Thursday, January 30, 2014

Aziz Hamid Exploration 2

In Holding On I admire "Steam Train" Maury Graham the most so far in this book for many reasons. I admire him because of his pride. He is not ashamed that he is a hobo. In his profile he takes the time to explain the difference between a hobo and a bum."You go in those bum camps and you might not come out of there,'cause they'll rob you and they'll hit you in the head. But if you stay around the hoboes they'll look out for you and they'll treat you nice." pg(19)  Before I read his profile I had no idea of the difference between a hobo and a bum. I admire his hard work and determination. He spent many years traveling around the country looking for work. Maury Graham worked several hours just for breakfast and dinner. Maury Graham demonstrate the theme of creativity by describing the difference between a hobo and a bum. He gave specific examples. He talks about the different techniques hoboes use to communicate with other hoboes. For example many of the hoboes wrote little markers on a telephone post or fence with chalk. They would leaves different signs that meant if there is a good place or bad place to work.

Scott Russell Sanders shared a deep story to his son in Under the Influence:Paying the Price of My Father's Booze. What surprised me the most is after the farther collapsed and his kidneys, livers and heart stop functioning the doctors saved him. The doctors warned him that one more binge could finish him. He did not drink for 15 long years but at his retirement he decided to drink. His life was on the line and he decided to drink. "At least I imagine some such words, for that is all I can do, imagine, and I see Father's hand trembling in midair as he thinks about the fifteen sober years and about the the doctors' warning,and he tells himself , God-dammit, I am a free man, and Why can't a free man drink one beer after a lifetime of hard work?" (pg189). Another thing that surprised me was the son took his first drink when he was 21 and drinks once a week. This surprised me because the son witnessed what alcohol does to a person but he decides to drink once a week  Another thing that surprised me is the son blamed himself for his farther alcohol problems. The son had no control over his farther's addiction.

One question I have is regarding Geneva Tisdale, How did Tisdale feel when she witnessed the sit-in movement at her job as a cook at Woolworth? Another question I have is how much did African Americans get paid compared to Caucasians?

3 comments:

  1. I also I found the Steam Train story to be interesting. i was cool learning about the difference between Hobos and Bums.

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  2. I thought Maury had a great story to share as well

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  3. I agree that Maury portrays his creativity through the symbols that are left on the telephone poles.

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