Journal Entry #2

5

• Mr. Amaechi lived a very harsh childhood. His family was constantly moving and his mother had to be very aware because his father always wanted to kidnap them and take them to Africa.
  
• The kids never got along with their father and when they heard about his death they didn't really care. Amaechi even refused to speak at his funeral.
  
• Amaechi was constantly made fun of because of his race and the way he looked. He was very big and thick and during swimming class the kids called him whale. This is one reason as to why he is very insecure with himself and his body.
  
• Amaechi was at an all boys school and then he started his interest for basketball. Here he also found out that the opposite sex was no longer in his mind.
  
• Up to this day Amaechi is very insecure about his body because all of the comments have left him scared. He is a retired basketball player and used to play with Michael Jordan and even when he had a photo shoot for the NBA he refused to show his body.
  

4

• When did he tell his mother he was gay?
  
• What did his mom think about him not attending the funeral?
  
• Did his father's family start talking trash to his mother because he didn't attend the funeral?
  
• Why did Amaechi chose not to become a doctor anymore?
  

3

• Retrospect (64): contemplation of the past
  
• Euphemistically (64): a vague expression for a harsh thought
  
• Marauding (79): roaming around
  

2

• "As a brown kid raised by a white mother" (68). Man vs. Society.
  
• "It seemed everyone I met had been touched by gun violence" (73). Man vs. Society.
  

1

• Amaechi has always had a hard time finding himself.