Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Rebound

In Ray’s high school, the Polish kids to go out for wrestling and the black kids to play basketball. Ray has tried out for the basketball team but gets cut all the time. Pruze, Ray's friend, wants Ray to play in a summer league to practice for the upcoming tryouts. During the summer Ray meets some good players such as Robert. Ray’s mom expresses concern that he’s hanging out with black people from the basketball team. Ray’s best friend, Walter, doesn't like Ray’s teammates either. But Ray wants to play varsity basketball his final year in high school. This time Ray has a chance. The new coach seems to pick guys who can get the job done instead of picking favorites. Ray makes the team! However, Rudy a star black player was cut. People thought that Ray took Rudy's spot. After the cuts, Rudy and friends make fun of Ray during the games which Walter answers with racial chants. Throughout the book Robert and Ray have trouble with each other due to the fact they are equally good ball players but they are of different races. Also Robert is mad that Ray took Rudy's spot on the basketball team. Throughout the struggle Coach Thomas tries to maintain peace between the two races, punishing whoever steps out of line. Racial tension fills the school school between the Poles and the blacks, and Ray is even accused of being prejudice when his former coach tells him,"'You think because you play some basketball with a few African American students you aren't prejudice'"(245). In the end, Ray is forced to choose between his black friends on the basketball team and his ethnic friends in his neighborhood.

1. The book is filled with racial tension and focuses on the fact that it is prevalent in high school. In your opinion, do kids at Mentor High School actually racist and have prejudice views, or do they mostly joke around with the matter?

2. In the story a huge racial tension builds up. Ray must choose between the people he has more in common with but are racially different and the people who share his race but have different characteristics. Who would you side with and Why?

13 comments:

Kyle N.1-2 said...

1. I don't think there is much racism at MHS. I'm not saying there is none, but I don't see or hear much of it around the school. I don't think there are any major issues.

2. I don't know who I'd side with. I like to be on the same side with everyone, I don't like to disagree with people. I think a person should choose what they think is right, not on what their race is.

Sarah N. 7-8 said...

1. I don't think that there is really racism, but there are some stereotypes about different groups of people.

2. I don't think that race should really matter in who you are friends with. Everyone is different regardless of their skin or heritage. I am not sure who I would side with though, because Ray's family is against his friends and family is important. However, being an individual you should make your own decisions.

Ashlyn W. 7-8 said...

2) I think I would have to be in the actual situation to decide. I don't think that race should matter when picking friends because you should just pick your friends because you like who they are.

Lisa T. 1-2 said...

1. There doesn't seem to be much racism in Mentor High, but it might just be because there isn't a huge amount of racial diversity. However, I do think newer generations are more tolerant of the different ethnic backgrounds.
2. If I were Ray, I would side with the people I enjoy the company of, regardless of race. I don't think real friends would force me to choose anyway.

Sarah H 1-2 said...

I think MHS has some kids who are still racist, probably because of their up-bringing. But I think most of what goes on at MHS is joking around.

Ashley B. 1-2 said...

I think that MHS does not have a ton of racism. I do not see or hear any. If I do, its in a joking manner. Also, Mentor has programs to try and prevent it from happening.

Sydney S. 1-2 said...

1. I don't think that MHS has a lot of racism. Sometimes people make jokes, but they are not meant to hurt anybody. There will always be a few idiots who are seriously racist, but like Sarah said, its probably because of their up-bringing.

2. If I were in Ray's situation, I would pick the group of friends who I enjoy being with the most. Race shouldn't matter when picking friends.

Natesa W. 7-8 said...

1. I think I disagree with everyone. I see racism in the hallways every day. Even if people are joking, there is always some truth behind what they are saying. It is not everyone that goes to Mentor, but there is definitely racism there.
2. I agree with Sydney, I would choose the better group of friends who I have a better time with. Race does not matter.

Sydney M 7-8 said...

1. I don't think that there is much if any racism at MHS. It seems to me that people are just joking around but then again I don't see everything. There could be racism that's secretive, but as far as I know there isn't any.
2. I would pick my friends who I have the most in common with and get along with. There shouldn't be a decision based on rase. Thats prejudice and not right. Be friends with whoever you want.

Monica J. 1-2 said...

1. Most of Mentor is just joking when it comes to rasicm but i know many who are still very rasict to people of different backrounds that they dont know the person personally.
2. The people he has more in common with necause they would get along better and share the same interests but also the people with the same race backround as him because they know what he is going through.

Adam B. 7-8 said...

2) I would choose the group of friends that I have more in common with regardless of what race they are.

Brandon Messner said...

1. No one at Mentor High is racist. It, among, other schools lacks the problem of racism because this generation is all too aware of it. Too aware, perhaps. Sometimes I think our generation is somehow overly sensitive about racism.

2. I would side with the people who are racially different but are more common. The exterior of people means absolutely nothing. For this reason, I would just forget my fellow "same racers" and hang with the other guys. People must realize the insignificance of a persons exterior beyond the color of their skin. Judgments made about clothing, cleanliness, etc... still exist.

Mrs. Sherwood said...

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