Week 3 Blog Post – Branch and Lopez

Question #5 from pg. 99

Raymond Branch was a European American male who was born in 1969. He is the son of a professor and a real estate. Branch received a computer as his first gift. He could go to his father’s lab and mess around with computer programming. Not only that but also go to computer hardware and software stores to fool around. He was sponsored by the labs, newest technologies, and most educated personnel. He had financial support throughout his life and didn’t have to worry about anything. Branch had everything he wanted and needed.

On the other hand, Dora Lopez was a Mexican American female who was born in the Texas border. Her father was a bookkeeper and her grandparents were migrant workers. Dora was 13 years old when she was exposed to computers. She received a used word processing machine from the campus as her first gift. Lopez taught herself to read and write. Her family had to travel 150 miles to get groceries and Spanish-language newspapers and magazines. Lopez was sponsored by her parents, basically whatever they could provide her such as mailroom, bookstore, second-hand technology.

Overall, Branch had more privileges and opportunities compared to Lopez where she had little privileges. I agree with Brandt’s claim because it’s true that race and class impact one individual’s literacy and access.

Question #1 from pg. 100

My literacy history is similar to Lopez’s. Back in Nepal, I went to schools that were made out of bamboos. There weren’t any chairs or tables to sit so we had to sit on the floor, carpet underneath the mud. I came to America in 2010 with my family and I didn’t know how to speak English. I learned to read and write in a newcomer center in Twin Falls, Idaho. Also, by watching cartoons, videos, movies, on YouTube. Both of my parents are uneducated. My dad traveled to a few different states looking for a job. It was difficult adapting to the environment and adjusting everything such as food, language, friends, clothes, etc. As I grew up, I learned more about this new culture. I would have to go to the public library to read books. I got my first phone when I was a sophomore in high school. My family and I had financial issues growing up and less access to books, and computers. My sponsors are my parents, grandma, cousin, siblings, teachers throughout middle school and high school.