Analysis Of Racism In The 30s: Momma, The Dentist And Me
Thomas See
Katheryn Samuelson
Composition 1
Racism in the 30s: Momma, The Dentist and Me
Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis in 1928. As a child of color, growing up in the thirties was no picnic. These times were tough for everyone during the Great Depression. This was a time of two very different worlds, often just feet apart as the laws of segregation kept the blacks and whites very far from any sense of equality. Maya had never been to a doctor before, let alone a white one for that matter. This was an alien and exciting experience for her. By now the pain she felt in her jaw from the two cavities rotten to the gums with no enamel left for her Momma to tie a string around to pull them out, and the nearest Negro dentist being in Texarkana, …show more content…
It is hinted that they did not have an automobile and they would have to walk. ”I was certain that I would be dead long before we reached half the distance” (Angelou 1) “Momma said we’d go to Dr. Lincoln right here in Stamps”(Angelou 1).
Even though she had lent money to the dentist, he refused to provide service. I believe that the reason the dentist refused service is because he didn’t want to ruin his reputation in the white community. After reading this article, my belief is that since the he called Annie by her first name that he didn’t feel as strongly about providing service to a person of color as he let on. “Annie, my policy is I’d rather stick my hand in a dog’s mouth than in a nigger’s” (Angelou 3)
After reading Maya Angelau’s article, my conclusion is that even though out of the kindness of her heart, Annie had lent Dr. Lincoln money when he was struggling like everyone else during the Great Depression and he stood to lose his business, he had the audacity to turn her away in the ugliest way possible more than likely just to protect his reputation in the white community. Although we still unfortunately experience racism in this current day and age, and even with a black man leading the country, people still find the ugliness from deep down within to hate for something as insignificant as the color of one’s skin. Racism
Katheryn Samuelson
Composition 1
Racism in the 30s: Momma, The Dentist and Me
Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis in 1928. As a child of color, growing up in the thirties was no picnic. These times were tough for everyone during the Great Depression. This was a time of two very different worlds, often just feet apart as the laws of segregation kept the blacks and whites very far from any sense of equality. Maya had never been to a doctor before, let alone a white one for that matter. This was an alien and exciting experience for her. By now the pain she felt in her jaw from the two cavities rotten to the gums with no enamel left for her Momma to tie a string around to pull them out, and the nearest Negro dentist being in Texarkana, …show more content…
It is hinted that they did not have an automobile and they would have to walk. ”I was certain that I would be dead long before we reached half the distance” (Angelou 1) “Momma said we’d go to Dr. Lincoln right here in Stamps”(Angelou 1).
Even though she had lent money to the dentist, he refused to provide service. I believe that the reason the dentist refused service is because he didn’t want to ruin his reputation in the white community. After reading this article, my belief is that since the he called Annie by her first name that he didn’t feel as strongly about providing service to a person of color as he let on. “Annie, my policy is I’d rather stick my hand in a dog’s mouth than in a nigger’s” (Angelou 3)
After reading Maya Angelau’s article, my conclusion is that even though out of the kindness of her heart, Annie had lent Dr. Lincoln money when he was struggling like everyone else during the Great Depression and he stood to lose his business, he had the audacity to turn her away in the ugliest way possible more than likely just to protect his reputation in the white community. Although we still unfortunately experience racism in this current day and age, and even with a black man leading the country, people still find the ugliness from deep down within to hate for something as insignificant as the color of one’s skin. Racism