Project Text

PROJECT TEXT requires students to interpret the course texts -- A Surprised Queenhood in the New Black Sun: The Life and Legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks, by Angela Jackson; and “The Book of Martha,” by Octavia Butler -- through close reading and research from a variety of critical sources, classroom discussions and activities, and group projects.

DESIREE BROOME
The Strength of the Black Woman

Both Gwendolyn Brooks and Octavia Butler were very well-respected authors. Throughout the semester, the primary texts that we read were "The Book of Martha," a short story written by Octavia Butler; and A Surprised Queenhood in the New Black Sun: The Life and Legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks which is written by Angela Jackson, but discusses the life of Brooks and features many of her poems and other literary works. Many of Brooks’ poems that are featured and even those not included in the novel are about the Black woman and her experiences which is very similar to "The Book of Martha," which also deals with the Black woman and her perspective and experiences.

PERLA DOMINGUEZ-ARZATE

The Reality of Positivism

“The Book of Martha” was one of my favorite [stories] because of the confidence that is lost and the way she finds it [in] the end. Being confident is the best kind of trait you can have; you make better choices and there is also a higher chance you will aim at things you never thought you would because you were so negative. Martha’s confidence throughout this story has a big impact with God, the way God changes and why he changes throughout the story.

GELETA SAMETO

Butler’s Tool of Relevance

Some people may see the world as a happy place where everything happens for a reason. Others may view the world as a dystopia. This was the case in Martha’s world. Martha was granted God-like powers to change the world for the better. She was selected by God himself to make a change that would provide humankind with “less destructive, more peaceful, sustainable ways to live” (Butler 192). I found that I can relate her story to songs from some of my favorite artists. Rappers like Nas, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West have songs that share similar themes [with] "The Book of Martha." Through their music, they delve into topics of what they will do with absolute power, how they might use power wrong, or how the world needs saving from itself. This connection shows that Butler’s work, no matter how long ago, still has presence in modern day media and provides a way to complement today’s art.

Individual and class photos by our class photographer, Cassandra Haro.

Photo of Cassandra Haro by Peter Levitan.