For some time, and even as of late, many black people in general and black men in particular have been under the idea that acting, speaking, or dressing in a certain way could mean that white people will treat us with more dignity, respect, and empathy. But as recent recorded police shootings have shown us, many times there is nothing that a black person can do to prevent or avoid a racist altercation. Such is the case in Ann Petry’s “Like A Winding Sheet”, and in “Flying Home”, written by Ralph Ellison. Both protagonists in the stories experience racism on different levels, despite appearing as hard-working and intelligent. The central characters in the two texts react to racism in different ways, but nonetheless, they strive to overcome it. …show more content…
Nonetheless, he garners the energy to get up and go to work, albeit he is late occasionally. When Johnson goes to his factory job and is called a ‘nigger’ for being late by his white, female manager, he has to resist the urge to beat her, which the woman notices and begins an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Johnson sees himself as a black man full of pride, and refuses to be called a word that many of his ancestors last heard before being lynched or whipped severely, so it’s not hard to understand why this slur caused an emotional response. This story’s subject matter really affected me, because it showed the negative mental aspects to racism when it was a lot more rampant in society than it currently is. What affected me the most was the ending, due to Johnson resisting his urge to beat the white women he encountered that day, but feeling ease in beating Mae, a black woman who only had Johnson’s best interest at heart. The story reveals how hard it is to escape the chains of racism, the anger that comes with it, and the feelings of being caught in a trap that is more than difficult to