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In the novel, Just Above My Head written by James Baldwin, the theme of homosexuality is discussed throughout the book. One key passage that involves homosexuality is when Hall says, “Arthur had to pull himself to a place where he could say to Paul, his father, and to Hall, his brother, and to all of the world, and to his Maker, Take me as I Am! (472). This passage from Hall can be significant especially in Arthurs life because he needs to finally coming to terms with his sexuality and accept himself for who he is. He no longer wants Arthur to hide who he is and wants him to tell the world, and specifically his maker, which would be god, that this is who he is and he is not changing.
In James Baldwin’s essay titled “If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me What Is?” Baldwin highlights his major argument by capitalizing the words in the title so that it can stand out to the readers. His main idea is that all languages are equal, and there is an inequality in society where one is judged by the way they speak. Baldwin wanted the readers to understand that all languages do serve a purpose no matter how a person articulates it. Baldwin also wanted to convey that there is racism that is placed upon a black person just because of the way they speak.
In Ernest Gaines’ novel, A Lesson Before Dying, the author uses a third person point of view to assess the issue of racial injustice in the South during the 1940’s. Grant understands that justice is evaluated unfairly and knows that it does not favor the poor and uneducated black man. Due to Grant’s ability to be able to understand others, he successfully learns how to bring justice, while assisting Jefferson. This presents the audience the significance of the novel as a whole, embracing responsibility and facing injustice. Grant feels as if he shouldn’t feel obligated or pressured to help bring justice to Jefferson.
If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is? By James Baldwin explains to the reader what black English is and where black English comes from. Baldwin writes about how humans use language as a means of controlling the world around them. Baldwin explains that people may speak the same language in one area of the world, but then people who speak the same language elsewhere are no longer speaking the same language. Baldwin using French as an exampling, Baldwin compares french-speaking people from Quebec to people who live in Paris.
What does it mean to be a writer? Who or what defines a writer? Is it up to the critics, the readers, or the author’s original intentions? For Richard Wright and James Baldwin, their own authorial intentions define their work. Baldwin identified with Wright through his literature as he was growing up.
James Baldwin, an American writer about race, once said, “The challenge is the moment; the time is always now.” One of the biggest challenges in today’s society is police brutality, especially in the Black community. This challenge was prominent back in the day, particularly during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. As of today, current events like George Floyd took the world by storm and the Black community is still fighting for their rights. Police brutality was also shown in the book, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
In the essay “Notes of a Native Son” by James Baldwin, he expresses feelings of hate and despair towards his father. His father died when James was 19 years old from tuberculosis; it just so happens that his funeral was on the day of the Harlem Riot of 1943. Baldwin explains that his father isn’t fond of white people due to the racist past. He recalls a time when a white teacher brought him to a theater and that caused nothing but upset with his father, even though it was a kind act. Many events happened to Baldwin as a result of segregation, including a time where a waitress refused to serve him due to his skin color and Baldwin threw a pitcher of water at her.
Scout’s use of racist language demonstrates the corruptive influence society has had on her. Her use of the racist slur “nigger” is an indication that she thinks the idea of a black snowman is appalling, “I ain’t ever hear of a nigger snowman.” (89) The casual and almost automatic way the slur is used makes it clear that Scout doesn’t recognize how extremely offensive the word is. Scout explains to Atticus that nigger is “what everybody at school says.”
James Baldwin the author of “Journey To Atlanta” (1955) writes in a thoughtful and passionate way on the topic of race in America and in politics “ If the Negro vote is so easily bought and sold, it is because it has been treated with so little respect; sceance no Negro dares seriosly assumes that any politicans is concerned with the fate of Negros, or would do much about if he had the power, the vote must be bartered for what it will get, for whatever short-term goals can be managed.” , Thus in this essay Baldwin illustrates His brothers experience with racism and politics during a trip to Atlanta (Baldwin 77-78). Baldwin narates and ilustrates his brothers experanses with politicians while on a trip which they where told was supposed to be
bell hooks was born Gloria Watkins. She decided to use the name bell hooks because it was her grandmother’s name and she wanted to pay homage to her grandmother for her outspokenness and to all of her female ancestors who were “bold and daring in their speech.” She lowercased her name because she declared that her work was in “substance of books, not who I am.” Bell was reared in rural Kentucky. Growing up in the segregated South played a vital role on her resisting racism.
In the story, "Sonny's Blues," James Baldwin portrays Harlem as a place where people are no longer happy and have become trapped. Set after the depression and most likely during and/or after the second world war, Harlem was a time for African Americans to thrive in creative arts; but, it also gave way for poverty and a plethora of drug use. In "Sonny's Blues," the two brothers find their own ways to escape the despair of Harlem; but, through their liberation, they both ultimately complicate their relationship as brothers. Baldwin begins the story with the narrator going to work, as a school teacher, and reading news in the paper that thoroughly upsets him. The narrator at this time believes that he has escaped the entrapment of Harlem through
“I am what time, circumstance, history, have made of me, certainly, but I am, also, much more than that. So are we all (Notes of A Native Son Quotes).” All authors, artists and musicians have a story to tell, they express themselves through their work, and this quote briefly summarizes what makes James Baldwin’s work so unique. Through the cultural context of his work, readers get to see a glimpse of what was really endured during the 1950’s and how history shaped the world for today. Using the work of other fellow writers, Baldwin summarizes their work and uses literary elements to paint a bigger picture.
“Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason”(Abraham Joshua Heschel). This quote relates to the story because in the story “How it feels to be colored me” by Zora Neale Hurston she uses pathos and ethos to relay the theme that being black is not an obstacle. In “how it feels to be colored” By Zora Neale Hurston she use pathos to suggest that being black is not an obstacle. When discussing her thoughts on racism, Zora Neale Hurston persuades the reader through emotion.
Racism, a very horrible thing, still exists in the world we live in and those who are black will find it very hard to succeed in life due to the constant discrimination and the bad influence near them. A very good example for this is a short story called “Sonny’s Blue.” A short story about a 2 African Americans and how one leads a successful life while the other falls to bad influence and ends up in jail Black people had to face lot of problems before the segregation was ended. . Many people think the past remains in the past and doesn't matter today; the terrible acts of segregation, exploitation, and discrimination that were once upheld by the government are irrelevant now just because the present day isn't like that anymore. But the truth is that racism still exists
Racial prejudice has been a tremendous part of United States history, and it has caused a vast amount of controversy for hundreds of years. There have been many ways people have attempted to counter racism; one example is the Civil War, a more well-known event related to racism. There are, however, less violent ways of fighting this, such as literature. Many authors have addressed racism either subtly or directly in their novels; a few examples are Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and Harper Lee’s
