Analysis Of Debra Dickerson's Who Shot Johnny?

In 1921, physicist and philosopher Albert Einstein offered a quotation that is still relevant today, telling us, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he has learned in school. It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.” It is incredible that nearly one hundred years ago, Einstein could make such an assertion, that is still applicable to this day. Einstein was insightful, I believe, in that education today has become increasingly systematic to the point that it has gotten away from the curiosity born of knowledge and skill. Because of such curiosities, then, we can recognize a true education as one that goes to foster the creation of ideas and imagination.

Ideas fuel the future through innovation. Rand

Paul recently remarked, “Ideas are strong, maybe even stronger than armies.” Writing is something that differs from anything else. Writing is the basis of all recorded attributes of anything that has ever been. In this sense, it serves as a form of inquiry that leads to success. Writing is a self-inspired process that can not be forced into a defined system or organized into a set of rules. It is a free-flowing action that allows the author to demonstrate and bring out a personality that may not be seen anywhere else.
The unfortunate part about modern writing is that the current education system teaches students a method that restricts ingenuity, and forces students to write in a specific style. This method of teaching limits a student’s ability to write creatively, and more importantly, write with vivid description. The most successful writers are those that use specifics. In the present-day, writers utilize a system that strays from particulars and can sometimes leave the reader wondering, or even asking questions about the piece. In this way, the modern system is establishing the outline for a process that stresses the importance of an end result, not the process itself.
Going to college, I certainly was not prepared for the challenges I was going to face. It felt as if I was in an entirely new world, having to finally learn how to live on my own without my mother to help me with everything. It felt as if every week I was teaching myself a new skill or task that she had done for me just months before. It was very difficult at first, living on my own. One must find new ways to study, and the correct directions to go. It is these struggles, however, that I feel will prepare me the most for the “real” world that is to come. David Sedaris also had to overcome a challenge to succeed in his French class, which was outlined in his work Me Talk Pretty One Day. He had a professor that was ruthless in her attempt to teach students the language, and as a response David wanted to work harder and harder to do well in the class. Sedaris writes, “I suppose I could have gotten by with less, but I was determined to create some sort of identity for myself: David the hard worker, David the cut-up” (Sedaris, 215). It is this that I most relate with. Through my studies and my work ethic, I desire to be most well known for my work ethic. This is a mode of inquiry for myself personally. I desire to learn and understand what my limits are and continue to push myself to be the best student I can be.
This concept of hard work and dedication parallels the ideals presented in Sherman Alexie’s The Joy of Writing: Superman and Me. In the piece, Alexie addresses the stereotypes that are commonly associated with American Indian people. Alexie writes, “A smart Indian is a dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed by Indians and non-Indians alike” (Alexie, 29). This is how writing translates as a means of inquiry. Writing is serving as a means of defying stereotypes for Alexie. Through writing, Alexie has been able to divulge into and bring light to the social problems being faced by Indian people. For Alexie, writing has served as a mode of inquiry because he has been able to face the issues he dealt with as a child within his work. This has allowed him to potentially impact future generations, which was clearly part of his intention. Alexie is making the suggestion that despite any given circumstance there will always be an opportunity for improvement, and the chance to change the way people view a concept or idea. If this suggestion is not accepted, like the other Indians who just pretended to not understand, one will fall into the role that the stereotype presents. This is exactly the opposite of what Alexie wants. Alexie closes the piece with, “I throw my weight against their locked doors. The door holds. I am smart. I am arrogant. I am lucky. I am trying to save our lives” (Alexie 30). Alexie is trying to alter the future through rhetoric and language. It is in this way that Alexie is attempting to break a system that restricts learning and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next. This is an idea that contrasts with the education system spoken about previously. Alexie believes in writing to change the future, and additionally writing to assist future generations.
The problems faced by Sherman Alexie are also problems that are faced by children every day. In this way, Alexie is able to write in a fashion that not only applies to the American Indian people, but to the entire country. This is what makes Alexie such a talented writer. He is able to make a connection with a reader, although he is not actually in the same position they are in. These values serve as a mode of inquiry for Alexie because he has been able to impact the lives of many different members of society through his writing. This is the sign of a legitimately great writer; an individual who is able to connect with a reader no matter what the piece is about, or when the piece was written. Great writing is still applicable centuries later.
In a similar way, Debra Dickerson is able to challenge popular stereotypes in her work, Who Shot Johnny?.

Although the work does not specifically address writing in a direct sense, it teaches lessons about writing as a means of addressing problems within society. As an African American woman who graduated from Harvard, Dickerson creates a commentary on the problems faced by African Americans. This has allowed Dickerson to address a specific problem faced in her own life, the shooting of her nephew. In one sentence Dickerson is able to capture the essence of the entire piece, "We barely wonder about or discuss the brother who shot him because we already know everything about him” (Dickerson, 49). Here you see Dickerson making a statement about the racial issues being faced by African Americans at the time. In this piece, the reader can see the tone of the story change from serious, to almost mad or frustrated. As an author, Dickerson is trying to communicate to a reader what it is like to experience a traumatic event such as the shooting of a close relative. It is this realization that allows Dickerson to make the connection between this specific event and the broader idea of what it is like for an African American living in an era heavy with racism and hate. Also, throughout the piece you see Dickerson change as a person when she is writing. This is important for a writer because it demonstrates exactly how writing and expressing oneself can alter a person. It was incredible to see what was, at first, a strong speaker, become a broken soul because of the shooting of her nephew. Through her writing, Ms. Dickerson was able to inquire into larger issues, simply using a specific incident. This is one of the key points of the writing. Through the use of a specific incident, Dickerson has been able to broaden the topic and make the reader truly understand the reason for her

writing.
It was clear to me that each Alexie, Dickerson, and Sedaris were able to successfully use writing as a mode of inquiry. Learning from the works of these three authors, I can certainly increase both the quality and substance that goes into my writing. The first major key that was present in the three pieces was that to increase the quality of my writing, I must be a more analytical and inquisitive reader. This concept was demonstrated in Alexie’s piece because as a young boy he was “[reading] “Grapes of Wrath” in kindergarten while other children were struggling through “Dick and Jane” (Alexie, 29). The trio of authors was able to demonstrate that writing is not a set process. Writing is to be done in a way that can allow for the flow of ideas in a positive, and beneficial format. It was additionally evident to me that to fully excel in writing, one must be willing and able to write using the specifics of any situation. Coming as a result of that situation, the reader must be able to connect that topic to their own lives, allowing that same reader to truly make a connection with the work. Each of the authors mentioned also demonstrated the necessity of using specifics in their writing. I have come to the realization that the specifics a writer uses are what determine what impact any piece will leave on the reader. Additionally, it is clear to me that I must broaden my vocabulary and continue to focus on my diction. The word choice and vocabulary used by Dickerson made it obvious to me exactly what she wanted the reader to comprehend from the composition. It is the application of these concepts to my writing that will allow me to become a better writer and continue to inquire into the future through my writing.
Great authors teach lessons within their writing. In this way, young writers use these concepts to inquire into their own writing through learned concepts and ideas. It is this same inquiry that has allowed readers and writers to alter the system that is being forced upon them. If each writer continues to inquire into their own writing, they continue to alter the system that has been presented to them. This idea has the potential to increase the quality of education overall. As time goes on, this is something that will be mutually beneficial to both the writer and the system itself. Furthermore, students must continue the pursuit of teachers that assist them in growing into promising readers and writers.
Tharindu Dhanusha Fernando writes, “Success of life doesn't have a clear destination, but, it’s a non-ending journey.” Writing is about a free-ranging process, not a set system. Implementing these changes to my writing, I can continue to chase the success and the future I desire. It is through specifics and innovation that I can continue to move forward within my writing. This will allow me to learn more about myself, and help me progress into the future.