Blog 14 - Reflecting Circle 6

I’m responding to Morgan’s response question for Reflecting Circle 6: “Literature Since 1975.” She said to pick one poem from this time period and put a particular stanza in your own words. Does it change the meaning of the poem?

I decided to write about “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. I was very intrigued by this author especially when she said, “You may encounter many defeats but you must not be defeated.” This courage and strength is shown in every stanza of her poem. One stanza intrigued me. “…You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.” If I had to rewrite this portion of Angelou’s poem, it would go something like,

“You may try at every angle to change my sense of self, you may try to belittle and cripple my growth and progression, but try is all you will accomplish because, like air, I’ll rise.”

I think that this does not change the meaning of the poem even though it is not as eloquently written as Angelou’s stanza. She writes about the multiple attempts from “you” (which can be assumed as the white race) to defeat her. This woman’s ancestors had to endure oppression and slavery for decades and decades. Finally she is “the dream and the hope of the slave.” This poem portrays such an extreme amount of strength, one that many of us will never have to possess. Growing up in Arkansas, Angelou had to deal with racism even from her dentist. He refused her service because she was a black girl. She was later raped at the age of eight by her mother’s boyfriend. After a very laborious trial, her uncles murdered her rapist. These tribulations in her young life make her poetry extremely powerful.

Reflecting Circle 5 - "The Black Arts Era"

I wanted to respond to Ansley’s question from the Reflecting Circle 5. Her question was to respond to one of your favorite poems of this movement and explain why it is such.

There were a number of poems that stood out to me but “Jesus Was Crucified or, It Must Be Deep” was one of my favorites. This is a poem about a girl that was feeling sick and her mother called to check on her. During the course of conversation the mother said that she should pray in order to feel better. This daughter (I presumed to be Rodgers) was a student in college. Rodgers admitted she’d been angry a lot lately and went on to question her mother’s religious faith. Her mother told her if she didn’t believe, she was going to go to hell and the daughters response was “I sd I hoped it wudn’t be no hunkies there” which I found very humorous. This poem just reminds me of a rebellious young girl that is learning the ways of the world and how unjust it can be. I enjoyed the vernacular voice that the author uses in her poetry. It really helps bring the words to life. The young girl’s mother said that she believed in the bible and that if the daughter looked deep deep down she would know it was true as well. During the remainder of the poem the daughter jokes about how far down she would have to look to find that “Truth”. She was even getting on her mother about it saying “catch yuh later on jesus, I mean motha!” as she got off the phone. I think it is normal for young people to question their religious faith. Many would argue that it is imperative to question your faith in order to really understand it. This poem was my favorite because it reminds me of the time in my life when I realized my faith might not be perfect and the world around me was not as I imagined.

The Black Arts Era Cont...

One thing that stuck me during the Black Arts Era (1960-1975) was the number of published literary works that were written by women for women. Mari Evans in her poem “I Am a Black Woman” spoke about the different political and racial events that were prominent during this time period. Nat Turner who was executed for a slave revolt and the Korean War are a few examples. This shows that Evans was not only book smart, but had researched and was current on events that were occurring outside of her world. Evans wrote “I am a black woman, tall as a cypress, strong beyond all definition still defying place and time and circumstance, assailed impervious indestructible. Look on me and be renewed.” Black women during this time had overcome a number of obstacles and proved to be solid, resistant, and everlasting. Noticing these characteristics, I believe that anyone would feel renewed and confident to overcome daily struggles.

The Odyssey Webquest that we were required to do opened my eyes to a number of accomplishments that I was not previously aware of. The Executive Order No. 9981 was a major victory for full citizenship for everyone living in the United States. Now everyone could serve in the military. I found the evidence used in the Brown v. Board of Education to be particularly disturbing. Children were given a black and white doll and asked which one they preferred – and majority of black children chose the white one associated with more positive characteristics. I knew that viewpoints were skewed during this time, but it shows how racism is cyclical and even the younger generations were effected.

The Black Arts Era

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) was a literary figure during the Black Arts Era as a poet, essayist, and feminist theorist. She was born Audrey Geraldine Lorde but changed her name because she didn’t like the y hanging down and would always forget to add it. I found that I could relate to her writings more than other writers during this time period because she brings in the feminist aspect. She was a victim of breast cancer and this also influenced her views of cultural norms of physical beauty. “A Litany for Survival” was a poem about a mother’s responsibility to her next generation claiming that she “cannot indulge the passing dreams of choice.” The last line of the poem, “…it is better to speak remembering we were never meant to survive” sends a message of courage and triumph to the reader.

Lorde’s essay entitled “Poetry Is Not a Luxury” was one of my favorites. I felt that I could relate to the women she described. While there were a few references to the “white fathers” that I did not agree with, the overall effect of the essay was a positive one. The line “For within living structures defined by profit, by linear power, by institutional dehumanization, our feelings were not meant to survive.” portrays how I feel in my line of work. I am employed by a very large worldwide corporation that specializes in engineering power plants. Growing up with a very strong arts and expression influence, it is such a drag to go to work in a cube processing meaningless documents day in and day out. There is no room for feelings in the corporate world (except for ambition – or any other feeling that benefits the company). I can’t help but wonder if this dehumanized, programmed way of life is what was intended for us. I believe that’s what Lorde means when she writes about poetry being a luxury – it is a means of self expression that takes a woman’s thoughts and puts them on paper as a foundation for change.

Realism, Naturalism, Modernism

After reading works from Margaret Walker, Ralph Ellison, and Ann Petry, one short story stuck out in my mind. The Street by Ann Petry was a short story about a young girl living in Harlem looking for an apartment. The glamour and the creative ingenuity that we previously studied about Harlem were not present in this young girl’s life. This time period from 1940-1960 known as Realism, Naturalism, and Modernism was a very different style then the Harlem Renaissance. This literature did not have the “call” to African Americans to rise up and claim its cultural identity. This literature was more… “real” with stories of the continued hardships. The Street portrayed images that were dirty, grimy, and unkept. The main character in the short story described her home life – with her father’s many abusive girlfriends and numerous roommates. This girl was so desperate to leave and move out on her own, that she was willing to live in a dilapidated, small dirty apartment with (I assumed) her brother. Our character said she would rather live in a place of that, than to continue in a loveless environment.

I really enjoyed the Reflecting Circle group’s presentation of this time period. The different elements of the power point, videos, and actually hearing the voices of these authors helped to bring this presentation to life. I did not know about the Black Panther, Islam, or Communists groups that found refuge and flourished in Harlem. I found the biographical information of the authors interesting because different influences always led them to express themselves through literature. Lorraine Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun which was one of the longest plays to remain on Broadway. There was also a poem We Real Cool, which Gwendolyn Brooks wrote one day walking by a pool hall. She saw a group of kids playing pool instead of being in school, and instead of asking the question why, she wondered what the teenagers actually thought of themselves. Her last line in the poem is “We die soon”. Her message is clear to the younger generation – don’t settle and push yourselves to receive an education.

Langston Hughes

I am responding to Hope Towner’s blog question from Reflecting Circle #3 (Harlem Renaissance). She asked us to describe a piece of literature and write about the author’s emotions and how it relates to Harlem.

The Harlem Renaissance was a time in our country’s history where freedom of expression through any avenue in the art world was accepted and embraced. An opportunity like this is very rare even in today’s society. After the Great Migration when thousands of blacks migrated up north to escape oppression, an enclave of creative ideas was founded.

After finishing the assigned reading for this period, the writings of Langston Hughes stuck out in my memory. Hughes went to Columbia University in New York for a year, but never really connected with that environment. Once entering Harlem, he knew that he had found his home for creative expression. Hughes was not afraid to write about the lower-class black culture as he saw it. The poem “Mother to Son” is one of my favorites. Hughes wrote about how life has not been a “crystal stair” and that there are hard ships on every step. This literary work is an endearing mother showing her son that through her example, making it through life and surviving is possible, no matter the hardships. Hughes also wrote “The Weary Blues” which made the reader picture the lazy sway of the man on the piano. “Harlem” is yet another example of his blunt depiction of what happens to a dream deferred. Hughes questions if the dream will dry up, or run… sugar over, or sag? I think that this poem can relate to Hughes life. He always had the intelligence to do whatever he wanted, but his dream never became a reality until he took residence in Harlem. Hughes work stood the test of time, outlasting the end of the movement.

Harlem

Stop, fool!

There was a time in the short story “The City of Refuge” by Rudolph Fisher when the main character was so self destructive that I wanted to tell him to just stop! King Solomon Gillis moved to Harlem from North Carolina to begin a new life in a place where blacks (according to his depiction) were considered white. He had $100 to get to New York and once there, was preyed upon by an advantage seeking dealer. I enjoyed Fisher’s descriptions of how Gillis saw Harlem for the first time. He commented on the girl in green stockings and the whites driving around, intimidated. More importantly, Gillis commented on the black policemen. “…Even got cullud policemans,” he said.

Gillis only wanted two things once in Harlem – to be a policeman and to have a girl like the one in green socks. For such a simple man, he certainly got into a heap of trouble. Uggam convinced Gillis to distribute dope out of the store where he was employed. At this point in the story I wanted Gillis to use his brain! I find it hard to believe that someone of his age, capable of traveling alone and seeing the world could be taken advantage of so easily. Gillis honestly had no idea that what he was doing was illegal. When the two white policemen approached Gillis, he was so dumbfounded by Uggam’s complete denial that his only instinct was to fight back. He fought the white policemen until he was confronted by a black policeman. This ending made me enjoy and appreciate the story. Gillis was raised and accustomed to only whites having the power to rule and govern. The last line “… the grin that came over his features had something exultant about it” shows how simple and unassuming Gillis’s character really was.

Novel vs. Movie

Alice Walker’s The Color Purple has been depicted in two literary forms – a movie and book. The movie is surprisingly true to the book. There are a few differences that I believe take away from the integrity of the novel. In the novel, Celie finds Nettie’s letters that Mr. hid from her in his chest. In the movie the letters were kept underneath a floorboard, underneath the locked chest. I believe that although subtle, this difference is significant. In the novel, Mr. just tucking away the letters in the chest portrayed how Mr. thought of Celie. He knew that she would never go against his wishes and open the chest, so he did not take any extreme measures to conceal the letters. Also, a few of the characters (like Sophie’s children) had more of a presence in the movie than the book. I was glad that the story of Sophie remained the same. It was important for the viewer to see the scenario that unfolded on Christmas with her family and to observe the unjust life that she was forced to lead.

One of the main things that I missed in the movie was the close interaction with Celie (the writer of the letters). The narrator in the movie reads some of her letters at certain intervals, but the innocent, almost child-like voice that I heard in the book was not apparent. I think that the reader doesn’t connect with the main character as much in the movie. Also the story of Nettie in Africa remained the same. Not as much time was spent on her letters (so far in the movie) unlike the book, which I was glad for as I found them rather dull and repetitive. I did enjoy being able to put a face with all of the different characters in the book though. Mr. is not how I pictured him nor was Shug. But Celie was the most similar to what I had envisioned. All and all, I think that the common phrase “the book is always better” remained true for this story.

"The Color Purple"

The Color Purple by Alice Walker was a very powerful and moving piece of literature and I am so glad that we were required to read it. This novel has received nationwide recognition and won many awards. I wanted to respond to a review by The New York Times entitled “Some Letters Went to God.” Mel Watkins, the author, describes the major theme as the “estrangement and violence that mark the relationships between Miss Walker’s black men and women.” I agree with this and can give numerous examples throughout the novel. We are introduced to Celie very abruptly in her first letter to God where she is being raped by her step father. As the book progresses she recounts numerous occasions of beatings and sexual encounters with her stepfather and arranged husband (Mr.). Celie’s letters show a sign of acceptance and resignation at the beginning of the book that this is how life is going to be, and there is nothing she can do about it. As the book progresses and her letters become more defined, Celie gains the strength needed to break away from her oppressive life. It struck me about halfway through the novel that African Americans have been fighting for their freedom for as long as they have had a presence in America. Since this is the case, how could they treat some of their own (women especially) as slaves? This just goes to show that the cycle of hatred and supremacy has effects that last beyond the originator’s lifetime.

Watkins also commented on the authenticity of the novel’s folk voice. I enjoyed reading Celie’s letters and comparing them to Nettie’s. Nettie received an education which reflected in her writing skill. Even though Celie was never formally educated, she possessed an ability to ponder and question things that were well beyond Nettie’s realm. I was much more interested in Celie’s letters and of her lifetime struggle against male dominance.

The New York Times review can be found at the following website: http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/10/04/specials/walker-color.html

The Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance

The literature of “The Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance” is very different than our previous reading assignments. My group presented last week on the literature of slavery and freedom which had a completely different approach. The works in the period from 1746-1865 strived to make blacks seen as not a different species, but as part of the whole human race. Different authors such as David Walker and Frederick Douglass stressed the need for a rebellion and to take a stance against white oppression. The literature from 1865-1919 had a completely different feel for me. In a way it seemed utterly hopeless. “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay seemed to accept the fact that lynching’s could occur to anyone at anytime… the only request was for dignity in death.

Another reading that really brought about some strong emotions for me was “The Haunted Oak” by Paul Laurence Dunbar. This work drew an interesting perspective of a lynching from an outside viewpoint (the tree itself). Dunbar wrote of the “the judge, he wore a mask of black, and the doctor one of white, and the minister, with his oldest son, was curiously bedight.” What a horrible line to reference – but it shows how the violent murders of blacks were considered an acceptable event. The judge is one that is supposed to interpret and uphold the law. The doctor takes an oath to care for those in discomfort and pain. Last but not least, the minister took an oath to God and is brutally murdering His children. These 3 occupations are perhaps the most prestigious and respectable positions in society. They call for a lifetime commitment to society to better it – and that is not what this poem shows. I have read multiple nonfiction books about the south back in those days, but nothing can quite evoke the same emotions as a poem like “The Haunted Oak.”

Slavery and Freedom

I wanted to blog not only on my portion of this presentation, but also on the project as a whole. I was inspired by David Walker’s Appeal in a number of ways. What struck me (and enticed me) to educate the class on this material was Walker’s way of bluntly “telling it like it is.” There are many different literary forms that were produced during this time such as songs, novels, poetry, etc. Of all the readings assigned for this period, I believe that Walker’s was the most revealing. He had a way of showing the flaws of white “theories” on slavery through religious and historical examples. Walker wrote, “…and who (whites) are of the firm conviction that Heaven has designed us and our children to be slaves and beast of burden to them and their children.” This quote shows the pure ignorance of slaveholders during this time. No writer before Walker had the courage or the audacity to just put it out there in such a violent, up front manner.

I also wanted to comment on this project as a whole. While extremely work intensive, I learned and grew from this experience. The slavery and freedom period (1746-1865) was a very violent, biased, socially unjust time. Writers such as Walker, Douglass, Wheatley, and Harper had the courage to start a movement to abolish slavery which I can only view with admiration. I personally have never been in a situation that called for such a dire need of bravery. The manner in which these literary works had to be dispersed to the slave population also intrigued me. These individuals risked their lives to spread the knowledge and will of freedom to those which needed it most – the enslaved. This project has helped me to have a broader understanding of our nation’s history and to realize the magnitude of the social injustices.

I Have a Dream

I would like to accept the challenge of choosing three words that I found particularly significant in Martin Luther King Junior’s speech “I Have a Dream.” This monumental speech has been used time and time again and until today, I had not read this speech in its entirety. My three words are taken from the line, “This note was the promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Every human being in America has the right to a life of their choosing. Our time here on Earth is precious and can not be taken for granted. A “life” also includes the promise of a free life – one that can be defined personally by each individual’s hopes and desires. I wonder what King would say today after discovering our newly elected African American president. America has struggled to close the gap between cultures – and has managed this with leaps and bounds in the past few decades.

Liberty can be defined as the quality or state of being free; the power to do as one pleases. The whole concept of a “free” America can be summed up by this definition. When our forefathers set the laws and grounds for the future, African Americans (forced to relocate to this country) were denied this right.

The pursuit of happiness is one that never ceases. America was supposed to offer everyone the choice and opportunity to prosper. This freedom was kept from a large population of citizens. King discusses the fierce urgency to act NOW. Granted, this speech was written many years ago… but even today there are still injustices in society that are hindering every person the chance to find their happiness.

Is there an answer?

When it comes to politicians discussing the delicate issue of race, is the perfect solution or the “right” answer ever feasible? Regardless of my personal opinion and beliefs about the (then) candidate in question, this speech touched on issues that no politician has ever had the courage to approach before. There is no disputing the fact that Barak Obama has the ability to captivate and intrigue an audience both intellectually and emotionally. But when he spoke of “the past few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country…a part of our union that we have not yet made perfect” I can’t help but wonder what perfect would be? I feel as though huge strides have been made in America in the past 50 years that reflect a joining together of the different cultural backgrounds that make up this country. Where is the invisible line in the sand that must be crossed in order to have racial impartiality in America? What will be the measuring stick that determines the end of racial discrimination now that Obama has set the standard by achieving one of the most difficult jobs in America?
Slight change of pace, but another interesting part of Obama’s speech was when he referenced back to the old saying that “the most segregated hour of American life occurs on Sunday morning.” This brought back a memory of my father’s relationship with the African American community in South Carolina. My father has been an elected official for as long as I can remember, fighting for equal distribution of resources to the less fortunate. Through his leadership and dedication he gained favor of many local churches and we were invited to attend worship service at Boyd Hill Baptist which is predominately African American. What an exciting and new way to spend our Sunday morning! I still to this day haven’t experienced anything quite like that animated, enthusiastic sermon that was given that Sunday morning.

I would like my first blog response to be dedicated to a passage in the introduction of our reading. This passage not only invoked a second reading, but also an intense examination of the implications of this material. James Johnson wrote in 1922, “The world does not know that a people is great until that people produces great literature and art. No people that has produced great literature and art has ever been looked upon by the world as distinctly inferior.”
There are a number of ideas that I took from this excerpt. I realized that I have taken the civil liberties given to me for granted. It never occurred to me that the freedom to write and express oneself through art is something that can be held as a standard of a culture’s status. Growing up in a humanities dominated household, I always considered these things a way of life. However, literature in my schools always included the dominant white, male authors such as Chaucer and Shakespeare. I am excited to begin exploring the African American side of literature.
The standard set by Johnson undoubtedly gave the African American community motivation to prove equality through the form of literature and art. The timeline in the back of our text showed time and time again African Americans struggling to make their voices heard and their writing published. Culture (not necessarily speaking of African Americans) includes everything about that society – its way of life, its music, art, literature, customs, etc. African Americans were not given the opportunity to really define and mold their culture. Even in my home state of South Carolina, slaves and their masters were punished if reading and writing were taught. How is a culture supposed to grow and define itself when others are crippling it?