Biographies
All artists, if they are to survive, are forced, at last, to tell the whole story
James Baldwin
The Story of Cyrus
Cyrus encounters a lot of people in the small store he owns. When he finds himself caught in the middle of a dispute between a well-respected reverend and a secretive fraternal order, Cyrus discovers that he does not understand religion, education or human nature as well as he thought. Surprising revelations and disaster cause Cyrus to rely on an unusual source to cope with loss and the blurred line he discovers between seeing and believing.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Cyrus's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try Hollywood, Avatars & the Politics of Entertainment here.
The Story of Grace
After marrying an abusive man, Grace has to figure out how to stay alive. She befriends a seamstress named Iris, who offers Grace advice and refuge in her home. Grace tries to create a life for herself, but she struggles, creating new obstacles as she tries to remove old ones. In the end, Grace holds on to a destructive secret that she must keep from her husband and Iris, the very secret that restored her faith in redemption and changed her ideas about love.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Grace's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try Unforgettable Differences & the Intersection of Race, Gender and Class here.
The Story of Billy
Billy, a young man with more determination than job skills, is looking for success in a place where work seems to be in short supply. Suddenly, he falls in love with a woman from a different side of town. His obsession almost costs him an opportunity to enter the restaurant business and have a life with the woman who truly cares about him. After surviving a voodoo spell that goes wrong, Billy achieves what he thought he never could and more.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Billy's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try American Dreams, Global Realities & the Story of Work here.
The Story of Mattie
Mattie is an old woman who reassesses her life before dying. In her last moments, she revisits the uneasy relationships she had with her doctor, her husband and her son. She blames herself for her loveless marriage and her son’s social inadequacies. Mattie has advice for her daughter-in-law, hoping she will be a better mother and not make the mistakes she made while taking care of a farm and a family constantly threatened by foreclosure and disaffection.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Mattie's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try Unforgettable Differences & the Intersection of Race, Gender and Class here.
The Story of Jasper
The arrival of Mary Jean, the new girl in school, spells trouble for Jasper and his classmates. In a classroom filled with more chaos than learning, Mary Jean dreams of becoming a star. When the teacher has the students explore their future careers, they recognize the gap between the careers they choose for themselves and the ones predicted for them. While Jasper questions his teacher about the discrepancies, Mary Jean escapes, leaving her classmates wondering about their futures and hers.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Jasper's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try God, Pedigree & the Architects of the Classroom here.
The Story of Abel
Abel is a barber and a veteran who takes pride in his keen sense of duty and community history. Ironically, his recollections of war and an unresolved murder create tension between him, fellow veterans and a new schoolteacher seeking the truth. After the fatal shooting of a young man by a sheriff, Abel must face his insecurities about his own mortality, his daughter’s transformation and the fact that the young man’s death puts an end to a rivalry and a mystery Abel finds impossible to forget.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Abel's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try Unforgettable Differences & the Intersection of Race, Gender and Colonialism here.
The Story of Rachel
Rachel has a vision of a better future, but only on her terms. One day, she quits her job. In her attempt to be self-sufficient, Rachel finds herself ostracized for stepping outside of the roles others feel she should embrace. Rachel fights to keep her good name and her independence. Along the way, she even finds companionship with a man who is as unconventional as she is. However, the relationship is bittersweet because it creates tension in her friendship with Sofia, who experiences major changes of her own.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Rachel's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try Love, Money & the Reproduction of Debt and Desire here.
The Story of Earl
Earl and Jesse are old friends who accept the fact that they seldom see eye to eye on events. Over the years, Earl has come to rely on Jesse to help him care for Cluke, Earl’s mentally disabled brother. They fail to get Cluke to understand the rules that prohibit Sutter Jefferson from entering the famous long-car caboose race. They watch Sutter, who is desperate for the prize money to care for his sick wife, defy authority and run in the race. Earl and Jesse come to an agreement on what caused the death of Cluke, but they are not sure if Sutter’s death is an accident or a final act of heroic defiance.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Earl's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try Sports, Branding & Control of the Modern Gladiator here.
The Story of Odessa
Odessa resents having to answer to her older sister, Fancy, after the death of their mother. As they struggle for the upper hand in a religious household, Odessa finds an ally in their stubborn uncle and Fancy, in their compliant father. However, Odessa anticipates her freedom after Fancy takes the advice of a psychic and runs off with an escaped convict, only to return home penniless and pregnant. In order to silence her critics and restore her position in the family, Fancy must figure out how to reclaim and revise the very things that caused her to leave.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Odessa's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try Food, Frankensteins & the Business of the Body here.
The Story of Sonny and Cleophus
Sonny and Cleophus develop an awkward friendship as inmates in prison. While Cleophus has been there for years, Sonny is new and under threat. In order to keep him alive, Cleophus takes Sonny under his wings and attempts to find out the real reason for his incarceration. Distrustful and afraid after the brutal death of his cellmate, Sonny hides behind an elaborate myth. Cleophus does the same. However, Sonny fails to understand that Cleophus’s story is really a cautionary tale. When Cleophus makes Sonny a deal he cannot accept, Cleophus ends his protection. Sonny survives an attack by rival inmates, but he struggles with his injury as he faces a broken justice system and the lasting consequences of living in communities that turn identity into crime.
The stories serve as cases or frameworks for the Matrix Maps. You can use Sonny and Cleophus's story, the discussion questions at the end and your selected map to explore interdisciplinary connections using a portfolio. Try Superheroes, Salvation & the Architects of Utopia here.