Racism

In the realm of African-American literature, poet and writer Langston Hughes is considered one of the primary proponents that gave birth and development to the genre of Harlem Renaissance. This genre, which enjoyed popularity and support in the late 1920s until mid-1930s, was a cultural movement that depicted the life of “new Negros,” second-generation black Americans and direct descendants of African slaves in America. Harlem Renaissance was known for its incorporation of music, particularly jazz and the blues, in its everyday mirroring of African-American life through literature.

Hughes as a major proponent of the Harlem Renaissance movement created literary pieces that sought to express his thoughts and feelings as an African-American artist while at the same time, providing social criticism against the oppressive nature of the predominantly white American society. His literary works, in effect, became channels through which he was able to artistically express his and his fellow African-Americans’ sentiments about the realities they face in American society.

Among Hughes major works of literature, the short story “” depict the dynamics that both white and black Americans experienced during the early 20th century. In this period, there was still evident division and discrimination between white and black Americans, with the black Americans gradually emerging as a major force in American society through their unique culture. “Blues” effectively illustrated the dynamics among Americans, white and black alike, as they struggled to assert the superiority of their respective race, culture, as well as gender.

It is then this paper’s main thrust to discuss and analyze “Blues” in the context of three prevalent themes illustrated in the story: friction between white and black Americans through conflicting views about each group/sector’s race, culture, and viewpoints about gender roles. More specifically, the analysis involves a character analysis of Oceola Jones and Mrs Dora Ellsworth, a black American and white American, respectively. The character analysis centers on the presence or absence of change in the life of Oceola as she delved herself deeper into white American culture, and how, despite Mrs Ellsworth’s efforts to “acuulturate” her in white American society, Oceola’s roots and inherent ‘black Americanness’ prevailed. In the end, Oceola ended up being more triumphant, cultivated, and artistic than her patron Mrs Ellsworth.

In illustrating the changes that occurred to Oceola during her process of acculturation to the white American elitist society, it is vital to demonstrate these changes through the themes of conflict between her and Mrs Ellsworth in terms of their respective race, culture, and gender.

Noticeable throughout the story was Oceola’s seemingly passive attitude towards Mrs Ellsworth pretentious belief that she was, indeed, one of the few people who truly recognize art in its purest form. In contrast to Oceola, Mrs Ellsworth, because of her wealthy stature, took an active role in pursuing and creating what she called “pure art” through the proteges she had recruited through the years.

The first theme of racial conflict emerged when Mrs Ellsworth expressed her traditional and prejudiced views about Oceola and black Americans in general. Though Mrs Ellsworth was congenial towards Oceola, her persistence to cling to society’s prejudice against black Americans was immediately demonstrated through her desire to educate Oceola on the principles of pure art, avoiding, the best she can, to acknowledge the fact that she was a black American. Her attitude was reiterated once again in her insistence to acknowledge the genius of one of her Jew proteges, even though she held prejudiced views against Jews.

Racial conflict emerges with Mrs Ellsworth apparent showing of her discrimination and prejudice against non-white peoples. Even the very act of recruiting talented young people and finance their education to music and the arts was her way of creating a distinction between her and her young, poor yet talented artists. By financing the education of these talented artists, she directly controls the kind of education they will receive, thereby controlling also the kind of art that they will produce. It is through art, then, that Mrs Ellsworth “oppress” her proteges like Oceola: by controlling the art that they produce, she holds the power to suppress the protege’s desire to pursue his/her art simply because Mrs Ellsworth financed his/her education.

Le Blanc’s analysis of the racial conflict extant between Oceola and Mrs Ellsworth echoed the dynamics of racial conflict between them. While Mrs Ellsworth actively expressed discrimination and prejudice against people who belong to a particular race other than white American, Oceola’s passive response towards her financer’s behavior showed that racial conflict was a sublime one. Indeed, as Le Blanc explicated in his study of both women characters in “Blues” (16).

Of course, in her paternalism, Mrs Ellsworth does not quite view Oceola as her equal. Despite the young woman’s superior talent, Mrs Ellsworth persistently believes that Oceola lacks not just money, but certain cultural and emotional advantages. The older woman looks down upon her protege’s attachment to the physical and sensual world. This sensual world is manifested in jazz, Harlem, and Pete, and all these represent her connection to her black community and culture.

Apart from the presence of racial conflict in “Blues,” a more apparent theme demonstrated was Oceola and Mrs Ellsworth’s conflicting views towards art per se. Oceola, exposed with Harlem culture, associated her music and art with the people she had been with, particularly her Harlem community and the church choir she used to teach prior to her being a protege under Mrs Ellsworth financial support. Mrs Ellsworth went through great lengths in order to assert the fact that the art she preferred, the art of elite people liker her, was truly American society’s superior culture.

But Oceola remained passive to Mrs Ellsworth’s active advocacy to promote what she perceived as her “superior art.” Being the woman’s mere protege, she expressed kept her own thoughts and feelings about the issue of “art for art’s sake.” Interestingly, Oceola’s honest view of art made more sense than Mrs Ellsworth learned viewpoints about it. At one point, Hughes voiced out through the character of Oceola the real nature and function of art to human society: “Why did they or anybody argue so much about life or art? Oceola merely lived-and loved it…If you wanted to play the piano or paint pictures or write books, go ahead! But why talk so much about it?”

This honest view of art in Oceola’s terms was the author’s way of expressing his disagreement to the dichotomy of superior culture and inferior culture. African-Americans, who gave birth to Harlem culture, as well as contributed significantly to the world of art through the music genres of jazz and the blues, created art based on their experiences as an African-American and with their community. Art for art’s sake was a credo not subsisted to in a collectivist culture like African-American’s; art was created as a result of the people’s interaction with each other, the product of harmonious unity and interconnectedness as peoples of a particular race, with specific traditions and heritage.

In Mrs Ellsworth attempt to expose Oceola to Western (European) art in order to ‘forget’ her Harlem roots and influence, she only reiterated her perceived superiority. She was a woman who held herself in high-esteem because she believed that she was promoting a noble cause, preserving pure, untainted art-art that merely exists for itself, an art that is autonomous to its creator and devoid of any other human element or influence in it.

Mrs Ellsworth’s perception of art was a “separation of art from life” (Bone, 23). In her failure to acknowledge art as the work of an individual and as devoid of any meaning nor influence, Mrs Ellsworth was indirectly destroying the concept of culture altogether, in the same way that she tried to change Oceola by ‘destroying’ her strong Harlem roots, influence, and culture. Hughes’ villainous portrayal of Mrs Ellsworth showed that an attempt to bridge “the gap between the two races by means of art” (1062). Unfortunately, Mrs Ellsworth’s insistence to hold on to her prejudiced beliefs and perceived superiority became hindrances that led to the eventual deterioration of her relationship with Oceola.

The issue of degradation was also reflected in the conflict that Mrs Ellsworth wanted to create as she took in Oceola as her protege (1060). It is inevitable that Mrs Ellsworth should compare herself against Oceola, who, despite the lack of opportunities and privileges in life, was able to create beautiful music without the proper training or education. Mrs Ellsworth tried to assert her superiority by indirectly assuming the persona of Oceola, whom she believed she owns and can control. That is, by supporting Oceola, she indirectly fills in the ‘gaps’ in her life. Oceola remained unrestrained and free to express herself through her music; she was also able to produce beautiful art through music. These are the qualities that Mrs Ellsworth sought to have, and believed she had, by financially supporting Oceola.

Thus, gender conflict emerged with the “contrasting meaning and significance and music to each woman” (Brent, 11). As Brent discussed in her analysis of Mrs Ellsworth and Oceola, the former’s art was an “abstraction,” ‘rising above the banalities of everyday life.’ Oceola’s music, however, “music is a living, breathing practice which is fully integrated with her personal, everyday experiences.” These distinctions between the two women reflect the kind of society and reality they lived in: Mrs Ellsworth lived not for anyone nor herself, but on art alone.

Oceola, meanwhile, preferred to liver her life not only with Pete, but with her Harlem community as well. Characterizing white and black American differences and conflict through the two women characters provided the in-depth look that Hughes wanted to show to his readers. It is through the characters of Oceola and Mrs Ellsworth that readers were able to witness the persistence and pervasiveness of prejudice and discrimination, regardless of one’s gender or socio-economic status in life.

Abstract
The theme of this paper is to discuss the areas, effect, impact, influence and thinking of mix-raced individuals and their battle for self identity despite from all their different cultures and beliefs. It also aims to educate people and explore the ideas of being “mix-raced”.
To give more explanation to the topic, an insight of Eric Liu’s book ‘The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker’ and other studies are also stated in this documentation.

Introduction
It is said that citizenship can be recognized from the birthplace of a person or through its personal appearance but nowadays, it’s no longer enough. Even though there are some people who prefer to marry someone their own race, there are also some who marry people from different countries which results for growing up with different cultures like American-Chinese and more. “Mix-race” is a phrase for people who have two or more race in their blood. In this paper, we will go and understand the world of having multiple racial identities, see their different view, know their different problems in society, health and individuality.

Identity

            In an article of Pearl Fuyo Gaskins of the San Francisco Chronicle entitled “In the Mix”, she stated that she was once asked for her citizenship in a tone of “What are you? Chinese or Something?” The question of “What are you…” triggered her tought.  Most mixed-raced person had an encounter of this kind of question once people notice their physical appearance[1]. Having a friend who is also a Filipino-American, I also asked her that same question because of curiosity. Although a question like that is not is never meant to be offensive, it still brings out a racial matter about the true identity of an individual.

            Having the best of both worlds, some say. A combination of rich culture and different traditions in their veins makes a person learn more about being flexible to adopt in different situations. In some aspect as well, their mixed blood caused social anxiety that brings them the fear of being negatively evaluated and sometimes neglected [2].

            Mixed-race, mixed skin, mixed emotion, and mixed identity rolled in one person. As they mature, these people realize the good and bad side of their unique identity inherited from their parents. Racial discrimination is a big issue that remains unsolved in today’s world. The lack of work on eradicating racial discrimination leads to constant confrontations between the pure races and the mixed-races. Despite from all issues, mix-raced people strive hard to find their way to identity resolution and belongingness.

Group Relationships

            Even though fair treatment is a campaign worldwide, it is still one of the big problems that we all face. Mixe-raced or pure, unfair treatments is an issue at home, office, schools and other places that truly brings an imprint of trauma to someone’s heart resulting to social division of people according to their race . The influence and impact of this issue causes people to change their individual character as a person just to belong in a group that results to behavioral risk problems, lack of self-esteem, social isolation and problems in family relationships.

            In 2003, a new study that involved surveying 90,000 adolescent U.S. students showed that those who considered themselves to be of mixed race were more likely than others to suffer from depression, substance abuse, sleep problems, and various aches and pains[3].

            My friend Sarah once said that when she was in America during elementary, her classmates won’t sit to her just because she’s a part Filipino and because of that, she started acting like an American. She studied their diction and ways of living. After that, people started accepting her but deep inside, she can never hide her black eyes that would always make her a Filipino despite of her blond hair and white complexion. When she reached 16, she had decided to just be on her own self because she’s tired of pretending. “People at first find it weird but then, they learned to accept it.”

Mix and Match

            In relationships and marriage, race is also a topic. From the article of James Liu, Susan Miller Campbell and Heather Condie’s entitled Ethnocentrism in dating preferences for an American sample: the in-group bias in social context , that explains the different areas that a person must consider when choosing a lifetime partner specially from different race such as their similarity, physical attractiveness, social status, network acceptance, ethnic identification and preferences [4], people are still into mix-race marriage which is proven by the article Fresh Census Numbers of William F. Frey stating that in the year 1990-200, biracial unions increased by 65% in the United States [5].

Effects of mix-raced unions are passed to their siblings. Categorized as Stereotype, children who have families of different cultures are simplyfied or grouped from pure raced that affects their intellectual performance and capacity to work as proven in the report of Sapna Cheryan and Galen V. Bodenhausen of Northeastern University[6]. This can be a threat for bigger problems like social stigma, more conflicts and debates.

Sociologist Charles E. Hurst of the College of Wooster states that, “One reason for stereotypes is the lack of personal, concrete familiarity that individuals have with persons in other racial or ethnic groups. Lack of familiarity encourages the lumping together of unknown individuals” [7].

Regardless of the posible negative consequences from interracial marriages and its effects to the children born out of such relationships, couples and families work hard to maintain their family together and hope for a better future.

Taking a Stand: The Accidental Asian by Eric Liu.

            From Eric Liu’s The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker, he stated his personal quest of knowing himself more as a Chinese-American. Caught between two different cultures, he managed to make his way of knowing both worlds.  Identity crisis and racism has emerged during his quest but nevertheless, he maintained a very clear conclusion that regardless of color or race, his identity as a person and his decision to live the life he chose matters the most.

            “I certainly won’t want to infect my Chinese-Scotch-Irish-Jewish children with bloodline fever. I won’t force them to choose among ill-fitting racial uniforms,” this is his statement in his wedding thinking about his children fearing they would encounter the same burden that he had during his days of soul searching but it’s a part of growing up and being mature. The only thing that should be learned in the end is that all must appreciate life and live it to its fullest with respect and acceptance regardless of its root.

Conclusion

            It is true that skin color has a lot of meaning. It reflects a person’s identity, culture, beliefs, tradition and history. It can also bring a lot of misconception to someone. Who can say that a person has Chinese blood in her veins if her hair is blonde? Is it through her small eyes or Caucasian skin? How can you determine a Chinese from Japanese? Despite of the differences that people gain from interracial union, the writer believes one must know his/her heritage that no matter where a person came from. Multiple or single race, self identity and its acknowledgement is very important. It is our personal description. Different groups are formed but mix-raced individuals can always have a way to fight against their inner fear of insecurity and find a way to belong in society.

            Is it cultural or social difference? It doesn’t matter. No one can ever judge someone because of their color and past. What is a race? What is its true essence? Does it promote individualism or should it be that all must be treated as one?

            The dilemma remains and different studies had been generated regarding racism, social discrimination and other unrest topics lingering us but aside from all these, the writer believe that if we all work together to bridge all the gaps and break all walls, no one will be alone.

References

1.)               PEARL FUYO GASKINS (1999) In The Mix, San Francisco Chronicle

<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/11/28/SC84737.DTL> viewed 28 January 2008.

2.)               J.J. Hong, S.R. Woody (2007) Cultural mediators of self-reported social anxiety,

Behavior Research and Therapy 45

3.)               Study: students of mixed race suffer more health problems – Noteworthy

News  Black Issues in Higher Education,  Nov 20, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

< http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DXK/is_20_20/ai_111529997 > viewed 28 January 2008.

4.)        J.H. Liu, S. Miller Campbell and H. Condie (1995) Ethnocentrism in dating preferences for an American sample: the ingroup bias in social context. European Journal of Social Psychology, Vol. 25,95-115

5.)        <http://www.frey-demographer.org/reports/Rainbownation.pdf> viewed 27 January 2008

6.)        Sapna Cheryan and Galen V. Bodenhausen (2000) When Positive Stereotypes Threaten Intellectual Performance: The Psychological Hazards of “Model Minority” Status, American Psychological Society, p. 399-401.

7.)          Eric Liu (1999) The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker, Vintage

A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Handovers, the Younger family Is faced with many big issues and themes that affect African Americans in the 1 ass’s. These overlying themes appear in the form of individuals In the play, even for those characters that play only minor roles. George Morison, Wily Harris, and Mr.. Liners each represent different obstacles that the Youngster’s must overcome in order to follow their dreams and trust what is in their hearts.

This is Handlebars way of telling her readers to not be afraid to follow their dreams, even If there are obstacles In your path, because If they don’t then they will be worse off than ever before. George Morison is the living example of assimilation culture and it’s destructive tendencies toward your native culture and heritage. He dresses like whites, acts like whites, and puts more value on money than on thoughts and culture. Beneath witnesses this transformation occurring in her brother, and it angers her.

She feels pressured by society to assimilate. George has merged with the American White Majority Ideals and has no difficulty in doing so, which deeply rubles Beneath, who believes that if you lose your heritage, you in turn lose yourself. George gets incredibly aggravated whenever Beneath mentions how she feels on the topic of Assimilation, and finally George can’t listen any longer to her and snaps, “Let’s face it, baby, your heritage is nothing but a bunch of raggedy- eased spirituals and some grass huts! (Handovers, 81) Beneath is trying to find herself by rediscovering her culture, while George Is separating himself from his as much as possible. This huge difference between the two Is the mall reason behind Beneath slice of him and love of Sagas, who fully embraces his culture. He helps her overcome modern society’s expectations and dance to her own drumbeat, therefore giving her a way to find herself. The pressure to assimilate into society and become “acceptable” to others is shown in Beneath, but has already won over George.

Even though Wily Harris never even steps onto the stage, his dark presence hangs over the family, as he took the $6,500 that was left of Big Walter’s money. He did the taking, and left the Younger “token”, representing people who exploit others who are desperate and helpless. Wily and others like him take advantage of people like the Younger who have no experience or way of getting help if they fall into a bad situation, but will trust someone to help them out because they are desperate enough to try to achieve their dreams anyway. In stealing the money, Wily Harris destroys Walter’s last hope for a good future.

Walter explains after he hears the bad news of the stolen money how he thinks the world works and what he has concluded from the experience: “Life is just like it is. Who gets and who don’t get… Mama, you know it’s all divided up… Between the takers and the “token”… Mom of us always getting token…. I’ll say one thing for old Wily Harris. He’s taught me something. He’s taught me to keep my eye on what counts in this world. Yeah- Thanks, Wily! ” (Handovers, 141) By this point, Walter has realized that his dream Is not going to happen, and Wily has left him devastated.

But amidst all these distraught what really counts, not money, not social status, but love, his family, his wife, and his son. The kind of love that made big Walter work to death for his family. This realization pulls him together, and finally becomes a man and gives Mama and Ruth their dream of owning a house. It seems that people like Wily Harris gravitate to people in poor circumstances with big dreams and little experience. Walter overcomes this disastrous event, but the memory that he could have done better in business and made something of himself will probably haunt him forever.

Mr.. Liners is Just one man, but he represents thousands of people, the white majority, and their intense prejudice against blacks and other minorities. Prejudice and racism was still everywhere in the sass’s, even though slavery was gone. The views that people like Mr.. Liners harbor are keeping the Younger and other minority groups oppressed and unable to rise up to their full potential. Liners expresses his frustration with the Younger after Walter refuses his offer for the first time, “What do you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you Just aren’t wanted… People can get awful worked up when they feel that their whole way of life and everything they’ve ever worked for is threatened. “(Handovers, 199) Liners says the one thing that the white majority has been thinking. He tells the Younger very simply that they are not wanted. This kind of hostility has nothing to do with any f these peoples personalities, Jobs, or morals, it is solely because they are not white and therefore are deemed not good enough to be with whites.

The family overcomes this prejudice by asking Mr.. Liners back. Walter tells him that they will move into the house, and they will be good neighbors, therefore giving the Whites the first punch if they want to take it, as he will do nothing to them, because he states that the family has a right to live there Just as much as anyone else. Prejudice affected the Younger through the voice of one man, but through the minds of many. But they anally overcome their fear of it and move into the house at Closure Park.

Throughout this play, Handovers is constantly using symbolism, and not only does she do it through objects, but through people as well. She shows us how all of these complicated issues are gathered together in one tiny apartment and how this can destroy dreams Just by stepping into the room that is the sass’s. By using characters like George, Wily, and Mr.. Liners, we get a real sense of what people are willing to do to achieve their goals, be accepted, and keep things how they have always been. The Younger overcome each of these with their love and their dreams.

One of the biggest conditions that separate the Southern Colonies from the New England and Middle colonies, is that they used to have a lot of slavery. The first African-American slaves were brought into Virginia, at about 10 slaves per year. But, when the Virginians really needed slavery, they made it legal. By the 1680s, they were being shipped in legions and being received at about 6,000 slaves per year. In fact, each slave had a different value, based on their strengths.

Or example, a young, strong, healthy man would have a higher value than an older, weaker man. Even though colonists paid more money for better slaves, they earned it back in revenue. Many of the slaves worked for owners of agrarian businesses because the Southern Colonies had a farm economy. Some of the cash crops included rice, indigo, tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton. The soil in the South was perfect for farming and they had a longer growing season than in any other region.

The Middle colonies were also a great place for farming, and they were called the “breadbasket.” The colonies had an overall warm climate with hot summers and light winters. Their geography in the western regions was mountainous, while they also had hilly, coastal plains. The planters of the Tidewater region had the best land and power, considering that they formed an oligarchy; but, the yeoman farmers’ outspoken independence was a constant warning to them.

From 1770 to 1780, the southern colonies had an average population of 1,142,057. The majority of the population were Anglican, seeing that most of the original settlers from the Maryland colony were Catholic. Their economy wasn’t as diverse as the Middle colonies; but, they did have ethnic groups who were English, African and Native American. Do you know where the settlers lived when they couldn’t afford to live the plantation lifestyle? Well, they ended up moving further inland but it was very dangerous because of the wildlife and Native Americans. To keep themselves protected, they had to build forts.

You now know all about the three regions that made up the Thirteen Colonies, which included the New England, Middle and Southern colonies. You’ve also learned about each region’s economy, population, government, political life, climate, geography, and religion. I got my evidence from the Mcgraw Hill Education book titled, Discovering Our Past: A History of the United States, Early Years – Florida Edition 2018. If you ever get stopped on the street and are asked a question about the Thirteen colonies, you’ll be able to give them a marvelous answer!

Black Boy, a novel by Richard Wright, is a heart-wrenching story about the harsh reality of racism, prejudice, and hostility that are revealed through the struggles of one young black boy. The young black boy is desperately trying to understand the cruel and negative world he is living in. This young black boy is on a mission to be educated and be successful. Richard Wright is determined to succeed in life.

Richard’s success is based on his determination and drive to overcome obstacles that he would face on a day to day basis in all aspects of his life. Richard was growing up in a time period that was both discouraging and hostile to blacks attempting to obtain an education and become successful. Through all of his hardships and obstacles, Richard continued to have a positive outlook on life. A positive outlook kept Richard focused on his dream to leave the south and eventually be free from all racial and prejudice matters.

During the early twentieth century, racial issues, along with very strong prejudice feelings ran throughout the south. The Jim Crow laws separated the blacks from the whites and led the blacks to believe they were not important. Seating arrangements on busses, drinking from different water fountains, and even the arrogance of not being allowed to eat at counters in public restaurants were examples of some of these laws. Therefore, very little emphasis was placed on the education and success of a young black boy. In order for Wright to be successful, he had to pursue an education and overlook the strong prejudiced feelings he was faced with. These were hard times for blacks, but he worked hard to overcome his obstacles and reach for what he believed in. He did this during a time when there was no desire to see a colored person overcome the chances and be successful.

Richard Wright’s determination to succeed, and to overcome the social forces fighting against him was facet of southern culture that was familiar to all who lived, or even passed through the South during this time. The races showed no initiative of coming into contact with one another. However, there was a fear among them. Although he had fear, his curiosity about the races was not eliminated. For example, Richard once ventured into a white neighborhood attempting to sell his dog for money to buy food. On that day, he saw a glimpse of a world he had never seen before. Wright saw things such as

I tucked her under my arm and went for the first time alone into a white neighborhood where there were wide clean streets and big white houses.

Finally a young white woman came to the door and smiled.

I waited on the porch, marveling at the cleanliness, the quietness of the white world. (69)

Richard now understood that whites lived so much better and he wondered why he and his brother had spent so many days doubled over in pain from the hunger they had come to know so well.

Wright uses prejudice and racism throughout his autobiography to encounter some of the most ludicrous moments that he had to experience while growing up in the South. For example, when Wright responded to the question on what he wanted to do in life, the lady turned to him and told him he was wasting his time trying to become a writer, knowing he was a Negro as stated in this quote:

“Then why are you going to school?” She asked in surprise.

“Well, I want to be a writer,” I mumbled, unsure of myself; I

Had not planned to tell her that, but she had made me feel so

Utterly wrong and of no account that I needed to bolster myself.

“To write stories,” I mumbled defensively.

“You”ll never be a writer,” she said. “Who on earth put such

Ideas into your head nigger head?”

“I didn”t think anybody ever would,” she declared indignantly (Wright 147).

It was unheard of being someone of importance and being black at the same time. Another good example of the prejudiced lifestyle of Wright was when he accepted his first job as a porter for a in a clothing store. Wright was forced into washing floors and was not allowed to come into contact with people who entered the store.

In Richard’s early life, many social roadblocks threatened to make it more difficult for him to hold on to his dream. Race and prejudice created challenges, but the true challenge came in an entirely different form. The true challenge was to become an accepted black man in a white mans society. Richard Wright became successful in a country that did not encourage him or to create opportunities for blacks. He succeeded in spite of personal hardships, racial adversity, constant hunger, and the lack of educations. Richard Wright fought the battle and came out victorious. Wright became a man who was not defined by his color, but by his talent. His talent was recognized because his strength and determination led him to succeed.

It’s has been a very discussed topic whether the color of ones skin still can be a burden in today’s society or not. For Instance are the black people, and especially In South America racism Is a big Issue. Thus racism Is weakened compared to centuries ago, it is still present in not only a big part of America but in the rest of the world as well. Racism is one of the main issues, that the American author Kisses Layman is dealing with in his writings.

Layman is black himself and in his work “How to slowly Kill Yourself and Others In America” he shows us his personally story, which Is filled tit trials and reflections that lightens under-appreciated aspects of the modern American life. In the following essay will be examining a remembrance of Layman’s essay from the web magazine Gawkier, which was published the 28 of July 2012, to see how Layman gets his intention across. Layman grew up in Mississippi with a childhood embossed of racism and violence. This was a part of his everyday life.

To outline the central problem that this text is dealing with, it is important to emphasize that ones skin color is still very important In many societies today. For instance there Is the real life episode with the Police Officer Darrel Wilson who shot and killed the arrear old young black unarmed man named Michael Brown. These racially issues are the ones Layman has been struggled with during his upbringing. It is therefore these issues he wants to draw attention to In his essay. Layman speaks of personal experiences In his works, and this type of argumentation Is called ethos.

He is using ethos to emphasize the burden that comes with for blacks in a white-controlled society. I believe that Layman’s intention with his writings is to make people live their lives as they wish and intend to. That is why freedom” Is a very Important point In Layman’s writings. This is further shown In the essay: “How free can you be If you really accept that white folks are the traffic cops of your life? Mama tells me that she is not talking about freedom. She says that she is talking about survival.

1. This quotation is very important, because it highlights Layman’s life values compared to Layman’s mother, who always taught him to be well behaved In a society controlled by white people. Layman was well behaved In his early years, but after several years of being treated badly, Just because of his skin-color, Layman had had enough. Layman became a boy with a lot of anger and frustration, and I think that through his writings he got vent for his feelings. First of all he starts in medias race: “I’ve had guns pulled on me by four people under Central Mississippi skies…
2. This dramatic and brutal start is very catchy. Secondly the language in his essay is very brutal and dramatic as well. He Is using words like gun, Niger and buck, which have a negative connotation. Thirdly he Is using flashbacks In a way that I haven’t read before. Layman is overall writing about his young days in Mississippi, but sometimes he is OFF further shown in the essay: “16 months later, I’m 18, three years older than Edward Evans will be when he is shot in the head behind an abandoned home in Jackson.
3. By using this very unspectacular way of writing, he gets to his audience with the way of persuasion called pathos, where he is relating to the feelings. These parallels that he is using are episodes, which have happened in the last couple of years. He therefore achieves to make his past familiar with the racially issues that goes on today. The only difference is that he has survived, and the kids he is relating to have men killed. Likely because of racially issues.

One of the persons who did not support his strong opinions was his mother. Layman therefore took distance to his mother, when she once pulled a gun to his face. To Layman this complex of problem was about the freedom that the black people weren’t in possession of in Mississippi. To Layman’s mother it was a matter of survival, and therefore it was very important to her that they would fit in as much as possible. Thus Layman has gotten death treats; it has not stopped him from writing or drawing attention to these issues.

Overall, Layman is using ethos to make his audience relate as much as possible through his personal experiences during his upbringing in Mississippi. An episode that Layman uses and which supports the theme racism is when an undercover “white” cop once pulled a gun at him. We most assume that this cop, called John Deere, pulls a gun at Layman, Troy, Cleat and Leighton because of their skin color since Deere shouts “Niger lovers” at them. By using ethos Layman achieves to get his audience attention since Layman’s personal experiences are truthful, chocking and provocative.

His writings however are aimed to a wide American target audience, and since Layman is a very intelligent and proficient writer, I think, that he achieves to get a lot of peoples’ attention. He writes in a very special way, which catches the audience attention very quickly. All in all, the remembrance is a display of Layman’s personal life where racism and violence is still present. Layman wants to draw attention to racism and violence. He wants people to say yes to life instead of letting some people being the “traffic cops” in your life, because of the burden that comes with when you are colored.

Racism should not be ignored. There are two types of racism in the world. The two types of racism are overt racism and institutional racism. “Overt racism, especially in its contribution to the racist impact of qualification requirements on blacks. “

Overt racism contributes to a social and residential segregation, thereby isolating blacks at every income level from white society. “As a result of overtly racist “last-hired, first fired” policies toward blacks and the favoring of whites for on-the-job training, many blacks have been unable to gain work experience, particularly special working skills.

Overt racist action is when harm is inflicted or a benefit withheld either because of the perpetrator”s racial bias against the victim or because the perpetuator is prejudice of others. Institutional racism is when a person or firm has a practice that is race-neutral but still has an adverse impact in blacks as a group. Institutional racism also reinforces future racism by contributing to the presence of blacks at the bottom of the employment level. “The adverse effect on blacks of these neutral practices also contributes to the perpetuation of racist attitudes.

Individuals growing up in a society where blacks are visibly predominant in the lowest jobs tend to believe that blacks naturally belong there. “Recent studies show that less-educated workers can be trained by employers for skilled positions that are frequently reserved for college graduates. “

Black academics were initially excluded by racist attitudes from many white departments. Whites who are no more productive than blacks will tend to receive a better payoff. “Whites have eleven times the wealth of blacks; one-third of all blacks have no major assets what so ver except for the cash that they have on hand. “

Blacks wanted to get rid of Jim Crow laws. Jim laws made blacks segregated from the white community. Blacks couldn”t use white facilities to buy products instead, blacks had to buy from their facilities. “A University of Chicago investigation showed that because of persistent prejudice suburban blacks are more likely to suffer segregation than other minorities of equal income and social status. “

There were other signs of racism in the past like the trading of blacks slaves from Africa. Blacks who didn”t want to be a slave either revolted against their masters or committed suicide. Masters were very harsh on the blacks. Masters would punish and beat the slaves for no reason. There were a lot of anti-racist role models that were heroes to the blacks. Rosa Parks was famous role model because she stood up for what she believed in. She sat in the bus seat not letting any white sit in her seat. Rosa Parks was arrested for that reason. Because of her actions that she took after she got out of jail, racial segregation became illegal.

Elizabeth Eckford braved the angry white crowds by herself when she was the first black person to get accepted into Little Rock High, which was an all white school. Martin Luther king Jr. was another brave role model. Martin Luther King Jr. always made flights to states to help the community win over racial segregation. Martin Luther King Jr. always brought huge crowds wherever he made a speech. He made very inspiring speeches to the blacks, which gave them more courage to protest against the whites. Martin Luther King Jr. was probably the most inspiring person this century because he led the blacks to freedom.

He is so inspiring that he will become a saint. Segregation started in the late 1980s even though slavery existed for more than two hundred years. Segregation laws were rapidly affecting blacks. More laws were made in the early 1900s because of the inspiration of Jim Crow laws. “During the second half of the 1980s, racial violence against blacks increased nationwide. In 1988, a white supremacist movement of violent skin-headed youths, whose weapons included knives, baseball bats, and their own steel-toed boots, sprang up spontaneously in cities throughout the nation.

This lowered the blacks courage to fight against the whites. “Many blacks are excluded by requirements for work experience because as students they have been barred from white schools where relevant training was available or had been denied work experience and training by prejudice supervisors and employers. “8. Blacks lack of personal connections to the job market, but it arises in large part from segregation created by overtly racist practices. “As job losers, blacks tend to move down to unskilled temporary work, or to no work at all. “

Since blacks can”t find good jobs, they usually make the community bad by stealing and joining gangs to keep themselves alive. “It is still true that the more disagreeable the job, the greater the chance of finding a high proportion of blacks doing it. “

Cities don”t know that they need to have better working conditions for blacks or they will have as much suffer as blacks do. “Hiring by personal connections also tends to keep blacks at the bottom of the occupational ladder. “

It keeps them down because blacks don”t have many connections to people who own a store. Blacks felt the racist impact of such past hiring discrimination when, as less senior, they were less likely to gain work promotion and more likely to lose their jobs in economic recessions. “

Whites have been the first in line for hiring, training, promotion, and desirable job positions because of racism. White people either have been responsible for racism or have passively benefited from it. Since there are firms that don”t hire blacks in very low wages, white people have to either take the jobs and get low payment and bad working conditions, or don”t take the job and don”t get anything to help the community that the job provides.

The whites also benefited from racism. Whites tend to get more promotions because there are no black competitions. Whites also benefited from housing discrimination where racism was strong. There have been a lot of cases of mass murders in a county. There was a case where, in one summer, eighty blacks have been beaten, thirty-five shot, five murdered, and more that twenty churches burnt down by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

Most KKK members usually got away for the murders and damages they committed. KKK members only started getting accused after segregation became illegal. But still, only blacks who were brutally murdered had a trial against the KKK. KKK groups are very confident about passing through a conviction. The KKK was always there where the black protesters were. They were there to intimidate them. They also wanted to start a fight whenever they had an opportunity too. “The isolation of blacks from white society is also sustained by widespread racist attitudes that exclude blacks from white clubs and social circles where networks leading to jobs are formed. “

Blacks not only suffer from discrimination but being isolated from a white community. Blacks lack personal connections to residents of all-white suburbs where many new jobs have been created. “

The adverse effect on blacks is exacerbated when suburban employers rely on walk-in applicants from these neighborhoods. “According to a 1981 study, black school districts in the black belt states receive less funding and inferior education by comparison with economically similar white districts, in a part as a result of local (white) decision making. “

White decision-making affects blacks a lot because the whites want to help their school funding more than the blacks school funding. The racism of government practices encouraged race discrimination by landlords who blocked the escape of blacks from ghettos, and by employers and unions who refused to hire, promote, or train them, as well as widespread communication of an insulting stereotype of blacks, derogatory to their ability and character. “

Because racist treatment of blacks in business and professional reduced family income, it hurt their sons and daughters. “Among these black parents injuries, they suffered discrimination policies of federal agencies in allocation of business loans, low-interest mortgages, agrarian price supporters, and government contracts.

There are a lot of different remedies for almost every issue involving racism. One of the reasons for avoiding racism is that blacks willingness to accept lower wages and adverse working conditions reduce labor”s bargaining power generally with management. “Although long-term black employees have the benefit of high sonority ranking, after the 1964 Civil Rights Act many continued to suffer the racist impact of departmental sonority arrangements. “

Under such arrangements, a worker who transfers from one department to another loses all sonority credit.  Because of programs that help families over racism, black children start to have more black role models, which creates more self-confidence. “Complaints can be lodged in a court or administration under title seven of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits such discrimination, and may be pursued against a firm or a union on behalf of an identifiable individual or group. “

Other ways of avoiding racism could be real dangerous. One way is to stand firm where there are firms who practice racism. Doing this would give blacks a chance to end racism in that firm. Blacks could move away if they feel too intimidated by the whites. “In some situations where blacks are notoriously scarce, the courts have approved “set-asides,” which unlike goals, reserve a specific number of positions for minorities only. “

They could also hold strikes against the government facilities so that they would stop the racism in the community. “Because blacks are disproportionately represented in the bottom-level positions, their personal recruitment tends to maintain occupational segregation. “

There are other things that help blacks like some programs that give shelter, food, clothing, and caring. One more way is to ignore the people who are intimidating you. Almost every remedy has its adverse effects. Complaint remedies could be deficient in a number of ways. “Since the complaint remedy requires proof of bias, it does not apply to institutional race-neutral policies. Yet qualification standards can be manipulated by prejudiced employers to exclude blacks, especially, as we have seen, vague personality standards.