The Role Of Racism In Trethewey's Poetry
As punishment for these lies, her mother used soap to punish her. The mother hoped that the soap would cleanse her soul, whilst Natasha hoped it would change the color of her skin to fit with the cultural restraints and beauty standards of the time. Fair skin was represented in media as beautiful and the key to success, so at the time, if Natasha wished to be accepted in American society she would have to tell “white lies” about her heritage. Trethewey’s interpretation of America in her poetry is greatly based on its past and the continuous resonating impacts the racism that exists within the country. Trethewey interprets America as a society that associates rights, virtues, and respect with the color of one’s skin. Additionally,
in her writing, “Southern History,” Trethewey analyzes the inaccurate representation of southern history within a classroom. Slavery is a colossal part of America’s past and yet, in her class, the actual history tied with it is completely skewed and retold by the white educators. It can be assumed in her writing that this was a common theme in her education (and still is today all over the nation). So as she was being taught that in order to succeed in life she needed to be white, she also witnessed her identity and history being buried. She was striped of her words and unable to correct the mistakes of this teacher. Essentially, she was silenced and in silencing her, her class further reaffirmed the cultural norms associated with skin color that she discussed in “White Lies.” She said she kept this lie about American slavery, as her teacher did, because within a white classroom at the time she was powerless to disagree. This was likely because there is a lot of shame associated with that part of America’s history, but rather than acknowledge it, it is ignored or changed completely.
in her writing, “Southern History,” Trethewey analyzes the inaccurate representation of southern history within a classroom. Slavery is a colossal part of America’s past and yet, in her class, the actual history tied with it is completely skewed and retold by the white educators. It can be assumed in her writing that this was a common theme in her education (and still is today all over the nation). So as she was being taught that in order to succeed in life she needed to be white, she also witnessed her identity and history being buried. She was striped of her words and unable to correct the mistakes of this teacher. Essentially, she was silenced and in silencing her, her class further reaffirmed the cultural norms associated with skin color that she discussed in “White Lies.” She said she kept this lie about American slavery, as her teacher did, because within a white classroom at the time she was powerless to disagree. This was likely because there is a lot of shame associated with that part of America’s history, but rather than acknowledge it, it is ignored or changed completely.