with it anymore. Moving back to my home is my top priority at the moment.

How is Beauty Determined?

Throughout the entire novel, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye presents us with a difficult question: how do we determine beauty? As for Pecola, the novel's focus, beauty is exactly how the media portrays it; Shirley Temple is the symbol of the media's portrayal, so Pecola believes beauty can only be obtained by people mimicing this specific female. For Pecola, beauty is determined by white skin and blue eyes.

Your job is to research the topic of beauty and how race is involved. You will find how beauty has been portrayed over the course of history, and see if our views today have become any better than those of many years ago. 

Most of these steps require that you go to my delicious site.

1. Read through the Beauty articles. This will give you a good idea of how beauty is displayed in the media.
2. Read through and comment on Sam's blog post, "The Blackest Eye".
3. Go through some of the posts on the Race Relations blog and leave several comments.
4. On iTunes, search for Organic Beauty Radio, Year 2 Episode 3. Listen to some of this podcast for another perspective on beauty.
5. Read through some of the "Ideals of Feminime Beauty" source, especially page 147 and beyond. 
6. Access the quotes from The Bluest Eye and write a brief summary of what each is trying to get across. Then write a short paragraph relating these quotes to our views of beauty today.
7. Create a new blog post on your views of beauty after researching so far into the topic. Include how your views differ from the media's views, if at all, and write about race's role on beauty, if any.