The Train From Hate Analysis

Dr. John Hope Franklin’s inspiration to reshape America’s Racial Identity

Dr. Franklin wrote the short story The Train from Hate. He expresses the memories that day. “I shall always be happy that my mother taught me that the journey to understanding and tolerance was more important that the journey to Checotah.” (Franklin 712). “I remembered that I should not waste my time or energy lamenting the inability of some members of society to take me as I was.” (Franklin 711). Finally, did Dr. Franklin’s “mother’s observation provided a sound basis for his attitude and conduct from that day to this.” (Franklin711). Can the experience at the young age of seven influence a person to contribute to the reshaping America’s racial identity? The vivid

The removal from the train had an effect of young Franklin, “It would be too much to claim that my mother’s calm talk removed a burden from my shoulders” (Franklin 711). His mother could not remove the burden of the racial segregation since it was the law during this time period. “But it is not too much to say that her observations provided a sound basis for my attitudes and conduct from that day to this.” (Franklin 711). His mother demonstrated she could only influence her son’s attitude; she could not change the laws. “I Shall always be happy that my mother taught me that the journey to understanding and tolerance was more important than the journey to Checotah.” (Franklin 712). The image of his mother on the walk back to Rentiesville, her confident composure, head held high, and smiling taught him that knowledge and open-mindedness was more important than the trip to Checotah. Did the lesson he learned from his mother that day restructure his approach, purpose and involvement to the world around him? Would he become a man that would change the world for many African Americans?

The evidence used to support Dr. Franklin’s memories are mixed between logical, based on facts, and anecdotal, based on personal experience. “It would be too much to claim that my mother’s calm talk removed a burden from my shoulders” (Franklin 711). This is logical evidence because his mother

Franklin, I would suggest the train ride in 1922 influenced Dr. Franklin with a sound foundation. He provided support to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Franklin’s main contribution to the NAACP was his work on the lawsuit to desegregate public schools. “Franklin contributed his services to the legal defense on the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.” (American School Board Journal). A landmark United States Supreme Court case in which declared the separation of public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. The fact that Dr. Franklin “earned his Master’s degree from Harvard University in 1936 and his doctorate five years in 1941” (Journal of Blacks in Higher Education) is an example that the he believed his mother’s words that he was not inferior because of the color of his skin. Franklin rose above the cruelty with his life ambition to influence our nation to be tolerance of all people regardless of their skin color. “Dr. Franklin was deeply involved in the painful debates that helped reshape America’s racial identity, working with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshal and other major civil rights figures of the 20th century.” (Yarrow). The ability of Dr. Franklin to join and gain acceptance to the Civil Rights movement is a testament to the influence of his mother’s calm composure on the walk back home influenced Dr. Franklin to strive to change the laws