Having read and discussed Marjane Satrapi's graphic essay, "My Speech at West Point," plus the personal narratives, "Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space," and "Joel Leon's, "Things I Do for White People," reflect upon how each of these writers has to overcome a complicated personal experience. In your next paper, due Monday, I would like you to consider what that personal experience was and how each person chose to overcome it. How do these narratives convey complicated moments and emotions and introduce competing perspectives? (In short, given a difficult and threatening situation, all of us have choices to make. What are the choices that these three writers made when confronted with difficult situations?)

For your paper of at least a page and a half, choose the one you believe achieves the most satisfying resolution and explain the reasons for your choice.

Note this essay has to have three points for full credit:

1) Identify the writer and essay (by name) that you think best solved the problem before him or her.

2) How did the person overcome it (giving examples from the stories you read)?

3) What reasons led you to choose this writer's situation as the one you felt was the best solution to a problem?