Oppression In Martin Luther King's The Man Who Was Almost A Man
Throughout history there has always been oppression, oppression of a certain subset of people, and through
this oppression comes expression. These things are so strongly tied together because if a human is made to feel less
of a human, then their human qualities are forced to find other forms to show themselves. Though this expression
can sometimes become aggressive, and dangerous; ideally this expression should be peaceful, it should manifest
itself as a form of nonviolent protest. Unfortunately if this person is forbidden from any form of expression then it
will explode, and become violent, and lash out at anybody nearby. Richard Wright, in his short story, "The Man who
was Almost a Man" touches on this, what pushes a man to become violent, to lash out. Wright crafts a story about …show more content…
Though, another piece of literature, heavily revered, Martin Luther King Jr's "A Letter from Birmingham
Jail", also touched on the idea of oppression expression. In his terrific piece to the clergymen, that "oppressed people
cannot remain oppressed forever. The urge for freedom will eventually come"(King 272). This urge very much came
for Dave, especially when he decided he was going to leave, and run away from everything. This was his internal
decision to become a "man", yet this was also his decision to be free, as he has no outlet for his own expression.
Dave hopped onto a train to be free, to be "somewhere where he could be a man"(Wright 907). King also argues for
Dave's lack of availability of expression, as he is very much repressed in nearly every aspect of his life, he has to ask
his mother for his own money, he has to work for very little pay, and everywhere he is treated like a second class
citizen. So, without any room for expression Dave begins to seek for any means necessary, any little thing
this oppression comes expression. These things are so strongly tied together because if a human is made to feel less
of a human, then their human qualities are forced to find other forms to show themselves. Though this expression
can sometimes become aggressive, and dangerous; ideally this expression should be peaceful, it should manifest
itself as a form of nonviolent protest. Unfortunately if this person is forbidden from any form of expression then it
will explode, and become violent, and lash out at anybody nearby. Richard Wright, in his short story, "The Man who
was Almost a Man" touches on this, what pushes a man to become violent, to lash out. Wright crafts a story about …show more content…
Though, another piece of literature, heavily revered, Martin Luther King Jr's "A Letter from Birmingham
Jail", also touched on the idea of oppression expression. In his terrific piece to the clergymen, that "oppressed people
cannot remain oppressed forever. The urge for freedom will eventually come"(King 272). This urge very much came
for Dave, especially when he decided he was going to leave, and run away from everything. This was his internal
decision to become a "man", yet this was also his decision to be free, as he has no outlet for his own expression.
Dave hopped onto a train to be free, to be "somewhere where he could be a man"(Wright 907). King also argues for
Dave's lack of availability of expression, as he is very much repressed in nearly every aspect of his life, he has to ask
his mother for his own money, he has to work for very little pay, and everywhere he is treated like a second class
citizen. So, without any room for expression Dave begins to seek for any means necessary, any little thing