preview

I M Not Dying With You Quotes

Decent Essays

Audre Lorde once said, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences”. This is exactly what Campbell realized when she was put into a new environment after moving town. She became friends with a girl named Lena, who lived a completely different life. This caused Campbell to change her perspective on almost everything she knew. Lena and Campbell's differences in life experience cause confusion, anger, and sadness. Although, through the conflict, they become even stronger by understanding each other's perspective on reality. In the novel, I’m not Dying with you Tonight, the authors Jones and Segal use Campbell's characterization to develop the message of understanding other …show more content…

Before the riot, people were having a peaceful protest but no one was listening or paying attention. So, people got irritated and started to fight and destroy their property. Since Campbell has never been in a situation like this, she is confused when she hears Lena give a logical explanation. Finally, Lena gets Campbell to understand her perspective of life when she states, “‘When you push people to their breaking point, and they ain’t got no power, they’ll find a way to take it. What’s so wrong with that?”’ (Jones + Segal 231). Campbell realizes that she is right and has not looked at the bigger picture. She states, “My father has lived here for twenty years, and I realize I’ve never seen him be friendly with his neighbors or his customers or other shop owners on Seventh except the Wells, and he doesn’t invite them to hang out at his house or anything. Maybe he wouldn’t be so surprised to find people think of him as an outsider. I don't know how he feels. It never occurred to me to ask. Lena’s right. I haven’t tried to understand this place at all”(Jones + Segal 231). In this quote, Campbell finally understands the life Lena has been

Get Access