In the article “A Report from Occupied Territory” by James Baldwin it takes place in Harlem, 1964. Policeman were beating up a kid when a salesman approached them and ask they why, then they started beating the salesman so bad that he had to be hospitalized. The cultural information included in Baldwin’s article was about the Black community in Harlem. The oppression and racism African Americans faced and the brutality of police officers they had to go through. Questions a field worker might ask are what people are being affected by this? When is this events taking place? And what kind of social issues are being faced? Sources of information that a fieldworker might use to penetrate the insider perspective are interviews, observations and conversations between the member in this community. Some comments I have about the passage in between the two reading’s are that Baldwins article is about Harlem and the racism African American s experienced during those times, and Shively’s reflection he talks about how when he will talk about his white peers will tell him how things haven’t changed, but just because they have change doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t talk about them. Baldwin and Shively offer the following steps to hold society accountable, Shively mentions how we should help the police accountable for their actions. Another step is to address the injustices that are happening.

In Wehle’s essay found elements of field working for example Wehle’s kept a journal where she wrote about her mother, her father and the pain she felt. She also wrote everything she saw or heard and thats something as fieldworker we do observe. She records conversations her and her mother had, And also notes the dates of the conversations. Wehle’s uses this element to observe everything she feels or sees. The purpose was to capture her views and expressions. One of Wehle’s strategies she uses to compose her observations are time, we see Wehle’s will would note down the date of her observations, when she a significant moment or conversation she will write it down. She also tells how long it’s has been since her parent’s deaths. Which as fieldworkers it’s very important so we can have a better understanding of when everything is happening and we can compare our data of our observations.

By completing this observation I have learned many things. I have learned on my knowledge of field-working about many different cultures, values, environments and behavior’s. By observing many things I also learned how to take better data and to ask my self questions also that were useful for when I was doing my Interview Transcript. As myself as a fieldworker I have learned to put myself out there, and to be curious about things like I’ve said before to ask question, to write about everything I see even the smallest things. To include that I’ve believe will be useful later on.

Adichie’s talks about that we shouldn’t really on a single story because it could lead to stereotypes and misunderstandings on people, cultures, or places. And how a single story is created based on lack of knowledge. She also argues how having one perspective it’s damaging to the other person culture. She talks about when her roommate and other people will assume people from Africa were poor and they didn’t have things like books or music. Advice Adichie offer is we shouldn’t only hear about one single story we should seek different perspectives and not have stereotypes. I will use Adichie’s advice this semester when I work in my observations to not have only one narrative and learn from many different subcultures. Adichie’s advice also help me in my transcultural interview to not assume anything of my Interviewee just based on where they are from.

This week I read essays “Mother Tongue” and “Mute in English.” Both stories are about the author’s mothers in their struggles with speaking a new language. In “Mothers Tongue” the author Amy tan tells how her background and her mother’s “broken English” made her who she is. In “Mute in English” by Lee, he describes how many immigrants in this case was his mother. Was silenced by language barrier’s. Cultures represented are Korean and Chinese. As an immigrant myself I can relate to both essays I came to the U.S. at just 8 years old, and like them I experienced that difficulties of being in a new country and not knowing the language but I was able to learn the language quickly. But I saw the struggles that my mom went through with learning English and how people will get angry when she couldn’t understand something or when she tried and people will make fun of her English. Even though my mom has learned a lot of the language she still struggles with interacting with others speaking English. But I’m proud of her cause she has always tried her best even when people couldn’t understand her and has come far. I wish that the authors included more about how some people don’t even tried to understand someone that speaks a different language. And how some people can be extremely racist when you don’t speak English especially in the U.S. I will approach by making the interviewee feel comfortable, not being formal, intimidating or interrogating but being respectful. Also be patient with the interviewee and know that we both have different perspectives and different backgrounds.