Hoodie

Hoodie

You stayed by my side.

I carried you everywhere.

You warmed my soul,

And I reciprocated your affection.

One gloomy morning, I awoke,

Looking around for your vibrant glow,

But you were no longer there.

I screamed, knowing no other reaction.

I yelled and whined for what seemed like days.

I listened to my mother’s stomps, motivated by

The unnerving and unanticipated commotion,

And then the realization hit me like a brick wall:

Her kindness was my demise.

I watched you spin with the water.

Round, and round, and round again,

Not knowing when the rotating would cease.

You were trapped in a metal cage,

And no matter how much I mustered,

I could not free you from that hell.

Every cycle, I listened to you swish and thud.

I listened to your silent cries for help,

And with every revolution, I watched

As our adventures together washed away.

"Fear not," my mother whispered.

"You will be reunited one day."

I nodded blindly to her blatant lies,

Eyes glued to my whirling red mess.

As the swishing slowed,

And the timer finally ticked down to zero,

I gingerly picked up my lifeless hoodie,

Dripping water like tears falling from my cheek,

Knowing my true love would never be the same.

And then I threw it in the dryer.

Social Divide

This image represents the divide between Amir and Hassan. While they both grew up together they have adverse characteristics. The border between the grass and the dirt resembles the wall between Hazara and Sunni. Afghani culture has lead to a negative societal view Hazara. This view has lead to a popular belief that it is acceptable to mistreat the minority. The dirt resembles Hassan and his natural purity. He is simple yet cares for others simultaneously. On the other side of the wall there is growing grass. The grass portrays the development within Amir's character. Amir started off much like the seeds of grass, weak and fearful of the world around him. After many trials and errors, Amir has matured into a well rounded member of society. Additionally the gap in the grass shows that everyone is not perfect. Amir still blames himself for his childhood actions.

Counting Prisons

After murdering his girlfriend at their home in South Africa in February of 2013, Oscar Pistorius, a well-known Paralympic athlete, went on to be convicted in court. While he should have received over 15 years for his unlawful acts, Pistorius was only sentenced to 6 years of mixed prison time and supervised community service (Oscar). Part of the reason for his limited sentence was because of a threat made by Khalil Subjee, who is the fearless leader of one of the major branches of The Numbers Gang, called the 26s. Subjee said he would ensure that if Pistorius were to be sent to one of the many prisons he controls, the athlete would be abused or even killed because of his terrible actions and over-confident attitude (Oscar). While this one incident seems infinitesimal to the larger picture of South Africa or even our world, it illustrates the influential power that the Numbers Gang have on society.

The Numbers Gang consists of three different branches, all of which call themselves by numbers: 26s, 27s, and the 28s. Each inmate is categorized into a specific number based on what crime he has committed and where his strengths as a criminal are found (History). Just like any government system, there is a hierarchy of power, and each inmate can advance in rank within his number branch (History). Unlike most gangs, the Numbers Gang operates strictly inside the prison walls, meaning when a member is released from prison, they are usually left without family, friends, or protection, all that the gang previously provided (Johannesburg).

All together, the 26s, 27s, and 28s makes up about 80% of the prison population in South Africa, meaning they are not only some of the most dangerous criminals, but they are highly persuasive and able to recruit new members. For example, a 16-year-old boy, Ivor Swartz, was sentenced to prison and immediately threatened by the higher members of the Numbers Gang (Johannesburg). Swartz says his choice to join the gang not only saved him from getting raped or killed, but it altered his prison life in ways he could never imagine (Johannesburg). The Numbers Gang forces new inmates to join their gang and partake in their violent rituals or face injury or even death. The gang draws inmates in and provides guaranteed food, shelter, and protection from danger within the prison in exchange for the members’ loyalty.

With such a large amount of members, the Numbers Gang has been able to gain complete control in prisons, and they are so powerful that even the wardens can do nothing to restrain them. (Programmes). In fact, in Pollsmoor Prison, one of the most notorious prisons for gang and violent activity in the world, the wardens have even acknowledged to the Numbers Gang that they have almost complete control within the walls. One warden working at Pollsmoor reported that, “The Numbers control the prison. They make the decision here.” (Programmes) On top of that, to rub in their absolute power in the prisons, gang members have been known to abuse the wardens, seeing who can stab or hurt the most guards, all for their own satisfaction. It has been estimated that over 50% of the wardens at Pollsmoor have been stabbed or cut at least once before (Dangerous).

The violent gangs in South Africa’s have built their own hierarchical society within the borders of the prisons. Between their heavy persuasion on new inmates and overwhelming influence on the wardens, the Numbers Gang has become a huge threat and problem for the people and government of South Africa.

Works Cited

"10 Most Dangerous Prison Gangs in the World." Criminal Justice Degree Hub. N.p., 23 May 2015. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

"History of the Numbers Gang." The Numbers Gang. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

"Oscar Pistorius Sentencing: Prison Gang Leader Threatens Star." Mirror. N.p., 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.

"Programmes | Correspondent | Killers Don't Cry." BBC News. BBC, 04 Sept. 2001. Web. 12 Mar. 2017.

Dissecting Loss

Dissecting Loss

Violin
   "'It's a toy,' said the headman solemnly.
     This verdict left us speechless. Luo and I exchanged furtive, anxious glances. Things were not looking good" (4).

"All music by Mozart or indeed by any other Western composer had been banned years ago. In my sodden shoes my feet turned to ice. I shivered as the cold tightened its grip on me" (5).





Alarm Clock
"Throughout the years of our re-education the house on stilts remained almost entirely unfurnished. There was not even a table or chair...Nonetheless, our home soon became the focal point of the village, thanks to another phoenix, a smaller version, miniature almost, and rather more earthbound, whose master was my friend Luo" (13).

"It was a tiny clock, and it was no doubt thanks to its size that it had escaped the notice of the village headman when we arrived. It fitted in the palm of your hand, and tinkled prettily when the alarm went off" (13-14).




     Sijie uses the symbols of the violin and the alarm clock to illustrate the idea of loss in the book, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. During the story, it is evident to the reader that Luo and the narrator have very few personal items to remind them of home. Because of the Cultural Revolution, most of their belongings have been confiscated because they are labeled as "Reactionary Items". The violin represents their old life in the city and the luxuries they were fortunate enough to have before they were all ripped from their grasp. In the new town they are living in, Luo and the narrator have close to nothing to furnish their make-shift home. The alarm clock acts as a similar symbol to the violin in the way that it is the one item that connects this new lifestyle to their old home. Although these objects are not physically lost, both items are used to remind the main characters of what they have lost.

Stand Up

When a group is formed,

they follow one common idea.

Just like a school of fish,

they swim together, blindly.

Rather not swim with the current,

but fight against it.

Rather not run for the herd,

run for yourself.

Is it easy to be the black sheep

in a field of white sheep?

No.

Is it worth the struggle and determination?

Yes.

We are all our own beings,

and it should stay that way.

While we might appear the same,

we all have different cultures,

different looks,

different languages.

We are all unique,

and that is what makes us special.