This article was really interesting to read. It provided some insight as to how events and experiences help to mold and shape personal responses and lives. The Sudan, like many cultures before written language was developed, relied heavily on oral story telling to teach the culture and values of their tribe to the younger members. I can think of countless other cultures where this has been done, Native Americans, other African tribes, even Greek and Roman storytellers like Aesop. But, generally, as written language appeared, cultures began writing down stories and teachings in order to preserve their message. Now, as with the Sudan, these "lost boys" have begun to write, but not to preserve their culture, to remind it and the rest of the world of the horrors they have seen and experienced.
Think of how many other wonderful pieces of literature have been created through these personal experiences. I myself am fascinated with survival stories of the Holocaust and the fact that survivors are courageous enough to share the experiences impact lives. I was glad to read that one of the "lost boys" was going to write an autobiography. Yes, they may feel like they are "not learning" but that is so not true. They are meerely taking their learning to a different place then they had historically been exposed to. If anything, their new found voices will impact no just future Dinka, but hundreds of other cultures worldwide with their stories.
I really loved to that these refugees valued literacy so much. In all cases, the young men knew the importance of learning to read and write. They went on to become wonderful successful participants in a society that was not culturally theirs. And they also helped to bring culture to America by sharing their experiences.
Whitney Gilbert
Comments (4)
I think that ethnographies, like this article, are some of my favorite kinds of research to read. Learning about someone else’s life and trying to understand what they have been through is something that I find to be important for us to do. It’s our chance to really connect with people different from ourselves. If we hope for change to happen, if we hope that one day we will actually all live in peace, we have to find and take the opportunity to learn about one another. I had the chance to read several book-length ethnographies in the doctorate program and they gave me the chance to push myself to think more broadly about our world. Translated Woman by Ruth Behar and Number Our Days by Barbara Myerhoff are my favorites. Translated Woman is the story of a woman who grew up in Mexico and the hardships that she faced. Number our Days tells the story of an elderly Jewish community in Southern California, some of whom lived through the Holocaust. Both books gave me a new look on both cultures and encouraged me to read more widely about other cultures so that I may be better able to appreciate the lives of others.
Posted by Amie Snow | March 22, 2009 8:46 AM
Posted on March 22, 2009 08:46
I enjoyed your comments Whitney. I too loved the fact that these "lost boys" valued literacy and have chosen to share their experiences with us. Think of how much would have been lost forever if they had not valued literacy.
I also enjoy reading about the Holocaust. The stories always remind me how truly blessed I am, which was the theme of my blog. I may complain about things, but when you put it into a global perspective it all seems so trivial.
Posted by SuSu Watson | March 23, 2009 3:56 PM
Posted on March 23, 2009 15:56
I really liked your sentence about considering the many wonderful pieces of literature that were created based on personal experiences. This reminds of me of several books.
One of the greatest books for students and adults alike based on stories is "The Diary of Anne Frank." This book has been shared across several generations and subgroups of people. It has captured interest and encouraged people to further research the Holocaust because of its direct relation to a person and her real story.
Posted by Brittany Guy | March 23, 2009 8:57 PM
Posted on March 23, 2009 20:57
Lovely post, Whitney!
I too am fascinated by survival stories. There was a group who was in LA after Katrina and documenting the survival stories of the Katrina victims. I haven't heard anything about a written collection, but there was a spot on NPR about it. I remember the interviewer reflecting on how important it was to the Katrina victims to have their stories heard.
Posted by Alecia Jackson | March 25, 2009 4:29 PM
Posted on March 25, 2009 16:29