Question
Imagine your school has organized a panel discussion on ‘Oppression and Its Evils.’ You are one of the speakers. As part of your address, you are required to reflect on the lessons and ideas from the story, ‘Memories of Childhood’.

Draft the address.

You may begin like this:

Good morning ladies and gentlemen! It is a pleasure to be given an opportunity to speak today. I would like to begin by quoting James Baldwin, ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.’ Tolerating oppression in any form is…

Answer

Good morning ladies and gentlemen,

I'd like to begin today's discussion by quoting James Baldwin, who said, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." These words resonate deeply with the themes we find in the stories "Memories of Childhood," specifically, "The Cutting of My Long Hair" and "We Too Are Human Beings." These narratives exemplify the profound impact of oppression and discrimination on individuals, particularly children.

In "The Cutting of My Long Hair," we witness the cultural suppression faced by Zitkala-Sa, a Native American child. She was forcibly stripped of her cultural identity through the cutting of her long hair, an act that symbolized the erasure of her heritage. Her story reminds us of the importance of cultural diversity and the consequences of oppressing it.

Similarly, "We Too Are Human Beings" sheds light on the struggles of Bama, a Dalit girl, facing discrimination in India. Her story highlights the resilience of marginalized communities in the face of systemic oppression.

Both narratives teach us that tolerating oppression in any form is detrimental to society. It is our collective responsibility to confront and challenge these injustices. As we discuss "Oppression and Its Evils" today, let us remember that change can only begin when we acknowledge and address these issues head-on, just as these stories have done. It's time for us to face the evils of oppression and work towards a more just and inclusive world. Thank you.

Need a full question paper?

Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.

Start Generating Free

Similar questions

In today’s world, the mantra for success is considered to be the ability to think out of the box. At the same time, as in the play, acceptance is difficult for those who are different.

As Derry says, “After I’d come home, one person said, “He’d have been better off stopping in there. In the hospital. He’d be better off with others like himself.”

How would you reconcile both these ideas, of a demand for difference, on one hand, and a need to isolate difference on the other hand?
You recently watched an interview of one of the doctors who serve for the organization named ‘Doctors without Borders’. This organization serves people in remote corners of the world that are affected by civil strife, poverty, and lack of medical facilities.

You were impressed with the dedication, compassion, and professional ethics of this doctor.

Write an article for an e-zine expressing the need for more such people in the world to serve selflessly.
‘It’s easy to judge others and give advice, but much more difficult to apply it to ourselves.’ Elaborate with reference to the character of Sam in The Third Level.
At the beginning of the story, Sam is skeptical of Charley’s discovery of the third level. By the end of the story, the reader is told that he found the third level and traveled back in time. How would Sam diagnose himself?
Did Sam really go to Galesburg or was it Charley’s figment of imagination?
Conflict between the viewpoints of children and parents is a very common feature. Many a time parents find it difficult to handle children. Write an article on the growing conflicts between the ideologies of the parents and children with reference to the story ‘Should Wizard Hit Mommy?’
Who was supposed to invigilate the exam? What did he carry with him to fulfil his duty to satisfaction?
Identify Tishani Doshi's writing style in Journey to the End of the Earth and state two aspects that characterize it using examples from the text.
What purpose did the question paper and the correction slip serve? How did they help both the criminal and the Governor?
Both the general (The Enemy) and the Maharaja (The Tiger King), deal with death. They are powerful figures confronted by a similar fate. You wish to include both of these characters in an upcoming play. As a part of your research essay, compare and contrast their experiences and their responses to these experiences in 120–150 words. [Clue: Include the similarities and differences of their circumstances - their way of dealing with things - their ultimate fate]