Introduction
I think that the AI didn’t do a good job portraying the story off on the notes and annotations that I have been making. The AI keeps singling out civil rights and racism when that isn’t what the story is about honestly it’s a little frustrating trying to get the AI to understand exactly what I’m talking about and make it make sense of the information I’m giving it. Some of the information its giving back is good and its highlights some interesting points like “Long Division explores the power of identity. As City navigates the complexities of racism, he also has to grapple with his identity as a young Black man. This is seen in the quote ‘But see I don’t agree with my mama…’ which shows City’s struggle to come to terms with his identity and find his own agency.”
1#
The text Long Division by Kiese Laymon explores the complex realities of racism, identity, and power dynamics in the South during the Civil Rights Era. Through the main character, City, the reader is able to explore the struggles of a young Black man coming of age in the segregated South. Throughout the story, we see how City is confronted by the harsh realities of racism and is forced to confront his identity and develop his own sense of agency.
One of the themes explored in Long Division is the power of protest and resistance. We see this through the character of Brenda Travis, an African American veteran of the Civil Rights Movement from McComb, Mississippi. After being sentenced to one year in state juvenile for ordering a hamburger from a white restaurant, Brenda is quoted as saying, “Your foolishness impacts not only Black folks today, but Black folks yet to be born.” This quote encapsulates the power of protest and resistance, and highlights the impact it has on generations to come.
Another theme explored in Long Division is the power of education. We see this through the character of LaVander Peeler, who is City’s teacher at the Fannie Lou Hamer Magnet School. LaVander challenges City to think for himself and encourages him to read the book he finds under the principal’s desk. LaVander’s teaching methods are a stark contrast to the standardized tests City is used to taking and emphasize the importance of critical thinking and knowledge.
Finally, Long Division explores the power of identity. As City navigates the complexities of racism, he also has to grapple with his identity as a young Black man. This is seen in the quote “But see I don’t agree with my mama…” which shows City’s struggle to come to terms with his identity and find his own agency.
In Long Division, Kiese Laymon has created a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of racism, identity, and power dynamics in the South during the Civil Rights Era. Through the characters of City, Brenda Travis, and LaVander Peeler, Laymon highlights the power of protest and resistance, education, and identity. Despite the progress made during the Civil Rights Era, there are still questions that remain unanswered. How will City’s story unfold? What will be the ultimate outcome of his struggle? These questions remain a mystery, and the reader is left to look forward to learning more as they continue reading.
3#
Long Division by Kiese Laymon explores the complex realities of racism, identity, and power dynamics in the South during the Civil Rights Era. Through the main character, City, the reader is able to explore the struggles of a young Black man coming of age in the segregated South. In particular, three key themes are explored in Long Division: the power of protest and resistance, the power of education, and the power of identity.
The power of protest and resistance is explored through the character of Brenda Travis, an African American veteran of the Civil Rights Movement from McComb, Mississippi. After being sentenced to one year in state juvenile for ordering a hamburger from a white restaurant, Brenda is quoted as saying, “Your foolishness impacts not only Black folks today, but Black folks yet to be born.” This quote highlights the importance of protest and resistance, showing that even small acts can have a lasting impact on generations to come. Brenda’s words remind us that protest and resistance are powerful tools in the fight against racism and oppression.
The power of education is also explored in Long Division. We see this through the character of LaVander Peeler, City’s teacher at the Fannie Lou Hamer Magnet School. LaVander challenges City to think for himself and encourages him to read the book he finds under the principal’s desk. LaVander’s teaching methods are a stark contrast to the standardized tests City is used to taking and emphasize the importance of critical thinking and knowledge. This serves as a reminder that education is a powerful tool in the fight against racism and oppression. LaVander’s guidance pushes City to think beyond the status quo and encourages the reader to do the same.
Finally, Long Division explores the power of identity. As City navigates the complexities of racism, he also has to grapple with his identity as a young Black man. This is seen in the quote “But see I don’t agree with my mama…” which shows City’s struggle to come to terms with his identity and find his own agency. This quote serves as a reminder that identity is an important part of the struggle against racism and that individuals must be willing to stand up for their own beliefs and values. City’s identity crisis demonstrates the power of self-determination and the importance of standing up for what one believes in.
In Long Division, Kiese Laymon has created a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of racism, identity, and power dynamics in the South during the Civil Rights Era. Through the characters of City, Brenda Travis, and LaVander Peeler, Laymon highlights the power of protest and resistance, education, and identity. Despite the progress made during the Civil Rights Era, there are still questions that remain unanswered. How will City’s story unfold? What will be the ultimate outcome of his struggle? These questions remain a mystery, and the reader is left to look forward to learning more as they continue reading.
5#
Kiese Laymon’s Long Division provides a unique insight into the complex realities of racism, identity, and power dynamics in the South during the Civil Rights Era. Through the main character, City, the reader is able to explore the struggles of a young Black man coming of age in an oppressive and segregated society. Three key themes are explored in Long Division: the power of protest and resistance, the power of education, and the power of identity.
The power of protest and resistance is highlighted through the character of Brenda Travis, an African American veteran of the Civil Rights Movement from McComb, Mississippi. After being sentenced to one year in state juvenile for ordering a hamburger from a white restaurant, Brenda is quoted as saying, “Your foolishness impacts not only Black folks today, but Black folks yet to be born.” This quote emphasizes the importance of protest and resistance and shows that even small acts can have a lasting impact on generations to come. Protest and resistance are powerful tools in the fight against racism and oppression and Brenda’s words serve to remind us of that.
The power of education is also explored in Long Division. This is seen through the character of LaVander Peeler, City’s teacher at the Fannie Lou Hamer Magnet School. LaVander challenges City to think for himself and encourages him to read the book he finds under the principal’s desk. LaVander’s teaching methods demonstrate the importance of critical thinking and knowledge and show that education is a powerful tool in the fight against racism and oppression. This serves as a reminder that knowledge is the key to understanding and defeating it.
Finally, Long Division explores the power of identity. As City navigates the complexities of racism, he also has to grapple with his identity as a young Black man. This is seen in the quote “But see I don’t agree with my mama…” which highlights City’s struggle to come to terms with his identity and find his own agency. This quote serves as a reminder that identity is an important part of the struggle against racism and that individuals must be willing to stand up for their own beliefs and values. City’s identity crisis demonstrates the power of self-determination and the importance of standing up for what one believes in.
In Long Division, Kiese Laymon has created a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of racism, identity, and power dynamics in the South during the Civil Rights Era. Through the characters of City, Brenda Travis, and LaVander Peeler, Laymon highlights the power of protest and resistance, education, and identity. Despite the progress made during the Civil Rights Era, there are still questions that remain unanswered. How will City’s story unfold? What will be the ultimate outcome of his struggle? These questions remain a mystery, and the reader is left to look forward to learning more as they continue reading.
