Dealing with Adversity
Dealing with Adversity
Telicia Hood
English 125
Brendan Praniewicz
9/25/2011
Dealing with Adversity
In the mid-1960’s, going from a girl to a woman was hard, but if you were black and going through, it was much harder. In the poem “What it’s like to be a black girl” Smith (1991) depicts this transition as very challenging. In comparison, “The Welcome Table” by Alice Walker (1970) depicts life through the eyes of a black woman. This paper discusses the content, form, and style of each poem. The content within the two are very much similar. They have a lot in common when it comes to the topic of race. Although their style is different, the form of the two is close related. However, this is a paper that analyzes the two literary works from the course reading which share a common theme.
The dominant theme present is racism. The theme here is about black woman who long to escape and be free but cannot have that freedom because of the society they live in. Have you ever wondered how woman felt in the mid-1960? These among others are just some answered in Walker (1970) and Smith’s (1991) work. With so much negativity around it was hard for black woman to figure out their place in the world. They were left trying to be what everyone around them wanted them to be. Thankfully, no longer are churches or anywhere else divided into black and white, but to all is welcomed at God’s table.
Content: “What it’s like to be a black girl (for those of you who aren’t)”
Racism is based on fear. Fear of the known and fear of the unknown. It can greatly describe the mid-1960’s when black woman were not welcomed anywhere. The year 1960 can also describe the setting in this poem. During this period Smith (1991) was a young black girl, 9 years of age trying to come to terms with her own nationality, she is also the main character in the poem. The plot of the story is that like most girls Smiths age, she wanted to belong. “What it’s like to be a black girl” is Smith’s own mixed
Telicia Hood
English 125
Brendan Praniewicz
9/25/2011
Dealing with Adversity
In the mid-1960’s, going from a girl to a woman was hard, but if you were black and going through, it was much harder. In the poem “What it’s like to be a black girl” Smith (1991) depicts this transition as very challenging. In comparison, “The Welcome Table” by Alice Walker (1970) depicts life through the eyes of a black woman. This paper discusses the content, form, and style of each poem. The content within the two are very much similar. They have a lot in common when it comes to the topic of race. Although their style is different, the form of the two is close related. However, this is a paper that analyzes the two literary works from the course reading which share a common theme.
The dominant theme present is racism. The theme here is about black woman who long to escape and be free but cannot have that freedom because of the society they live in. Have you ever wondered how woman felt in the mid-1960? These among others are just some answered in Walker (1970) and Smith’s (1991) work. With so much negativity around it was hard for black woman to figure out their place in the world. They were left trying to be what everyone around them wanted them to be. Thankfully, no longer are churches or anywhere else divided into black and white, but to all is welcomed at God’s table.
Content: “What it’s like to be a black girl (for those of you who aren’t)”
Racism is based on fear. Fear of the known and fear of the unknown. It can greatly describe the mid-1960’s when black woman were not welcomed anywhere. The year 1960 can also describe the setting in this poem. During this period Smith (1991) was a young black girl, 9 years of age trying to come to terms with her own nationality, she is also the main character in the poem. The plot of the story is that like most girls Smiths age, she wanted to belong. “What it’s like to be a black girl” is Smith’s own mixed
References: Clugston, W. 2011. Journey into Literature. Retrieved from content.ashford.edu Gantz, J. 2011. Boston Globe. Boston.Massachussets. pg.G6. Retrieved from ebscohost.com Washuk, B. 2011. Mcclatchy-Tribune Business News. Washington. Retrieved from ebscost.com