Otherness
Part A Otherness is the process when a group of people single out another person or a group of people based on their perceived differences from them. The singled out group or person (the “others”) could be different because of their sex, skin color, religion or anything else that is different from the people who are doing the “othering.” However, being different doesn’t necessarily mean you are being othered. Othering occurs when you are teased, belittled, or otherwise rejected from general society because of your differences.
Part C - Analysis of “The White House” by Claude McKay Claude McKay’s “The White House” introduces us to how the author experienced othering based on his skin color. He clearly states in lines 13 and 14, “Oh, I must keep my heart inviolate against the potent poison of your hate” (McKay, n.d., line 13 and 14) how he feels the hate coming from the people around him. One could determine from this that he feels as if the world is against him. McKay shows that he will preserve against the othering that he feels by stating “But I possess the courage and the grace to bear my anger proudly and unbent.” (McKay, n.d., line 3 and 4.) This, despite, clearly feeling like an outsider after having described a door shutting in his face (McKay, n.d., Line 1). The group of people responsible for the othering in this work are the white people, who believed that African Americans should be treated differently because of their skin color. An example of this though can be found in line 7 of the poem where McKay states he is “A chafing savage, down the decent street.” Throughout McKay’s life the rights of African Americans were a constant source of debate. Unfortunately, McKay passed away in 1948 and was unable to see all the radical changes during the African-American civil rights movements of the 1950s and 60s.
Part D I believe that othering in the elementary classroom should be somewhat easy to notice. As a teacher, you would
Part C - Analysis of “The White House” by Claude McKay Claude McKay’s “The White House” introduces us to how the author experienced othering based on his skin color. He clearly states in lines 13 and 14, “Oh, I must keep my heart inviolate against the potent poison of your hate” (McKay, n.d., line 13 and 14) how he feels the hate coming from the people around him. One could determine from this that he feels as if the world is against him. McKay shows that he will preserve against the othering that he feels by stating “But I possess the courage and the grace to bear my anger proudly and unbent.” (McKay, n.d., line 3 and 4.) This, despite, clearly feeling like an outsider after having described a door shutting in his face (McKay, n.d., Line 1). The group of people responsible for the othering in this work are the white people, who believed that African Americans should be treated differently because of their skin color. An example of this though can be found in line 7 of the poem where McKay states he is “A chafing savage, down the decent street.” Throughout McKay’s life the rights of African Americans were a constant source of debate. Unfortunately, McKay passed away in 1948 and was unable to see all the radical changes during the African-American civil rights movements of the 1950s and 60s.
Part D I believe that othering in the elementary classroom should be somewhat easy to notice. As a teacher, you would
References: McKay, C. (n.d.). The White House. Poets.org. Retrieved March 07, 2014, from http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15248 LCT1 Task 2: Otherness 1