Although minorities, like Richard, are most frequently the victims of racism, Sherman Alexie shows how the minorities can also display these same feelings. After meeting a woman during dinner, Richard begins thinking about marrying her. Why does he suddenly…
Although John Berger and Anthony Appiah discuss very different topics in their essays Ways of Seeing and race, they are very similar in several ways. I found that the two have similar writing styles. Although Berger’s is a little bit more complex than Appiah’s, I found that they both write using extremely long sentences and difficult vocabulary. Aside from writing styles, I also found Berger and Appiah similar in their views. Both seem to go against the normal view of society. For example, in Berger’s essay he makes the argument that reproductions of art are a bad thing, whereas most of society views reproductions as a good thing because it allows the masses the opportunity to view works of art. In Appiah’s essay he makes the argument that race does not exist, which definitely goes against the common belief of most of society.…
Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Peter Carstair’s motion picture “September” are two compelling works that explore the poignant theme of coming-of-age. While over thirty years separate the two pieces, both texts capture the raw emotions and difficulties of innocent children growing into mature adults in an ever-changing society. These changes are portrayed in many different way, but are most prominent through the racism in their surroundings, the character’s deep personal development and their loss of innocence.…
“Let’s stop believing that our differences make us superior or inferior to one another”- Don Miguel Ruiz. The novel “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett is a controversial and heart-wrenching story that depicts the cruel brutality and inequality that African Americans faced in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960’s. In the novel, Stockett shows the inequality between races, how Caucasian Americans believed they were superior, and the bigotry between social classes through the characterization of the main characters and bringing forth facts from that time setting. These issues have changed over the years but are yet still here in a more subtle way.…
William Tecumseh Sherman was born on February, 8, 1820, in Lancaster, PA, to an illustrious family, to ten other children. Charles Sherman, William’s father, was a great lawyer and a Supreme Court Justice of the state. When he was nine, William’s father died abruptly, leaving the family with little to no money. After his father’s death, William was raised by Thomas Ewing. Thomas Ewing was a successful and well known Ohioan Senator, who was also prominent in the Whig party. Although there have been different opinions about the origin and choice of William’s middle name, it is believed that he was named after a Shawnee chief who his father praised. In 1836, Thomas Ewing gave William an opportunity to go to Army West Point, which William accepted. While at West Point, William shined in the classroom,…
“Superman broke down the door,” Sherman Alexie’s metaphor just as he broke through adversity. Internal and external expectations are a basis of identity and how we each perceive ourselves. In Alexie’s writing, “The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me,” he describes finding his identity through his struggles as he excelled academically obtaining his unique view on the world and facing many stereotypes. As a young boy expected to maintain limited intelligence and accept the standard of ignorance, he was able to surpass limitations while “viewing his world in paragraphs.” While sharing a love of reading with his father he overcame his expected limitations on his reservation. The struggles he endured allowed him to give back to the community he grew with after becoming an adult.…
Plutarch stated, “The poor go to war, to fight and die for the delights, riches, and superfluities of others.” The Continental Army at Valley Forge were for sure not treated with enough respect, support, and enthusiasm as it takes to win the war. Around half of the soldiers at Valley Forge, as I recall, were reported sick in the first few months. Also, the whole Army was not presented warm clothes and warm shelters. We only had one pair of socks, shoes, and everything, which got torn apart not far into the stay. British treatment and clothes were better than our army had. Supplies for the Continental Army only lasted for about a month. Congress was of little help, as well as Americans back at home. I have decided to not re-enlist for three reasons which are the conditions of living, the little help from the people, and too many sicknesses and deaths.…
In The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me, Sherman Alexie shares with his audience his story of when he learned to read at a young age through a Superman comic book. Through stories and memories of his childhood, he explains how Indian children on reservations were expected not to try in school and fail in the non-Indian world. In order to successfully portray his ideas, Alexie uses many rhetorical techniques and ideas. By using these techniques the audience is forced to look more into the writing instead of just being given the direct meaning of what Alexie is trying to share.…
Racism: although an ongoing and prevalent issue, it is a foreign topic for many who do not experience the full effects of it on a daily basis or are sheltered from it due to their race. However, through novels, films, and social media, some hope to highlight and end the occurrence of racism. In the novel Citizen by Claudia Rankine, for example, Rankine offers an insightful view of the ongoing racism towards African Americans through descriptions of recent events and personal experiences involving racism. She specifically writes in the second person, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the situations that African Americans face in a white-favored society and understand the frustration many African Americans…
In the story “Discovering Books” and the story “Learning to Read”, the main characters Richard Wright and Malcolm X grow up with racism all around them. They both are blinded from their dreams of becoming something they wanted. Malcolm’s dream was to become a lawyer, and Richard’s dream was to become an author. But the racist people who were the northern whites felt threatened by their presence as a society.…
In Brent Staples “Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space,” and Zora Hurston’s “How it feels to Be Colored Me,” both authors face discrimination because of their color. While each author begins to feel discrimination in their lives, they accept how they are treated in society, and they both overcome being angry at others for the way they were treated.…
All of the characters in this book played a pivotal role in developing the themes of the book: justice, racism, prejudice, and sexism. The use of rhetorical devices allows for the author’s ideas to surface and enable the readers to encapsulate the concept of the text. Harper Lee used…
Sherman Alexie is an American poet, writer and filmmaker. Alexie drew inspiration for his writings from his own Native American culture and experiences. He grew up on Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington. Alexie had ancestry from several tribes. He has won multiple awards and is the author of Flight.…
Even though I had trouble sympathizing with race issues before I read this book I still loved it. What makes it any different than a “It’s a race not a costume” post on Tumblr? They are both striving for the same kind of societal change, but Alexie uses humor. That humor gives learning about a social issues a more light hearted feel, which gives those who are ignorant of the issue a reason to stick around until the end. Consequently, it’s extremely important for works that are calling for social change to be entertaining and humor is a great place to start with…
“I'd rather die my way than live yours.”- Lauren Oliver. At some point in your life you have been put down, burdened, discouraged, or even depressed. Sometimes there are certain things you can do to help ease these human issues, but sometimes these issues are opportunities to be even better than you were before; this is so in Richard Wright’s case. In the novel Black Boy Richard Wright was in a constant state of oppression, whether he was encompassed by friends or foes; he was constantly put down, even if it was those who were supposed to always love him. Because of this continuous adversity in his life, Richard Wright gradually develops into a very independent, self-reliant and strong person. Through Richard Wright’s own experiences, maybe other individuals who are in the same situations of life can learn the dexterity of persistence and liberation as well.…