Kenwood 1964 And Love Across The Middle Passage

Over the years there has been unfortunate disputes and discussions about African Americans and how they should “fit into society”. There have been news reports, personal stories, and articles that focus on the negative actions and feelings towards them and the basic stereotype they’ve been placed in. The stereotype has narrowed down to be discouraged, and looked down upon by other Americans. The numerous stories about this predicament have emerged an overall central focus, and that is for all African Americans to break out of this inimical stereotype. Personal stories such as Kenwood 1964 and Love Across the Middle Passage show the determination to break out of the label they’ve been given and make equal rights true to its name. The first

Wilderson Ⅲ explains his tough life in an African American home. Franks parents are very hard on him and his siblings, mentally and physically. His mother and father believe they underappreciate their hard work (Wilderson 32). Before they went through troubles buying their home, the family had been questioned and judged because of the color of their skin, the seller said, “I’ll have a black mark against me forever, that I can never come back to Kenwood” (Wilderson 33). After his mom and dad put in a lot of work, proving themselves and money shuffling, they were capable of receiving the house they wanted. He then explains how growing up being the only colored kids in school was difficult for him and his siblings. This was due to the other kids that would physically and verbally bully them, and being knowledgeable was the only way they could get approval. Frank moves to the big day of the talent show his mother placed him in and how nervous he was. When he arrived to school, he immediately felt the pressure from his mom to do well so he can be considered knowledgeable and to make her look like the good parent she is. He started off struggling while reading the poem, and just a glance at his mother triggered him to finish strong. Which concluded with a huge applause. Unfortunately for him, it still wasn't good enough for his mothers’ standards, because she wanted absolute

His mother does all she can to rid her child of the discouraged stereotype. This label comes with her child being bullied by the kids in school and their family not being taken seriously, which made her determined to fall out of this stereotype. The reason she encouraged her son so highly to participate in the talent show was to show everyone what he is capable of, and that he is no different than the other children in school. Frank knows his mother’s expectations and follows through with his poem and gets a good reaction, but his mother is not pleased. The reasoning for that may be because she believes that the only way her son will not be judged by the color of his skin, is if he exceeds the education standards. Adding to that, Franks parents do everything they can to live in a house that thrives in the area they live in. Frank states, “we moved into the white stucco mansion on the hill, not with a bank loan, but with every cent of our insurance policy” (Wilderson 33). He also states later that his mother went all out on a grand entrance to, in the long run, impress the surrounding families, “She was waiting for the day when the neighbors would finally creep through our front door to see what they could see” (Wilderson 33). It shows how hard the parents of the Wilderson family worked to relieve their family from the unfair, Black American stereotype they have all been placed