I enjoyed listening to Mr. McKnight read his work. There is always something special added to a piece of literature when one hears the author himself read it. To me, the most significant thing about this story was the way that the protagonist deals with different kinds of love and why he feels the way he does about love. The reason I found this seemingly simple thing so important stems from my own interest in people and in “figuring (them) out.” People are fascinating and it is always a challenge to illuminate their innermost motives and feelings. My mom is an excellent “people reader” and she has quite a discerning mind. By watching her, I have found that in order to see who is genuine and who isn’t, one must analyze and decipher peoples’ motives. Why, for example, did McKnight’s protagonist keep asking, “What’s so great about being white?” This shows that he has been adversely affected by racial differences and is now bitter. A most alarming experience was told through the story about the protagonist’s tenth grade biology lab partner, Diana. They became great friends and enjoyed each other until the girl’s wallet was stolen. Diana wrongly accused him of the theft and even slipped a nasty, racist note into his locker, saying that the more she thinks about it, the more she prefers flies over African Americans. That was a horrid thing to say, but I think that the culture of this time dictated people’s feelings about race. It is no wonder, then that the protagonist has mixed feelings about the white temptress with sky blue eyes who appears later in his life. He may not know how to accept certain kinds of love, like love from white females or even platonic love from other males. He talks about how uncomfortable it makes him to address other males as, “babe.” To me, that is just a way to joke with friends, but to him, it may be demeaning. Even his relationship to his best friend, Kelley is somewhat dysfunctional to me. For one thing, my best friends and I have had completely open forums to tell each other anything and for another I feel that the way these two friends in the story treat each other is a little harsh. I have been blown away lately learning about racism in the military, both in class and in this cultural event. I knew that racism was rampant during this time period, but I had not even thought about the segregated military. To me, it is extremely alarming and disgusting that people could be chastised about their race even when protecting our country. McKnight really helped me decide what I thought was significant by the way he read the story. He portrayed the characters as rough and harsh, and this made me want to figure out why the characters, especially the protagonist, were so bitter.

I really enjoyed hearing Reginald McKnight's story yesterday at common hour. I thought it fit in very well with what we've been reading and discussing in class. It would've been neat if he had come to talk to our class... maybe for a question and answer session or something... I would've liked to have known where his story came from. I know it was fiction, but it would be intresting to hear how and why it was created. The fact that Dr. McKnight was there to read his story made the content even more powerful... Besides friends and classmates, I don't think I've ever actually heard someone read their own writing... especially a well-known author. I think it's awesome that he does that regularly for college students. About the story though... I really liked that it was about the mililtary... it goes along with the Soldier's Play. The military is an extremely good example of the maltreatment, abuse, etc. that comes from racism. I thought the story showed different levels of discrimination too, which was interesting. Kelly was racist, although he swore he wasn't... he swore that he was the victim... And there was a variety of ethnic backgrounds among the other men. I don't think Dr. McKnight was only looking at skin color though. The different levels or ranks in the military also pointed out another sort of discrimination. I believe, as well, that a man's uniform can become his skin... especially in a situation like this. The abuse towards the lower ranks made me think about the greek life at our college... how the pledges can be treated like slaves. I thought that the narrator sympathizing with these men was neat, because he felt their pain. He knew what it was like to be the underdog... I think Dr. McKnight uses the military symbolically... so people might better understand the feeling of racism.

The reading by Reginald McKnight was great and extremely interesting. I loved the fact that the story could be connected to the stories that we have read in class especially Soldier's Play. The setting in a military institution is an unqiue approach to a story. It exemplifies the class struggles in our society; upper class above lower class. Many view class differences on economic status, however, the military bases classes according to uniform. In the McKnight's story, the narrator uses harsh language towards the upper class. He repeatedly says that he hates the upper class. These words struck me. Its awful to hear that one could hate another group that much. It just shows how mistreated the narrator was by the upper-class cadets: continuing to serve the cadets their food and cleaning up after them. After all of this work, the upper-class treats him as a nobody. Another part of the story that I found significant was Kelly's comment about being shot because he was white. I felt this was an interesting twist. Rarely do you read or hear about a white individual complaining that he/she is judged by their color. Today's society and throughout history, I have learned about the struggles of minority groups, so to hear a story about a man who feels he is judged because he is white is extremely different. I would love to ask Reginald McKnight how he came about this story. It was a great reading and sent a powerful message to the audience. I loved it!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Reginald McKnight read “The More I Like Flies,” and I thought that it was such a coincidence that the story related to the stories that we have been reading in class. The most significant connection I came across was the repetitive use of short quotes that resulted from prejudices. In the story that McKnight so wonderfully read the character of Kelly constantly questions the narrator “what’s so great about bein’ white?” This reminded me of the quote, “White folks crazy,” from Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson.” The idea that stems from both is that each person has a different perception on race, which might suggest that all people have some sort of misconception about races other than their own. These misconceptions may come across as racism, meaning that everyone at some point in their life makes an assumption about another race and then develops a stereotype that will be used later to classify other people of that race, like Latina women being “trashy” as in “Miss Clairol.” Another interesting point about McKnight’s story was that it was not just white versus black, but that there were men, and women (the narrator’s girlfriend), representing all ethnicities. It reiterates the fact that racism is not limited just between two different ethnic groups. It would have really been interesting if Mr. McKnight could have joined us in our discussions or be there for our presentations on Friday. I'm sure that he could contribute a great deal of information, especially while discussing the segregated military.

The thing that stuck out to me the most was the fact that the story takes place at a Marine Academy. I think that it is very symbolic as to how our nation's society functions. Everyone seems to want to be the one in charge, everyone wants their opinion heard. Everyone has a different reason for why they look at things the way they look at them. The Academy represents the way that everyone feels the need to have someone else beneath them. Kelley seemed to subconsciously feel that Scotty and Mendez were beneath him. Because of the way that Scotty narrorated, I would think that Scotty himself felt like Mendez was beneath him because he was a Mexican. In the stories that we've read, we keep seeming to run into people wanting to put others in their place. In A Soldier’s Play, Waters keeps trying to make sure his soldier’s know that they are beneath him. I felt like Kelley was doing that when he kept asking, “What’s so great about being white,”. He thought that he was sharing a story with Scotty that would make them appear to be the same. But, what he didn’t realize was that he was just reminding Scotty about all the things that white people had done to him because he was black. I guess what McKnight was trying to say is that none of us can really comprehend what it’s like to be on the other side of anything. Kelley just didn’t get it and I don’t anyone really got Kelley either.

Although I was a little late in getting to the cultural event, the time I spent in the room listening to Mr. Mcknight I enjoyed thoroughly. I think when one is able to hear an author read his own work, one can get the perspective of what the author was trying to convey; the audience is able to listen to how the author reads his sentences and how each sentence maybe differently read or comprehended by whoever reads the piece of literature. The story of Kelly and his trials and tribulations with not only his companions but with himself was what I thought was the most appealing part of the reading along with its effectiveness in our class' understanding of racism and segregation in the military. Also, I was compelled to how Kelly would think that he was the one being discriminated while there were isntanced that he was racist towards his fellow soldiers. Like Dr. Tatter mentioned today, he had no intentions of planning an event that would correlate so directly with our studies in class, it was very helpful in the activities that we are engaging in this week. Racism, discrimination, and segreagation is not only between African-Americans and White "folk", but also with between sex and other ethinicities. Basically, what I got from our class discussions and from what Mr. Mcknight portrays through his writing is that racism happens when one or a group of people are too narrow-minded and unable to take in something that is not considered the norm to them; and this ideal correlates with the other stories that we have already discussed in class- Sylvia in "The Lesson" and Arlene in "Miss Clairol". Sylvia is not used to the "FAO Schwarz" and Manhattan lifestyle because she comes from a world that is much different but orthodox to her. In this case, Sylvia is showing prejudice to something that she is not familiar with. With Arlene, I pity her because she lives a life that is normal to her but "disgusting to us". My feelings are rooted from my own stereotypes of women who permiscuosly have sex. I know I am getting off on a tangent from probably what we were suppose to get from listening to Mr. McKnight but as he read the story I just thought about racism and prejudice not only that I see everyday or in the literature, but the prejudice that surrounds me and affects me personally. But back to the topic of segregation in the military...I very much agreed with many of the ideas and points that my fellow classmates had. The military is suppose to bring equal opportunity- or at least that is what I think; however, the military also brings the aspect of command over another with the insignia that the military has. In the real world, there is prejudice of man vs. woman and race vs. race. There are probably more conflicts in the military but those seem the most common. Those are my thoughts from the Reginald McKnight Fiction Reading. I could probably delve into how it incorporates with all the stories on a deeper level but I dont think my classmates would want to take the time in reading such a long response..

Listening to Mr. McKnight was quite an experience. I am not sure that I have ever heard someone read their own work of literature, on that level of course. It is quite amazing how the two stories parallel each other. The men on my father's side of the family have all served in the military, so I have grown up listening to "army talk" (which is incredibly confusing). The issue of the segregated army, however, is new to me. McKnight and Fuller both opened a world of segregation and racism that I had never considered. I can not imagine what it would be like to be an African-American serving in the military during that time period. The military is about power, and racism is as well. Not only is racism about power, but it is about being prejudice and about the uncertainty of other races. There was one thing that really stuck out in my mind that McKnight said, and I do not remember his exact words. The narrator was referring to how ironic the white people view the African-Americans. He said that they call him lazy, but then when the white person was trying to describe how hard he worked, he said he worked like a n--. It is unreal how opposite those two stereotypes are. That just shows people's uncertainty and lack of knowledge. Maybe it is because of fear, maybe because we are all bitter. Either way, it happens everyday, everywhere. McKnight, Fuller, and Viramontes all wrote stories that reveal prejudices and the stereotypes that people put on different races.

I have never heard an author read his own writings so this was quite a treat for me. I thought it was neat that McKnight read "The More I Like Flies" because it is stationed on an airforce base, and "A Soldier's Play" is in a military setting also. There is a lot of tension between blacks and whites in the military in both these stories. In "A Soldier's Play," Captain Taylor is opposed to allowing Davenport investsiagt the murder because he does not believe that a black man will be taken seriously and he is not comfortable taking orders from a black man. In "The More I Like Flies," Scott sees different ways that the white people are treated better than the blacks, and Kelly thinks that he was targeted and shot because he was white. It is made obvoius in both of the stories that both blacks and whites were intimidated by each other and were not comfortable working so closely together. I think that the two main points made in "The Lesson," and in "The More I Like Flies," are kind of like rebuttles to each other. In "The Lesson," Sylvia says "White Folks Crazy, and in "The More I Like Flies," Kelly says "What's so great about being right." Sylvia does think that white folks are crazy but I think some of the insult is coming from jealousy because she can not live like they do and affors to have the things that she saw at FAO Schwartz. Kelly is making the point that there is nothing special about being right, in fact he believes it was the reason he was shot. I think that this was an eye opening story because it shows how two people of different races in the same circumstance can feel discriminated against.

One comment that really sticks out after hearing "The More I Like Flies," corrolates to the play we've been reading. Kelly and Scott (the narrator) are sitting in the back room taking their break when, Celezar comes in and tells Scott to go clean up some coffee that some of the soldiers had spilt. Kelly tells him to basically take a hike cause he's eating, but Scott agrees to go clean up the mess. After Celezar leaves, Kelly spends the next few minutes trying to convince Scott not to go and finally tells him that the only reason Celezar walks all over him is because Scott lets them. Kelly's commentary on Scott allowing people to walk all over him is what really relates the two stories in my opinion. Kelly is not as extreme as Water's is in "A Soldier's Play," but he thinks, along with Water's, that a man of color has got to follow the rules in order to get by in their life. If they follow the rules and do what they are told, things will progress like they are suppose to. Water's hopes to move up in the ranks by following the rules, but his position hasn't changed and he has been doing everything they tell him to. Basically, he is letting the higher ranked white men in the army walk all over him and he is not getting much in return for all he does. On the other side, is Davenport. He comes into the story as a strong man, not listening to Taylor and believing he can handle the case. Taylor comments that he is only on the case because he is black and no one will take him seriously, but Davenport doesn't listen to him. He doesn't give up the case, he doesn't let Taylor walk all over him. I think the these two sides are seen in a lot of the literature we've read and this type of behavior is present today in the stereotypes many people have of the black man. If the black man speaks up for himself, if he won't let someone take advantage of him, or "walk all over him" than he is seen as the angry black man, but if he just sits back and takes it then he is being denied the life everyone should be able to life free of prejudice. In other literature we've read I have seen a similar theme for example, Sylvia and her friends act differently when they are in the city, then when they are at home in the tenaments.

I really enjoyed hearing Reginald McKnight read his short story "The More I Like Flies." Hearing the author read the story makes it easier to hear how it should be read and interpreted. I also thought it was interesting how it related greatly to the story we're working on now in class. It made his story more fun to listen to because i could relate it back to Fuller's "Soldier's Play." I thought one of the most significant parts of the story was how Kelly thought he was shot because he was white. He thought people were racist against white people, but in reality, he was shot because he was so racist. It was funny in a way. Kelly kept saying "What's so great about being white?" THe narrator tells a story of when he was in high school. He had a friend who was also his lab partner. He thought they were very good friends and thought they had repect for one another. Then one day she realizes her wallet was missing. She immediately blamed him for stealing it without any proof. She told the teacher she didn't want to be his lab partner anymore. And it turns out, he didn't even steal it. She then proceeds to write very racist letter to him and slips it in the vents of his locker. The narrator is thinks of this story after Kelly poses the question, "What's so great about being white?" I had never really heard of a white person thinking he/she is being looked down on for being white. It relates to "Soldiers Play" in many ways. One being racism in the military. Both stories show the tension between white and black people in the military. Both races show fear towards the other. I thought Reginald McKnight's story was very interesting and I really enjoyed listening to him speak.

Mr. McKnight was the first author I have ever heard up close. I must say that it really did make the whole story seem a lot more real due to the fact that the actual author is reading it. Of course, the stories that we read related closely to what Mr. McKnight read. I believe that "A Soldier's Play" really did put the relationship here. The racism particularly stood out as being the highlight of the relation. It really hit me as to how bad races can be effected by military. Your life or your death can be devistatingly effected by such a minor thing as the color of your skin. I think that what Mr. McKnight read was definitely a opening experience. I am sure it opened the minds of a lot of the people in the audience and got them outside of their box. People will always be racist even unintentionally due to the fact that they stereotype. This is one of the significant parts of what I think I got out of hearing Mr. McKnight's story. I am glad that he enlightened us about the racist issues.

I was supprised at some of the language that Mr. McKnight used. I am not really used to hearing it. Although it did add ephasis to the story and made it seam more realistic. I am sure that in the military that sort of language is heard more often than not. His story related to A SOLDIERS PLAY in the sence that it should that even as simple and developed as the military there is still segregation amoung those that fight and those that clean. Most of the time it is due to color. Because a man is black he is scene as less intlegent and unducate when compared to that of a white man. I guess there is no place to go that racism does not exist.