“From Storytelling to Writing: Transforming Literacy Practices among Sudanese Refugees” was an incredible work! My heart was broken concerning the plight of children in this Sudanese war and their eventual escape to America. The questions posed by Perry in this research were appropriate and answered with clarity. Why have the white cultures of the United States not passed along history, philosophies, or identities through storytelling? The heritage of this nation, with the exception of Native Americans, came from other lands. Why then is our culture not filled with rich experiences in oral language? It’s baffling.
Perry was in an excellent position for conducting this research, being closely tied with African experiences. The Sudanese community in Michigan embraced her and provided insightful documentation. I was enthralled with the stories of the participants and their desire to learn new ways of life, transform old ways of storytelling, and keep the traditional ways of storytelling. Transformations the refugees had to make for storytelling began as verbal accounts of their escape to local strangers. Afterwards, it also became a written story that would reach around the world. This transforming literacy is an example of something that continues to evolve.
One of the most inspiring parts of the whole study was how these children did not give up, whine, or make excuses. They made themselves accountable for what happened to them after the horrifying ordeals they experienced in Africa and the United States. Their education was paramount to their success and survival in this nation and held in high regard by the three participants. Let us not forget that they are still orphans and strangers in a strange land. Oh, that our native children and adults would be this accountable for what they do with the opportunities they have!
Janet Gross
Comments (6)
As you said their story is very inspiring and never gave up. They grasped everything America had to offer ... the opportunity to succeed. That doesn't mean by coming to America it will be given to you. Instead, hard work and dedication will pay off. If you value something (education) you will work hard at it. These boys knew education was the key.
Posted by Tamera Wilson | June 17, 2009 9:50 PM
Posted on June 17, 2009 21:50
Janet I loved your title! I must say that it made me laugh, which I needed desperately! I liked your thought on having white cultures of the US pass along history as well. I feel that our culture in not filled with rich experiences in oral language for many reasons. First I feel that over the last few decades there has been a great decline with parenting. In my opinion the majority of parents today mostly care about themselves. It seems to get a little worse every year. What do you think? Another reason is that technology is constantly evolving. The more technological our society becomes the less oral language we hear. The younger population is to busy texting and socializing on myspace and face book. They do not have enough time for their parents. Fantastic comment about how the children did not complain. We all know that we could cover more material in school if we did not have to hear the whining and complaining. I am not so sure that the children in our society today could survive an experience like this!
Misty Mistretta
Posted by Misty Mistretta | June 18, 2009 4:25 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 16:25
I'd like to run with your comment about the children not complaining: my grandmother was from the OLD school, and whenever somebody complained in front of her--something she NEVER did by the way--she would always respond by saying "well, just try to enjoy it." This might seem like a simple, even smarty-pants statement, but if you knew my grandmother, you'd know she meant it in the most sincere of ways. I mean, really, your two options in the midst of a struggle is to wollar in self-pity or try to grow stonger from it, learn from it in someway--hence to "enjoy" it perhaps.
Posted by erin farrington | June 18, 2009 7:32 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 19:32
Amen, we all take so much for granted! A free education, speech and government assistance before starvation etc. Right time right place for Perry to be able to bring this issue to the forefront. She got much deeper than any other researcher could have because she cared so much. As stated in The Glass Castle I read for another class...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I also agree with Erin's comment, don't be a whiner, make the best of the situation you find yourself in at the moment. They took advantage of any and all opportunities to become literate in the language of thier circumstances.
Posted by Grandma Cunningham | June 18, 2009 8:43 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 20:43
I agree! I love that these children were able to take this experience and turn it into something so positive. They had great attitudes and if they hadn't it could have been miserable!
Posted by Kelly Beckley | June 18, 2009 10:57 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 22:57
I enjoyed your post! It is inspiring to me how these boys came from very little but understood the importance of education even in a new place and they put their mind to it and were successful! It made me wonder how I would have handled this same situation if it were me. Would I be dedicated enough to learn the language and put in the hours of hard work that would eventually lead to literacy? I hope so, but I can see how it would be easy to settle at just being mediocre too.
This article also makes me wonder why we do not have the same oral traditions that you were referring to earlier. Is it selfishness? Is it that today everything goes and there doesn't seem to be a feeling that there is a real need for the past? My grandma will be 90 in July. She loves to tell stories and I love tradition, but sometimes I feel myself getting annoyed by her telling the same story over and over rather than listening carefully. After reading this article I will definitely approach my conversations with her differently!
Jessica Jackson
Posted by Jessica Jackson | June 19, 2009 9:09 PM
Posted on June 19, 2009 21:09