Steve Epting
AP English
2.
When Du Bois was a child, he found that the white children thought that he was under them and unimportant. He saw racism for the first time in his life. When Du Bois could excel and beat the white kids in something, that made him the happiest. He was happy when he took test and in races.
Du Bois’s fine contempt proved to be insufficient when he became older. He realizes that all the fascinating opportunities in the world and the things that he desired in the world, he could not have because he was not white. This really put a damper on his dreams because of the realization of what the real world is. During this time, the whites controlled almost everything and they always had the upper hand in society.
He mentions his personal experiences with racism to bring the effect that racism happens everywhere and to everybody. He uses himself as an example to show his personal trials and that it will be hard for him to be successful in his lifetime. These experiences add many descriptive words to really bring out the true handle of what Du Bois was feeling. Many readers would prove this very persuasive because of the high emotion that is flowing throughout the chapter.
4.
The song lyrics at the beginning of each chapter are very significant. They set the scene for what the chapter is going to be talking about. They have deep meaning and they are there to really get the point across of whatever the chapter is talking about. Also they’re there because African American ancestors always used spirituals to uplift, encourage, and inform other African Americans.
These lyrics can be applied to someone’s life when they are going through different circumstances. Someone could recall the words and they could begin to start to follow what the words of the song were saying. These spirituals mostly spoke on getting to freedom or it was about uplifting your fellow man. Many still fall back on these spirituals as a comfort in the time of trouble.
“From birth till death enslaved; in word, in deed, unmanned!” This is a line from the beginning of chapter three. It means that you’re a slave from the time that you’re born, until the time you die; simply, deprived. Without reading the chapter, I would think that it’s going to speak of the true hardships that African Americans had to go through. The lyrics before each chapter give a preview and it causes you to think about what the words are really saying.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Booker T. Washington Literary Response
Steve Epting
AP English
Booker T. Washington Literary Response
When the blacks were trying to get their rights, they had many activists. Many stood strong in their beliefs and tried to force the awarding of rights. Booker T. Washington wasn’t like that. He had an entirely different tactic to get the blacks their rights. His approach to getting blacks to be accepted and get into more places was more different than any other.
While giving his speech, Washington delivered on a different note. He started off by saying that government specialties such as seats in Congress and the attractions at the political conventions were more important than things such as real estate or industrial skill. He tried to merge the two races together by saying that blacks helped the whites back in the day, so the whites should return the favor. To me, it seemed as if he was “sucking up” to try to get their rights. “As we have proved our loyalty to you in the past, nursing your children, watching the sick-bed of your parents, and often following them with tear-dimmed eyes to their graves, so in the future, we shall stand by you…with yours in a way that shall make the interests of both races one.
After giving the message, he received much accolades for it. He was talked about in newspapers and all around town for it. The white people loved him for the speech. Everyone wanted to meet him, shake his hand, and ask him questions. He also met famous people such as Grover Cleveland. Grover Cleveland was president of the United States at that time, so Washington was very excited to meet with him. He also met with many Negro ministers throughout Atlanta, Georgia.
While watching Washington’s success be displayed, the black community started to retract everything good they said about him. They began to read his speech in “cold type” and really notice what he was saying in his speech. They thought that he was being too liberal in his speech. The first reaction was high when he first gave the speech and after a while, it all died down. “…some of them seemed to feel that they had been hypnotized. They seemed to feel that I had been too liberal in my remarks toward the Southern whites, and that I had not spoken out strongly enough for what they termed the “rights” of my race.”
AP English
Booker T. Washington Literary Response
When the blacks were trying to get their rights, they had many activists. Many stood strong in their beliefs and tried to force the awarding of rights. Booker T. Washington wasn’t like that. He had an entirely different tactic to get the blacks their rights. His approach to getting blacks to be accepted and get into more places was more different than any other.
While giving his speech, Washington delivered on a different note. He started off by saying that government specialties such as seats in Congress and the attractions at the political conventions were more important than things such as real estate or industrial skill. He tried to merge the two races together by saying that blacks helped the whites back in the day, so the whites should return the favor. To me, it seemed as if he was “sucking up” to try to get their rights. “As we have proved our loyalty to you in the past, nursing your children, watching the sick-bed of your parents, and often following them with tear-dimmed eyes to their graves, so in the future, we shall stand by you…with yours in a way that shall make the interests of both races one.
After giving the message, he received much accolades for it. He was talked about in newspapers and all around town for it. The white people loved him for the speech. Everyone wanted to meet him, shake his hand, and ask him questions. He also met famous people such as Grover Cleveland. Grover Cleveland was president of the United States at that time, so Washington was very excited to meet with him. He also met with many Negro ministers throughout Atlanta, Georgia.
While watching Washington’s success be displayed, the black community started to retract everything good they said about him. They began to read his speech in “cold type” and really notice what he was saying in his speech. They thought that he was being too liberal in his speech. The first reaction was high when he first gave the speech and after a while, it all died down. “…some of them seemed to feel that they had been hypnotized. They seemed to feel that I had been too liberal in my remarks toward the Southern whites, and that I had not spoken out strongly enough for what they termed the “rights” of my race.”
Monday, January 11, 2010
Souls of Black Folk Literary Response (7)
Steve Epting
AP English
Souls of Black Folk Literary Response (Chapter 7)
In the text, Du Bois explains the “centre of the Negro problem”. The major problem for the Negroes is slavery. “…you may stand on a spot which is to-day the centre of the Negro problem,-the centre of those nine million men who are America’s dark heritage from slavery and slave trade.” Many black people go back to the mind of a slave or they use slavery as an excuse for anything.
Du Bois saying is very true because even after slavery, there were racial issues going on that included the black population. Slavery was happening all over the South. The writer said this because he was talking about the land in Atlanta. He said that Atlanta, the land of the Cherokees, is not far from where Sam Hose was crucified. He related it back to slavery by saying that this was the center of the Negro problems.
Nine million men, women, and children were put through the worst agony that anyone could ever experience. This entire situation brought the black people together to help them work together and to keep their spirits up.
Slavery and slave trade is America’s dark heritage. That means that those things are in America’s past that either they don’t care about or they don’t want to ever bring it about.
AP English
Souls of Black Folk Literary Response (Chapter 7)
In the text, Du Bois explains the “centre of the Negro problem”. The major problem for the Negroes is slavery. “…you may stand on a spot which is to-day the centre of the Negro problem,-the centre of those nine million men who are America’s dark heritage from slavery and slave trade.” Many black people go back to the mind of a slave or they use slavery as an excuse for anything.
Du Bois saying is very true because even after slavery, there were racial issues going on that included the black population. Slavery was happening all over the South. The writer said this because he was talking about the land in Atlanta. He said that Atlanta, the land of the Cherokees, is not far from where Sam Hose was crucified. He related it back to slavery by saying that this was the center of the Negro problems.
Nine million men, women, and children were put through the worst agony that anyone could ever experience. This entire situation brought the black people together to help them work together and to keep their spirits up.
Slavery and slave trade is America’s dark heritage. That means that those things are in America’s past that either they don’t care about or they don’t want to ever bring it about.
Souls of Black Folk Literary Response (3-4)
Steve Epting
AP English
Souls of Black Folk Literary Response (Chapter3-4)
“But Mr. Washington first indissolubly linked these things; he put enthusiasm, unlimited energy, and perfect faith into his programme, and changed it from a by-path into a veritable Way of Life.” This quote is the heart for both of these chapters. It’s saying how hard Mr. Washington worked in his life. He wasn’t just your regular “average joe”. He was a hard working man.
Throughout the two chapters, Mr. Washington’s first name is never stated. This act creates a sense of space and separation. It keeps the relationship between the reader and the character on the formal side. It’s a hint of mystery in his name because there are tons of Mr. Washingtons’ in the world. Because of his fine character and impressive career, Mr. Washington keeps everything on a business and serious level.
Mr. Washington had success because of the adversity he had to go through. “Among his own people, Mr. Washington has encountered the strongest and most lasting opposition…and even today continuing strong and insistent even though largely silenced in outward expression by the public opinion of the nation.” He has faced hard times that have made him stronger. He has a good career and he is respected by a lot of people by the way that he lives his life. He took all the criticism and used it as an advantage to get further ahead in life.
“…and changed it from a by-path into a veritable Way of Life.” Mr. Washington practiced what he preached. He made sure that he would not just do the right thing some times; he got into the practice of making this a life style. He was a beacon of light that shined on other people and they saw it. He made sure that he always did the right thing even if he did not want to.
AP English
Souls of Black Folk Literary Response (Chapter3-4)
“But Mr. Washington first indissolubly linked these things; he put enthusiasm, unlimited energy, and perfect faith into his programme, and changed it from a by-path into a veritable Way of Life.” This quote is the heart for both of these chapters. It’s saying how hard Mr. Washington worked in his life. He wasn’t just your regular “average joe”. He was a hard working man.
Throughout the two chapters, Mr. Washington’s first name is never stated. This act creates a sense of space and separation. It keeps the relationship between the reader and the character on the formal side. It’s a hint of mystery in his name because there are tons of Mr. Washingtons’ in the world. Because of his fine character and impressive career, Mr. Washington keeps everything on a business and serious level.
Mr. Washington had success because of the adversity he had to go through. “Among his own people, Mr. Washington has encountered the strongest and most lasting opposition…and even today continuing strong and insistent even though largely silenced in outward expression by the public opinion of the nation.” He has faced hard times that have made him stronger. He has a good career and he is respected by a lot of people by the way that he lives his life. He took all the criticism and used it as an advantage to get further ahead in life.
“…and changed it from a by-path into a veritable Way of Life.” Mr. Washington practiced what he preached. He made sure that he would not just do the right thing some times; he got into the practice of making this a life style. He was a beacon of light that shined on other people and they saw it. He made sure that he always did the right thing even if he did not want to.
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