The Skin I’m In – Essay

7:55 AM

Sharon G. Flakes book The Skin I’m In is a great book. It is based on a girl named Maleeka. And it takes place at her middle school. Maleeka gets bullied for the color of her skin, her good grades, her weight and height, and the clothes she wears. Throughout the story she becomes stronger, There’s a plot twist. She stands up to her worst enemy. Maleeka and her mother struggle from the loss of her father. That was hard of her family and her mother knits to numb the pain.

The theme I came up with is don’t judge. Something that is common said but not something that happens. Throughout the story Maleeka gets bullied. Bullied for her physical appearance, something she can’t change. Nobody wants to feel that way, so simply don’t judge. Listed in the next few paragraphs are reasons of why the author hints these things to the reader.

Maleeka gets bullied for her skin color. Bullied for her hair color. Bullied for her good grades. Bullied for her home-made clothes. Bullied for her weight. And bullied for her height. She constantly gets harassed by taunts of kids at her school, including people of her color. At the beginning of the story someone told Maleeka, “If I had a mug like that, I’d kill myself.” by this it shows you, people judge her for very irrelevant things.

Through the middle of the story Maleeka cut her hair. She knew people were going to pick on her because of the change but she did it anyway, for herself. Maleeka also stood up to Char, after her and Maleeka got in serious trouble. Char decided she wanted to destroy Miss Saunders classroom. She made Maleeka take the blame. Maleeka realized she isn’t worth all of this. A example from the middle of the story is , “She stares me down, then whispers something to the twins , and keeps on stepping.” This shows  people talking about her behind her back, can’t do anything without someone saying something. Also, “Char wants to know if you’ve done her Math homework?” People may help each other with homework, but chars not her friend she’s doing it for the wrong reason.

Towards the end of the story Maleeka has gotten so much stronger. She had time to learn and grow as a person, but she still has struggles. She almost got rapped. She didn’t but being in that situation, it scarred her. She already has scars from people who hurt her. She’s learned to have a voice. Towards Char, and Miss Saunders. An example from the end of the story is,  You stupid girl, Do like I say or I’ll do something to mess you up.” This is when Char made Maleeka destroy the  classroom. She is putting threats to her name. She takes control of her and  Maleeka knows somethings not right, something needs to change and Maleeka knows this.

If you are anything like Char you might have a different opinion. You may not know or say it out loud, but there are mean people in this world who don’t feel anything for Maleeka or don’t understand her. And you don’t have to, but as a person you should know everyone should be treated equally. Don’t judge a person based on appearance, things they can’t change. Don’t judge at all.

The skin im in

10:07 AM

The book the skin I’m in is about a girl named Maleeka. Maleeka is a beautiful dark skin girl but  not everyone thinks so. She is either getting picked on about her good grades, the color of her skin, or her homemade clothes. The beginning of the story takes place at school. And I’m currently reading about her, her classmates, and the new teacher miss. Sanders.

 

I don’t know that much about maleeka.  But what I do know is she is a beautiful ark skinned women but not everyone thinks so. People pick on everything about her.

BMS Dress Code

“Dress code is stupid!” I don’t get the rules on dress code, are all comments we get at Blackhawk Middle School. Nation wide we have a policy called dress code This is so students can wear somewhat, whatever they want. Along the lines of respecting themselves and the students around them. Coming up you will hear staff and students opinions on The Blackhawk Middle School dress code.

The principle states, “It’s sad to say but we have to have dress code because of society. The way people are physically attracted  on one another’s figure can be disruptive to their learning. There is a place and a time to “look cute” and go out with friends but school is not the place nor time. We want everyone to feel comfortable whether it is the person wearing the clothing or the person walking down the hallway in the clothing. There are for sure pros and cons but for many reasons dress code is here and as of right now here to stay.”

Richia states, ” yes, yes I get all of that. But not everyone wears clothes to impress or show off their body. I know I wear it because it expresses my style and simply because I like the clothes. I’m not trying to get crop tops or short shorts to be aloud by any means. What I’m saying is if I want to wear a shirt that shows my shoulders or rips in my jeans I should be able to because I don’t see why not.”

Tyjier states,” Not all boys are like that. Plus us boys weren’t the one to make the dress code either. There is things we aren’t aloud to wear also. For example our pants low, tank tops, or rips in our jeans.”

At BMS (Blackhawk Middle School),  in case you don’t know that much about dress code here are a list of things. Or for more you can visit the FWCS dress code cite. No rips in jeans, no spandex or bra straps visible, no tank tops, no shorts/ skirts before finger tip length. No sunglasses. No head pieces ( aside from religious purposes ) ect.

Minus all the dress code rules, maybe if students could be comfortable inside in out in their own skin they would have a better experience in school. Each and every person have feelings, emotions, individuality. Maybe if they could go to school expressing themselves, being their self they could have a better time. You might say why work around the dress code but that also comes with stress and anxiety taking hours to pick out what they wear trying to work around the circumstances.

Now that you have heard different opinions are arguments, tell your staff. Persuade them to change their mind!!

Dress Code (draft)

The Blackhawk Middle School dress code is centered around girls. Boys are attracted to girls bodies so they limited options on what they should have to wear. “Listen to yourselves. Richia states. I get the rules on revealing things that shouldn’t be revealed. But if I want to wear a shirt that shows my shoulders I should able able to wear a shirt that shows my shoulders. If they are worried about the boys so much they should get their mindset right.”

 

The Blackhawk dress code is, whatever is under there is underwear. No bra straps, no spandex, ect. No rips in jeans and no shorts before your fingertips.

Baltimore, Maryland

Today I’m reporting an accident that happened at a hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. A group of ladies were on vacation staying at a hotel. If you are staying at a hotel in a busy city they will most likely have parking garages because of traffic. At this particular hotel the parking garage closes at 10:00 pm, so you will have to use a different door.

On to this accident… the parking garage door manufactured by a person. The group of ladies pulled in at exactly 10:00 pm when the door closes of the front of a car. Looking like a light sheet it was very heavy and tore off the top front of her car.

The person driving the car went in to the hotel fighting for her rights. Until eventually the manager came and understood where she was coming from.

I am a reader!

The last book i read was Matched. I loved this book because the story was so unique and something I’ve never heard of. It was also a ‘edge of your seat’ kind of book.

The book I am reading right now is called Looking for alaska. I am on page 25 and i  haven’t wanted too put it down yet. So far it’s about a boy who is going to boarding school in Alabama. When he arrives he and met the person he is staying with he realizes they are two different types of people.