Summary Of Father Lifelong By John Edgar Wideman

263 Words2 Pages
In his short story, “FatherAlong”, John Edgar Wideman uses the infamous story of Emmet Till to invoke self-reflection within his readers. Wideman chooses to focus on more than just the injustices Emmet Till was subjected to, as he elects to discuss Emmet’s father, Louis Till, and how his life may have impacted his son’s future. In doing this, Wideman moreso analyzes a father’s role on his children’s lives. However, he then proceeds to shift the narrative to explore the influence of race in America and its impacts. With this shift, Wideman writes one quote that proves to be extremely thought-provoking. Wideman writes, “Race is myth. When we stop talking about race, stop believing in race, it will disappear” (781). The message Wideman is attempting