Humanity

 Essay project assignment constitutes the formal writing component of the class.  Between 3-5 pages written paper analysis of the readings or artistic performance, or an equivalent artistic project with one page written reflection.  Follow same format as Extra Credit projects. See Essay and Extra Credit Presentation.  See Syllabus for Essay deadline. Start your essays early in the quarter, don’t leave them for the last weeks of class. Allow time to edit them and work with the writing center.  

 

A quick note on the Essay Project.

As mentioned previously in class:

Identify a specific topic from our readings that you will analyze in your essay. Develop a thesis and argumentation. This will allow you to review what you have already studied and develop research about a topic that interests you.

Employ at least one of our assigned readings that we have covered in class. You can use any of the recommended readings available, which are there to provide support. 

Make sure that you write an analysis rather than just a review of a book or historical event.

You can use any of the academic formats (MLA, IP, Chicago, …)

Include works cited section in which you list the academic sources that you have employed. 

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Introduction

Here is the birth of Jesus from the Holy Book of Islam called the Quran (Koran).

As we see in this course, the three great religions of “the Book” (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity), existed side by side in the Iberian Peninsula for many centuries – with varying degrees of tolerance and strife.

What are some of the differences in the following account from the one familiar to Christians?

The Birth of Jesus from the Holy Quran (Koran)

Mary, the Devout

“And (mention) when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed God has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the worlds.’ ‘O Mary, be devoutly obedient to your Lord and prostrate and bow down along with those who bow down (in prayer).’ This is a part of the news of the unseen, which We reveal to you (O Muhammad). You were not with them when they cast lots with their pens to (decide) which of them should take care of Mary, nor were you with them when they disputed.” (Quran 3:42-44)

The Good news of a new-born child

“(And mention) when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed God gives you the good news of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter, and of those who are near to God.’ ‘He will speak to the people in the cradle, and in old age, and he will be of the righteous.’ She said, ‘My Lord, how can I have a son when no man has touched me.’ He said, ‘So (it will be,) for God creates what He wants. When He decides something, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is. And He will teach him the Book and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel. And (will make him) a messenger to the Children of Israel (saying), ‘Indeed I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, then breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by the permission of God. And I heal the blind and the leper, and I bring the dead to life by the permission of God. And I inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Surely, there is a sign for you in that, if you are believers. And (I have come) confirming the Torah that was (revealed) before me, and to allow you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a proof from your Lord, so fear God and obey me. Indeed, God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is the straight path.” (Quran 3:45-51)

“And mention in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to an eastern place. And she placed a screen to seclude herself from them. Then We sent to her Our angel (Gabriel), and he took the form of a well-created man before her. She said, “Indeed I seek refuge with the Most Merciful from you, if you do fear God.”[1] (The angel) said, ‘I am only the messenger of your Lord to give to you (the news of) a pure boy.’ She said, ‘How can I have a son, when no man has touched me (in marriage), and I am not a prostitute?’ He said, So your Lord said, ‘It is easy for Me. And We will make him a sign to people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter (already) decided.’”[2] (Quran 19:16-21)

The Immaculate Conception

“And she who guarded her chastity, so We breathed (a spirit) into her through Our angel, and We made her and her son (Jesus) a sign for the worlds.”[3] (Quran 21:91)

The Birth of Jesus

“So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, ‘I wish I had died before this, and had been long forgotten. [Mary was worried that people would think badly of her as she was not married.] Then (baby Jesus) called her from below her, saying, ‘Don’t be sad. Your Lord has provided a stream under you.’ Shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you, and it will drop on you fresh ripe dates. So eat and drink and be happy. And if you see any human, then say, ‘Indeed I have vowed a fast to the Most Merciful so I will not speak to any human today.’ Then she carried him and brought him to her people. They said, ‘O Mary, indeed you have done a great evil.’ ‘O sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, and your mother was not a fornicator.’ So she pointed to him. They said, ‘How can we speak to a child in the cradle?’ (Jesus) said, ‘Indeed, I am a slave of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.[4] And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He has enjoined on me prayer and charity as long as I remain alive. And (has made) me kind to my mother, and did not make me arrogant or miserable. And peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I will die, and the day I will be raised alive.’” (Quran 19:22-33)

“Indeed, Jesus is like Adam in front of God. He created him from dust, then said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.”[5] (Quran 3:59)

“And We made the son of Mary and his mother a sign, And We gave them refuge and rest on a high ground with flowing water.”[6] (Quran 23:50)

The Excellence of Mary

“And God gives as an example for those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, ‘My Lord, build for me a home near You in paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people.’ And (the example of) Mary, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We blew (the spirit of Jesus) into her through Our angel (Gabriel). And she believed in the words of her Lord, and His scriptures, and she was of the devout ones.” (Quran 66:11-12)

Footnotes:

[1] The Most Merciful is one of the names of God in the Quran.

[2] Jesus is a sign of God’s power, where God showed people that He could create Jesus without a father, as He created Adam without any parents. Jesus is also a sign that God is well able to resurrect all people after their death, since the one who creates from nothing is quite able to bring back to life. He is also a sign of the Day of Judgment, when he returns to the earth and slays the Anti-Christ in the End Times.

[3] Similarly, just as God created Adam with no father or mother, Jesus’ birth was from mother with no father. All that is needed for God for something to happen is to say “Be” and it is; for God is capable of all things.

[4] Prophethood is the highest and most honorable position a human can reach. A prophet is one who receives revelations from God through Angel Gabriel.

[5] Adam was created when God said, “Be,” and he to be without a father or a mother. And so was Jesus created by the Word of God. If the unusual birth of Jesus makes him divine, then Adam deserves more of that divinity because Jesus at least had one parent, while Adam had none. As Adam is not divine, so is Jesus not divine, but both are humble servants of God.

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/621/viewall/

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1

Humanities 335 – Recommended Reading

Please note: this list is VERY limited and is intended to show the kind of acceptable readings. To search for other possible titles, Google a subject or go to Amazon Books.

For Extra Credit: Pick a book from the list and follow the instructions in the in Blackboard Extra Credit for submission. If you wish to read a book not listed here (that has a connection to Latino Culture), be sure to check with your instructor via email first.

Books:

1.
The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews and Christians Created a Culture of

Tolerance in Medieval Spain

, Maria Rosa Menocal.

2.
Everything You Need to Know about Latino History
, by Himilce Novas

Well, not everything–you learn about issues in HUM 335 not covered in Novas’
book, but you will enjoy her review of Latino history and culture – a fun book.

3.
The Hispanic 100
, by Himilce Novas

A useful biographical resource of influential Latino women and men in the U.S.

4.
Hispanic Nation
, by Geoffrey Fox

Fox describes what he calls the “Hispanic identity” of many people living in the
U.S.

5.
Women’s Voices from the Borderlands
, Edited by Lillian Castillo-Speed

Thirty-one well known and emerging Latina writers speak of their heritage.

6
. Strangers Among Us: How Latino Immigration is transforming America
, by Roberto

Suro. A contemporary and timely view of Latino immigration and its consequences in the U.S.

7.
Short Fiction by Hispanic Writers of the United States
, Edited by Nicolás Kanellos

Representations of life in the U.S. by Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and
Puerto Rican writers.

8
. The Hispanic Condition: Reflections on Culture and Identity in America,
by Ilan

Stavans. A Mexican-American scholar examines the history and culture of Latinos in the U.S.

9.
Out of the Barrio
, by Linda Chavez.Conservative writer Chavez’s provocative and

controversial examination of U.S.

10
. Growing up Latino: Memoirs and Stories,
Edited by Harold Augenbraum and Ilan

Stavans. Experiences of Latino youths coming of age in the U.S.

11.
Latino Literacy: The Complete Guide to Our Hispanic History and Culture
, by Frank

de Varona. An overview of the history, culture, and people of Latino heritage.

12.
Latino Cultural Citizenship: Claiming Identity, Space, and Rights
. Eds. William V.

Flores and Rina Benmayor. A series of essays that explore the concept of being a citizen of the U.S. while maintaining strong cultural ties to Spanish-speaking countries.

13.
Thirty Million Strong: Reclaiming Hispanic Heritage in American Culture,
by Nicolás

Kanellos. Analyzes the role of Hispanics throughout the history of the United States.

14.
Aztlán: Chicano Culture and Folklore, An Anthology.
Eds. José Villarino and Arturo

Ramírez. Readings from all aspects of Chicano Culture.

15.
Americanos: Latino Life in the United States.
Preface by Edward James Olmos.

Introduction by Carlos Fuentes. A panoramic and visual view of Latino Life in the U.S. (Based on the TV documentary of the same name).

16.
It’s all in the Frijoles: 100 Famous Latinos Share Real-Life Stories, Time-Tested

Dichos, Favorite Folktales, and Inspiring Words of Wisdom
. Ed. Yolanda Nava.

A entertaining text about Latino Culture that captures its traditions in many
voices.

17.
The Other Face of America,
Jorge Ramos.

Anchorman Jorge Ramos (Univisión) analyzes the 2000 census and the current

status of Latinos in the USA.

18.

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus

, Charles C. Mann

Recent discoveries alter the traditional picture!

List of recommended books for children, (Not elelgible for extra credit), but to share with family.

Hispanic Children’s Literature Bibliography by T. Patrick Mullen Ph. D.

Ada, Alma Flor (1995) Mediopollito / Half Chicken Yearling, NY 0-440-41360-5
Ancona, George (1994) The Piñata Maker / El Piñatero Harcourt Brace, NY 0-15-
200060-7
Argueta, Manlio (1990) Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes/ Los Perros Magicos de los
Volcanes, Children’s Book Press, San Francisco 0-89239-064-6
Arnold, Sandra (1995) Child of the Sun, A Cuban Legend, Troll Associates, NY 0-8167-
3748-7
Baylor, Byrd (1989) Amigo, Aladdin, NY 0-689-71299-5
Beatty, Patricia (1981) Lupita Manana, Beach Tree Books, NY 0-688-11497-0
Bontemps, Arna & Hughes, Langston (1997) The Pasteboard Bandit, Oxford University
Press, New York 0-19-511476-0
Brusca, Maria Christina & Wilson, Tona (1995) Pedro Fools the Gringo, and Other
Tales of a Latin American Trickster, Henry Holt & Co, NY 0-8050-3827-2
Buchanan, Ken (1992) This House is Made of Mud / Esta casa está hecha de lodo,
Northland, Flagstaff, AZ 0-87358-580-1
Bulmer-Thomas, Barbara (1991) Journey through Mexico, Troll Associates, NY 0-8167-
2117-3
Buntine, Eve (1994) A Day’s Work, Clarion Books, NY 0-395-84518-1
Carlson, LM & Ventura, CL (1990) Where Angels Glide at Dawn, New Stories from
Latin America, Harper Trophy, NY 0-06-440464-1
Castaneda, Omar (1993) Abuela’s Weave, 1-880000-00-8 (1993) El Tapiz de Abuela, Lee
& Low Books, NY 1-880000113 Chrisman, Abott (1993) David Farragut 0-8172-2904-3 (1993) Luis Munoz Martin
Raintree, Milwaukee 0-8172-2907-8
Clark, Ann N. (1952) Secret of the Andes, Puffin, NY 0-14-030926-8
Climo, Shirley (1995) The Little Red Ant and the Great Big Crumb, Clarion. NY 0-395-
72097- Delacre, Lulu (1993) Vejigante Masquerader, Scholastic NY -590-45776-4
De Sauza, James (1989) Brother Anansi and the Cattle Ranch / El Hermano Anansi y el
Rancho de Ganado, Children’s Book Press, San Francisco 0-89239-044-1
deVan Etten, Teresa (1990) Spanish-American Folktales, August House, Little Rock

Ehlert

, Lois (1992) Moon Rope, a Peruvian Folktale / Un Lazo a la Luna; Una Leyenda
Peruana, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, NY 0-15-255343-6
Ehlert, Lois and

Gloria Andujar

(1997) Cuckoo, A Mexican Folktale / Cucu, Un cuento
folklorico mexicano, Harcourt Brace, NY 0-15-200274-X
Fingers, Charles (1924) Tales from Silver Lands, Scholastic, NY 0-590-42447-5
Garza, Carmen (1990) Family Pictures, Cuadros de Familia, Children’s Book Pres, San
Francisco, 0-89239-050-6
Gleiter, Jan & Thompson, Kathleen (1991) Diego Rivera, Steck Vaughn, Austin TX
0-8114-6764-3
Griego, MC, Bucks, BL, Gilbert, SS, & Kimball, LH (1981) Tortillas Para Mamá, Henry
Holt, NY, 0-8050-0317-7
Hayes, Joe (1982) The Day it Snowed Tortillas.
(1987) The Weeping Woman / La Llorona, 0-938317-02-4
(1987) The Terrible Tragadabas / El Terrible Tragadabas, 0-939729-02-4
(1987) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Oh / Lunes, martes, miércoles ¡O!
0-939729-04-0
(1987) No Way, Jose! / ¡De Ninguna Manera, Jose! Trails West, Santa Fe NM
0-939729-00-8
Haskins, Jim (1989) Count Your Way through Mexico, Carolrhoda Books, Minneapolis,
0-87614-517-9
Hernandez, Xavier, Ballonga, Jordi & Escofet, Josep (1992) San Rafael, A Central
American City Throulgh the Ages, Houghton Mifflin, NY 0-395-60645-4
Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane (1994) Day of the Dead, A Mexican-American Celebration,
Holiday House, NY 0-8234-1200-8
Kalman, Bobbie (1993) Mexico the Culture, Crabtree, NY 0-86505-296-4
Katz, Karen (1997) Over the Moon; an Adoption Tale, Henry Holt & Co, NY 0-8050-
6707-8
Krumgold, Joseph (1953) ….and now Miguel, Harper Row, NY 0-06-440143-X
Lattimore, Deborah N (1987) The Flame of Peace, A Tale of the Aztecs, 0-06-023708-2
(1989) Why There Is No Arguing in Heaven, A Mayan Myth, Harper & Row, NY
0-06-
023717-1
Lewis, Thomas (1971) Hill of Fire, Harper Trophy, NY 0-06-444040-0
Lichtveld, Noni 1993) I Lost my Arrow in a Kankan Tree, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books
NY, 0-688-12748-7 (Surinam)
Lippert, Margaret (1993) The Sea Serpent’s Daughter, a Brazilian Legend, 0-8167-3054-7
(1993) La Hija de la Serpiente Marina, Una Leyenda Brasilena, Troll Assoc NY
0-8167-3074-1
McDermott, Gerald (1992) Papagayo the Mischief Maker, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich,
NY 0-15-259464-7
(1995) Coyote, Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich, NY 0-15-200032-1
(1997) Musicians of the Sun, Simon & Schuster, NY 0-689-80706-6
Mike, Jan (1993) Opossum and the Great Firemaker, A Mexican Legend, 0-8167-3056-3
(1993) La Zarigueya y El Gran Creador de Fuego, Troll Associates, NY
0-8167-3073-3
(1995) Juan Bobo and the Horse of Seven Colors, a PuertoRican Legend, Troll
Associates 0-8167-3746-0 Murkland, Pat & Kriner, Paula (1993) This Family, This Place: The Story of the Jensen-
Alvarado Ranch, La Paz Publishing Co.
Nava, Julian (1969) Mexican Americans, Past Present and Future, American Book Co,NY
O’Brien, Elaine (1991) Anita of Rancho Del Mar, Fithian Press, Santa Barbara, CA
0-931832-79-9
O’Dell, Scott (1977) Carlota, Dell, NY 0-440-90928-7
Palacios, Argentina (1993) The Llama’s Secret, a Peruvian Legend, 0-8167-3050-4
(1993) ., 0-8167-3072-5
(1993) The Hummingbird King, A Guatemalian Legend, 0-8167-3052-0
(1993) El Rey Colibri,Una Leyenda Guatemaltica, Troll Associates, NY
0-8167-3071-7
(1994) Standing Tall: The Stories of Ten Hispanic Americans, Scholastic, NY 0-590-47140-6
Palazzo-Craig, Janet (1996) Bobo’s Magic Wishes, A Story from Puerto Rico, 0-8167-3986-2
(1996) How Llama Saved the Day, A Story from Peru, 0-8167-3992-7
(1996) How Night Came to Be, A Story from Brazil, 0-8167-3994-3
(1996) Mancrow’s Feather, A Story from Jamaica, 0-8167-3998-6
(1996) When Sun Ruled the Land, A Story from Cuba, 0-8167-4002-X
(1996) Why Opossun is Gray, A Story from Mexico, 0-8167-4004-6
(1996) Why Owl Comes Out at Night, a Story from Haiti, 0-8167-4006-2 Troll, NY
Paulsen, Gary (1990) The Crossing, Dell, NY 0-440-20582-4
Politi, Leo (1948) Song of the Swallows, Aladdin, NY 0-689-71140-9
(1993) Three Stalks of Corn, Charles Scribner’s Sons NY 0-684-19538-0
Reasoner, Charles (1995) Night Owl and the Rooster, A Haitian Legend, Troll Associates, NY 0-8167-3750-9
Reeve, Kirk (1998) Lolo and Red-Legs, Northland Publishing, Flagstaff, AZ 0-87358-684-0
Roberts, Maurice (1986) Cesar Chavez y La Causa, Childrens Press, Chicago 0-516-53484-X
Rohmer, Harriet (1982) The Legend of Food Mountain / La Montana del Alimento,
Children’s Book Press, San Francisco, CA 0-89239-022-0
(1982) Uncle Nacho’s Hat / El Sombrero del Tio Nacho, Children’s Book Press, San Francisco. 0-89239-112-X

Rohmer, H & Anchondo, Mary (1988) How we Came to the Fifth World / Como Vinimos
al Quinto Mundo, Children’s Book Press, San Francisco, CA 0-89239-024-7
Rohmer, H, Chow, Octavio & Vidaure, Morris (1987) The Invisible Hunters/ Los
Cazadores Invisibles, Children’s Book Press, San Francisco, CA 0-89239-109-X
Rojany, Lisa (1995) The Magic Feather, A Jamaican Legend, Troll Associates, NY

Shalant, Phyllis (1992) Look What We’ve Brought You from Mexico, Simon & Schuster,
Soto, Gary (1995) Chato’s Kitchen, Putnam’s Sons NY 0-339-22658-3
Wing, Natasha (1996) Jalapeño Bagels, Atheneum, NY 0-689-80530-6
Winter, Janette & Winter, Jonah (1991) Diego, Alfred A Knopf, NY 0-679-81987-8