Feathers Were Jewels

There was a peacock

Feathers more luminous than sapphire

Hues of emerald glistening under the soft sun

Her feathers were diamonds

Made with the blood of her ancestors

They were priceless

They were her own

Each vibrant quill

Inks in lineage, that tells

A radiant story

Colors that could not be made on a painter’s palette

Colors that were her own

The birds from above

Airily smirked

Wide wings flapping,

Mocking the magnificent feathers of the peacock

Sapphire

became lackluster

Emeralds

Became bare

The blood of the ancestors was neglected

Replaced by jeers

That burned through the peacock’s elegant quills

The peacock shed its feathers

They were jewels no more

They were once her own

Now she wanted them

Gone

Assef's Personality

     This photo represents Assef's personality. The weed feeds off the tree's resources, depriving it of the necessary nutrients the tree needs to survive. This relates back to how Assef takes pleasure in destroying Sohrab's childhood and taking away his rights. The weed mercilessly invades the tree's space, it does not move and only kills the tree more. The mercilessness of the weed reflects Assef's personality for he also ruthlessly kills the people surrounding him. As the weed invades the grass' space, it weakens it, for the nutrients of the soil have been taken by the weed. Assef weakens anyone he interacts with, both mentally and physically.

Facing the Repercussions of the Apartheid

It has been 26 years since the apartheid in South Africa has ended, marking the end to the injustice the indigenous people have received in their own homeland. However, did the inequity really end? Currently, 10%, in which majority is white, holds 80-90% of South Africa’s wealth (Orthofer). While the majority of the black population does not hold any considerable amount of money. Why has the wealth inequality increased after the apartheid? This can be attributed to the South African government’s lack of initiative to solve this issue, as well as the fact that the apartheid itself has created a large wealth gap to begin with. Wealth inequality is an issue that is relevant in countries around the world, and by finding a solution to this issue in South Africa, it may be the key to solving the problem in other countries as well.

One reason why the wealth inequality has not decreased is because South Africa’s government has shown little action towards this problem. Minimum wage is considered to be a way to improve inequality, but The New York Times states that South Africa does not even have a minimum wage (Onishi). By creating a minimum wage, the government would be taking the first step to support those in need. Alongside the absence of a minimum wage, South Africa’s taxing system is can detrimental to the hard-working middle and lower classes. Tax is based on a person’s income rather than a person’s wealth. Although this is effective in many countries, that is not the case in South Africa. The M&G, reveals that the middle class earns 30-35% of the country’s income with a total of 5-10% of the country’s wealth (Orthofer). In contrast, the upper class earns around 55-60% of the income (Orthofer). Although 60% of the income seems very large, it is quite small compared to the 90% of wealth the upper class holds. The middle class is getting taxed with around half of the upper class’ tax while their wealth is only a fraction of the upper class’. This gradually becomes an issue as the middle and lower class’ wealth has a slower increase due to taxes.

The underlying reason for the wealth gap is the apartheid.  The Conversation implies that the wealth gap has gotten larger as wealth from the apartheid era has been passed down from generation to generation (Orthofer). Because of inheritance, the wealth continuously gets richer as the poor gets poorer. During the apartheid, the white population dominated South Africa, creating an intended wealth gap. Because of this, the majority of the black population is in poverty while the white population prospers. According to The Guardian, 80% of the top 1-5% richest in South Africa are white (Allison). This continues to show the difference in wealth between the different races in South Africa. With the ever-growing wealth gap, it becomes harder to manage as the gap gets larger and larger. Although people are trying to fix the mistakes of the past, it is apparent that the effects of the apartheid are long lasting, and they will not easily be fixed.

Although ending the apartheid has “officially” ended discrimination and inequality, the consequences of the apartheid are still seen today. Although distributing the wealth will be a difficult task and the wealth may never be equal, the South African government can try to even out the wealth more. by implementing heavier taxes on the wealthy and distributing the money to the poor, South Africa can work to solve this serious problem. After decades of injustice in their native land, it is time that the indigenous people are given the opportunity to prosper.

Works Cited:

Allison, Simon. "'Black Economic Empowerment Has Failed': Piketty on South African Inequality." Guardian Africa Network. Guardian News and Media, 06 Oct. 2015. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

Onishi, Norimitsu. "South Africa, a Nation With Sharp Inequality, Considers a Minimum Wage." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Feb. 2017. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.

Orthofer, Anna. "Figures Suggest SA Has the Highest Concentration of Wealth in the Hands of a Few." The M&G Online. Mail&Guardian, 4 Aug. 2016. Web. 08 Mar. 2017.

Orthofer, Anna. "South Africa Needs to Fix Its Dangerously Wide Wealth Gap." The Conversation. The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2017. Web. 17 Mar. 2017. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.

"This Is the Average Salary in South Africa by Race and Industry." BusinessTech. 26 July 2016. Web. 07 Mar. 2017.

Warigi, Gitau. "Xenophobia Is Back in South Africa, and the Likely Reasons Why It Festers."Daily Nation. Daily Nation, 5 Mar. 2017. Web. 17 Mar. 2017. Web. 7 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.

Time Will Pass

Time will fall through our fingertips

As the days go by like a river flows

While time flies by like a bird in the sky

Within the chaos of passing time

Remember where you are

Not the future nor the past

Embrace the gift of the present

Cleanse your thoughts of greed and desire

For it will only make you tired

Don’t think about your regrets

Don’t think about your imperfections

Don’t think about your failures

Like a river we have no control

Like a river we go where it flows

Be simple

Open minded

For today will not come again

While dwelling on the past and future

You will miss the gift right in front of you

The present