Category: ELP

The story is about a young African-American man called Emmanuel who struggles with the news of a white man being acquitted of murdering five innocent black children and his journey throughout the process of court case and the aftermath. The main character’s experiences of identity are clear throughout the entire story, he wants to be respected by everyone and wants to not have to worry about his “Blackness”. Emmanuel has a crisis between conforming to the social norms that have been imposed on him so that he can be less “Black” and being his true self. The social and cultural values and attitudes challenges in this story are that it is hard to be a black man in America and truly be yourself. That white people will treat you differently based on the colour of your skin and there is very little you can do to change that, whilst finally showing that black lives have less value than white.

What is freedom?

Dear Elizabeth,

Freedom is the feeling of being unstoppable as if you’re a bird flying high in the sky, where you have the ability just to sit and appreciate your surroundings. You feel as though you are secure in the person you are and the person you’re becoming. 

Freedom is the idea that you’re not only content with who you are, but you know that you’re surrounded by people who love you, you can go on a walk with friends or family and enjoy the view. 

It is the ability to put yourself first and take care of you. Freedom means you’re proud of where you are yet you know that you can improve and adapt in situations.

The idea of freedom has always meant to me that you have an abundance of options that you can see yourself using and still having freedom. Freedom is something that is taken for granted many a time, causing us to not appreciate it as we should. Freedom doesn’t mean you do not have bad days; it means that you can get up from those bad moments and grow, adapt and improve. 

I believe having access to many options has been the key to my freedom, whether it’s education or knowing that I am happy with who I am now, or the fact that in the future I will still be surrounded by great people and I will make it through life. The security of knowing I will be OK is my freedom. 

Lily