My assigned reading was chapter 6. The quote I chose to best summarize the reading was the first sentence of the chapter. This is my question:
Imagine you have your own band, where you are traveling and performing and having a good time. What do you think your experience would be like? Would it be similar or different to Billie Holiday's experience? Why? Have times changed so that traveling bands are more successful in the modern times than the past? Explain.
______________
[I joined Count Basie's band to make a little money and see the world.]
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Melissa - Chapter 5
Throughout much of Billie Holiday’s early years of her life she suffered many hardships. Chapter 5 of her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, is titled, “Getting Some Fun Out of Life,” because it is about a time in her life when she was actually happy. She discusses about a rich white man, named Jimmy Donahue, whom she says, “knew how to live it up” (pg. 58). Billie brings him to a place that she knows called Small’s. He is truly the life of the party and makes everyone have a good time. A widowed woman, named Libby Holman, threw a party for her baby’s birthday, and once again Jimmy proved himself to be able to make everyone have fun. Jimmy is a memorable person in Billie’s life because he didn’t act different around “Negroes” then he did around white people, or “ofays” as she refers to them as. He also didn’t let his money change him. He didn’t act snobby towards poor people, but he instead treated everyone the same. Jimmy wasn’t afraid to spend his money to have a good time.
Billie Holiday also mentions a man named Shelton Brooks, who introduced her into the acting world. She got small parts, nothing big that really came out of it, but it helped her pay her bills. She also got to experience being an actress for a short period of time. She mentions how her mother thought that she was going to be a famous actress, which shows her mother’s pride in her daughter. She thinks she can do anything that she can set her mind to and it seems as if her mother’s support is something that is extremely important to Billie.
The quotation that best captures this chapter of Billie Holiday’s autobiography would be, “This was one hell of a party-the way a party’s supposed to be. I’ll never forget it or Jimmy. I wouldn’t think of throwing a big ball unless I was sure Jimmy could come and keep things moving” (pg 61). Billie is discussing the party that Libby Holman threw for her child. This quote shows how Jimmy Donahue really made an impact on her life. He made her forget about all her worries and she could just have fun for once. All of her past struggles were in the back of her mind and she could concentrate on what truly made her happy, which was singing.
When Billie discusses the exact amount of pay she received for doing a gig, or the amount of money that Jimmy spent when they went out one night, it raises the question of why she felt the need to include these details. Was money all that really mattered to her? Throughout her autobiography she makes it seem like her first priority was to make her mother and herself have money to live together and not have to struggle. As time goes on it seems as if she cares more about the money then anything else.
Billie Holiday also mentions a man named Shelton Brooks, who introduced her into the acting world. She got small parts, nothing big that really came out of it, but it helped her pay her bills. She also got to experience being an actress for a short period of time. She mentions how her mother thought that she was going to be a famous actress, which shows her mother’s pride in her daughter. She thinks she can do anything that she can set her mind to and it seems as if her mother’s support is something that is extremely important to Billie.
The quotation that best captures this chapter of Billie Holiday’s autobiography would be, “This was one hell of a party-the way a party’s supposed to be. I’ll never forget it or Jimmy. I wouldn’t think of throwing a big ball unless I was sure Jimmy could come and keep things moving” (pg 61). Billie is discussing the party that Libby Holman threw for her child. This quote shows how Jimmy Donahue really made an impact on her life. He made her forget about all her worries and she could just have fun for once. All of her past struggles were in the back of her mind and she could concentrate on what truly made her happy, which was singing.
When Billie discusses the exact amount of pay she received for doing a gig, or the amount of money that Jimmy spent when they went out one night, it raises the question of why she felt the need to include these details. Was money all that really mattered to her? Throughout her autobiography she makes it seem like her first priority was to make her mother and herself have money to live together and not have to struggle. As time goes on it seems as if she cares more about the money then anything else.
Angela - Chapter 4
In the biography Lady Sings the Blues, written by Billie Holiday, Eleanora Fagan a.k.a Billie Holiday struggles through life to support herself and maintain a career. In chapter 4 entitled “If My Heart Could Only Talk,” Eleanora talks about the people who played a role in her life and helped to guide her. In the beginning of the chapter she focuses mainly on her mother and she mentions that she is a much respected individual. Eleanora also stressed the idea that her mother always found the good in people, even in robbers or murders, and was never judgmental towards anyone. The mother was even able to put up with the father and the fathers new wife, even after the wife knocked her over the head with her pocketbook. The next character that she focused on greatly was Lester Young; a musician who played the saxophone. The chapter expresses how Eleanora looked up to Lester because although he did not play with the largest volume or tone, he always played his heart out. Eleanora greatly looked up to him and because of that she gave him the nickname of “Prez”, after Franklin D. Roosevelt, because she felt that he was as great as the president at the time. In return Lester had given the nickname “Lady Day” to Eleanora. Another character that was mentioned in the chapter was Benny Goodman, a fellow musician, whom she was originally good friends with, but she eventually fell in love with him. I feel that the quote that best captures the main idea of the reading is, “In those days everything that happened, happened at a jam session somewhere.” I feel that summarizes that chapter greatly because everything that Eleanora seemed to mention originated at a show or during a musical session. For example, when the mother saw her ex-husband and his new wife it occurred at one of Eleanora’s shows. Also I feel that quote is appropritate because that is ultimately where she meets all of her friends and possible love interests. One question that I would ask is why Eleanora felt the need to go after a married man, and why exactly did the relationship turn sour?
Joseph - Chapter 2
The second chapter of Lady Sings the Blues, an autobiographical novel by Billie Holiday, introduces the audience to Billie's teenage years and her adolescent growth. It is a period of her life defined by prostitution, imprisonment, redemption and rebellion.
The chapter begins with Billie's mother leaving her in Baltimore again, after it becomes apparent that together they cannot make ends meet. After the death of her cousin Ida, Billie is called to New York by her mother. When she is supposed to take the train to Long Branch, the rebellious Billie decides to visit Harlem, the mecca of a jazz community which she wishes to belong. She never gets there, however, as she is quickly scooped up in Penn Station by a social worker and brought to a halfway house. Although we don't learn much about this social worker, she provides the most important commentary on Billie at this point in her life. Billie writes, “'I know you,' she'd tell me. 'You're smart'” (Holiday, 22).
Her mother quickly discovers her whereabouts and with no place to live, decides satisfy Billie and take her to Harlem. She gets Billie a room in an apartment belonging to Florence Williams. She says, “I hadn't emptied basins, laid out lifebuoy soap and towels in Alice Dean's place in Baltimore for nothing. I knew what was cooking. But Mom didn't” (Holliday, 25). Billie's Mom had bought her a room in one of Harlem's largest brothels. It's apparent in this passage that young Billie had no qualms with the prospects of being a call-girl, regardless of the nightmarish experiences with Henry, Mr. Dick, and the boy who took her virginity. She preferred “white cats,” as she called them, and turned down Negroes after one romp that left her bed-ridden and sick.
Unfortunately for Billie, her refusal to bed a Negro by the name of Big Blue Ranier ultimately got her arrested and imprisoned. Billie writes, “So they hauled me off to jail, not for anything I did, but for something I wouldn't do” (Holiday, 27). It was at court that Billie was judged by Magistrate Jean Hortense Norris, who had the honor of being the first female Police Judge in New York. Ms. Norris believed that women misunderstood society and needed to be reformed. Billie was sent to work at a hospital, but quickly wound up back in front of the judge, after pushing a flirtatious lesbian down a flight of stairs. Ms. Norris was not as lenient this time, and sent Billie off to Welfare Island, a women's prison.
Life for Billie on Welfare Island did not seem as difficult to her as one would think. It is apparent that she enjoyed working in the kitchen there, but was still a piece of meat for the lesbian inmates. After she punched one for making a pass at her, she was sent to solitary confinement. Ironically, she was let out of solitary by leading on one of the lesbian matron's who worked at the prison. She says, “If it hadn't been for this nice dikey matron, I don't know if I would have made it” (Holiday, 31). Although Billie is unattracted to women she is willing to fake attraction in order to get what she wants.
After her release from prison, Billie coaxes a cop to buy her clothes and give her some money. When she refuses to pay him back, he beats her and she flees to Jamaica, Queens. It is here where she begins to sing in clubs while hiding from the abusive cop. We also learn that Judge Norris is under investigation and ultimately thrown off the bench. Billie is satisfied with this result, as she writes, “This was the old dame that sent me to jail as a 'wayward woman.' This was the character who told me I was a bad character. She should have gone to jail herself, but she never did” (Holiday 33-34).
Throughout this chapter, we learn that Billie does not cry or get emotional when she is threatened, harassed, arrested, or even sent to jail. Instead, she is resourceful, independent, and relies only on herself. She is not afraid of life's path upon which she walks, and makes the best of every situation. She does not let anyone stand in her way, and is willing to risk her life to protect herself. Is Billie's independent, rebellious attitude a result of the numerous physical and sexual abuses which she experienced as a child? Or is it a result of time spent at Alice Dean's listing to the victrola while she supported herself scrubbing kitchen floors and white steps?
The chapter begins with Billie's mother leaving her in Baltimore again, after it becomes apparent that together they cannot make ends meet. After the death of her cousin Ida, Billie is called to New York by her mother. When she is supposed to take the train to Long Branch, the rebellious Billie decides to visit Harlem, the mecca of a jazz community which she wishes to belong. She never gets there, however, as she is quickly scooped up in Penn Station by a social worker and brought to a halfway house. Although we don't learn much about this social worker, she provides the most important commentary on Billie at this point in her life. Billie writes, “'I know you,' she'd tell me. 'You're smart'” (Holiday, 22).
Her mother quickly discovers her whereabouts and with no place to live, decides satisfy Billie and take her to Harlem. She gets Billie a room in an apartment belonging to Florence Williams. She says, “I hadn't emptied basins, laid out lifebuoy soap and towels in Alice Dean's place in Baltimore for nothing. I knew what was cooking. But Mom didn't” (Holliday, 25). Billie's Mom had bought her a room in one of Harlem's largest brothels. It's apparent in this passage that young Billie had no qualms with the prospects of being a call-girl, regardless of the nightmarish experiences with Henry, Mr. Dick, and the boy who took her virginity. She preferred “white cats,” as she called them, and turned down Negroes after one romp that left her bed-ridden and sick.
Unfortunately for Billie, her refusal to bed a Negro by the name of Big Blue Ranier ultimately got her arrested and imprisoned. Billie writes, “So they hauled me off to jail, not for anything I did, but for something I wouldn't do” (Holiday, 27). It was at court that Billie was judged by Magistrate Jean Hortense Norris, who had the honor of being the first female Police Judge in New York. Ms. Norris believed that women misunderstood society and needed to be reformed. Billie was sent to work at a hospital, but quickly wound up back in front of the judge, after pushing a flirtatious lesbian down a flight of stairs. Ms. Norris was not as lenient this time, and sent Billie off to Welfare Island, a women's prison.
Life for Billie on Welfare Island did not seem as difficult to her as one would think. It is apparent that she enjoyed working in the kitchen there, but was still a piece of meat for the lesbian inmates. After she punched one for making a pass at her, she was sent to solitary confinement. Ironically, she was let out of solitary by leading on one of the lesbian matron's who worked at the prison. She says, “If it hadn't been for this nice dikey matron, I don't know if I would have made it” (Holiday, 31). Although Billie is unattracted to women she is willing to fake attraction in order to get what she wants.
After her release from prison, Billie coaxes a cop to buy her clothes and give her some money. When she refuses to pay him back, he beats her and she flees to Jamaica, Queens. It is here where she begins to sing in clubs while hiding from the abusive cop. We also learn that Judge Norris is under investigation and ultimately thrown off the bench. Billie is satisfied with this result, as she writes, “This was the old dame that sent me to jail as a 'wayward woman.' This was the character who told me I was a bad character. She should have gone to jail herself, but she never did” (Holiday 33-34).
Throughout this chapter, we learn that Billie does not cry or get emotional when she is threatened, harassed, arrested, or even sent to jail. Instead, she is resourceful, independent, and relies only on herself. She is not afraid of life's path upon which she walks, and makes the best of every situation. She does not let anyone stand in her way, and is willing to risk her life to protect herself. Is Billie's independent, rebellious attitude a result of the numerous physical and sexual abuses which she experienced as a child? Or is it a result of time spent at Alice Dean's listing to the victrola while she supported herself scrubbing kitchen floors and white steps?
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Joel - Chapter 1
1) Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or characters.
So reading chapter one of Lady Sings the Blues the story opens finding out that mom and pop, parents of Elenora Fagan, were just kids 16, 17 and Elenora was 3 when they were married, but became pregnant and gave birth to Elenora before ever getting married. Sadie Fagan, mother of Elenora worked as a maid most of the time, but made a deal with the head nurse at the hospital to have Elenora there in exchange for scrubbing the floors. On April 7, 1915 in a Baltimore hospital Elenora was born.
By the time Sadie had paid the debt off to the hospital Elenora could sit up in the carriage when she was first seen by her grandparents. Her father peddled newspapers, ran errands.
Sadie takes jobs all over the country to pay the bills and make a nest egg for the family. Mean while her father things about playing the trumpet but gets gassed in WW I and learns to play the piano instead. While the war was on, Sadie worked in a war factory. Elenora lives with her cousin Ida, her two children Henry and Elsie, and her great-grandmother.
Everyone was crowded in a small house. Ida always abused Elenora. Elenora spread a blanket on the floor for her grandmother and fell asleep with her, only to wake to the death grip of a deceased grand-parent and became traumatized.
Elenora loved listening to the blues at the whore-house. She was almost raped by Mr. Dick and his wife. Elenora was sent away to a Catholic institution, run by Catholic sisters.
2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
Elenora grew up most of her child-hood with her cousin and grandparents. This remoteness from her mother, this enabled Elenora to see, experience, be forced into things that most children her age would never experience, if they did it would mostly be in their late teens or early twenties. Elenora started to listen to the blues played on an early record player in the front room of a whore-house. This started to give Elenora a bad reputation. Eventually Elenora's mother came back from living in New York, and Boston, to find out what her daughter had been doing and strongly disapproved. One day Mr. Dick was waiting for Elenora and told her, that she was to go with him and that her mother would pick her up from a friend’s house later. Well, it got very late and Elenora started to fall asleep, suddenly Mr. Dick was up upon her, trying to rape her. "A bitch can turn twenty-five hundred tricks a day and she still don't want nobody to rape her. (Elenora, pp15-16)
3) Formulate a question for discussion. The question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
On page twelve Elenora speaks of disappointing her mother, and says that her mother was always afraid that Elenora would end up bad, and that her mother never hit her if she did something bad, rather she would just start to cry. Elenora speaks of one time “she would just cry, and I couldn’t stand it to see her cry. I didn’t want to hurt her, and I didn’t - until three years before she died, when I went on junk. “(Elenora, pp 12)
Did Elenora become a drug user, and if so was this the same thing that the boys were trying to get girls to do?
So reading chapter one of Lady Sings the Blues the story opens finding out that mom and pop, parents of Elenora Fagan, were just kids 16, 17 and Elenora was 3 when they were married, but became pregnant and gave birth to Elenora before ever getting married. Sadie Fagan, mother of Elenora worked as a maid most of the time, but made a deal with the head nurse at the hospital to have Elenora there in exchange for scrubbing the floors. On April 7, 1915 in a Baltimore hospital Elenora was born.
By the time Sadie had paid the debt off to the hospital Elenora could sit up in the carriage when she was first seen by her grandparents. Her father peddled newspapers, ran errands.
Sadie takes jobs all over the country to pay the bills and make a nest egg for the family. Mean while her father things about playing the trumpet but gets gassed in WW I and learns to play the piano instead. While the war was on, Sadie worked in a war factory. Elenora lives with her cousin Ida, her two children Henry and Elsie, and her great-grandmother.
Everyone was crowded in a small house. Ida always abused Elenora. Elenora spread a blanket on the floor for her grandmother and fell asleep with her, only to wake to the death grip of a deceased grand-parent and became traumatized.
Elenora loved listening to the blues at the whore-house. She was almost raped by Mr. Dick and his wife. Elenora was sent away to a Catholic institution, run by Catholic sisters.
2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
Elenora grew up most of her child-hood with her cousin and grandparents. This remoteness from her mother, this enabled Elenora to see, experience, be forced into things that most children her age would never experience, if they did it would mostly be in their late teens or early twenties. Elenora started to listen to the blues played on an early record player in the front room of a whore-house. This started to give Elenora a bad reputation. Eventually Elenora's mother came back from living in New York, and Boston, to find out what her daughter had been doing and strongly disapproved. One day Mr. Dick was waiting for Elenora and told her, that she was to go with him and that her mother would pick her up from a friend’s house later. Well, it got very late and Elenora started to fall asleep, suddenly Mr. Dick was up upon her, trying to rape her. "A bitch can turn twenty-five hundred tricks a day and she still don't want nobody to rape her. (Elenora, pp15-16)
3) Formulate a question for discussion. The question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
On page twelve Elenora speaks of disappointing her mother, and says that her mother was always afraid that Elenora would end up bad, and that her mother never hit her if she did something bad, rather she would just start to cry. Elenora speaks of one time “she would just cry, and I couldn’t stand it to see her cry. I didn’t want to hurt her, and I didn’t - until three years before she died, when I went on junk. “(Elenora, pp 12)
Did Elenora become a drug user, and if so was this the same thing that the boys were trying to get girls to do?
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