Thursday, February 26, 2009
A Death Song by Paul Lawrence Dunbar
This poem was very interesting , because although it was short, it kept me enterrained the whole time I was reading it. I had to read the poem twice i order to grasp the full meaning of it, because even though I knew the name of the poem was a Death Song , I still could understand what it was talking about. After careful thought, I realized he was talking about death in many ways. The language of the piece led me to believe that either the author was not very well educated or they were trying to convey the poem in the diction of the past. The diction used was very colloquial, however, this made poem come alive and have deeper meaning to it. The piece made me belive that the author was talking about the treatment of blacks during the Jim Crow South where poeple were hanged, killed, and discriminated against in horrible manners.
A white death
Two stanzas and fourteen lines were all Countee Cullen needed in her poem, "A Brown Girl Dead," to convey the all-too-common, inferiority complex that plagues many African Americans. The time period in which the poem is not specified, however, it can be inferred that it was sometime along the early 1980s because of a reference to pop icon Madonna within the text. The poem in context tells the story of a brown girl who has passed away, and her mother pawns her wedding ring to ensure that she is buried in white; "With two white roses on her breasts, white candles at head and feet." The manner in which the girl dies is never specified, however, following the description of the items adorning her body, the girl is referred to as a "Dark Madonna of the grave." This is most likely due to the association of white as virginal and matrimonial, and Madonna's song and video "Like a Virgin," where she dons all white as well. The comparison to Madonna is most likely intended as a compliment, however, the question is posed as to why it is so imperative that this brown girl be buried in white.
It is becomes evident throughout the text of the poem that there is supposed to be some pride in being buried in all white, primarily by the specification of the color when describing the objects surrounding and adorning the girl's body. This assumption is confirmed in the second stanza when it is revealed that the girl's mother has pawned her wedding ring to make burying her in this manner possible. However, the final solidification of this idea comes in the last two lines when the author says that the girl would, "...be so proud she'd dance and sing to see herself tonight." The question is then posed as to why the girl would take so much pride in this and there are two possible answers.
Dating back to slavery, white has always been glorified as a superior color/race, and in traditional weddings, it is viewed as an honor for the bride to wear white as it is looked upon as pure and virginal. Therefore, one of these two ideas most likely came into play to warrant celebration at the fact that the girl is buried in white. Perhaps the mother wants her child to appear or be recognized as pure in death, but given the time in which the poem is presumably written the mother more than likely takes pride in the prestige associated with the color. It is almost ironic because this mother has to bury her child, which would typically cause for mourning, but the poem instead focuses on the way in which she is buried and claims it is a reason to rejoice. In a roundabout manner, the poem is pointing out the color complex of black people, to where this woman would pawn a valuable possession, solely to ensure that her daughter be able to be buried in this glorified color; white.
It is becomes evident throughout the text of the poem that there is supposed to be some pride in being buried in all white, primarily by the specification of the color when describing the objects surrounding and adorning the girl's body. This assumption is confirmed in the second stanza when it is revealed that the girl's mother has pawned her wedding ring to make burying her in this manner possible. However, the final solidification of this idea comes in the last two lines when the author says that the girl would, "...be so proud she'd dance and sing to see herself tonight." The question is then posed as to why the girl would take so much pride in this and there are two possible answers.
Dating back to slavery, white has always been glorified as a superior color/race, and in traditional weddings, it is viewed as an honor for the bride to wear white as it is looked upon as pure and virginal. Therefore, one of these two ideas most likely came into play to warrant celebration at the fact that the girl is buried in white. Perhaps the mother wants her child to appear or be recognized as pure in death, but given the time in which the poem is presumably written the mother more than likely takes pride in the prestige associated with the color. It is almost ironic because this mother has to bury her child, which would typically cause for mourning, but the poem instead focuses on the way in which she is buried and claims it is a reason to rejoice. In a roundabout manner, the poem is pointing out the color complex of black people, to where this woman would pawn a valuable possession, solely to ensure that her daughter be able to be buried in this glorified color; white.
"The Death Song"
The poem that I read was "The Death Song" by Paul Laurence Dunbar. The poem talked about death in different way than the poems that I have already familiarized myself with in the past. There was a different kind of diction with a certain colloquial that I believe to be of descendant from the South. "Lay me down beneaf de willers in de grass," is the first line of the poem. The way that beneath is spelled shows that the author is trying to get this certain colloquial message across. the message possibly deals with that of the an African- American living in the south or one that is a slave and is not given the proper education to be able to work on their grammar.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Where Do We Go From Here?
This passage begins with a biblical allusion to a young boy who left his home to "find himself," by pursuing adventure after adventure. Ultimately, he only found disillusionment and frustration, and it was not until he returned home that he actually "found himself." This is the analogy used in comparison to the plight in America with regards to racism and discrimination. America had the potential to be the "perfect," nation; just as the little boy had the opportunity to find himself at home. However, America strayed away from their opportunity to advance into perfection; just as the young boy left home. The way in which America virtually squandered her opportunity to achieve perfection is through things such as segregation, racism, and discrimination. A "perfect," nation would consist of justice and equality for all, combined with the co-existence of all races.
The greatest similarities between the boy and America, are the feelings aroused by the decisions they have made. the boy's decision to leave home ultimately caused him to feel lost and sorrowful; just as the enslavement of and discrimination against black people has "left hearts aching with guilt and minds distorted with irrationality." However, just as the boy was able to return home and correct his mistake of leaving from the beginning, the passage argues that America too can correct her plight "if she returns to her true home, 'one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all'." The passage also states that if America is able to achieve this ultimately many other things will occur benefitting the country, such as power amongst other nations. In a type of "lead-by-example," scenario, it is said that other countries will acknowledge and respect the way in which America is run and be more subjective to follow suit.
The question is then posed as whether America will allow black people, or the negro population, to be her liability or opportunity? By withholding "inalienable rights," from a group of inhabitants of the country, America is blatantly seen as a hypocritical nation, and therefore limited both to the amount of international respect as well as power that she can achieve. Therefore, prior to pursuing power and wealth, America must first focus on justice and equality for all. Just as the little boy had to achieve his happiness at home. Also, it is pointed out how unnecessary money is spent on things such as war, alcohol, and cosmetics, as opposed to restitution for some of the wrongs of slavery and prejudice. This is stated to prove that the first step in achieving national "perfection," is to properly prioritize.
In essence the passage is saying that in order to gain wealth and prosper, Americans must first correct their civil problems. Where Do We Go From Here? is an adequate title for the passage. "Here," being the condition of America presently. In retrospect, the answer to that question would be to take the necessary steps to both achieving and maintaining equality.
As a whole the piece is a decent read. However, it is organized in a sort of awkward way, where the transitions in paragraphs are not smooth. The context of the whole passage are very insightful, yet unorganized. Also, the way in which the passage begins with the analogy of America to the biblical story warrants readers to keep reading.
The greatest similarities between the boy and America, are the feelings aroused by the decisions they have made. the boy's decision to leave home ultimately caused him to feel lost and sorrowful; just as the enslavement of and discrimination against black people has "left hearts aching with guilt and minds distorted with irrationality." However, just as the boy was able to return home and correct his mistake of leaving from the beginning, the passage argues that America too can correct her plight "if she returns to her true home, 'one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all'." The passage also states that if America is able to achieve this ultimately many other things will occur benefitting the country, such as power amongst other nations. In a type of "lead-by-example," scenario, it is said that other countries will acknowledge and respect the way in which America is run and be more subjective to follow suit.
The question is then posed as whether America will allow black people, or the negro population, to be her liability or opportunity? By withholding "inalienable rights," from a group of inhabitants of the country, America is blatantly seen as a hypocritical nation, and therefore limited both to the amount of international respect as well as power that she can achieve. Therefore, prior to pursuing power and wealth, America must first focus on justice and equality for all. Just as the little boy had to achieve his happiness at home. Also, it is pointed out how unnecessary money is spent on things such as war, alcohol, and cosmetics, as opposed to restitution for some of the wrongs of slavery and prejudice. This is stated to prove that the first step in achieving national "perfection," is to properly prioritize.
In essence the passage is saying that in order to gain wealth and prosper, Americans must first correct their civil problems. Where Do We Go From Here? is an adequate title for the passage. "Here," being the condition of America presently. In retrospect, the answer to that question would be to take the necessary steps to both achieving and maintaining equality.
As a whole the piece is a decent read. However, it is organized in a sort of awkward way, where the transitions in paragraphs are not smooth. The context of the whole passage are very insightful, yet unorganized. Also, the way in which the passage begins with the analogy of America to the biblical story warrants readers to keep reading.
Where do we go from here?
This piece was very short but intriguing, in it Dr. King critiques himself for giving the then youthful leaders of the Black Power Movement too overly optimistic views of the progress of integration. He also presents the pros and cons of Black Power. He states the need for White America to do much more to improve race relations other than declaring racism to be wrong. He calls for the teaching of African-American history, and for the nation to focus more on helping the poor over military spending. This book should be mandatory reading for high school students, college students, teachers, public officials and business leaders.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Where Do We Go from Here?
I understood from the text how a persons dignity is something that is close hearted to them. Especially when it comes to they black people, their dignity is something that I believe that they hold higher and closer to themselves than any other race in America at that time. As a race that is limited and not really considered free to the world, they were the type of race that at that time all they had was their dignity, because the white Americans took everything else from them. Dignity by definition is worthiness and/or conduct. African Americans needed a since of worthiness because they would not have anything else to help them believe that it would get better except Jesus.
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Future of the American Negro
This passage to me, is further motivation to stay in college. Washington's views were ridiculous and very shocking, coming from an African American man. The low value he seemed to place on education was both appalling and disappointing. Reading the passage angered me slightly because it is hard to believe that a black person could feel that way about his own people. He believed that education was second-nature to materialistic things, and the only way for blacks to gain respect and/or equality amongst whites is to work hard building and acquiring things that white people would need, forcing them to have to co-exist with black people. Washington also argued that the woes of slavery had subconsciously made black people lazy and resentful of hard manual labor. He stated this almost as if to say that the only reason African Americans would be pursuing higher education is to avoid having to do heavy labor.
The passage was ridiculous and contradictory in my opinion. Intelligence is the key to equality, and by placing education low on your list of priorities black people are still not achieving equality. With the brains to outsmart them, white people in turn would still wield some control over blacks. All the money and worldly possessions cannot replace the value of a good education. Also, by suggesting that blacks perfect manual laborious trades instead of professional careers, Washington is still treading dangerously close to the slavery mentality of black people doing the hard work, while white people reap the benefits.
This type of thinking still somewhat exists today, as most of Corporate America, and white collar jobs are operated by white people, while blacks maintain the blue collar positions. I think the only way to truly gain equality is to be able to match wits and intellect with all races. A solid education should be held as first priority, because you can always rely on an acquired skill or trade later in life, should career plans fall through. However, you should not automatically settle for less than great. Placing higher education over industrial labor is the same as the quote "reach for the stars, so if you miss you'll still land on the moon."
The passage was ridiculous and contradictory in my opinion. Intelligence is the key to equality, and by placing education low on your list of priorities black people are still not achieving equality. With the brains to outsmart them, white people in turn would still wield some control over blacks. All the money and worldly possessions cannot replace the value of a good education. Also, by suggesting that blacks perfect manual laborious trades instead of professional careers, Washington is still treading dangerously close to the slavery mentality of black people doing the hard work, while white people reap the benefits.
This type of thinking still somewhat exists today, as most of Corporate America, and white collar jobs are operated by white people, while blacks maintain the blue collar positions. I think the only way to truly gain equality is to be able to match wits and intellect with all races. A solid education should be held as first priority, because you can always rely on an acquired skill or trade later in life, should career plans fall through. However, you should not automatically settle for less than great. Placing higher education over industrial labor is the same as the quote "reach for the stars, so if you miss you'll still land on the moon."
The Future of the American Negro
This text was very enlghtening to me about the true feelings that Booker T. Washington had about the advancement of African Americans. Learning about him in different classes, they classified him as an acqiuescer. After reading this piece I realized that Washington was just not as aggresive in his methods of progressing black's future. He did want to advance, he just took the slow approach saying that he lived in the generation that needs to lay the foundation for the next generations to succeed. He believed that becoming certified in the crafts that we were more likely to get jobs in would help blacks us rise out of poverty. He thought that just getting a paper education would not allow African Americans to get jobs and they would forever stay in their economic standings at the time. I thought that Washington came up with many interesting points, however, my only probably was that he did not completely finish his thought. He failed to say after all of the blacks become carpenters and things of that nature how exactly they were going to be able to transition into getting a "exalted position."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Booker T. Washington's The future of the American Negro
The basics that I got out of the Booker T. Washington text, was that he was a person that really believed in agriculture as the light to the golden tunnel. He basically saw agriculture as the way the Blacks at that time should have seen as the thing to invest and involve their time into. I get that black people at that time were not that independent, from they way Washington conveyed his text. I got that Blacks at that time in history were either to follow one out of to ideologies. One ideology was that of Washington's, which was use agriculture to make our way. The other was that of Dubois,who felt that education was the best way to get your way into mainstream society and stay there. I wonder how were people to act if they neither wanted to go to school, and neither wanted to work in the agricultural field? How did those people feel? Those are the biggest questions that I get out of reading both the Dubois and Washington texts and they are questions that I do not have a answer to.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Awake America
The excerpt "Awake America," by W.E.B Du Bois is a very extravagant way of denouncing the racist mentalities within America. The excerpt preaches equality for all people, regardless of race and also questions how a prejudiced nation can cite "One nation under God," in the pledge of allegiance. Du Bois argues within the excerpt that "Wherever the American flag floats today, black hands have helped to plant it." He also states how blacks have fought in wars and served to protect a country that in turn casts them out as virtually inhumane and undeserving of civil rights and liberties. The key concept posed within the argument for black rights was that America is proclaimed to be the "land of the free," and that title alone was justification "to stop lynching and mob violence, stop disenfranchisement for race and sex, abolish Jim Crow cars, resist the attempt to establish and American ghetto, and Stop race discrimination in Civil Services, trade unions, etc."
Factual points were made within in this piece, some of which I found disturbing, particularly when the author stated that 2,867 black people had been lynched over the course of thirty-one years. However, the grotesque part, is that these people were lynched without ever having being tried and/or convicted of any crimes. This excerpt helped to open my eyes to some of the harsh realities of the Jim Crow Era.
Du Bois' point was truly emphasized when he compared the savage treatments of slavery and racism, to other countries probably deemed massively inferior to the United States. "Russia has abolished the ghetto-shall we restore it?"
The ways in which African Americans have contributed to the country artistically, musically, and through literature are also mentioned. Du Bois poses valid arguments within the passage, all the while emphasizing the contradictions of the words in which Americans live by to the manner in which they behave. The point is definitely driven home at the end of the excerpt when it is written; "No land that loves to lynch 'niggers' can lead the hosts of Almighty God."
Factual points were made within in this piece, some of which I found disturbing, particularly when the author stated that 2,867 black people had been lynched over the course of thirty-one years. However, the grotesque part, is that these people were lynched without ever having being tried and/or convicted of any crimes. This excerpt helped to open my eyes to some of the harsh realities of the Jim Crow Era.
Du Bois' point was truly emphasized when he compared the savage treatments of slavery and racism, to other countries probably deemed massively inferior to the United States. "Russia has abolished the ghetto-shall we restore it?"
The ways in which African Americans have contributed to the country artistically, musically, and through literature are also mentioned. Du Bois poses valid arguments within the passage, all the while emphasizing the contradictions of the words in which Americans live by to the manner in which they behave. The point is definitely driven home at the end of the excerpt when it is written; "No land that loves to lynch 'niggers' can lead the hosts of Almighty God."
Dream
When I was about eleven years old I was sleeping and I dreamt that I was in a camping trip with my father. Throughout the dream my father and I were talking about miscellaneous things. Then as we were talking there was a bear that came up to us and was trying to eat us. My father ran to his tent and I ran into a tree. As I ran into a tree I ended up coming out of my dream into real life, where I ended up hitting the wall as I had hit the tree during the dream. I was awaken with a sore on the back of my head, and I was completely embarrassed that the bear scared me out of the dream.
Critique of The Souls of Black Folk
The author of the Souls of Black Folk is W.E.B. Dubois. The background of the story dealt with W.E.B. Dubois and how is he is an African American scholar that graduated from prestigious schools such as, Harvard. the story is written about Dubois's child that died some time after birth. throughout the whole story he talks about the death and how it would have been if the child would have lived.
"And then one night the little feet patted wearily to the wee white bed and the tiny hands trembled ; and a warm flushed face tossed on the pillow , and we knew baby was sick." That quote described one of the first foreshadows that something could have happened to the child. Also through the using of the word "veil," Dubois used an allusion to death. Dubois said"Within the Veil was he born." To make the word veil standout, he capitalized it to show the importance of the word.
Overall, the story was quite compelling because of there were great quotes that came out of his grieving situation. One quote that I find to be extremely fascinating was,"Only in the chamber of death writhed the world's most piteous -a childless mother." I thought that it carried a great imagery. The quote of "Sleep,then child, - sleep till I sleep and waken to a baby voice and the ceaseless patter of little feet- above the Veil," I thought really summed the whole thing of what Dubois was talking about when he talked about the death of his child. He used sleep as an allusion to mean to go to sleep and the was very compelling. I would recommend this story to someone that is grieving for anyone because of the way that Dubois characterizes certain parts of death that could let them feel that someone is going to the same thing of them.
"And then one night the little feet patted wearily to the wee white bed and the tiny hands trembled ; and a warm flushed face tossed on the pillow , and we knew baby was sick." That quote described one of the first foreshadows that something could have happened to the child. Also through the using of the word "veil," Dubois used an allusion to death. Dubois said"Within the Veil was he born." To make the word veil standout, he capitalized it to show the importance of the word.
Overall, the story was quite compelling because of there were great quotes that came out of his grieving situation. One quote that I find to be extremely fascinating was,"Only in the chamber of death writhed the world's most piteous -a childless mother." I thought that it carried a great imagery. The quote of "Sleep,then child, - sleep till I sleep and waken to a baby voice and the ceaseless patter of little feet- above the Veil," I thought really summed the whole thing of what Dubois was talking about when he talked about the death of his child. He used sleep as an allusion to mean to go to sleep and the was very compelling. I would recommend this story to someone that is grieving for anyone because of the way that Dubois characterizes certain parts of death that could let them feel that someone is going to the same thing of them.
The "f" word by J Morgan
First of all I picked this text to read only because I saw the title and it said the "f" word, so naturally I assumed that it had to do with inappropriate language. However, to my surprise it had had absolutely nothing to do with that. It was about the other "f" word, feminism. I thought the way that the title was written, very nicely drew me in as a reader. In essence it was a sort of play on words, or pun.
I thought it was a very interesting piece from beginning to end. Starting with the author's background information and then it leads to her original journey to discovering that she was a feminist. Even though it was written in first person point of view, I could not understand why the author did not want to be labeled as a feminist. Why she thought it was so wrong to be called a feminist, even if you truly believed in strengthening women's rights. She said in the writing that that the fact that black females call black men their"brothah" created a sense of intra-racial loyalty making it hard for her to turn her back on black men. She felt as though the feminism name was strictly for white women, because they do not do the latter.
The language in the text was very colloquial. There was a lot of slang and curse words used to ensure that the main idea was interpreted. She got the point across very well, and I liked how she showed the reaction of black men after she wrote her article. I believe that what she wrote pertaining to the rape of the lady in Central Park needed to be said, and that the black men were just threatened by their so called "sistah" turning against them.
I recommend this book for all women above the age of 18. Due to the courseness of the language it might be inappropriate for those under 18. However, it is very necessary for the rest of the women in the world to read, because it shows the intimidation women have about speaking their mind. It also displays the thought process of many men when women try to make their gender equal with men's.
I thought it was a very interesting piece from beginning to end. Starting with the author's background information and then it leads to her original journey to discovering that she was a feminist. Even though it was written in first person point of view, I could not understand why the author did not want to be labeled as a feminist. Why she thought it was so wrong to be called a feminist, even if you truly believed in strengthening women's rights. She said in the writing that that the fact that black females call black men their"brothah" created a sense of intra-racial loyalty making it hard for her to turn her back on black men. She felt as though the feminism name was strictly for white women, because they do not do the latter.
The language in the text was very colloquial. There was a lot of slang and curse words used to ensure that the main idea was interpreted. She got the point across very well, and I liked how she showed the reaction of black men after she wrote her article. I believe that what she wrote pertaining to the rape of the lady in Central Park needed to be said, and that the black men were just threatened by their so called "sistah" turning against them.
I recommend this book for all women above the age of 18. Due to the courseness of the language it might be inappropriate for those under 18. However, it is very necessary for the rest of the women in the world to read, because it shows the intimidation women have about speaking their mind. It also displays the thought process of many men when women try to make their gender equal with men's.
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