RAE'JOHNESMITH
"Black Masculinity in Tyler Perry Films"
One of my all-time favorites, this essay was composed in an Honors English course for first-year students. It analyzes the depiction of black men in films of Tyler Perry (which are often targeted toward black women) and how much, in attempting to uplift black women, Tyler Perry actually ends up re-asserting traditionally patriarchal masculinity.
FIRST-YEAR COMPOSITIONS
"Transitional Doubt and That Which Is Beyond Doubt"
In an Honors Philosophy course, I was introduced for the first time to the great philsopher Descartes. In this writing sample, I attempt to summarize Descartes' motive behind writing his historical piece Meditations on First Philosophy and how he was effective in communicating to non-believers the existence of God.
"16 & Pregnant: Implied Scripts on Race and Gender"
As the daughter and granddaughter of teenage mothers, the conversation about teenage pregnancy and its detrimental effect on young women's lifelong pursuits has always intrigued me. In this essay, I reflect on the hit MTV television show 16 & Pregnant and the true effect its popularity is having on young women's decision to "wait."
"I Am Ina! Exploration of Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Politics in Fledgling"
This essay, also written in an Honors English course, discusses Octavia Butler's noteworthy science fiction novel, Fledging, and how Butler uses this work as a platform to address society's fears and anxieties about people we perceive as "different" and how we can overcome such fears through civility. ,, kj
"The Thingiifcation of African People"
Written in a Spelman-specific course, African Diaspora & the World (ADW), this essay truly reflects my accumulation of knowledge about world affairs, specifically colonialism in Africa post-slavery. This writing sample unearths the detriments of colonialism to African civilization, despite Westerners' attempts to make colonialism appear a philanthropic effort.