Finale

Dear Representative Lewis,

We immediately start off this last section of the book in an almost noir-esque scene where C.T. Vivian spoke at a rally protesting the arrest of James Orange. Immediately Alabama State Troopers are deployed and violence ensued in a horrific display of gruesome violence. We then see Jamie Lee Jackson, a veteran, crawling into darkness, seriously injured. Malcolm X then gives an inspiring quote at what we learn is Jamie Lee Jackson’s funeral. The story flashes forward to 2009 when President Obama met John Lewis, and then returns to John marching forward in 1965. We then realize its the March to Montgomery. Even more brutal violence ensues from state troopers. John Lewis was sent to the hospital and was visited by Dr. King. This entire ordeal was known as Bloody Sunday. These marches continued into what became known as “Turnaround Tuesday”. Their efforts paid off as LBJ gave a speech about civil rights that was very well received by John Lewis, and the march from Selma to Montgomery was allowed. Eventually it happened… the 1965 Voting Rights Act was set into law. 

The last quarter of this book made me feel very conflicted. Even though there perseverance paid off, it took a disproportionate amount of effort to solve a human rights issue. That level of oppression is something that is still foreign to me today, although it made me recognize how much worse it was, as voting seems like such a basic right today. I am curious who was calling at the end of the book? It was very unclear to me.

I think that today we can solve current problems by using the same perseverance shown and not taking “no” for an answer. No matter how grim a situation may look, it can always get better with hard work and passion.

Thank You,

Naveen Thourani

#JohnLewis #March #CivilRights #Voting

Image result for voting rights act of 1965
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a584G2YXuY

Spatial Analysis – Naveen Thourani

I am a freshman at Georgia State University, who constantly travels to Ebrik Coffee Room in order to study for my classes. The dehumanization of baristas shown is important for me to describe as it affects my life currently as well as many of the individuals in the US. I chose Ebrik Coffee Room as it perfectly exemplifies this problem and is in the heart of urban Atlanta, as it lies directly on GSU campus. Ebrik Coffee Room is located at 22 Park Pl SE, Atlanta, GA 30303. I have experience working as a barista at Starbucks, so I have spent countless hours in coffee shops, both as an employee and as a customer. I have seen the effects of this issue first-hand through the lives of co-workers and customers walking into the shop at varying times of the day. I think that the sharing of my experiences can help spark change higher up in corporations in coffee.

Ebrik Coffee Room is a very large coffee shop with a rustic, yet homely interior. It sits square in the center of urban Atlanta, surrounded by blocks of buildings. The people sitting away from the busy coffee bar are smiling, as they already have their drinks. The patrons standing near the bar are continuously moving, seemingly restless. They continue to tap their feet nonstop, not to the rhythm of the music. The

barista shouts a name and then carefully placed a cup down on a dark table in front of her. A man in a suit paced over, grabbed the coffee, and immediately sat down, letting out a large sigh. His movements were less erratic, and much calmer. He stopped tapping his feet or checking his watch, and simply focused on his laptop in front of him.

Spotlight shining down over baristas at Ebrik.

Spotlight shining down over baristas at Ebrik. Taken at Ebrik Coffee Room.

Baristas are standing behind shiny, metallic espresso machines, constantly fuming with steam. Propped up behind them is a large, dirty chalkboard with a large variety of drinks, ranging from $3 to $7. Music is blaring from behind the wooden bar, unintelligible due to the roaring voices of patrons, all mumbling over one another. The ceiling is very raw, only consisting of metallic scaffolding with scratches and dents, propping up spotlights shining on the baristas revealing gleams of sweat trickling down their faces. Their movements are incredibly precise and efficient, as all their actions seem like one large, swift dance. Without slowing down at all, they move from grinding the coffee beans incredibly fine, pulling the shots of espresso, steaming milk, and adding the correct ratios of a seemingly endless variety of ingredients to the cup. They add latte art to the top of the drinks, and then immediately cover it with a lid.

Despite their efforts, the line of people continued to grow larger and larger, increasing the workload of the baristas. As the line grew, the path of cups with instructions started to topple, creating a stack of 8+ cups in a que of beverages to make in an almost inhuman amount of time. The customers continued to wait impatiently, looking past the baristas into their phones and at the table with finished drinks. All the lights in that area were focused solely behind the bar, as if they were the main event, yet no one seemed to give them more than a glance. Sitting above the espresso machine are many pumps of caramel and other assorted sauces, placed such that the barista’s face is covered

Sauces on top of the bar covering the faces of the baristas. Taken at Ebrik

Sauces on top of the bar covering the faces of the baristas. Taken at Ebrik Coffee Room.

almost entirely at certain angles. The baristas are wearing no nametags and are only identifiable by their aprons. Hidden next to the cash registers, just to the left of the sauces is the tip jar, barely filled with $1 dollar bills.

Throughout the line of customers, there are two children under the age of 10. They are standing with an adult in line, slowly inching forward toward the baristas. As the kids looked towards the baristas, their eyes widened. As they slowly inch forward, the adult never looks at the barista. Her eyes veer towards the chalkboard, espresso machines, and her kids, yet she never looks at the barista. Her children attempt to get a closer look at the proficient movements of the baristas but are blocked by the various cluttered goods on top of the bar and espresso machines. As they move away from their adult to get a greater look, she pulls them back, grabbing their hands with a firm grip.

A man in a button up shirt with a dark red tie walks out from the back of the bar and silently stares at all the customers in line and the number of cups in cue. Immediately after seeing the large stack of cups, he assertively marches over to the baristas, whispering something in their ears, causing them to start working much faster and harder than they already are, attempting to finish their drinks as fast as possible. The barista’s facial expressions look panicked, as there is a forced smile on their face that pulsates in and out of existence. The man stands back and stares at the customers and employees for a few more minutes, aggressively nudging at both workers occasionally to speed up even more. 30 minutes to an hour goes by, yet the number of customers arriving and waiting never seems to lower, and the amount of money in the tip jar never seems to increase.   

The baristas have an absurd workload, yet people still expect to get their coffee as fast as possible. Rarely do people ever consider how much work the barista must do in order to make their drinks in a timely fashion. The people do not look at the baristas as people, rather as robots. This is why the spotlights are focused behind the bar, effectively treating them as an attraction, or conduit, rather than human beings. Regulations set by higher ups are the reasons why pumps of syrups are placed in front of barista’s faces and why tip jars are placed in obscure positions, away from the customer. The baristas are not given name tags, effectively dehumanizing the baristas. The case of the two children and their adult supervisor perfectly illustrates how the adult completely disregards the actions and hard work of the barista while the children seem mesmerized by the efforts of the employees. The only way to end the dehumanization of baristas and the way that patrons view them is to fundamentally change the way that coffee shops are organized. Change can only trickle down from the top.

In the Joint

Dear Representative John Lewis,

Immediately we start these pages on August 7th, 1964. We see the eulogy delivered by Dave Dennis, who is the founder of COFO. This cuts to the 1964 Republican National Convention, which has a completely different aura to it. It is shrouded in darkness, as the crowd continually boos President Johnson. The eulogy inspired hope, and was filled with light. We then see Mrs. Fannie Lou Hammer’s testimony which “shook the world”, however it was stopped short by a press conference with the sole purpose of cutting off screen time. LBJ was nominated for president. He ended up loosing the south as well. Another very important moment was when MLK was attempting to become the first African American guest at Hotel Albert but was assaulted.  You stated that was the closest you had been to ending your nonviolence.We are also introduced to Malcolm X  as well.

What was different about that moment in particular? Throughout the book, there are many moments that involve racism and violence against the African American community, yet there was not an urge for violent protest after. Freedom Day and many others could have involved the same, yet this moment was the closest in regards to violence. As I read, I was very confused as to the general attitudes of people during the press conference that cut off Mrs. Fannie Lou Hammer’s testimony as well.

The differences shown in this are a lot more political than in the other two blog posts. In order to help with these problems in the future and prevent things like this from happening again are to use social media and other proper forms of expression to speak out. Speaking out in as many forms as possible makes it such that it is harder to censor.

#Protest #JohnLewis #March #Equalityforall

What’s IN a Coffee Shop? (Ebrik Coffee Room)

I sat down on one of the couches in Ebrik Coffee Room and started my day. I am currently a college student, so my daily check list usually involves finishing homework and studying for various tests. I chose Ebrik as it is a short walk from my dorm, has great coffee, and is large with many open spaces to sit.

            The room had a very urban tone to it, as the tables and chairs seemed metallic, aside from the couches in the back. The environment felt raw, as there were no ceiling tiles, and just the metallic scaffolding above. The lights were small and bright, with an incandescent glow. The lack of fluorescent lighting made the space feel more homely, contrasting with the furnishing choices. It worked somehow. All the patrons were minding their own business, and there was an unstated agreement not to bother one another. Everyone was so immersed in their own work that the sounds of the coffee shop muffled together to almost create a quasi-white noise that helped me concentrate on my work. There were students, businessmen, tourists, and coffee enthusiasts all in one place. Yet still not one person was concerned with anyone else but themselves and their friends. There was nothing separating anyone via race, social status, wealth, etc. Ebrik felt completely and utterly unique in the moment, like there was no coffee shop in the world like it. I feel drawn to coffee shops constantly because every single local shop has its own completely unique vibe and feel, no matter where it is. (With the exception of corporations like Starbucks, Dunking Donuts, etc.) The only similarity is that they usually serve great coffee and, again, there is nothing separating the people there.

            Coffee shops are significant to me as they let me feel completely independent. No one is concerned with my actions, as I am not concerned with anyone else. Coffee shops, especially Ebrik, offer a neutral environment to bask in, whether it be simply to grab a cup of coffee, study for an exam, or talk with friends. This contrasts with the GSU library as it is meant for reading and academic studies mainly.

            This coffee shop connects to my societal issue of global warming as there are constant reminders of how green the shop is. For example, I am currently sipping through a paper straw, sitting next to a couch made of 100% recycled material. To my left are many bags of organically produced coffee beans, and a large electric grinder to grind the beans. The cup that I am drinking out of is completely recyclable as well. There are so many examples of small actions being taken by a local shop to ensure that they can leave as little a carbon footprint as possible so that people do not have to relocate from areas affected by global warming in the future. This should be taken as an example for bigger corporations to abide by in order to make a larger scale effort to reduce our carbon footprint. In a more social context, Ebrik serves as a place where everybody is considered equal. The one thing separating people at Ebrik is what type of beverage they order, otherwise everyone is known as a patron of the shop. It simply does not matter what you look like, where you are from, and even what your political beliefs are. There is no time or place for that here. Everyone has something that they need to get done, and this is the place to do that without intervention from other people. Everything about Ebrik is balanced and neutral, as nothing is being forced. There is no place for Judgement, nor is it accepted. Privacy is a priority, and it flourishes in coffee shops.

Image result for ebrik coffee room near me

Fighting Back (Response Letter #2)

Dear Representative John Lewis,

     This section of March: Book Three detailed the horrific acts of the government, police, and citizens in the fight for equal voting rights. We first see the difference in voting procedures between a white male and black female. We see the white male being treated like a human being, able to cast his vote with much ease, with voluntary help from the employees. Immediately we see the stark difference when the Black women was forced to take a literacy narrative, and the overall illustration became more corrupt and wild as the employees were yelling slurs and cheering her on to leave. It felt almost impossible to vote in that moment. We then see the actions taken by SNCC and other civil rights organizations to combat this, through protests, Freedom Day, the Dallas City Courthouse Demonstration, Freedom Votes, SNCC meetings, etc, detailed vividly in the text.

    These actions helped me understand the full extent of the prevalence of inequality in the 1960s. The smaller details that were shown in the illustrations were very impactful. These included black voters having to count the number of jellybeans in a jar, not being able to serve in a restaurant you own stock in due to skin color, and the anger of a police officer as a black man used a public restroom that was not segregated. All of these details were mentioned casually, catching me off guard. I wonder why none of the SNCC volunteers questioned what they would have to go through. 

    In order to stop actions like this in the future, we need to continue doing what was done in the book, and speak out. By speaking out intently, we can make a statement to those who still value inequality.

#Protest #JohnLewis #March #Equalityforall

Thank You,

Naveen Thourani

 

Image result for freedom day 1960s

The Past Protects the Future. (Response Letter #1)

Dear Representative John Lewis,

     Reading the first few pages of March: Book Three was a captivating experience. From the get-go, the audience witnesses four young girls stressed out over their parts in a performance before Sunday School. This small dialogue serves to help us connect, albeit for a short time, to the students to humanize them. Before we can process this dialogue, we are hit with the explosion of the Church, as claustrophobic smoke envelopes the entirety of the page. Soon all that’s left is a small circle of light surrounded by a much larger vignette of black. We continue to see the horrid actions of white supremacists, as shown by the illustrations of the killings of Virgil Lamar Ware and Johnny Robinson. We are introduced to the leading players of the Civil Rights Movement, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Julian Bond, and Diane Nash. We then see you, John Lewis, shaking hands with former President Barack Obama.

     As I read this excerpt, I was horrified at the actions of these white supremacists. The audience was led to believe that the Church was a safe place, free of negativity, yet we witnessed four innocent children blown up due to the actions of a few. I am curious as to why the bombing occurred only a few pages into the book, rather than after the introduction of the various key players. What was the significance of introducing Dr. King, Julian Bond, etc. in a time of immense crisis? In order to fight and prevent history from repeating itself, we must educate the public about the past. Books like yours serve as a reminder of these horrid events, and the solutions proposed in the past. Education is imperative for the betterment of society.

Thank You,

Naveen Thourani

 

#JohnLewis #March #CivilRights #Equality

Image result for civil rights movement great picture church

Harry Potter is Not My Friend.

I closed the last page of the book and let out a sigh of relief. I had done it. I finished Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire in under a month. I rose from the couch, happy and eager to tell my parents. As I sprinted down the stairs to tell my mom, I thought about how I had never worked diligently on anything before. For the first nine years of my life, I had prioritized video games over schoolwork, reading, sleeping, and practically everything else in my life. For the first time, I sat myself down and forced myself to finish what I started.

I opened the door to my mom’s room and told her the good news. She looked at me, confused, and told me to finish the book, rather than lie about it. I attempted to convince my mother, to no avail, that I had finished this 636-page behemoth. I decided to wait until my dad got home from work, as he would definitely believe me. I sat in the living room, excited to have someone to corroborate my story. As he walked in the door, I ran up to him with the book. I told him the story about how I read the book in its entirety, and how mom wouldn’t believe me. He smiled and chuckled, as he said lying wasn’t the solution to my problems.

I was devastated. I put so much effort into reading that book and got nothing out of it. In hindsight, I wonder if my parents were joking or if I even read the book for the plot. Regardless, I refused to read anything other than the Percy Jackson series until my sophomore year in high school. I derived no enjoyment out of it. Suffice to say, I do not enjoy Harry Potter.

(Pre-Harry Potter)
Picture of me in 5th grade with my sister. I appear very happy.

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