The central theme of “Nikki-Rosa” by Nikki Giovanni is the true riches in life is family. First, the mother-daughter bond between Nikki-Rosa and her mother shows that her biographers don’t understand that she cares more for her family than money. In lines six and seven, then line fifteen and eighteen through nineteen, Nikki describes some of the hardships she faced in her childhood. “They never talk about how happy you were to have your mother all to yourself” (lines 6 and 7). These lines prove that her biographers didn’t talk about her love for her mother, or basically her family.
The essay, “Cultural Baggage” by Barbara Ehrenreich believed that you don’t have to be the religion or culture you were brought up with. She believed that you are your own culture, and you’re allowed to be who you want to be. She believed that she was a part of the “nothing” culture, which meant she didn’t follow any of the cultural acts that her family would. She believed that she could do what she wanted, believe in what she wanted to, even though it was unlike her culture. I think she hit the nail right on the head with what she said in this essay.
Olsen tells of her Daughter’s quiet and backward demeanor, “She was not glib or quick in a world where glibness and quickness were easily confused with ability to learn” (293). Throughout this story there are insinuations that Emily is damaged goods. However, Emily eventually proves everyone is wrong when Emily performs her comedy routine and receives a standing ovation. The main theme of the story is parents must make sacrifices and often those sacrifices come at a price. It is also important to realize that even though the events that she endured as child has shaped her personality she is not incapable of possessing a gift.
This strongly represents the cultural and societal views of the time because they believed being a housewife was their "sole responsibility". Katherine, the teacher, was criticized and gossiped about because she was older than thirty and not married. My own grandmother, who was about the same age in the 1950's as the students in the film, in fact graduated with honors and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. However, shortly after, she married, started a family, and did not pursue a career. She has never expressed regret for her decision, but it is a real life example of what society expected of women during that time period.
To a child that age, they see their mom as their caregiver. They could even think that is their mom’s job – being next to them and caring for them and loving them. To hear, “I have to find something interesting,” from their mom, I think it is almost impossible for a child not to misunderstand that and blame their mom’s leaving them on
Unfortunately, in the process of obtaining an education Dee abandons her family heritage replacing it with a new “modern” way of life. Mama tells the story of Dee’s visit to the family home from college. In “Everyday Use” the narrator, Mama, characterizes herself and her younger daughter, Maggie, as uneducated and ignorant; however, one will find although they did not obtain a college education like Mama’s older daughter Dee, Mama and Maggie are far more knowledgeable of their own heritage than Dee. Despite Dee’s college education, it becomes obvious that when it comes to family heritage she is the one who is ignorant not Mama and Maggie. As the narrator, Mama, describes herself it is evident she has low self esteem.
The second reason I felt returning to school to be so essential was so my family may become more financially stable. The third reason I decided to return to school is so that my children will learn from my example that school is essential to a successful life and very nurturing to ones soul. Returning to school when you have children can be very difficult, especially when you have four ranging from ages 14 all the way down to two. My decision to return to school was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. I have the most wonderful children in the world.
After that, my mother who was always so harsh about education and coming on top changed her point of view. Instead of saying "Study, try harder." She started saying "What am I going to do with the certificates if you are gone?" This started to make me lazy. I was really attracted to this easy life and didn't think about future much.
She says that being in charge of consequences for anything from bad behavior to failing to finish chores is making sure that her kids are in control. I agree with this, because my parents control me for the same reasons. I think it is absolutely okay to think of not giving up parental control when it is required most of the time. She also thinks that making sure that the kids are slightly afraid of you as a parent and know the guidelines at home, the better they will think and act. Again that is how my parents worked with me when I was in Elementary School.
Child prostitution is when a minor, a person who is under the legal age that is determined by a particular government or society, engages in performing sex acts for financial gain. Usually the child prostitute is a victim of kidnapping or a runaway and is under the control of some sort of pimp. Children are easily influenced and cannot be expected to understand the ramifcations of selling their bodies. Children, especially those who are abused at home, abondoned by their parents or that live in poverty are most likely to fall into the expertly woven web of a pimp. Sadly, there are maybe as many as ten million child prostitues-some as young as age five-and the number keeps climbing.