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Mississippi By Anthony Walton Sparknotes

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The world is influenced by the past. Decisions are made based on the results of similar, previous decisions. This can be applied to any topic: food is eaten based on what was enjoyed in the past, actions are taken or avoided based on positive or negative repercussions, even entire countries act in accordance to what has been done in history and what has resulted from that activity. Even when history is forgotten, the past still impacts the present; people make the same stupid decisions because they forgot what occurred last time. History’s impact is explored by Anthony Walton in his book Mississippi. In his novel, he outlines the impact of history on society through his personal trips into the magnolia state. Walton utilizes thematic repetition …show more content…

Walton begins his fourth chapter with a quote from Henry James that introduces “A Sort of Chorus’” recurring theme: race relations. On page 190, W.E.B. DuBois creates a dichotomy between being black and being American by highlighting the two souls of black people: the “black” soul and the “American” soul, and saying that the black struggle is that of “merging” the two souls without losing a part of either. DuBois’ criticism of the dichotomy between the two souls gives the reader a glimpse of the paradoxical situation that complicated Black life in the past and continues to do so today: being accepted in a white society without bleaching out their heritage, and not having doors to opportunity closed in their face. Though Walton connects other ideas to the theme of race relations throughout “A Sort of Chorus,” where he drives home the theme’s impact on the present can be found in “Walkin’ Blues.” In a discussion with a …show more content…

In every one of Claude’s stories about his upbringing, racism against black people has a central role. Walton portrays racism in a multitude of ways, but uses the racial inequality that is present with racism in a formulaic manner, making the conscious decision to space out “chunks” about inequality using “chunks” about blues. The sequencing of inequality-blues-inequality-blues chunks guides the reader to the cause and effect relationship between racism and blues. Racism creates personal catastrophe, which Ralph Ellison on page 203 says is lyrically expressed as blues. Following each inequality chunk with chunks about blues emphasizes that nothing has changed to free Blacks from the personal catastrophe that they experience due to racism. Walton handles the inequality chunks themselves chronologically, beginning with a chunk about Claude’s experience with inequality in school to show the way that things have been historically: segregated, with Whites being given every advantage over Blacks. 7 chunks of blues later, Walton’s inclusion of the “doll test” (242) shows the reader the effect of inequality in society, demonstrating that inequality has evolved beyond simply material possessions and societal status, it has become inequality of morale and self-worth. 3 more “blues” chunks into the book, Walton brings modern inequality into light by

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His “ambitions to be… a great colored man” manifested in aspirations to portray the “American Negro, in classic musical form” (50, 161). These childhood dreams are only subsequently revived by a white man who “had taken ragtime and made it classic” (155). The irony of his failed attempt to portray black society by succumbing to music forms of white culture is lost on him. Thus, despite his observations on pertinent issues concerning his race, he is oblivious to his bigotry and this subjects him to the ironic gaze of

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