Drew: I am so glad that you found the poetry of Langston Hughes. When we find a poet and some of that poet’s lines, other things in our culture open up for us. Like when we read a play called “A Raisin the Sun” we can see the allusion that is being made to Hughes poetry that makes a suggestion of what happens to a dream. When we read a poem like “I, too, am America” we can see how the poet uses his, her, or their artistry to respond to the culture. In this poem, Hughes goes toe-to-toe with America’s bard, Walt Whitman to make a claim on his place in the country. Keep reading, Drew.

Mr. Hankins from Room 407 in Southern Indiana (SIlver Creek High School)

This reply is really good and Langston Hughes poems and book is a big thing in black history.

Dear Drew,
I am fascinated by your post about the Harlem Renaissance because of the way you portrayed the city of Harlem and the beautiful cultural era that characterizes it. The image complements the vivid and mesmerizing imagery in your account, and the strength and artfulness of your language gives light to the power behind the people of the Renaissance.
Something that stands out to me in particular is your takeaway: For perhaps the first time in American history, African Americans were able to see themselves as inheritors of an ancient culture that was rich and more varied than many could have imagined. I think this sentence is absolutely essential to the passage and could not be omitted without taking away from the purpose—yours as an author as well as the heroes of the Renaissance. But more than that, it rightfully enforces the time as a recognition of culture that was long there already, one that was currently in a roar of creativity and illumination renewed and that would call for further acknowledgement in the years ahead.
Your post reminds me of the fascination I’ve developed over the years with the city of New Orleans. From art, books, articles, shows, and the like, the history of New Orleans and the cultural bones of its structure seem like a hub of creativity and stories both told and untold. It gives me the sense of a place of immeasurable timelessness, one that has retained every memory and sound and being that has passed through. Past the mayhem of Bourbon Street and the inner city, moreover, the people to be influenced by there seem endless in supply.
Thank you for your project, and I look forward to reading what you write next because I love the animation and meaning your language holds. Especially if you write something in follow up or in comparable fashion to this post, I’ll anticipate seeing it. I appreciate your reach into the culture-oriented history of a city I haven’t learned enough about.
Sincerely,
Hannah

Hi Drew,

Your summary of Twilight is very detailed and goes over the events of the book very well. I thought it was very interesting how you said “It’s a Person v. Person type of conflict that’s driving this story (…) because throughout the book it was the coming together of two completely unlike lovers”. While I agree that the conflict is Person versus Person, I would maybe consider that it is between different characters. Bella and Edward, despite having tension and arguments, they are still on the same side and unite against the antagonist, James.

I really enjoyed how you fleshed out why the setting is important in this story. From signaling Bella’s new life to providing a secretive and gloomy environment that is ideal for the Cullens’ family, Forks is vital to the characters of Twilight.

I really appreciated how you were very detailed about this book!

You were super detailed, and were even using writing techniques like metaphors and similes. Good job!

Hi Drew,
I had really wanted to read this book and this was very detailed response. One thing that stood out to me was “She was the one. The one that would change everything. Human and all.” Because it leaves you with a good clifhanger for the other books.