Follow Up to Matt's Mind's "DuBois v Washington"

I agree with many of Matt's viewpoints on interpreting the differences and similarities between DuBois and Washington especially when considering DuBois's outsider standpoint when looking upon the institution of slavery since the torture was never forced upon him. I also agree with Washington stressing the need for individual changes amongst the newly freed slaves. However, Washington's argument doesn't seem to reverberate with as much power through me because the pride it takes in tilling a field should be placed secondary to securing political power and civil rights. DuBois pushed for these ideals because of the importance they played in everyday life. He was aware that securing these rights would allow that individual tilling a field to eventually rise to owning the land he worked.

It feels as though Washington's docility is what allowed for the encroaching ways of racial repression to return in the south. Constant political pursuit and demand of civil progress may've prevented the social regression of the Compromise of 1877.

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The Trickster

Charles Waddell Chestnut's The Passing of Grandison and Paul Lawrence Dunbar's An Ante-Bellum Sermon both display two extremely different viewpoints of slavery in the South while also encapsulating similar portrayals of trickster figures that manipulate the masses with colorful language, sharp intuition and ingenuity, as well as the stereotypes slavery has created in American society. The language that's used by Dick Owens as well as the speaker in An Ante-Bellum Sermon elicits a certain response from the people they speak to. For example, in Dunbar's writing the speaker states "Dat I's preachin' discontent. 'Cause I isn't; I'se a-judgin' Bible people by dier ac's..." The narrator is aware of his audience's stance as Christians and capitalizes on this by referencing the morality of the Bible as well as questioning those that follow it who promote slavery. The same manipulative use of language and suggestion i...

Reflection on Small Group Discussion

Preparing for the small group discussion I made sure to take note of the setting and way the story was presented. The time frame of Sonny's Blues is extremely important because it sheds light on the race relations of the country as well as why music is so important in the specific neighborhood of Harlem. The way the plot is presented is also vital to the story; moving from the past to present does well to compare the different portrayals of Sonny as well as evoke the sensation one gets from witnessing family change over time. I was also sure to make note of the importance of music and how Baldwin describes a musician as "dealing with the roar rising from the void and imposing order on it as it hits the air." This attempt to control something wild and vivacious reflects Sonny's battle with drug addiction. The sensation of feeling good and the pleasure derived from it can be hard to tame, for it is only human nature. This same view is found when Sonny details his thou...

Follow Up to Chad D.'s "Understanding Mowing"

Chad's analysis of Mowing by Robert Frost reveals a major peculiarity in the Imagism genre. Although the reader is forced to give more thought towards the meaning of each word, the overall message of the poem may become clouded in murky translation. Chad's interpretation of the poem is that it may suggest an individual reaps what they sow; I thought it could be focusing on the simplicity and peace in nature and work, and various sources claim the theme is that hard work is rewarding in itself. The imagism and modernist movements in literature granted great works but many are cloudy to interpret and dreary as well. Frost's other works such as The Road Not Taken or Mending Wall utilize more words that convey emotion and thought that issues the reader insight into the mind of the narrator as well as aid in unearthing the meaning. However, this may've been what Frost intended, each reader being able to take away the lessons and emotions they received from the writing.

American Literature

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