African American Synthesis Essay

The Synthesis Essay

African American literature was a vital part of the civil rights movement in the 1900’s and its legacy today. The works of African American writers, poets, and even filmmakers were used as a way to communicate the injustices and hardships faced by Black Americans, as well as a way to inspire change and create action around the movement. During this time, African American literature became a powerful tool for promoting equality and challenging the dominant narratives that perpetuated discrimination and segregation. Today, we often look back and reflect on the mid 20th century in regards to the civil rights movements as a way to learn from our mistakes as a country to make sure we can learn from them. We also have learned

The narrator in the poem talks to the African American community and urges them to resist oppression and injustice by saying, "If we must die, let it not be like hogs / Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot" (McKay). This creates a feeling of directness, as if the speaker is speaking directly to the audience as a call to action, and helps to emphasize its urgency and importance. The use of metaphors, such as "hogs" and "inglorious," show how dehumanizing and unjust treatment faced by African Americans, and how they need to fight against their oppressors for equality. The poem also has dialogue to give a sense of community among African Americans, also in a way to unite them. McKay wrote, "We die fighting, so that our fallen, dead / Dying shall not have died in vain" (McKay). This statement is a call to action among the African American community, with the speaker calling on them to stand up and fight, and expects them to be willing to do so. This use of dialogue helps to build a sense of unity and common purpose among African Americans, which further emphasizes the need for unity among the African American community in order to stand up against

Throughout the play, characters use dialogue to resist the unfair treatment the world around them throws at them. For example, Beneatha argues with her brother Walter about the importance of education and self-respect, when she says, "You don't have any sense of your own possibilities. You think you're just supposed to sit there and take whatever they dish out to you" (Hansberry). This dialogue shows the main theme of the play, which is that African Americans need to resist the oppression around them and to fight for their rights. The dialogue in the play also helps to create a sense of community among African Americans, as the characters come together many times. For example, Mama speaks out against the racism and discrimination they face, saying, "We've always been scared, so scared that we let other people tell us what to do, what to think" (Hansberry) This dialogue highlights the experience felt by the wholeAfrican American community and the importance of standing up against oppression and injustice