While reading Countee Cullen’s “The Shroud of Color,” I was reminded of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem, “We Wear the Mask.” They are similar in that both poets suggest that there are certain burdens, negative feelings, and obligations that come with being African American. Specifically, the lines in Countee’s poem, “Lord, being dark, forewilled to that despair / My color shrouds me in” reminds me of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s lines, “This debt we pay to human guile; / With torn and bleeding hearts we smile.” These lines from the two poems suggest that the burdens are laid by society and are determined based merely on the color of one’s skin. White people expect black people to bear the burden because they are black. This brings us back to our discussion of how hearing accusations and derogatory treatment can affect self-image.
The two poems differ in that Countee Cullen seems to be writing a poem of woe and despair, whereas Paul Laurence Dunbar seems to be encouraging his fellow African-Americans. It’s as if Dunbar suggests that he wears the mask because he is hurting inside, but Cullen suggests that he feels despair because of the color of his skin. Both poets convey the idea that society has forced this despair upon them, though.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Race vs. Class
I realized something when I read Langston Hughes' "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain". Hughes makes the point that it is very difficult for middle to upper class black artists to create art that truly represents black life. He almost implies that they aren't really black because they secretly want to be white. I realized that I've caught myself thinking the same thing during some of our readings. When I read an introduction that says the author was educated and wealthy, I have a harder time giving them credibility. It's like I assume that they aren't really writing about something they know and understand. I almost feel the same way that I would if I knew the author was white.
I feel that sometimes upper and middle class blacks are seen as their own entity. They aren't white so, they may not be able to fit in with the other middle class people around them. At the same time, there are people like Langston Hughes who don't really see them as black either. They kind of exist in this weird space where they are part of both groups without being a complete part of either. It amazes me that the relationship between class and race leads to such a weird situation.
I feel that sometimes upper and middle class blacks are seen as their own entity. They aren't white so, they may not be able to fit in with the other middle class people around them. At the same time, there are people like Langston Hughes who don't really see them as black either. They kind of exist in this weird space where they are part of both groups without being a complete part of either. It amazes me that the relationship between class and race leads to such a weird situation.
Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer
Today in class Theo asked us to brainstorm about connections we found amongst the assigned reading for today. Well, I found a connection between Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer. I know their literature didn't relate to the earlier authors Theo recommended us to look at, but I found my connection to be both interesting and puzzling. I thought that both Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer had very different mindsets when it came to writing and I thought it was important to bring to my classmates attention.
The first part of my connection came from Toomer's biography. "His reaction to the matter (of race) was to hold the United States responsible for living up to its image as a melting pot; rather that viewing himself as black or white, he stayed the issue of race by referring to himself as an American (1168)." Now, I thought that this was a very bold statement, but strong of Toomer to feel this way. I kept that in mind when I read some of his reading and didn't see how that was portrayed in the literature until I read parts of "Cane."
When I read Literature written by Langston Hughes, he had mention writers like Jean Toomer. He said, "Both would have told Jean Toomer not to write "Cane." The colored people did not praise it. The white people did not buy it. Although the critics gave it good reviews the public remained indifferent (1313)." I thought this to be very interesting because their thoughts about race were drastically different. I was surprise to find this connection because they were writing in the midst of the same time period, yet it also made me think about the relationship Brooker T. Washington and W.E.B DeBoius had within their writing carrier. But then again, I feel as if a lot of writers had the same feeling Langston Hughes about Toomer. I say this because "In the words of Arna Bontempts, Harlem had gone "quietly mad" when "Cane" appeared.
The first part of my connection came from Toomer's biography. "His reaction to the matter (of race) was to hold the United States responsible for living up to its image as a melting pot; rather that viewing himself as black or white, he stayed the issue of race by referring to himself as an American (1168)." Now, I thought that this was a very bold statement, but strong of Toomer to feel this way. I kept that in mind when I read some of his reading and didn't see how that was portrayed in the literature until I read parts of "Cane."
When I read Literature written by Langston Hughes, he had mention writers like Jean Toomer. He said, "Both would have told Jean Toomer not to write "Cane." The colored people did not praise it. The white people did not buy it. Although the critics gave it good reviews the public remained indifferent (1313)." I thought this to be very interesting because their thoughts about race were drastically different. I was surprise to find this connection because they were writing in the midst of the same time period, yet it also made me think about the relationship Brooker T. Washington and W.E.B DeBoius had within their writing carrier. But then again, I feel as if a lot of writers had the same feeling Langston Hughes about Toomer. I say this because "In the words of Arna Bontempts, Harlem had gone "quietly mad" when "Cane" appeared.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Maya Angelou: Letters to My Daughter...
I decided to read a collection of short stories, poems and narratives. I enjoyed the book because Angelou dedicated it to all the daughters of every skin type and more: "black or white, Jewish or Muslim, fat or thin, gay or straight, educated or uneducated." I thought it made each and every story or poem told much stronger because Angelou did not discriminate.
Maya Angelou says, "You may not control all the events that happen to you but you can decide not to be reduced by them. If you try to make a change and if you can't make a change, then change the way you have been thinking." After I heard this, I though how inspirational this author is. I give this author a lot of respect because of how open she was with her struggles and coming forward to mention her idles that she looks up to and have changed her life. I felt like the author made the reader feel as if we were on the same level as her.
I found her struggles and issue that she mentioned to be as emotional as issues from the narrators in the first part of the semester. This being said, I allowed myself to think fondly and as inspiring as the earlier authors our class has read. Even though she did not live and suffer through the pains of slavery, she suffered through the loss of a daughter. She only had one son by the time she wrote thing book and was clearly at an age when she could have no more children. Hearing the pain and the agony that she went though is similar to the pain and suffering the slave narrators went through. I felt the same emotions while I was reading letter to my daughter and during the other tragic stories from this semester. I guess what mad me like it so much was the approach she took and the message she wanted to give to the readers. I appreciate how she took in mind the past, present, and future; I believe these qualities are what make her a great African American writer of today and I do truly believe that it should be recommended for the syllabus next semester. The reason I say this is because the style is simple, but the acknowledgement she gives her fellow colleagues and people as big as Oprah allows the reader to respect the author. The fact that the book is also Non-Fiction says a lot as well because I began to feel like it wasn't as choppy as Non-fiction can sometimes feel. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has taken this class, whether Theo adds it next semester or not.
P.S. this book makes you think about Silent Racism a little as well!!
Maya Angelou says, "You may not control all the events that happen to you but you can decide not to be reduced by them. If you try to make a change and if you can't make a change, then change the way you have been thinking." After I heard this, I though how inspirational this author is. I give this author a lot of respect because of how open she was with her struggles and coming forward to mention her idles that she looks up to and have changed her life. I felt like the author made the reader feel as if we were on the same level as her.
I found her struggles and issue that she mentioned to be as emotional as issues from the narrators in the first part of the semester. This being said, I allowed myself to think fondly and as inspiring as the earlier authors our class has read. Even though she did not live and suffer through the pains of slavery, she suffered through the loss of a daughter. She only had one son by the time she wrote thing book and was clearly at an age when she could have no more children. Hearing the pain and the agony that she went though is similar to the pain and suffering the slave narrators went through. I felt the same emotions while I was reading letter to my daughter and during the other tragic stories from this semester. I guess what mad me like it so much was the approach she took and the message she wanted to give to the readers. I appreciate how she took in mind the past, present, and future; I believe these qualities are what make her a great African American writer of today and I do truly believe that it should be recommended for the syllabus next semester. The reason I say this is because the style is simple, but the acknowledgement she gives her fellow colleagues and people as big as Oprah allows the reader to respect the author. The fact that the book is also Non-Fiction says a lot as well because I began to feel like it wasn't as choppy as Non-fiction can sometimes feel. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has taken this class, whether Theo adds it next semester or not.
P.S. this book makes you think about Silent Racism a little as well!!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tony Morrison's Beloved
Tony Morrison’s 1987 novel Beloved, is a modern interpretation of the African American experience under slavery. Using a highly stylized narrative structure, Morrison tells the story of Sethe, a runaway slave mother, who cannot escape from the horrifying and traumatic details of her past. The story takes place during the reconstruction era, but often shifts between past and present, detailing the lives of its characters both before and after the end of slavery.
Although Beloved is a work of fiction, it in many ways resembles the slave narratives of the 19th century. This effect is achieved through Morrison’s use of flashbacks throughout the novel, which illustrate in graphic detail various aspects of plantation life, and other brutal elements of slavery in the South. In these flashbacks, Morrison uses evocative imagery to create realistic scenes that bring to life the horrors of life as a slave. Many of these flashbacks involve instances of sexual and physical humiliation that help to explain the intense pain felt by the characters. Through these scenes, Morrison is able to expand upon the tradition of the slave narrative. As an African American author in the late 20th century, being unable to write about slavery from first hand experience, she instead creates realistic, graphic portraits that evoke the feelings of fear and humiliation experienced by slaves. Rather than providing a historically factual account, this allows the reader to experience the feelings of despair felt by African American’s during and after slavery.
Stylistically, Beloved is also interesting in that it shifts between different literary forms in ways that are often jarring and sometimes confusing. In addition to numerous flashbacks, which are often presented out of order, Morrison switches between moments of third person narration, to other moments of first person interior monologue. This is especially noticeable in the part II of the book, when Sethe becomes convinced that Beloved is her dead daughter. As she becomes convinced of this, the language moves from a stream-of-conscious monologue, to broken, unpunctuated lines, and eventually ends in a form that resembles poetry. Morrison seems to use this shifting style to represent Sethe’s deteriorating mind, and it works to great effect. These shifts in complex styles give this novel a very postmodern feel. Although this can be difficult at times, I think that the complex style of this book helped to evoke feelings of pain, suffering, and confusion in African American literature in a way that I had yet experienced. I think that in doing this, Beloved is a great example of postmodern literature, and helps to show how African American literary forms are constantly evolving.
Although Beloved is a work of fiction, it in many ways resembles the slave narratives of the 19th century. This effect is achieved through Morrison’s use of flashbacks throughout the novel, which illustrate in graphic detail various aspects of plantation life, and other brutal elements of slavery in the South. In these flashbacks, Morrison uses evocative imagery to create realistic scenes that bring to life the horrors of life as a slave. Many of these flashbacks involve instances of sexual and physical humiliation that help to explain the intense pain felt by the characters. Through these scenes, Morrison is able to expand upon the tradition of the slave narrative. As an African American author in the late 20th century, being unable to write about slavery from first hand experience, she instead creates realistic, graphic portraits that evoke the feelings of fear and humiliation experienced by slaves. Rather than providing a historically factual account, this allows the reader to experience the feelings of despair felt by African American’s during and after slavery.
Stylistically, Beloved is also interesting in that it shifts between different literary forms in ways that are often jarring and sometimes confusing. In addition to numerous flashbacks, which are often presented out of order, Morrison switches between moments of third person narration, to other moments of first person interior monologue. This is especially noticeable in the part II of the book, when Sethe becomes convinced that Beloved is her dead daughter. As she becomes convinced of this, the language moves from a stream-of-conscious monologue, to broken, unpunctuated lines, and eventually ends in a form that resembles poetry. Morrison seems to use this shifting style to represent Sethe’s deteriorating mind, and it works to great effect. These shifts in complex styles give this novel a very postmodern feel. Although this can be difficult at times, I think that the complex style of this book helped to evoke feelings of pain, suffering, and confusion in African American literature in a way that I had yet experienced. I think that in doing this, Beloved is a great example of postmodern literature, and helps to show how African American literary forms are constantly evolving.
Assigment #2
In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s only, yet still very influential, novel entitled “Invisible Man”, we are introduced to a nameless, faceless narrator whose life as a black man is seemingly dictated only by the color of his skin. Certainly confused and unsure of his ultimate purpose and worth, the narrator often struggles in defining the social status of himself and the black population around him. Stemming from a haunting warning received as a child from his dying grandfather, the narrator feels confined by the stereotypes of his race and often curses his people as conforming to the oppressive wishes of white people. The novel begins and ends in the same setting, with our narrator in an hole, underground, in the basement of a building of all white tenants. The narrator attempts to illustrate to the reader why, even given his relatively fortune (being educated and highly able), his life has been reduced to one of such dismal seclusion.
The narrator leads the reader through his life, first a young child living in the south and his subsequent years living in Harlem, New York City. As alluded to, he is continuously reminded of his grandfather’s dying words and often measures his success in terms of the level at which he conforms to the wishes of the white population. However, throughout his struggle of defining himself and his relationship to the world around him, he finds it is not just the white man he needs to be weary of. As a promising child he is scarred by an incident at a men’s club, where the white men of his town grant the narrator scholarship to an all black college, only after they humiliate and exploit the boy for their own entertainment. While attending the all black college he meets the dean, Dr. Bledsoe, and decides Dr. Bledsoe is a black man whom he should aspire toward. However, Dr. Bledsoe betrays the narrator by expelling him for a relatively minor offense. Furthermore, Dr. Bledsoe provides the narrator with letters of recommendation which do not speak to his abilities, but rather deem him unable and unworthy of quality work. Additionally, whatever purpose the narrator finds in his position with The Brotherhood, a communist organization in Harlem who he works for, is squashed when the group decides to pursue issues other than the needs of the black community in Harlem.
Throughout his novel, Emerson depicts a character that struggles with his own “invisibility”, a seemingly blank soul whose identity is solely defined by the prejudices and stereotypes imparted upon him, and perpetuated by both the white and black populations. By the end of the novel, however, the narrator rejects his invisibility, and vows not to conform to the expectations of white society. The narrator commits himself toward the purpose of living a life not defined by racial boundaries, serving not as the voice of the black population, but rather as the voice of humanity as a whole.
The narrator leads the reader through his life, first a young child living in the south and his subsequent years living in Harlem, New York City. As alluded to, he is continuously reminded of his grandfather’s dying words and often measures his success in terms of the level at which he conforms to the wishes of the white population. However, throughout his struggle of defining himself and his relationship to the world around him, he finds it is not just the white man he needs to be weary of. As a promising child he is scarred by an incident at a men’s club, where the white men of his town grant the narrator scholarship to an all black college, only after they humiliate and exploit the boy for their own entertainment. While attending the all black college he meets the dean, Dr. Bledsoe, and decides Dr. Bledsoe is a black man whom he should aspire toward. However, Dr. Bledsoe betrays the narrator by expelling him for a relatively minor offense. Furthermore, Dr. Bledsoe provides the narrator with letters of recommendation which do not speak to his abilities, but rather deem him unable and unworthy of quality work. Additionally, whatever purpose the narrator finds in his position with The Brotherhood, a communist organization in Harlem who he works for, is squashed when the group decides to pursue issues other than the needs of the black community in Harlem.
Throughout his novel, Emerson depicts a character that struggles with his own “invisibility”, a seemingly blank soul whose identity is solely defined by the prejudices and stereotypes imparted upon him, and perpetuated by both the white and black populations. By the end of the novel, however, the narrator rejects his invisibility, and vows not to conform to the expectations of white society. The narrator commits himself toward the purpose of living a life not defined by racial boundaries, serving not as the voice of the black population, but rather as the voice of humanity as a whole.
Souls on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver
Souls on Ice is a book written by Eldridge Cleaver. Eldridge Cleaver was an author/ activist in the mid 1900s. This was a book filled with essays written by Cleaver while he was incarcerated. Growing up in the civil rights era made it difficult for most African Americans to succeed. Because of this, Cleaver was constantly in trouble as a kid. He was in and out of detention centers before he was finally arrested and put in jail for rape. While in jail, Cleaver managed to write many essays about events that happened in his life prior to his arrest. Cleaver's came across to me as a philosophical and political style of writer. Which is extremely interesting because he was explaining his crimes in a way where he felt that he was not wrong for committing them. For example, He felt like there was no such thing as rape when discussing black women and black men. So he did not feel like he was raping the black women while forcing them to have sex with them because they were the same race. He brought up slavery a couple of times in this book to support his bizarre ideas. He felt that the female slaves were only raped by their white owners, but when it came to black men, it was not considered rape anymore it was simply sex. Cleavers reasoning for raping black women and white women were different. He took a political approach for defending his actions towards the white women. He felt that since the days of slavery, the white women and the black men never had connections. In other words, white women were rarely seen or touched by the black men during slavery. in one of the essays Cleaver states, "All our lives we've had the white woman dangled before our eyes like a carrot on a stick before a donkey: look but don't touch. Calling for a moratorium on student initiative, they were greeted instead by an encore of sit-ins, and retired to their ivory towers to contemplate the new phenomenon" (71). This quote was very interesting to me because as I think about the former slave stories and the way society was structured at that time, it makes Cleaver's point more valid. I do not think that makes it right for raping white women, but his reasoning behind doing what he did is understandable. During slavery, Slave owner wives were never violated or physically tortured by slaves or the owners. The white race ruled society during slavery and during the civil rights movement. The only difference is the fact that the blacks were slaves during slavery and free during the civil rights movement. There was still social inequalities and racial profiling going on during the mid 1900s. Cleaver used many of his actions to retaliate against the social prejudices happening during that time.
"A Mercy" by Toni Morrison
“A Mercy,” by Toni Morrison, is a recently published novel (2008) set in America (mostly Virginia) during the late 17th century. Differing from most of the African American literature we have read thus far in this class, “A Mercy” is set during the early America when the slave trade was first beginning to boom. It was during this time that racial hatred began to sink its roots deep into America’s soil and where a woman, no matter what race she is, is completely at the mercy of the men surrounding her life.
Written in multiple first person point of view, Morrison brings her reader into the minds of several interesting characters: Jacob, a trader who sets out believing in hard-work and the honor in running a farm only to be sucked into the Sugar/Rum trade that relies on the sweat of the very institution he used to disagree with--slavery. Rebekka, the bride Jacob sends for from England, who suffers the loss of child after child. Lina, a Native American woman who witnessed smallpox wipe out her entire tribe. Florens, a young African slave Jacob receives as repayment for a debt and who is yearning to be loved. Florens mother, who pleads for her daughter to be taken in order for her to escape the lustful wrath of her current master. Finally, Sorrow, an initially mentally unstable girl from her past at sea that was ended by a terrible shipwreck and was eventually taken in by Jacob as a servant. Each character has his or her own voice and through their stories Morrison paints the tale of early America where race divisions were beginning to take root and blossom like ugly weeds.
Although Morrison skims the surface describing the horrors of slavery, how she weaves together the stories of the women in “A Mercy” and is able to demonstrate that no matter what the race, women in early America were completely dependent upon and at the mercy of the men surrounding them and in their lives. As Rebekka puts it as she is describing her voyage to America in the sterrage of a ship with women ranging from prostitutes to brides, “they had everything in common with one thing: the promise and threat of me” (98). Ruled by the men they work for, whether husband or bed-partner, the women are completely dependent on the gender that runs society. Florens’ mother, enslaved and abused by men, begs for Florens to be taken away so that she may have the chance to escape the world she herself is caught in. Lina was beaten by a “lover” at one time, yet describes it as acceptable passed 9PM in society. Florens pines after the love of a free black man only to find that he does not want her and thinks her only as a slave. When Jacob dies of “the pox,” Rebekka, Lina and Florens are faced with a wilderness and world that could take advantage of them at any turn.
The different voices of the characters, from Florens short, disconnected thoughts to Sorrow’s talking to “Twin,” her imaginary friend, made “A Mercy” an interesting read. This novel could not only be useful in this class but also in any class on gender in society or race relations in general.
Written in multiple first person point of view, Morrison brings her reader into the minds of several interesting characters: Jacob, a trader who sets out believing in hard-work and the honor in running a farm only to be sucked into the Sugar/Rum trade that relies on the sweat of the very institution he used to disagree with--slavery. Rebekka, the bride Jacob sends for from England, who suffers the loss of child after child. Lina, a Native American woman who witnessed smallpox wipe out her entire tribe. Florens, a young African slave Jacob receives as repayment for a debt and who is yearning to be loved. Florens mother, who pleads for her daughter to be taken in order for her to escape the lustful wrath of her current master. Finally, Sorrow, an initially mentally unstable girl from her past at sea that was ended by a terrible shipwreck and was eventually taken in by Jacob as a servant. Each character has his or her own voice and through their stories Morrison paints the tale of early America where race divisions were beginning to take root and blossom like ugly weeds.
Although Morrison skims the surface describing the horrors of slavery, how she weaves together the stories of the women in “A Mercy” and is able to demonstrate that no matter what the race, women in early America were completely dependent upon and at the mercy of the men surrounding them and in their lives. As Rebekka puts it as she is describing her voyage to America in the sterrage of a ship with women ranging from prostitutes to brides, “they had everything in common with one thing: the promise and threat of me” (98). Ruled by the men they work for, whether husband or bed-partner, the women are completely dependent on the gender that runs society. Florens’ mother, enslaved and abused by men, begs for Florens to be taken away so that she may have the chance to escape the world she herself is caught in. Lina was beaten by a “lover” at one time, yet describes it as acceptable passed 9PM in society. Florens pines after the love of a free black man only to find that he does not want her and thinks her only as a slave. When Jacob dies of “the pox,” Rebekka, Lina and Florens are faced with a wilderness and world that could take advantage of them at any turn.
The different voices of the characters, from Florens short, disconnected thoughts to Sorrow’s talking to “Twin,” her imaginary friend, made “A Mercy” an interesting read. This novel could not only be useful in this class but also in any class on gender in society or race relations in general.
Some Great Thing, by Lawrence Hill
Some Great Thing by Lawrence Hill, describes the story of a young black Canadian man, named Mahatma, pursuing a career as a reporter in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the 1980. Born to a black father and white mother, Hill moved to Canada in 1953 and I believe the ideas and experiences portrayed in his novel Some Great Thing stem from his own personal experiences. The main focus of Some Great Thing is the constant battle between the English and French populations living in Winnipeg in the 1980. During this time period, Winnipeg was on the cusp of being proclaimed a bilingual province and the English populations were fighting at all cost to prevent this transformation. There are so many parallels that can be made between this reading and those we have been doing in class such as the fight for equal rights amongst two different social groups. Despite the fact that the main battle being fought in this novel is over linguistic power, racial conflicts are an underlying issue that inevitably get addressed. I found it very interesting that throughout his novel, Hill addresses the issue of a black man not being able to ever fully rise to the same social standing as a white man. The former is very evident in the following passage, where a poor Indian boy asks a wealthy black judge for money:
“Hey, mister, I just lost my job, can you spare some change? […] ”
“I’ll have you know that I don’t give money in the streets. I am a judge!”
“You’re no judge.”
“Yes I am. I’m one of the highest people in this province, and I don’t hand out money in the streets. But I will buy you a sandwich if you wish.”
“[…] No fucking way! You’re no judge. You’re a cheap old nigger.”
“How can you say that? Don’t ever call people hurtful name, son.”
“Gimme a break.” The kid spat and turned away. “Judge or no judge, you’re a fucking nigger just the same.” (Hill, p.38-39)
This is one of many disrespectful conversations between different groups that clearly depicts an inferior victim and a superior oppressor. I felt that the tensions between the French and English added an interesting and refreshing aspect to the story. It made me realize that there are all different types of oppression occurring in the world. Furthermore, despite the fact that this novel is situated in a different time period than the literature we have read thus far, brutal and horrifying acts continue to be ever-present. For example, during a hockey game between two rival teams, a young French boy gets killed by a boy on the English team. Similarly, the Francophone Association of Manitoba gets bombed and an outrageous fire claim the life of many. These vicious acts, although different than those we’ve previously discussed, succeed in painting a picture of the injustices occurring amongst different groups.
In terms of his writing style, Hill uses a very simple vocabulary, thus making Some Great Thing easy to read and interpret. I feel as though this was done deliberately in order to reach and sensitize a wider range of audience to the subject of oppression and the constant fight for equal rights. Furthermore, as described by The Globe and Mail, Hill attracts his audience with sheer “naturalness of the hilarious script, while sneaking in telling stories about the sad state of race relations in this country." Over all, I really enjoyed reading this novel, and as anticipated, became more aware of the battles and obstacles those before us had to overcome in order to attain the world we live in today. If you’re looking for a fun, interesting and informative novel to read this summer, Some Great Thing is a good choice.:)
“Hey, mister, I just lost my job, can you spare some change? […] ”
“I’ll have you know that I don’t give money in the streets. I am a judge!”
“You’re no judge.”
“Yes I am. I’m one of the highest people in this province, and I don’t hand out money in the streets. But I will buy you a sandwich if you wish.”
“[…] No fucking way! You’re no judge. You’re a cheap old nigger.”
“How can you say that? Don’t ever call people hurtful name, son.”
“Gimme a break.” The kid spat and turned away. “Judge or no judge, you’re a fucking nigger just the same.” (Hill, p.38-39)
This is one of many disrespectful conversations between different groups that clearly depicts an inferior victim and a superior oppressor. I felt that the tensions between the French and English added an interesting and refreshing aspect to the story. It made me realize that there are all different types of oppression occurring in the world. Furthermore, despite the fact that this novel is situated in a different time period than the literature we have read thus far, brutal and horrifying acts continue to be ever-present. For example, during a hockey game between two rival teams, a young French boy gets killed by a boy on the English team. Similarly, the Francophone Association of Manitoba gets bombed and an outrageous fire claim the life of many. These vicious acts, although different than those we’ve previously discussed, succeed in painting a picture of the injustices occurring amongst different groups.
In terms of his writing style, Hill uses a very simple vocabulary, thus making Some Great Thing easy to read and interpret. I feel as though this was done deliberately in order to reach and sensitize a wider range of audience to the subject of oppression and the constant fight for equal rights. Furthermore, as described by The Globe and Mail, Hill attracts his audience with sheer “naturalness of the hilarious script, while sneaking in telling stories about the sad state of race relations in this country." Over all, I really enjoyed reading this novel, and as anticipated, became more aware of the battles and obstacles those before us had to overcome in order to attain the world we live in today. If you’re looking for a fun, interesting and informative novel to read this summer, Some Great Thing is a good choice.:)
Nella Larsen, "Passing"
“Passing” by Nella Larsen, published in 1929 is a novel about race that is seamlessly intertwined with gender and class. The novel primarily focuses on two childhood friends, Irene and Clare that meet again later in life and discuss the extent at which they will go to ‘pass’ as white. “Passing” is an example of the popular inclusion of the “tragic mulatto,” a figure that is seen in early African-American Literature of the 20th Century. Larsen is able to create a dynamic between these two women that not only mirrors the racial issues in society but also reveals how color differences within one’s own race can create animosity and turmoil.
Irene lives in Harlem and chooses to embrace her identity as an African American and marries a black doctor. On the other hand, Clare hides that she is part black and ends up marrying a white racist. Though Clare is obviously the more desperate woman in her desire to ‘pass,’ Irene also reveals that she would ‘pass’ as white if the situation called for it in order to avoid racial oppression. Each woman is almost seduced by the other’s lifestyle, but it is the resentment that boils between them that leads to a tragic ending.
The ambiguity of tragedy leaves the reader in question as to its implications on the characters’ futures, as well as putting Larsen’s seemingly simplistic term “passing” up for debate. At the beginning, the term ‘passing’ was a rather superficial and obvious term defining the two women’s various attempts to pass as white. Though at first Clare and Irene seemed at odds in their ideals as women and more importantly, African American women, toward the end of the novel their ideals of passing seemed to mirror each other, which in the end leads to extreme resentment, paranoia, and ultimately death. In this way, ‘passing’ took on a double meaning as it alludes to passing into death and the rejection of Clare by her racist husband once he finds out she is partially black. In addition, Larsen’s extensive narration of the internal and external struggle of ‘passing’ for Clare and Irene essentially creates a new race for all those who attempt to pass. In a way, this advocates that race is a social construction. Larsen speaks out on behalf of her own African American culture, attesting that openly rejecting one’s own race in an attempt to be part of another is putting oneself at odds with all identities.
“Passing” is a must-read for all those interested in the intricacies of African American struggles in regards to race, culture, gender and class. In addition one can see how all of these factors tie into race issues at large and how it is a universal burden to all of humanity regardless of skin color.
Irene lives in Harlem and chooses to embrace her identity as an African American and marries a black doctor. On the other hand, Clare hides that she is part black and ends up marrying a white racist. Though Clare is obviously the more desperate woman in her desire to ‘pass,’ Irene also reveals that she would ‘pass’ as white if the situation called for it in order to avoid racial oppression. Each woman is almost seduced by the other’s lifestyle, but it is the resentment that boils between them that leads to a tragic ending.
The ambiguity of tragedy leaves the reader in question as to its implications on the characters’ futures, as well as putting Larsen’s seemingly simplistic term “passing” up for debate. At the beginning, the term ‘passing’ was a rather superficial and obvious term defining the two women’s various attempts to pass as white. Though at first Clare and Irene seemed at odds in their ideals as women and more importantly, African American women, toward the end of the novel their ideals of passing seemed to mirror each other, which in the end leads to extreme resentment, paranoia, and ultimately death. In this way, ‘passing’ took on a double meaning as it alludes to passing into death and the rejection of Clare by her racist husband once he finds out she is partially black. In addition, Larsen’s extensive narration of the internal and external struggle of ‘passing’ for Clare and Irene essentially creates a new race for all those who attempt to pass. In a way, this advocates that race is a social construction. Larsen speaks out on behalf of her own African American culture, attesting that openly rejecting one’s own race in an attempt to be part of another is putting oneself at odds with all identities.
“Passing” is a must-read for all those interested in the intricacies of African American struggles in regards to race, culture, gender and class. In addition one can see how all of these factors tie into race issues at large and how it is a universal burden to all of humanity regardless of skin color.
Toni Morrison's Beloved
Refusing to conform to the other styles of writing that which compare to the styles of White writers and the Western tradition, Toni Morrison, an African American author of the twentieth century, narrates through her poetic and brutally honest scripture the story of a Black woman who must live with her memories of slavery. "From her vantage at the intersection of race and gender, Toni Morrison represents an exemption from 'phallocratic law'; her own language and her theory of language, as she has demonstrated in her five novels...reflect a consciousness that she writes both from and about a zone that is 'outside' of literary convention, that disrupts traditional Western ideological confines and modifies patriarchal inscriptions" (Rigney 1). Morrison, according to other critics, is seen as an African American feminist writer, through her feminine voice, "desire", and emotion, while she identifies with her race simultaneously. Her acknowledgment of humanistic experience and thought in Beloved in particular, demonstrates her ability as an author to deviate from the literary norm and work beyond borders.
Morrison significantly contributes to African American literature in that her idiosyncratic style is poetic, nostalgic, and realistic; throughout the novel her voice is soft and delicate, in that she touches on the painful historical element in a way her reader's feel the brutality of the protagonist and other central characters. The protagonist Sethe experiences a revelation when her deceased baby's ghost comes back to torture and remind her mother of the horrors of slavery and the decisions made throughout its hardships: Sethe, having murdered Beloved in order to protect her child from the bonds of slavery, must now live with the ghost that haunts her household. Morrison uses her characters strategically in that they all represent some aspect of the African American individual as well as the community; Sethe represents the strength and vigor one must possess in order to survive the harshness of slavery, that which Beloved represents, as well as Halle, Sethe's husband who goes mad from witnessing brutalities of slavery bestowed upon Sethe. Baby Suggs, Halle's mother, signifies the power and inspiration of a Black community, as she instigates leadership and womanhood throughout the families and relationships of the community. Together, Toni Morrison's characters all form an anthology of the African American community, as some experience pain, while others must help to uplift that pain through an emotional and physical understanding. Morrison compiles a story among all these distinct characters, as she works to add voice and representation through each personality's role.
In terms of language, Morrison writes beautifully: "The most valuable point of every entry into the question of cultural (or racial) distinction, the one most fraught, is its language-- its unpoliced, seditious, confrontational, manipulative, inventive, disruptive, masked and unmasking language" (Rigney 1). In her Beloved, Morrison both "masks" and "unmasks" herself. She uses stylistic elements in her writing that urge the reader to read in between the lines, to find certain themes of culture and humanistic representation in the emotional discourse. Here, the reader "unmasks" the author, as he or she may find a double meaning in a word that provokes the reader to reflect on what is happening on a deeper level in the novel. Morrison writes in a physical way; she wants the reader to hear, see, feel, taste, and smell the blood on Sethe's back, after she has been raped and whipped. Morrison wants the reader to think about this pain and reflect on the memories that Sethe must live with, as her dead baby speaks to her family. Similar to musicians, Morrison writes in a manner that provokes that which music provokes: emotion and human experience. There is a stylistic element here that makes me feel as though I'm listening to a piece of music that expresses something more than what it is. Morrison even incorporates a choir of women into Sethe's community, who sing to inspire and strengthen women throughout.
I found Morrison's language, tone, and themes to be reflective. They collaborated to work as an anthology of an African American's memory. The protagonist as well as the stylistic elements of the author set a basis for human experience and expression that results from that, which I thought to be provocative and influential. Morrison affects her readers in a manner similar to music, in that the piece is demonstrative and beautiful, expressing something beyond which it is.
Morrison significantly contributes to African American literature in that her idiosyncratic style is poetic, nostalgic, and realistic; throughout the novel her voice is soft and delicate, in that she touches on the painful historical element in a way her reader's feel the brutality of the protagonist and other central characters. The protagonist Sethe experiences a revelation when her deceased baby's ghost comes back to torture and remind her mother of the horrors of slavery and the decisions made throughout its hardships: Sethe, having murdered Beloved in order to protect her child from the bonds of slavery, must now live with the ghost that haunts her household. Morrison uses her characters strategically in that they all represent some aspect of the African American individual as well as the community; Sethe represents the strength and vigor one must possess in order to survive the harshness of slavery, that which Beloved represents, as well as Halle, Sethe's husband who goes mad from witnessing brutalities of slavery bestowed upon Sethe. Baby Suggs, Halle's mother, signifies the power and inspiration of a Black community, as she instigates leadership and womanhood throughout the families and relationships of the community. Together, Toni Morrison's characters all form an anthology of the African American community, as some experience pain, while others must help to uplift that pain through an emotional and physical understanding. Morrison compiles a story among all these distinct characters, as she works to add voice and representation through each personality's role.
In terms of language, Morrison writes beautifully: "The most valuable point of every entry into the question of cultural (or racial) distinction, the one most fraught, is its language-- its unpoliced, seditious, confrontational, manipulative, inventive, disruptive, masked and unmasking language" (Rigney 1). In her Beloved, Morrison both "masks" and "unmasks" herself. She uses stylistic elements in her writing that urge the reader to read in between the lines, to find certain themes of culture and humanistic representation in the emotional discourse. Here, the reader "unmasks" the author, as he or she may find a double meaning in a word that provokes the reader to reflect on what is happening on a deeper level in the novel. Morrison writes in a physical way; she wants the reader to hear, see, feel, taste, and smell the blood on Sethe's back, after she has been raped and whipped. Morrison wants the reader to think about this pain and reflect on the memories that Sethe must live with, as her dead baby speaks to her family. Similar to musicians, Morrison writes in a manner that provokes that which music provokes: emotion and human experience. There is a stylistic element here that makes me feel as though I'm listening to a piece of music that expresses something more than what it is. Morrison even incorporates a choir of women into Sethe's community, who sing to inspire and strengthen women throughout.
I found Morrison's language, tone, and themes to be reflective. They collaborated to work as an anthology of an African American's memory. The protagonist as well as the stylistic elements of the author set a basis for human experience and expression that results from that, which I thought to be provocative and influential. Morrison affects her readers in a manner similar to music, in that the piece is demonstrative and beautiful, expressing something beyond which it is.
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
The novel that I have chosen to base my review on for this assignment has been Song of Solomon. This novel was written by the African American writer Toni Morrison and published during the year of 1977. Morrison who is a well known black writer has received many high statured awards for this novel, such as the Nobel Prize and the National Book Critics Award. The novel, Song of Solomon, does not have the same approach as the slave narratives that have been read throughout the course of The Survey African American Literature. Instead we are taken out of the slavery era with this novel and given the chance to overlook the life of the protagonist Macon “Milkman” Dead III as he struggles to identify himself in his modern day life. One thing that this novel does have in common with some of the slave narratives written in this course would be the motif of flying, which is expressed all throughout Morrison’s novel, and the search for ones identity.
Morrison, I believe is able to put the pages of this book together in a very unique way. This is because within each chapter the protagonist of this story would unravel a new part of his life that he did not know before. Also, within many African American stories one would notice that you could not truly know yourself if you did not know of your past, and that is a particular scenario that Morrison tries to portray through this novel. Morrison is able to portray this as she puts her main character (Milkman) through this quest to find out about himself, and although he may not have a place to start from he knows that in order to become free as a person bonded to secrets he must uncover the past of his family. This book is put together with a grand number of characters which make each page rich with excitement and interesting facts. The main characters of this book would be as followed: Milkman/ Macon Dead III, Ruth Foster (mother of Milkman), Macon Dead Jr. (aggressive father of Milkman), First Corinthians (sister of Milkman), Lena (sister of Milkman), Pilate (aunt of Milkman), Hagar (cousin of Milkman), and Guitar (friend of Milkman). These characters all hold an important role in the life of the protagonist Milkman especially his father and aunt who seem to have the most control over the soul of this confused man. Each character has a different personality as if they were based off of real people. However, the personalities that seem the most important are of the father, who is truly aggressive, and the aunt who is truthful in all her ways. Another important character would be Milkman’s friend Guitar who is somewhat misunderstood throughout the entire novel but, once he is understood you know as the reader Milkman needs to be careful around this man.
This book has many different styles of dialect which range between conversations between characters and long sentences which are narratives from the main character. This twisted dialect makes the book more interesting to read because the tone of the book is one that one could refer to as lively and ever changing as life is. This book does not have an unusual amount of punning within its pages but, it does have some references you will not understand until later on in the novel. The basic theme as described earlier for this novel would be to identify ones self. Throughout this whole book one can see the burden ones past can have over them, especially when one is put into certain trials because of his past. The motif that expressed all throughout this book would be one of flying. This is a very special motif for this novel because it holds together the whole life of Milkman’s past and even his future. One thing that surprised me the most about this book after reading it would be the ending of the book which can be taken in so many directions. I adore the way this book ended because it leaves you wondering and wanting to know more about this book however no more can be revealed. If I can ask Toni Morrison any Question about this book I believe I would ask her what inspired her to write it. Who did she base her character off of? Also, will she ever write another novel that bases itself off of this one? This book should be one that is put on the syllabus for the African American Literature course because it covers so many interesting facts about African Americans and literature together. I believe everyone should read this book whether or not entitled to.
Black Berry, Sweet Juice by Lawrence Hill
The powerful, unnerving novel Black Berry, Sweet Juice was written by Lawrence Hill and published in 2001. Both Hill’s own life experiences and the perspectives of thirty-four other Canadians of mixed-race are documented and portrayed to reveal the truth about racial categories in Canada. Hill’s story exposes the struggles that individuals who are neither black nor white face in the course of a lifetime. His story starts with how his white mother met his black father and carries on with the experiences of their three children. Although it is clear that being black in the mid-nineteen hundreds was a struggle in Canada, Hill makes one believe that being both white and black brings one a whole new set of difficulties. Predominantly, the search for one’s identity is a constant battle when society has only two categories of race.
Hill covers themes regarding mixed-race such as the struggles that children are faced with, the resentment towards mix-race couples, and the confusion one faces while trying to find oneself as a mixed-race individual. Although these are controversial topics that can provoke many emotions in individuals of mixed-race, Hill exudes sensitivity and courage that is quite commendable. At no point does he fault others, or make statements induced solely by anger. Hill is quoted saying “It’s necessary to probe into the social meanings of race. The book is my attempt to examine the issues of race. [The book is for] anyone who’s interested in examining the core of race and how it’s played out. My existence is the fighting against easy definitions of race.”
The tone of Black Berry, Sweet Juice is serious, and yet also has a humorous edge. The book is well written, and is similar to how one would speak. It carries a constant flow and simple vocabulary. The sentences vary in length, but are mostly on the longer side.
An author of African-American descent that one can compare this novel to is W.E.B. Du Bois. His theory of the “double-consciousness” that blacks have to maintain and the struggle to find one’s identity is very similar to the struggle that Hill is suggesting that mixed-race individuals face, as well. However, it is interesting that in Hill’s situation, he strove to be black rather than white, regardless of the issues that blacks face. Hill explains how, in Canada, it is necessary to know where one belongs as far as race and identity. This is why choosing to pass as black would be less controversial than being of mixed-descent. In comparison to the other readings we have focused on in this class, Black Berry, Sweet Juice is from the perspective of a Canadian. This aspect makes the book unique, and gives one a new perspective of life and racial issues that are present beyond the country of the United States of America. For this reason, I believe this book would be an interesting read for all, and a great addition to this course’s syllabus.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
"The Ballad of Beta-2": Science Fiction and the African American Tradition
Samuel R. Delany has made valuable contributions to the pantheon of science fiction literature in both his short stories and novels. His works, like “Dhalgren” and “Aye, and Gomorrah and Other Short Stories” are widely read and discussed for their depictions of sexuality and their commentary on society and its progress. While many of his later, more polished works have been poured over by literary analysts, some works from his early years have been passed over with little thought, including “The Ballad of Beta-2”.
Robert Elliot Fox explores Delany's overt references to matters of race in “Dhalgren” with an informative close reading; teasing out similar social issues toyed with in Delany’s earlier work is not so quickly done. At first, “The Ballad of Beta-2” seems to bear only central themes that are science fiction classics. The background has a basic set up; an advanced human race has vaguely explained technologies sprung from the authors imagination and allowing for a human presence across the stars. Also, the sexuality that pervades many of Delany’s later works is scarcely evident. Unlike many science fiction works that address issues of racism obliquely through xenophobia and the use of a nonhuman race, Delany makes his address subtly through the use of this downtrodden segment of future humanity.
There are several themes that link this novel to the centuries of African American literature that preceded it. The protagonist, Joneny, is a gifted student and anthropologist of the future, analyzing races on a galactic scale. He is forced by a mentor to unwillingly examine a people that fell unnoticed from the history of civilization; they were a selection of people that had been sent to transverse interstellar space in giant ships and colonize new lands. However, while they were generations into the journey, space travel advanced allowing the main mode of travel to utilize a spatial jump that avoids actual interstellar space. With this, civilization and colonization occurred without these travelers trapped on their ships. The student wants to ignore these people in his anthropological studies; he makes a protest strikingly similar to Enlightenment thinkers 18th century view of blacks brought across the Atlantic; “Their contributions to the arts were entirely derivative… they produced nothing” (6).
The very act of making the “most dangerous journey imaginable” is akin to the journey taken by African prisoners across the Atlantic; while the people described were not at the time considered oppressed as black slaves had been, Delany creates this parallel journey (8). Nothing but a thin hull of metal kept the people in Delany’s book from the vacuum of space, and nothing but a wooden hull kept the people in slave ships from the black Atlantic. The culture in Delany’s work even call the vast space they hurtle through a ‘sea’ (24). Another jarring reference comes from the planned breeding of the people on the ships; their sole purpose is to provide foundation stock for future planets, so their child bearing is run out of their own hands (25). Though it is cold, scientific, and not taken as an insult to their humanity as it was to slaves, there is none the less a dehumanizing aspect to the unions that Delany depicts; children are borne for their genetics and physical usefulness (25). The investigation that the young scholar, Joneny, is pursuing takes on increased interest as he investigates “The Ballad of Beta-2”, one of the many songs that are the key part of the culture of the remaining descendents of the interstellar travelers. He tried to originally dismiss this work as a primitive piece, unimportant and not worth examining, but the words hide deeper meaning that is gradually revealed. The language of the people studied is a language of euphemisms, akin to African literature’s habit of hiding meanings under layers of words for protection.
In the surprising conclusion of the novella, Joneny’s examination of this dismissed culture yields the discovery of a new race that can offer double insight and invaluable assistance in the study and expansion of humanity as it travels further in colonization efforts (95). There is a vague, and not fully formed explanation that sees to offer a link to double consciousness, akin to DuBois, but it is not fully explored as the ending of the novella seems slightly abrupt. While not immediately a story that is identified with African American literature, this piece offers a reminder not to dismiss the contributions made by races that may have the hallmarks of civilization as determined by the dominant race. The works from the canon of slave literature and oral tradition might offer scholars temptation to focus on more refined pieces, but there could be a wealth of undiscovered information in these pieces. While, thematically, "The Ballad of Beta-2" is simpler than some of Samuel Delany’s later works, it offers an introduction to science fiction elements as they connect to African American literature, and provides a base with which to explore his longer, richer works.
Native Son - Richard Wright
For my review I read the play Native Son written by Richard Wright and Paul Green that was based on and published one year after Wrights original novel. This struck me as odd because although the story is the same there are some major differences in characters. I read the novel Native Son in High school so when I saw that there was a play i just scanned through it refreshing myself on the story; instead I realized that this play was in fact a new interpretation of the novel and I decided to examine it more deeply.
Although the play itself is shorter than the novel it offers something that the novel does not, stage direction. The play focuses on Bigger Thomas and his actions, when Bigger kills Mary Dalton, or even his girlfriend Clara (who is called Bessie in the novel) the stage direction sets up the image of what happened clearly. The stage direction describes the action of Bigger himself so that the reader gets a clear image of how that character is reacting to the situation. I think that this is different in the novel, you can get into Bigger's head but it is harder to imagine how he is physically reacting to the world around him, which is important to the story.
I think that the play also drives home the lifestyle that people who live in the ghettos of major cities live through every day. at the end of the play when Bigger Thomas is on trial for the murder of Mary Dalton his lawyer Max admits that Bigger may be responsible for the murder of Mary Dalton but he was also not responsible because of the way he grew up. Max blames everyone, white or black, for the death of Mary Dalton because they allowed places like the ghetto to exist and don't do anything to improve the lives of the the people who live there, like Bigger. I think that Wright is trying to clearly describe the social condition that he hinted at in his novel.
I also think there was one more theme in this play that wright was trying to highlight because it was not as clear in the novel. that is why Bigger killed Mary and Clara. I don't mean why he killed them in the sense of his reasons at the moment they actually died, because both were accidents but i mean the big why, why he was there. Bigger wanted to be free, he was trapped in the ghetto and desperately wanted out. All through the play Bigger and his friends were constantly talking about airplanes, and flying away to some exotic destination. they wanted to get as far away from their situation in life as they could. much like Paul Laurence Dunbar's caged bird or even the folktales ad spirituals of slaves that we have read in class Bigger wanted to escape the cage of the ghetto and fly as far away into freedom that he could. he saw his job with the Dalton's as a way to escape, when the risk of being caught in Mary's bedroom in the middle of the night was imminent he ended up killing Mary. when he was running from the police and Clara was in the way of the police's bullets she too died. both women died as a result of bigger trying to free himself from his cage, which is what Max's main argument was to the judge.
Although the play itself is shorter than the novel it offers something that the novel does not, stage direction. The play focuses on Bigger Thomas and his actions, when Bigger kills Mary Dalton, or even his girlfriend Clara (who is called Bessie in the novel) the stage direction sets up the image of what happened clearly. The stage direction describes the action of Bigger himself so that the reader gets a clear image of how that character is reacting to the situation. I think that this is different in the novel, you can get into Bigger's head but it is harder to imagine how he is physically reacting to the world around him, which is important to the story.
I think that the play also drives home the lifestyle that people who live in the ghettos of major cities live through every day. at the end of the play when Bigger Thomas is on trial for the murder of Mary Dalton his lawyer Max admits that Bigger may be responsible for the murder of Mary Dalton but he was also not responsible because of the way he grew up. Max blames everyone, white or black, for the death of Mary Dalton because they allowed places like the ghetto to exist and don't do anything to improve the lives of the the people who live there, like Bigger. I think that Wright is trying to clearly describe the social condition that he hinted at in his novel.
I also think there was one more theme in this play that wright was trying to highlight because it was not as clear in the novel. that is why Bigger killed Mary and Clara. I don't mean why he killed them in the sense of his reasons at the moment they actually died, because both were accidents but i mean the big why, why he was there. Bigger wanted to be free, he was trapped in the ghetto and desperately wanted out. All through the play Bigger and his friends were constantly talking about airplanes, and flying away to some exotic destination. they wanted to get as far away from their situation in life as they could. much like Paul Laurence Dunbar's caged bird or even the folktales ad spirituals of slaves that we have read in class Bigger wanted to escape the cage of the ghetto and fly as far away into freedom that he could. he saw his job with the Dalton's as a way to escape, when the risk of being caught in Mary's bedroom in the middle of the night was imminent he ended up killing Mary. when he was running from the police and Clara was in the way of the police's bullets she too died. both women died as a result of bigger trying to free himself from his cage, which is what Max's main argument was to the judge.
Passing by Nella Larsen
“Passing,” by Nella Larsen explores the events that occur after two old childhood friends encounter each other for the first time in many years. One of the women, Clare Kendry, has been passing as white because when she was 16 her two white aunts told her to pass after her father died. As Clare grows up she continues to hide her race and marries a white racist man, John Bellows, whom she has a family with. The other woman, Irene Redfield, could pass as white but chooses to be proud of her black heritage. Unlike Clare, Irene marries a black man, lives in Harlem, has other black friends, and accepts being a black woman in America. The novel explores the curiosity each woman has for the other’s life. For example, as Clare spends more time with Irene she begins to wonder and rethink about her disconnect with black culture. As their relationship progresses Irene begins to fear that Clare and her husband Brain are having an affair, but the reader, like Irene, never find out if her suspicions are true or not. The book ends with John coming to a Harlem party only to learn that Clare is black. As he approaches her, she and Irene are standing by a window and Clare suddenly falls out. The reader is unaware if Irene secretly pushed her or if Clare jumped out.
This is the second time I have read this book and also my second time reading “The Auto-Biography of an Ex-Colored Man” by James Weldon Johnson, but it is the first time I have read the two in the same class. As I reread both stories I noticed a lot of similarities, the main one being that one of the main characters in each book makes the conscious decision to pass as white. Both the ex-colored man and Clare feel that by hiding their race, they can go further in their lives and feel that identifying as black will be a burden. One of the interesting aspects of this book is the very contrasting relationship between Clare and Irene. The two women’s lives are complete opposites from each other’s, but yet they are drawn to each other and wonder what life would be like in the other woman’s shoes.
The book is split into three different sections, “The Encounter,” “The Re-Encounter,” and “The Finale.” The three parts show the different stages in the relationship Clare and Irene form over time. For example, in “The Encounter” the two women meet for the first time in around 15 years. This section is about them catching up and briefly explores the issue of passing. In “The Re-Encounter,” the issues are looked at deeper and are examined more carefully by each woman. The last section, “The Finale,” is somewhat of a resolution in their lives and shows how their relationship and issues have escalated. I felt that although there are a lot of unanswered questions at the end of the book, there was still a sense of closure. Although it is not clear how Clare died, it leaves it open to different interpretations, which lead to various explanations for each scenario. If Irene pushed Clare, that shows Irene’s jealously of Clare and shows that she wanted to get rid of her. But if Clare killed herself then it makes me think more about the shame she felt of being associated with being black, especially by her husband. It makes me think that she felt killing herself was the only option she had to deal with the secret she has been hiding her whole life.
"Native Son" written by Richard Wright in 1940 tells the story of a young man named Bigger Thomas who grew up in the ghetto of Chicago and retells his life story. Bigger is put in a bad situation and smothers Mary, who is a white young girl and his employer’s daughter and ends up killing her. The interesting part that goes along with this is that he does it in front of her blind mother and she doesn’t realize what is going on. This is great use of symbolism where there is definitely some racial blindness going on and her being blind is showing this. Unfortunately for Bigger this isn’t the only incidence he gets in and he also rapes and kills his girlfriend Bessie. Wright mainly talks about how racism affects African Americans and how blacks act differently when surrounded by racism and racist people. For instance Bigger is afraid of white people so when he and his gang are robbing store, they will only rob black owners and when they try and rob a white store Bigger backs out of it and starts a new job.
Wright talks a lot about how people feel about religion and how both Bigger’s mother, and Mary’s mother both are very religious and Mary’s mother even prays over Mary’s bed when Bigger had just killed her not even knowing she was dead or hurt. Bigger also receives and wears a cross when he goes to prison which symbolizes his recognition of religion and the fact he says “he was feeling the words of the preacher, feeling that life was flesh nailed to the world, a longing spirit imprisoned in the days of the earth” (266).
Bigger was blind to the white race, and up until the very end, considered them in one group as oppressors to the black race. At the very end of the story, when he is on death row, tells Max to say hello to Jan. Jan was Mary’s boyfriend and also befriended Bigger. The reason why this is important is because he refers to Jan as his first name and thus symbolizing his new consideration of the white race and how he, at his very end, considers them equals. This goes along with some of our other readings in the fact that it wasn’t until he was tried and convicted, and then sentenced to death that he considered himself equal with his white friends and this goes with our Joan Dayan reading where a slave doesn’t become free until he commits a crime. In this setting, Bigger didn’t become equal until he committed a crime and realized how the world really was.
Wright talks a lot about how people feel about religion and how both Bigger’s mother, and Mary’s mother both are very religious and Mary’s mother even prays over Mary’s bed when Bigger had just killed her not even knowing she was dead or hurt. Bigger also receives and wears a cross when he goes to prison which symbolizes his recognition of religion and the fact he says “he was feeling the words of the preacher, feeling that life was flesh nailed to the world, a longing spirit imprisoned in the days of the earth” (266).
Bigger was blind to the white race, and up until the very end, considered them in one group as oppressors to the black race. At the very end of the story, when he is on death row, tells Max to say hello to Jan. Jan was Mary’s boyfriend and also befriended Bigger. The reason why this is important is because he refers to Jan as his first name and thus symbolizing his new consideration of the white race and how he, at his very end, considers them equals. This goes along with some of our other readings in the fact that it wasn’t until he was tried and convicted, and then sentenced to death that he considered himself equal with his white friends and this goes with our Joan Dayan reading where a slave doesn’t become free until he commits a crime. In this setting, Bigger didn’t become equal until he committed a crime and realized how the world really was.
Other Exiles by Edward Brathwaite
Just recently I had read the book called Other Exiles by Edward Brathwaite. He is known for his studies of Black cultural life both in Africa and throughout the African diasporas of the world. If you are looking for a book with a lot of poetry, then this is the perfect book for you. This book consists of a bunch of poems about someone’s journey that takes place in his home island Barbados and then to Europe and back. These poems are not lengthy sentences, but rather short and clipped. It is very interesting to read about poems that are of someone’s personal experience rather than made up. These poems are about specific events that had happened in a person’s life in a time span of a year. These poems start off at about new years and then after go talk about specific events that had happened in that year. Then the poems end back at new years with the end of the year. Having it this way I think is much easier to comprehend what is going on and just a better way to organize it. This book and others like it should have definitely been on the syllabus because of the intriguing and thoughtful poems that he had written. They are just really interesting to read and when you read them, you can actually visualize what he is saying. One of the poems in this book that I thought was great to read was the one called At the Death of a Young Poet’s Wife. This poem had a lot of emotion in it and was very vivid. I could just feel by reading it how this guy was feeling. This is how all of these poems are. Just like I said, when you read them, you can feel how he is feeling and picture what is going on in them. Reading the poems was not very difficult. They are obviously written in a poetic way, but make it easy for the readers to understand what is going on in them. Another thing that I like is that these poems are put into chronological order. You should be convinced by now that the book Other Exiles is something worth reading. It is full of poetry that you can just get lost in because of the exemplary detail and description that it has. You can read it at anytime and anywhere that you want and when you are done with it, you would be quick to recommend it to someone else.
Beloved
Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” resembles other expressive forms used by other authors. Although James Weldon Johnson’s “Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man” is a narrative, “Beloved,” which is also fiction, evokes the same emotions in response to experiences that particular characters had. Morrison also includes a vast amount of references to the dehumanization of slaves, which is also evident in Frederick Douglass’ autobiography. Although it’s fiction, “Beloved” explores more extreme and detailed accounts of dehumanization. This use of dehumanization is something fresh because it’s more apparent on the surface, but also invokes a deeper meaning. For example, one character, Paul D, was subjected to wear a horse bit in his mouth, and the main character, Sethe, was violated through having her milk stolen, which was supposed to be for her baby. As a novel, this book is one of kind and stands on its own as an abstract interpretation of a case involving a runaway slave that killed her newborn baby, Margaret Garner.
There are multiple parts of the book that occur in two contrasting time periods. One part of the book focuses on events that occurred approximately twenty years ago, which depict the characters experience on plantation. As a result, the reader encounters the present time that has been shaped by events in the past. There are four main characters Sethe, Denver, Beloved, and Paul D. Sethe is the vocal point in terms of characters because others lives are reflections of her choices. For instance, Beloved situation could be described as a result of her actions, whereas her actions have shaped her daughter Denver’s life since she was a child. Sethe is reserved and remorseful, Morrison tries to describe the guilt she lives with everyday because of her decision to murder her baby. In contrast, Beloved is believed to be the spirit of the daughter she killed so long ago. Beloved is manipulative and controlling, which is reflected in her controlling Sethe’s and Denver’s emotions to reflect what she wants to happen. Like Sethe, Denver is reserved and is unable to get over leaving her house because she is fearful of others criticism of her mother’s situation. Lastly, the reader encounters Paul D, who is emotionless because of the pain he suffers from the latches of slavery. The book makes reference to his “tin can heart,” which he believes can be remedied by his one and only love Sethe.
Structurally, this book uses the literary technique called “stream of consciousness,” which strings together different time periods and experiences with multiple characters. Although sometimes it can be incoherent, Morrison’s use of this literary technique was fantastic because it keeps the reader on their toes, questioning the plot and characters at multiple junctures. Overall, the sentences flow and are somewhere in between and the vocabulary is for the most part, understandable to the average reader. Overall, the tone of “Beloved” is set by Sethe and her decision of to kill her daughter, which results in a mournful and grief-stricken mood. One major theme of the book illustrates the dehumanization that results from being subjected to slavery. In addition, the reader is asked to answer whether or not Sethe’s decision to kill her daughter is justified and although it is answered in the end, one still ponders whether it was right or wrong. In reflection, I find the ending satisfying, 124 seems to become less controlled by a no longer existent ghost and Sethe receives the love she deserves. Having the chance to ask Toni Morrison a question, I would ask her how she cohesively brought together so many fascinating stories to ignite such a powerful novel. This novel definitely deserves a place on the course syllabus because it explores and depicts multiple themes that are present in most of the reading we have encountered so far.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston takes the reader into the world of Janie Crawford, an African American woman living during the early 1900’s in southern and central areas of Florida. Hurston uses dialogue that is in the form of a southern accent to draw the reader into the southern setting and feel the emotion in this novel. There is a good amount of dialect, forcing the reader to spend more time analyzing what is being said. Janie tells her story of the many journeys she has been on; they are split into three main parts of the book that correspond to each of her marriages. First, Logan Killicks, then Joe Starks, and finally Tea Cake. All three men are extremely different regarding personality and the way they treat Janie. These differences keep the reader on their toes, wondering what could possibly happen next in her life and relationships.
Janie’s free spirit is beautifully conveyed through many metaphors that are placed throughout the book. The connections and comparisons between love and nature are the basis of most of the metaphors, symbolizing her desire to be a happy, strong individual. This is the central theme of Their Eyes Were Watching God. Janie believes strongly in equality, which is not present in her first two relationships. She strives to gain a sense of spiritual satisfaction that can only be achieved by herself. The gender differences in her first two marriages pulled her down and prevented her from being who she really was. She believed that mutual respect for each other, no matter your gender is necessary in carrying out any type of relationship. However, her relationship with Tea Cake allows her to experience just this. Their interactions gave her the strength and ability to achieve her independence as a woman.
Overall, I would definitely recommend reading this book. It explores not only the setting and lives of African Americans living in the south, but also the obstacles that a woman comes upon during her earlier years in life. The book flows well, considering that Janie is moving from place to place and beginning new relationships. The way the book is written through Janie’s flashback on her experiences emphasizes how far Janie has come independently. We are immediately introduced to her as someone who does not care what people are saying about her, signifying her strong confidence in herself. Her taking us back to the beginning and guiding us through her experiences and growth up until the bittersweet end of the story creates a rich and solid understanding of Janie’s character.
This novel connects with our class because it explores the life of an African American woman post slavery era and her struggle to achieve her independence. Analyzing how she is treated and why she is potentially treated that way, how she is viewed outside of her own community as well as within are just a few of the possible ways the book could be picked apart. It is very focused on Janie’s personal journey in trying to find herself, which connects to a continuous theme in the class of losing and finding one’s identity.
Janie’s free spirit is beautifully conveyed through many metaphors that are placed throughout the book. The connections and comparisons between love and nature are the basis of most of the metaphors, symbolizing her desire to be a happy, strong individual. This is the central theme of Their Eyes Were Watching God. Janie believes strongly in equality, which is not present in her first two relationships. She strives to gain a sense of spiritual satisfaction that can only be achieved by herself. The gender differences in her first two marriages pulled her down and prevented her from being who she really was. She believed that mutual respect for each other, no matter your gender is necessary in carrying out any type of relationship. However, her relationship with Tea Cake allows her to experience just this. Their interactions gave her the strength and ability to achieve her independence as a woman.
Overall, I would definitely recommend reading this book. It explores not only the setting and lives of African Americans living in the south, but also the obstacles that a woman comes upon during her earlier years in life. The book flows well, considering that Janie is moving from place to place and beginning new relationships. The way the book is written through Janie’s flashback on her experiences emphasizes how far Janie has come independently. We are immediately introduced to her as someone who does not care what people are saying about her, signifying her strong confidence in herself. Her taking us back to the beginning and guiding us through her experiences and growth up until the bittersweet end of the story creates a rich and solid understanding of Janie’s character.
This novel connects with our class because it explores the life of an African American woman post slavery era and her struggle to achieve her independence. Analyzing how she is treated and why she is potentially treated that way, how she is viewed outside of her own community as well as within are just a few of the possible ways the book could be picked apart. It is very focused on Janie’s personal journey in trying to find herself, which connects to a continuous theme in the class of losing and finding one’s identity.
Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved, addresses the long lasting and far-reaching chains of slavery. The book is noted for its brutal honesty of the lives of slaves, revealing the violence, dehumanization, and loss of identity. One family’s history is uncovered bit-by-bit and out of order through a combination of dialogue, narration, and prose. The overall tone of Morrison’s writing is mysterious and heavy.
Each character in this story represents a different effect of slavery. Sethe, the mother of four children, demonstrates the desperate love of a slave mother, and her selflessness. She ignores the horrible things that happen to her as a slave by focusing on how these incidents will affect her children, rather than their implications for her. Paul D, an escaped slave who worked on the plantation with Sethe, represents the dehumanization and loss of masculinity caused by slavery. He gradually reflects on his time as a slave both on the farm and on a chain gang. He recognizes that he has kept those memories locked away for a reason. As the story progresses, Sethe and Paul D. share their stories with one another, dealing with the necessary pain of memory.
Baby Suggs, Sethe’s mother-in-law, represents slavery’s bondage over even the will to live. When the reader first meets Baby Suggs, she is lost in depression, waiting for death. It is later revealed that Baby Sugg’s son, Halle (her only child whom she sees grow into adulthood, and Sethe’s husband) had bought her freedom. By the time she is set free, however, she feels she is too old for it to mean anything. She was a slave for so long that she doesn’t know what it means to be free.
Another important character in this novel is Beloved. Her reality and identity are never explicitly determined, but her presence in the story is essential. It is said that she is the reincarnation of Sethe’s murdered two-year-old daughter. Beloved first appears as a ghost in Sethe’s house in Cincinnati. After Paul D.’s arrival, however, Beloved appears as a very emotionally and physically dependent young woman. It is unclear whether Beloved is seeking revenge or merely the love she was robbed of. She seems to represent the haunting envelopment of slavery. The child’s murder was committed as a result of the dehumanization and desperation caused by bondage. Beloved’s presence seems to question whether life in slavery is better or worse than death as a free human.
One major theme addressed in this book is the paradoxically intertwined notions of repression and “rememory.” Both Sethe and Paul D. try to forget everything that happened when they were slaves. The more time they spend together, however, the more they realize how freeing it is to remember. By keeping these memories locked inside them, they are still bound to slavery. Once they remember, their memories are released, as they are as well. I think this notion has not been directly addressed in the material we have read so far, but a very essential process to undergo in order to gain emotional freedom.
I found that the paradoxes, conflicts, and structure made this book very compelling. Since the characters’ pasts were revealed gradually, the story had my undivided attention, and I was very eager to learn the outcome. It was a very enjoyable read, and I think it would make a fine addition to our course reading. Its focus is not merely on the characters’ lives as slaves, but also their lives in freedom. This creates a seamless transition from the horrors of slavery to its lasting impacts.
Each character in this story represents a different effect of slavery. Sethe, the mother of four children, demonstrates the desperate love of a slave mother, and her selflessness. She ignores the horrible things that happen to her as a slave by focusing on how these incidents will affect her children, rather than their implications for her. Paul D, an escaped slave who worked on the plantation with Sethe, represents the dehumanization and loss of masculinity caused by slavery. He gradually reflects on his time as a slave both on the farm and on a chain gang. He recognizes that he has kept those memories locked away for a reason. As the story progresses, Sethe and Paul D. share their stories with one another, dealing with the necessary pain of memory.
Baby Suggs, Sethe’s mother-in-law, represents slavery’s bondage over even the will to live. When the reader first meets Baby Suggs, she is lost in depression, waiting for death. It is later revealed that Baby Sugg’s son, Halle (her only child whom she sees grow into adulthood, and Sethe’s husband) had bought her freedom. By the time she is set free, however, she feels she is too old for it to mean anything. She was a slave for so long that she doesn’t know what it means to be free.
Another important character in this novel is Beloved. Her reality and identity are never explicitly determined, but her presence in the story is essential. It is said that she is the reincarnation of Sethe’s murdered two-year-old daughter. Beloved first appears as a ghost in Sethe’s house in Cincinnati. After Paul D.’s arrival, however, Beloved appears as a very emotionally and physically dependent young woman. It is unclear whether Beloved is seeking revenge or merely the love she was robbed of. She seems to represent the haunting envelopment of slavery. The child’s murder was committed as a result of the dehumanization and desperation caused by bondage. Beloved’s presence seems to question whether life in slavery is better or worse than death as a free human.
One major theme addressed in this book is the paradoxically intertwined notions of repression and “rememory.” Both Sethe and Paul D. try to forget everything that happened when they were slaves. The more time they spend together, however, the more they realize how freeing it is to remember. By keeping these memories locked inside them, they are still bound to slavery. Once they remember, their memories are released, as they are as well. I think this notion has not been directly addressed in the material we have read so far, but a very essential process to undergo in order to gain emotional freedom.
I found that the paradoxes, conflicts, and structure made this book very compelling. Since the characters’ pasts were revealed gradually, the story had my undivided attention, and I was very eager to learn the outcome. It was a very enjoyable read, and I think it would make a fine addition to our course reading. Its focus is not merely on the characters’ lives as slaves, but also their lives in freedom. This creates a seamless transition from the horrors of slavery to its lasting impacts.
Invisible Man
Invisible Man, written by Ralph Ellison, and published in 1942 , is a novel that portrays American society in the eyes of an African American in the late 1920s and early 1930s. This novel is primarily set in the American South at a time when the white people of that region were bitterly opposed to equality for black Americans. The narrator begins the book by explaining that he is an invisible man. He explains that he is invisible because of the people of the South who live in a segregated world refuse to see him as anything other than black. Invisibility is one of the underlying themes of the novel where society is completely blind to racial inequality. Blindness represents how society is unwilling to see and confront the truth and the fact that there is indeed racial inequality. Another major theme in this novel is racism and racial identity. As the narrator meets different people and is surrounded by different types of people, he begins to get an idea of how Africans Americans should act in society and compares himself to those expectations—expectations whites and Africans Americans have about themselves in trying to live in a segregated world.
The Invisible Man’s relationship to the normal tradition of African-American Literature is similar in a sense that this book portrays how the white community was seen in the eyes of an African American, and also by the rest of society in the early part of the twentieth century. The Invisible Man was influenced by existentialists of the time who argued that people must focus on the individual as the only means of making sense of and becoming successful in a world that was too difficult and too harsh for them to understand. This novel rejected Booker T. Washington’s philosophy accepting one’s place in the world and making the most of it, and instead emphasized that if African Americans worked towards economic success they would eventually reach racial equality. This novel also questions black identity, and what that is.
Invisible Man is a single project book, and written in the first person. Ellison uses a narrator to tell the story. Ellison’s use of diction is very particular in a sense that he is very short and to the point. Many of his sentences are quick, but strong, which give the sentences a feeling of attitude. Ellison also is very descriptive in his use of diction. Instead of using one or two words to describe an event or something, he uses three to four descriptions to get his point across. Ellison’s vocabulary is very modern, and simplistic, which makes the novel very easy to read because it feels as though the narrator is just talking with the reader. The narrator’s tone is very up front, honest, and genuine. Again I felt like I was conversing with the narrator one on one.
I do wish that this book had been on the syllabus because it was a really easy read, and depicts a time period that we have not really covered that much in class. I really enjoyed reading this book because I found it interesting how different, but also how similar some of the slave narratives, and other works of literature written by slaves are compared to Invisible Man. The actual literature and style are much different however, but the themes are very similar.
The Invisible Man’s relationship to the normal tradition of African-American Literature is similar in a sense that this book portrays how the white community was seen in the eyes of an African American, and also by the rest of society in the early part of the twentieth century. The Invisible Man was influenced by existentialists of the time who argued that people must focus on the individual as the only means of making sense of and becoming successful in a world that was too difficult and too harsh for them to understand. This novel rejected Booker T. Washington’s philosophy accepting one’s place in the world and making the most of it, and instead emphasized that if African Americans worked towards economic success they would eventually reach racial equality. This novel also questions black identity, and what that is.
Invisible Man is a single project book, and written in the first person. Ellison uses a narrator to tell the story. Ellison’s use of diction is very particular in a sense that he is very short and to the point. Many of his sentences are quick, but strong, which give the sentences a feeling of attitude. Ellison also is very descriptive in his use of diction. Instead of using one or two words to describe an event or something, he uses three to four descriptions to get his point across. Ellison’s vocabulary is very modern, and simplistic, which makes the novel very easy to read because it feels as though the narrator is just talking with the reader. The narrator’s tone is very up front, honest, and genuine. Again I felt like I was conversing with the narrator one on one.
I do wish that this book had been on the syllabus because it was a really easy read, and depicts a time period that we have not really covered that much in class. I really enjoyed reading this book because I found it interesting how different, but also how similar some of the slave narratives, and other works of literature written by slaves are compared to Invisible Man. The actual literature and style are much different however, but the themes are very similar.
Black Boy
Richard Wright's autobiography, Black Boy (written in 1937), is not a happy book. It is the story of a young black boy growing up in the South during the first quarter of the twentieth century. This Richard's father deserts him and his family when the boy is only four or five years old. By the age of six, Richard has become a drunkard that hangs out in local bars begging for drinks. As he ages, Richard moves from one bad situation to another. He is forced to survive horrible circumstances that are a result of bad decisions (both his own and other people's), health problems, and the social norms of the South during that era. Wright uses a variety of traditional and modern styles and themes to convey the story of his childhood.
One technique that Wright uses is various montage scenes. These really help to describe the passage of time, while still providing the reader with important details of Wright's childhood. These details help the reader to paint a picture of what life was like in the South, but does not force the reader to become bored. This is a technique that we haven't really seen in any of the more traditional readings that we have done so far. These writers would usually choose to use a single scene to describe nonessential details instead of using multiple quickly described scenes.
Wright uses many of the same themes that we have read in other books and stories. He focusses on the common themes of religion, lack of a father figure, the relationship between blacks and whites, and hunger/physical pain. However, Wright sometimes approaches these themes for completely different vantage points that what we are used to. For example, in many of our readings religion is seen as a source of security and inspiration. However, for Wright religion was a source of danger and insecurity in his life and his family. Also Wright describes the hunger and physical discomfort that he experiences due to his extreme poverty. However, Wright's own family is often responsible for the pain that he experiences (his mother, literally, almost beats him to death). Other narratives that we have read usually only focus on the violence that whites have done to blacks. The hunger that Wright describes does not only represent his physical needs, but it also symbolizes his desires to be accepted and loved by the people around him. Often Wright's family and associates either ignore him or do not accept him. Throughout the descriptions of these experiences, Wright reminds us of the hunger (both physical and emotional) that he feels.
The majority of the experiences that Wright describes are very unpleasant and negative. Considering this it is a little surprising that Wright choose to end his narrative with him "escaping" to the safety of the North. It makes the reading hope that his future will be better, but Wright says little to encourage this optimism.
One technique that Wright uses is various montage scenes. These really help to describe the passage of time, while still providing the reader with important details of Wright's childhood. These details help the reader to paint a picture of what life was like in the South, but does not force the reader to become bored. This is a technique that we haven't really seen in any of the more traditional readings that we have done so far. These writers would usually choose to use a single scene to describe nonessential details instead of using multiple quickly described scenes.
Wright uses many of the same themes that we have read in other books and stories. He focusses on the common themes of religion, lack of a father figure, the relationship between blacks and whites, and hunger/physical pain. However, Wright sometimes approaches these themes for completely different vantage points that what we are used to. For example, in many of our readings religion is seen as a source of security and inspiration. However, for Wright religion was a source of danger and insecurity in his life and his family. Also Wright describes the hunger and physical discomfort that he experiences due to his extreme poverty. However, Wright's own family is often responsible for the pain that he experiences (his mother, literally, almost beats him to death). Other narratives that we have read usually only focus on the violence that whites have done to blacks. The hunger that Wright describes does not only represent his physical needs, but it also symbolizes his desires to be accepted and loved by the people around him. Often Wright's family and associates either ignore him or do not accept him. Throughout the descriptions of these experiences, Wright reminds us of the hunger (both physical and emotional) that he feels.
The majority of the experiences that Wright describes are very unpleasant and negative. Considering this it is a little surprising that Wright choose to end his narrative with him "escaping" to the safety of the North. It makes the reading hope that his future will be better, but Wright says little to encourage this optimism.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Reading James Weldon’s Johnson’s Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man has really opened my eyes to some more of the deep, intricate psychological effects and implications of race and identity. First of all, it is important to note that this is a fictitious autobiography. Perhaps Johnson is revealing his true feelings, perceptions, and opinions through the voice and life choices of his fabricated narrator, whether intentionally or subconsciously. Perhaps he is merely attempting to capture some of the general notions of race at the time. Whatever his reasoning, the effect is profound.
I am particularly captivated by his struggle to embrace his true identity. I don’t think he is ashamed of being black, but, as he points out, “it’s often inconvenient.” This leads to his subtle discussion of an almost triple consciousness. I think it’s essential to point out that he has read the writing of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. du Bois, as this is foundational to literary tradition. This is also important because he seems to refer to his heightened awareness of his culture, his race, and his world as both a blessing and a curse.
Another issue that is brought up in this narrative is that of identity. In my African Studies class, we’re discussing ethnicity, and whether it is something you must be born with, or if it is a choice one can make. I am reminded of this controversy in Johnson’s writing because if ethnicity is determined by skin color, the speaker is clearly torn between two cultures and identities.
I am particularly captivated by his struggle to embrace his true identity. I don’t think he is ashamed of being black, but, as he points out, “it’s often inconvenient.” This leads to his subtle discussion of an almost triple consciousness. I think it’s essential to point out that he has read the writing of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. du Bois, as this is foundational to literary tradition. This is also important because he seems to refer to his heightened awareness of his culture, his race, and his world as both a blessing and a curse.
Another issue that is brought up in this narrative is that of identity. In my African Studies class, we’re discussing ethnicity, and whether it is something you must be born with, or if it is a choice one can make. I am reminded of this controversy in Johnson’s writing because if ethnicity is determined by skin color, the speaker is clearly torn between two cultures and identities.
I want to follow up on Jess' blog write-up considering the millionaire's statement that correcting the wrongs of the world is a waste of time. I agree with the fact that this is a completely selfish statement. Can you imagine what the world and society would be like today if every individual had that philosophy? I feel that this philosophy may pertain to those few individuals like the millionaire, who are very well-off financially, and therefore, feel that they can live a happy, prosperous life without worrying about the world at large, or anything that doesn't directly impact them. These individuals have the luxury of living in the safest, cleanest parts of the world, eating the healthiest, most nutritious foods, wearing any articles of clothing they choose, and living day-to-day life as they please. I can see how one could turn their head from the wrongs of the world in this situation. However, it is also these people that could impact the struggling people and societies around the world immensely.
The millionaire's statement can also be proven wrong on various accounts, such as the rights that minority groups, or groups once inferior, now possess. The election of an African-American to be president is a step for African-Americans far beyond where they were in Johnson's time. Also, the rights and responsibilities of women in society are greatly valued through proof of high numbers of women in universities, and the raising income of various jobs women can attain.
I would also like to comment on Jamie's post regarding identity. Johnson suffers with a similar problem of identity that Du Bois talked about in the Souls of Black Folk. I am reminded of this 'double-consciousness' which Du Bois speaks about as hindering the lives of all African-Americans from the moment they are born. Like Johnson experienced, individuals of color must try to adapt to the society around them to be accepted, but yet, also don't want to stray from their true being for this would lead to no advancement for their race or for their well-being.
There is a quote found on p. 842 by James Weldon Johnson in “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man” that really speaks to me. Johnson states “I lived to learn in the world of sport all men win alike, but lose differently; and so gamblers are rated, not by the way in which they win, but by the way in which they lose. Some men lose with a careless smile, recognizing that losing is a part of the game; others curse their luck and rail at fortune; and others, still, lose sadly; after each such experience they are swept by a wave of reform; they resolve to stop gambling and be good.” This quote is especially interesting because it not only pertains to the sport of gambling and the gambling man, but can be applicable to many scenarios and life issues, including race. It just reminded me of race issues at large and how it is often perpetuated by people’s subjective take on winning and losing, in this case in terms of social politics. Racism, whether its violent or nonviolent is toxic regardless of its shape and has really manifested itself into several issues with jobs, standard of living, education and stereotypes. It is hard to reverse these effects, especially when racism is very subjective to each individual. Even if one does not partake, it is still present, and therefore they are forced to watch it and witness its effects on others from the sidelines. This can also be internalized and as a result subjective to the individual.
Talents and Segregation
The African American sermon has a broad impact on black culture. In “Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, the protagonist describes how the musical and oratorical talents of the black preacher and singer he watches are funneled into the black church. There is also talk earlier in his life of the organ player at church who teaches him. I think that this may also reflect the larger trend of black citizens to try and find outlets for their talents, despite how they are limited by white imposed segregation as to where they find these outlets. The great preacher he describes could have used his oratorial talents to become a senator or some other kind of politician. However, segregation makes his options for expressing his talents fewer. He talks about black university graduates whose education serves only to make them available for department clerk positions, unlike their white school mates. I think that this may explain how much of the power came to the classical black spiritual songs; during slavery the musical geniuses among the slaves who could have been a Chopin or other great composer has only their unlearned voices to compose with, creating some of the most enduring songs of that era. The limits segregation placed on talented members of the black community, and the treatment they endured, was a strong element of Johnson’s work.
Autobiography
I have to admit the drastic turn in Johnson's piece threw me for a loop...I guess I wasn't quite prepared to hear his decision because of the past autobiographies we have read that end in some victory like obtaining freedom. Johnson does recognize that fact by mentioning some groundbreaking moments that African-Americans have achieved and because of certain revolutionaries will continue to achieve. For instance he suggests, "...the greatest interest of the audience was centered in Booker T. Washington, and not because he so much surpassed the others in eloquence, but because of what he represented with so much earnestness and faith. And it is this that all of that but galant band of colored men who are publicly fighting the cause of their race have behind them. Even those who oppose them know that these men have the eternal principles of right on their side, and they will be victors even though they should go down in defeat (882)". It seems that Johnson acknowledges that victory is not as significant as belief because principles are victorious in any case. He also mentions his stature next to these great men and how belittled he feels with their accomplishments, although I think they have achieved more for in accomplishments for the race, Johnson has surpassed them in thinking that pertains to an individual instead of a crowd. Through thinking about what was right for him, Johnson's intellectual struggle between races subsided through his decision to be of one race, which is an accomplishment in itself to overcome it. I also think his awareness of his decision and it implications depicts his ability to see from another's perspective and how it may seem contradictory to make the decision he did.
the wings of an eagle
In class this week one topic we had the liberty to talk about was the motif of flying and this image of an Eagle as the King.In the passage "The Eagle Strengthen Her Nest" the works of symbolism came into play and i believe that was truly important for the whole subject of slavery and the stories of slavery. In this passage The eagle which was said to be the strongest of all birds represented a king but i also believe it represented the freedom of all slaves. The reason i believe this is because in the story as the eagle is captured it is never let go and it is only given a bigger catch to contain itself. When i Think of slavery in context to this eagle the matter of slavery has grown to significant heights but the cage that contained the slaves freedom got bigger and bigger as they were held from the true air of american freedom. On page (102) there is a discussion of chickens who i actually think portray the slaves in this story. The reason as to why I believe this is because slaves are seen as usable life forms and thats exactly what the chickens represent. Due to their lack of freedom and use for what they can produce. I found this passage really eye opening because it made me think of freedom in an unusual light that tends to be different from how i think of it normally.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Attempting to rights the wrongs... waste of time?
Hey everyone,
So I want to talk about the James Weldon Johnson piece The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. I really enjoyed reading this piece and I want to specifically discuss with you guys the following passage:
“My [the millionaire] philosophy of life is this: make yourself as happy as possible, and try to make those whose lives come in touch with yours; but to attempt to right the wrongs and ease the sufferings of the world in general is a waste of effort. You had just as well try to bail the Atlantic by pouring the water into the Pacific (p.857).”
This passage really struck me; the honesty and selfishness of it is what most surprised me. I was so surprised that the millionaire told this to Johnson in order to try and convince him to go to Japan with him. I think what scared me most about this passage was that I realized, to some people, this statement is true. It saddens me to think that in 1912, despite slavery already being abolished, blacks were still fighting for equal rights. However, many felt this was a battle that could never be won and gave up! The millionaire supports his claim by saying that “We hit slavery through a great civil war. Did we destroy it? No, we only changed it into hatred between sections of the country: […] (p.857).
I want to know what you guys think of this. How do you guys feel about the millionaire saying “attempting to right the wrongs is a waste of time?”. At some point, do you think he’s correct to say this? I’m almost speechless when I think of this because I have no doubts that many blacks fighting for their rights felt powerless and hopeless. I want to end on a quote that I think really applies to this passage and gives hope to anyone fighting a battle that may seem impossible to win.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
So I want to talk about the James Weldon Johnson piece The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. I really enjoyed reading this piece and I want to specifically discuss with you guys the following passage:
“My [the millionaire] philosophy of life is this: make yourself as happy as possible, and try to make those whose lives come in touch with yours; but to attempt to right the wrongs and ease the sufferings of the world in general is a waste of effort. You had just as well try to bail the Atlantic by pouring the water into the Pacific (p.857).”
This passage really struck me; the honesty and selfishness of it is what most surprised me. I was so surprised that the millionaire told this to Johnson in order to try and convince him to go to Japan with him. I think what scared me most about this passage was that I realized, to some people, this statement is true. It saddens me to think that in 1912, despite slavery already being abolished, blacks were still fighting for equal rights. However, many felt this was a battle that could never be won and gave up! The millionaire supports his claim by saying that “We hit slavery through a great civil war. Did we destroy it? No, we only changed it into hatred between sections of the country: […] (p.857).
I want to know what you guys think of this. How do you guys feel about the millionaire saying “attempting to right the wrongs is a waste of time?”. At some point, do you think he’s correct to say this? I’m almost speechless when I think of this because I have no doubts that many blacks fighting for their rights felt powerless and hopeless. I want to end on a quote that I think really applies to this passage and gives hope to anyone fighting a battle that may seem impossible to win.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
One of the things that I found very interesting in "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man" is when he witnesses a black man being burned alive. After he sees how terrible and cruel white people can be, he questions being a part of the white race but it also leads him to reconsider identifying with the black race. Watching this happen he loses his sense of identity to both races and becomes lost between the two. He is ashamed to be white because he does not understand how a group of people can possibly find entertainment in brutally killing another human being. But he also feels ashamed that he is a part of a race that gets treaty so badly, I don't think he is ashamed of being black but he is more afraid of the treatment that blacks experience. His fear is what leads him to choosing to pass as white for the rest of his life. He realizes that unlike a lot other blacks he has the choice and opportunity to be treated and live the life of a white man, which he knows would get him farther in life. Part of me feels like he sold out by choosing to pass as white, and not finding pride in being black. It made me think of Dubois' idea that blacks should lift themselves up and be proud that they are black. But I can also understand that he wants to pass as white in order to live a possibly better life, which he ends up doing.
Sermons, prayers, and songs
Something that really struck me in the readings this week was how the sermons and prayers were similar to the songs that we have read. You can almost hear some of these prayers being put to music. In "The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest", Franklin tries to describe how the sermon becomes a chant or a song. This is really neat to me because it seems more interesting to read and has to be more fun to listen to.
I also really enjoyed the Johnson's description of the "big meeting" in the Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. He really emphasized the importance of combining music with the sermons. This led to a theatrical effect that seems really enjoyable. In fact, Johnson almost seems to think that the music was more important than the sermon because the music could be used to drive points home. It seemed to keep the crowd active and helped them to be more interested in what the preachers were saying. Johnson also describes how this sort of church experience had a huge impact on a large portion of the black population of the south. Johnson makes a point of saying that this stuff is one of the things that helped blacks to survive and escape slavery. He does this even while making the point that some of the black population really looked down on these things. The whole scene seemed very interesting to me.
I also really enjoyed the Johnson's description of the "big meeting" in the Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. He really emphasized the importance of combining music with the sermons. This led to a theatrical effect that seems really enjoyable. In fact, Johnson almost seems to think that the music was more important than the sermon because the music could be used to drive points home. It seemed to keep the crowd active and helped them to be more interested in what the preachers were saying. Johnson also describes how this sort of church experience had a huge impact on a large portion of the black population of the south. Johnson makes a point of saying that this stuff is one of the things that helped blacks to survive and escape slavery. He does this even while making the point that some of the black population really looked down on these things. The whole scene seemed very interesting to me.
The Eagle as a Symbol
In the sermon The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest Franklin uses the eagle as a symbol. My impression of the symbol was that the eagle represented the black population on they were being kept inside of society’s cage. The eagle is a symbol of strength and freedom, and the fact the eagle is kept in a cage is contradictory. The bigger the eagle got, the cage just kept getting bigger. The people where trying to keep the eagle inside of the cage no matter how big it got. To me this meant that society was trying to keep an upper hand and control the black community. The more the blacks tried to peruse their liberties, the more society tried to condemn them. I also think that Franklin uses the eagle because they represent freedom; however it cannot be free inside of a cage. I believe that this was meant to demonstrate how although blacks are free and supposed to treat as equals, in reality they are not. The blacks are free; however they are trapped inside of society’s cage. Also eagles represent strength, and determination, which is one of the many reasons the black population eventually over came society’s prejudice and treatment (cage). That is why I think Franklin decided to use an eagle instead of another bird such as a crow, or a chicken.
The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest
I would like to talk about the sermon called The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest. I found that to be very interesting to read. I liked how Franklin used to the eagle to symbolize god. You can look at the eagle and see what it does and compare its actions to god’s. The sentence that I thought was interesting was the one that said, “Now in picturing God as an eagle stirring her nest, I believe history has been one big nest that God has been eternally stirring the nest of your circumstances.” So from this the nest is basically being referred to as the world and what had happened in the past. And the eagle stirring it is referring to god watching over us and protecting us. I just find that to be very interesting and really cool how you can compare the eagle and the nest to god. I can really imagine what Franklin is saying and it really is a good comparison. Everything that this eagle is doing is a god like characteristic. He is saying that the eagle is swift and that is a characteristic that god has. So this whole story is quite interesting in comparing an eagle to being god.
Identity
In the Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, the issue of identity is a present theme throughout. Individuals during this time who grew up as half-black and half-white, such as the mulatto's we have discussed, usually are faced with this questioning of who they are. After being told by his principle that he was "colored", he really becomes a new person and takes on a different view of the colored and white people around him. Along with the colored identity issue, there is also this distinct classification of blacks that he poses in the beginning. He does not want to be seen as a "poor black man", and greatly opposes this label. After experiencing the lynching, he comes to conclusion that there isn't a need for him to differentiate himself between the two races of black and white; he is not seen as any race anymore, but "let the world take him for what it would".
Friday, March 5, 2010
Dunbar vs. Du Bois
The other day in class the group I was in discussed the second question, regarding Dunbar’s image of the mask. We compared and contrasted this image with Du Bois’s image of a veil and his discussion of double consciousness. We decided that Dunbar describes this issue as a choice that African Americans can make. He makes it seem like they can choose to submit to white authority and put their best face forward. He writes, Nay, let [the world] only see us, while we wear the mask” (918). He does make it clear that if they do not choose this option, they will suffer or die for resisting.
On the other hand, Du Bois addresses this issue as if it were innate to African Americans. He discusses the fact that they are forced to see the points of view of others. In this way he suggests that African Americans have no choice but to wear a mask and to appear a certain way to white Americans. He writes, “two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder” (694). This imagery suggests that the twoness of African Americans is something they are born with. He seems to be saying that it is their burden to bear, and that they cannot choose to set it down.
On the other hand, Du Bois addresses this issue as if it were innate to African Americans. He discusses the fact that they are forced to see the points of view of others. In this way he suggests that African Americans have no choice but to wear a mask and to appear a certain way to white Americans. He writes, “two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder” (694). This imagery suggests that the twoness of African Americans is something they are born with. He seems to be saying that it is their burden to bear, and that they cannot choose to set it down.
Dunbar Class Discussion
I was part of the third discussion group on Wednesday that talked about Dunbar's dialectical poems.I personally really enjoyed all of his poems but the dialectical poems stood out the most to me (except for the Haunted Oak one, that one was just creepy). I don't really know how I stand on the issue of whether or not the fact that these poems cast African Americans in a bad light and Dunbar did this on purpose. I think that Dunbar knew that the image of the friendly black story teller that was made famous by uncle Remus was a way to sell books, to get his work out into the main stream. I think he was fully aware of the effect his work would have on white readers, that they might gloss over some of the little side remarks that Dunbar hid in his poetry. I think that although on the surface Dunbar's dialect poems reflect racist overtones to cater to the white population that were charmed and placated with the idea of a benign story teller but he digs in his own brand of protest over the treatment of black people with all of his side remarks and connotations. taken together the "mask" of Dunbar's characters in his poems can be seen as a farce.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Booker T Washington
After doing the readings for this week, I found Booker T Washington to be very interesting. He was a political leader who was born in slavery and was liked by many people. I thought that it was quite interesting that he had a big sponsorship with powerful whites, a lot of support from the black community and was able to raise educational funds for both the white and black. Also, Washington gave an Atlanta Address of 1895 and from that, it gave him a lot of supporters from the communities. I just feel that was he did in his life was very impressive and interesting to learn about. Later on in his life, Washington and Dubois disagreed on certain issues and never really saw eye to eye. Another great achievement that accomplished was that he wrote fourteen books including his autobiography, Up From Slavery that I thought was very interesting. Booker T Washington did a lot of things in his life and really did make change. He laid the foundation for the increase in blacks to higher education and also built the relationship between both the races. So I just found what he did throughout his life very interesting and he really reminds me of Frederick Douglas, even though they may have done different things.
3/2 Discussion
During Wednesday's class we were able to talk in our groups about our separate topics and I was in group 1 were we got to compare Dunbar’s writing to past writing. The past writers all wrote about their home country and some referenced Ethiopia as well. We looked at Phillis Wheatly, Venture Smith, and Frances Harper. Dunbar wrote in a different time period than the earlier writings we read and this lead to a different point of view for him. It seemed like he was very optimistic in his poem “Ode to Ethiopia” where he talks about how there’s hope for Ethiopia and the people that live there. Compared to the other writings they seemed like all was lost in Ethiopia and things would never change for the better and would end up as slaves or worse for the rest of their lives. The end of slavery had happened between the writings of Dunbar and the others, and this really made a difference in their opinions. The other main difference between the writers was that Dunbar was born in the United States compared to both Smith and Wheatly whom were born in Africa. Harper was born in the United States but was born into slavery. It’s hard to compare these writings because of the big differences between the writers and in particular the time period between the two.
Wednesday's Discussion
I got the opportunity to talk about Dunbar's dialectic poetry and it was quite enlightening to hear what others felt or had questions pertaining to the poetry. My favorite dialectic poem was "An Antebellum Sermon." There is something about the way it flows and has rhythm that makes it extremely powerful. From my perspective the poem talks about the will of God, but also contradicts him at the same time. In his use of slavery, it seems as though Dunbar is contradicting himself, but then reader finds that this was intentional. At the end, Dunbar stands true to Moses coming to "comes an' sets us chillun free,". Ultimately, Dunbar restores that faith in God and tells others to pray for emancipation and the ability to be a citizen. The other day we agreed that his dialectic poems have more meaning because they have a deeper thoughts and ideal than what one may notice on the surface...I also think it takes a lot of talent to make every stanza flow and to adhere to a rhyming scheme in a dialectic poem....On Wednesday, the group also asked questions as to what inspired this poem or how do we make sense of the context that it's in? Overall, I think I enjoyed his dialectic poems much more than his more proper poems because they cause one to think more critically and enjoy the rhythm and flow...
Class discussion
Hey everyone!
So today in class I did my free-writing about How African American's idea of Africa has changed. I also compared Paul Dunbar's "Ode to Ethiopia" to Frances E.W. Harper's "Ethiopia". I feel that African American's idea of Africa has changed from very negative to much more optimistic. In Harper's poem "Ethiopia", she writes "Her [Ethiopia] cry of agony shall reach, The burning throne of God!?" (p.494). In the time period when Harper wrote this poem (approximately 1853), Ethiopia was suffering from the devastating results of slavery. For that reason, Harper portrays Ethiopia as a struggling and vulnerable country. In contrast, Dunbar speaks of Ethiopia with such optimism and pride. The following passage further demonstrates how important the time period of publication is: "Sad days were those, But through the land the fruitful seed, Of better times was growing?" (p.907). Dunbar published his works in the 1890's, thus, post-Emancipation. Therefore, his style of writing is much more positive and enthusiastic. In my opinion, Dunbar's "overly-optimistic" style of writing created detachment. I felt as though his work was not credible as he was writing about something he had never experienced. Charlie was in my discussion group and said that he felt as though Dunbar was writing as a poet rather than a salve poet. I must say I agree with Charlie. I feel as though Dunbar wrote what he thought people wanted to read in order for in work to gain success. Consequently, I did not enjoy his work as much as other writers who I found to be more convincing and realistic. To wrap up, I feel as though the idea of Ethiopia has indeed evolved over the years from a place of struggle, wrecked by slavery, to a place of hopefulness.
So today in class I did my free-writing about How African American's idea of Africa has changed. I also compared Paul Dunbar's "Ode to Ethiopia" to Frances E.W. Harper's "Ethiopia". I feel that African American's idea of Africa has changed from very negative to much more optimistic. In Harper's poem "Ethiopia", she writes "Her [Ethiopia] cry of agony shall reach, The burning throne of God!?" (p.494). In the time period when Harper wrote this poem (approximately 1853), Ethiopia was suffering from the devastating results of slavery. For that reason, Harper portrays Ethiopia as a struggling and vulnerable country. In contrast, Dunbar speaks of Ethiopia with such optimism and pride. The following passage further demonstrates how important the time period of publication is: "Sad days were those, But through the land the fruitful seed, Of better times was growing?" (p.907). Dunbar published his works in the 1890's, thus, post-Emancipation. Therefore, his style of writing is much more positive and enthusiastic. In my opinion, Dunbar's "overly-optimistic" style of writing created detachment. I felt as though his work was not credible as he was writing about something he had never experienced. Charlie was in my discussion group and said that he felt as though Dunbar was writing as a poet rather than a salve poet. I must say I agree with Charlie. I feel as though Dunbar wrote what he thought people wanted to read in order for in work to gain success. Consequently, I did not enjoy his work as much as other writers who I found to be more convincing and realistic. To wrap up, I feel as though the idea of Ethiopia has indeed evolved over the years from a place of struggle, wrecked by slavery, to a place of hopefulness.
Dunbar
After reading the introduction to Dunbar's poetry I expected his dialect poetry to be stereotypical and ridiculous. However, the first time I read them I didn't really see that at all. I was kind of reminded of the folktales and spirituals that we read at the beginning of the semester and I felt that he was just going for authenticity. I even felt that he made little jabs towards white people in the poetry. In "An Antebellum Sermon" he discusses what God did to the Egyptians for holding the Isrealites as slaves. In "When Malindy Sings" the speaker basically tells Miss Lucy (who I assume to be a white girl) that she should shut up because she doesn't have any natural talent. It seems to me that Dunbar tried to have deeper messages hidden behind the dialect.
After looking at things a little closer I did notice a couple places where Dunbar seemed to be backing off from those messages. In "An Antebellum Sermon" Dunbar finishes his talk about what God did to the Egyptians by pausing and saying that "I'm still a-preachin' ancient, I ain't talkin' 'bout today." Of course, I don't really blame him for trying to be a little coverty considering the time that he was writing in.
After looking at things a little closer I did notice a couple places where Dunbar seemed to be backing off from those messages. In "An Antebellum Sermon" Dunbar finishes his talk about what God did to the Egyptians by pausing and saying that "I'm still a-preachin' ancient, I ain't talkin' 'bout today." Of course, I don't really blame him for trying to be a little coverty considering the time that he was writing in.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Laurence Dunbar
At first I was disappointed that I wasn't put into group one. I had spent so much time comparing and contrasting Dunbar's text to earlier texts from the semester. But, I realized that my assigned group (question 4) was not all that bad when I got to pick my favorite poem and then analyze it. I began to look at it this way; I'll be able to take part in group 1 during class discussion because I answered that question on my own, and I will take part in group 4!
However, when I was told to blog about our thoughts from our individual groups and that we won't have time in class to talk about it, I was disappointed again. Yet, somehow I got over it and here I am trying to blog about my favorite poem by Laurence Dunbar. So, here I go...
I found the second poem to be my favorite, Worn Out. The imagery and the rhyme scheme give the poem a sing-songy feel to it. The cheeriness in the flow of the poem directs my attention away from the actual tone, which is tired and a sad frustration. The images the poets enunciates in each stanza portrays a person who seems to have been twisted and turn beyond any one's belief and that the speaker is at a loss of words (I am not saying this literally because he is obviously not, I am saying this hypothetically). So, basically with the sing-songy feel and the cheery rhyme scheme, the poem made me want to interpret a happy image, setting, or feeling, but instead the speaker's tone is well done and Worn Out. The unexpected tone made me go back and reread the poem several times and the more I read it, the more powerful I found it to be.
However, when I was told to blog about our thoughts from our individual groups and that we won't have time in class to talk about it, I was disappointed again. Yet, somehow I got over it and here I am trying to blog about my favorite poem by Laurence Dunbar. So, here I go...
I found the second poem to be my favorite, Worn Out. The imagery and the rhyme scheme give the poem a sing-songy feel to it. The cheeriness in the flow of the poem directs my attention away from the actual tone, which is tired and a sad frustration. The images the poets enunciates in each stanza portrays a person who seems to have been twisted and turn beyond any one's belief and that the speaker is at a loss of words (I am not saying this literally because he is obviously not, I am saying this hypothetically). So, basically with the sing-songy feel and the cheery rhyme scheme, the poem made me want to interpret a happy image, setting, or feeling, but instead the speaker's tone is well done and Worn Out. The unexpected tone made me go back and reread the poem several times and the more I read it, the more powerful I found it to be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)