With many different pieces of work a connection can be found between the two. If the connection is good enough, then one could easily see a conversation of sorts taking place between the two-different works. Two pieces of work that have a detailed conversation with one another are Sonia Saraiya’s “Mockingjay’s Eerie Echoes of Ferguson”, and “The Black Male Handbook” by Kevin Powell. Imagine the two of these pieces of work sitting at a table discussing the aspects of African American life! 

The main question being asked to one another being, “How can we figure out a way for African Americans to help themselves?” Should Kevin Powell’s work speak first it would say “My goal is to help African Americans by providing them a basis for overcoming their common issues in society.” While the Mockingjay essay would ask “What are the issues that you see, and why do you attack these issues?” How would the handbook respond to such a question?

It would start by talking about how multiple studies showed the impact that stigmas could have on the minds of those hit by them. (Gaspard 1) Showing how the negative effects often lead to African Americans making poor decisions such as smoking weed, skipping important events, or committing crimes. By overcoming these stereotypes there should be a decline in the negative effects of these stereotypes. Next the handbook would tell about how one presents themselves gets them what they want or need. By showing up to an interview looking sharp one is already making a better first impression than who does not. Also it would obviously be easier to attract females in good hygiene, with nice cologne on top of that. After showing the issues that many of the African American males experience it would say “and here is how I plan to fix these issues.” Next Powell’s work would be telling the Mockingjay essay about being cleanly, finding spiritual bases, and other tips on overcoming what holds them back. 

After nodding in agreement with the handbook, the Mockingjay essay would then begin to tell its version of how it is helping the African American community. Starting off by saying “Well have you seen that movie called the Mockingjay Part 1? It is about how a government single handedly destroys communities, doesn’t take credit for it or accept justice and then in result the community revolts.” Hearing this would cause Powell’s piece to inquire about the relationship between this series and African American’s lives. Which in turn would have Saraiya’s work explain the connection that they share. It would say “look into real life and tell me what you see.” Pointing out the murders that have been taking place and lack of punishment would be the start. Then drawing comparisons to how the government is going about trying to “fix” the issue by doing absolutely nothing. So, the next thing to be brought up would be how strikingly similar the police in real life seem like the force from the games in Ferguson photos. Citing the amount of smoke, destruction, police artillery, and also even a direct hunger games quote “We burn, you burn with us.” In one of these photos it shows one African American standing alone with their hands up against a platoon of police officers heavily armored and aiming their guns at the individual. It is near impossible to not see the similarities between the two. Especially when you look at the incidents where the government infiltrates district 12 and imposes their power upon them with force.  

Then after explain African American’s real life problems and relating them to The Hunger Games, Saraiya’s work would tell how it feels that it helps the community. “By seeing the way that the districts overthrew the government of Panem, the people in the united states can essentially do the same. This can be done by actually taking action!” A source the work could use is the civil rights activist Malcom X. He believed that taking action would get him where he wanted to be as a race. Meanwhile, even noting that while the great Martin Luther King Jr. was not violent he too acted against the government. These actions came in the form of marches, strikes, and petitions. The hope is that The Hunger Games will inspire the people to take a stand and act against the government to get what they feel that they deserve. As “The Hunger Games” movie so clearly shows how doing nothing as a people leads to no change. Simply being upset is not the answer. The hope of the essay is that today’s generation would not only use social media but actually get off of their couch and do something to stop what is going on around them. 

After the two of these elaborate pieces of work explained themselves to each other they would wind up finding that they are both alike and different. With each side realizing how the other also works to helping the African American community to better themselves. Meanwhile, also noting that they both attack different issues and for different reasons. The hope being that neither finds themselves more important than the other, but rather that they come to see that they are equally important. As with the action of the government, the wrong kind of action could lead to destruction, whereas constructive retaliation in the proper manner (think etiquette here) would make the entire ordeal more ideal. Meanwhile, simply complying to how others want you to be won’t be the way to accomplishing your goals. It will help to get you heard, but you will still have to take action, make changes, things along that nature. 

The tying of the two of these works together works for the best affect. The reasoning behind that is their individual ideals. It is almost like making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich of ideas. The contrast, but compatibility work together in harmony to form something completely new to either side alone. 
