Norma Mejia

1.What does “playful mocking” mean? I am going to break down the meaning of playful mocking. By using Google, the meaning of mocking is making fun of someone or something in a cruel way. The meaning of playfulness is full of fun, high energy and humorous to the point where it is not serious or hurting anyone’s feelings. By putting it all together, playful mocking means to make fun of someone or something in a humorous way where it is not taken seriously. It is meant to be in a playful way and not in a cruel way.

1. Why do you think Serena Williams danced at the end of her 2012 Olympics final? Do you believe this was a “tasteless” act? Why or why not? Serena Williams danced at the end of her 2012 Olympics final because she was happy and excited that she had won. You can tell the joy in her face as she was doing the dance. The dance is known as a Crip Walk and it’s a dance that is shown in popular music. It’s the culture of today’s music and it is not seen as anything bad by those who know the dance. Serena didn’t do it to send a message to any gang. She didn’t do it with any bad intentions. She just did it unknowingly because of the excitement she felt. I don’t believe it is a tasteless act because it is a dance that is popular nowadays and it is seen in music videos and in clubs. It was seen as a tasteless act by the people in the tennis court because it is a white and formal environment, they saw it as “immature” and “classless” because in their eyes it is a dance that is related to gang activity.

Norma Mejia

1.What does “playful mocking” mean? I am going to break down the meaning of playful mocking. By using Google, the meaning of mocking is making fun of someone or something in a cruel way. The meaning of playfulness is full of fun, high energy and humorous to the point where it is not serious or hurting anyone’s feelings. By putting it all together, playful mocking means to make fun of someone or something in a humorous way where it is not taken seriously. It is meant to be in a playful way and not in a cruel way.

1. Why do you think Serena Williams danced at the end of her 2012 Olympics final? Do you believe this was a “tasteless” act? Why or why not? Serena Williams danced at the end of her 2012 Olympics final because she was happy and excited that she had won. You can tell the joy in her face as she was doing the dance. The dance is known as a Crip Walk and it’s a dance that is shown in popular music. It’s the culture of today’s music and it is not seen as anything bad by those who know the dance. Serena didn’t do it to send a message to any gang. She didn’t do it with any bad intentions. She just did it unknowingly because of the excitement she felt. I don’t believe it is a tasteless act because it is a dance that is popular nowadays and it is seen in music videos and in clubs. It was seen as a tasteless act by the people in the tennis court because it is a white and formal environment, they saw it as “immature” and “classless” because in their eyes it is a dance that is related to gang activity.

4) What is the meaning of the background houses and roads? The meaning of the background houses and roads seems like a suburb where the majority of white families live. It has the idea of a spacious, safe environment with nice cars and big houses. A person living in this area is more likely to feel safe and secure since they live somewhere where there is no danger and violence and they are not crowded how people are in the city or more diverse areas. I looked up the houses on Jim Crow Rd on Google Maps and it does look like a nice area for white families to live in and be away from the dangers in the city. Not only that but when I was going through the Google maps I see a myriad amount of brand new year cars or just nice cars with a nice house. Since it is very different from lower class housing since the houses are more clustered together and there a myriad amount of different cars from different years.

3)What is the meaning of the street sign? The meaning of this street sign, Jim Crow Rd, could have a connection with the Jim Crow laws. These laws were enforced in the 20th century to segregate African Americans and people of color to prevent the same usage as whites. Especially enforced in the South. Colored people couldn't use the same bathrooms, stores, and schools. Not only that but it became difficult for African Americans to own houses like the ones in the picture because they were not eligible to own houses or take our loans form a bank. Since it was difficult for colored people to have houses like these they lived in city cramped areas or just cramped neighborhoods where there seemed to be violence and not have the same space as white neighborhoods.