Journal Entries
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Journal Entries
1. The Wife of His Youth
“The Wife of His Youth” is characterized as one influential short story that compels the audience to critically think about the cruel reality of society. This issue-based narrative is powerfully presented by Charles Waddell Chesnutt. It is noteworthy to mention that the entire story is comprised of three parts and every share has its great significance to apprehend and analyze the main themes of the story. The first part illustrated the setting of the Blue Vein Society that was based on light-skinned individuals, who excluded darker-skinned people (African Americans) from their society. The social separation between two groups pf mixed-race and African Americans is the signs of chronic issues of racism. The second part of this story also indicates the harsh reality of this world for dark-skinned people through the character of Liza Jane, who faced immense struggles due to the approach of slavery. The third part also helped the audience to the recognized immense struggle of mixed blood African Americans that they had to face to attain a better social and economic position.
2. The Passing of Grandison
The problematic aspects of colored individuals are greatly explained by Charles W. Chesnutt in this particular narrative. It is impressive for me the approach of irony was greatly used by the author to depict the problematic aspects relevant to the central domain of color line. A thick dialectic form is the prominent feature of this story that appeared in the form of Grandison. The phenomenon of slavery for Grandison was ironically discussed by the writer considering both crucial elements of necessity and ambition. Various dimensions of the master-slavery relationship described by the author to define the different impacts of slavery on two varied social classes. The prevailing social difference in the region of South was greatly described mainly in the forms of the unjustified approach of slavery and the facet of power struggles. It is interesting to recognize the tendency of freedom-struggle differently perceived by people and their associated form of actions. Moreover, the determination of gaining freedom by Grandison is another strong message or theme appeared from the entire content of this story.
3. W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk, “Of Our Spiritual Strivings”
The essay presented by W.E.B. Du Bois is one influential attempt to depict the severity of problems that unfortunately exist in the scenario of racism based on the difference of color. The author of this piece of literature adopted a straightforward approach to illustrate that what white people think when it comes to determining the position of black individuals in the society. He comes up with the idea that white people are always interested to ask from black individuals that how they feel as a problematic factor of society. This particular statement eventually defines the harsh reality of racism that exists in the society that causes a critical difference between the social living of white and black people. The narration by Du Bois is helpful to completely apprehend this idea that how it feels when black people characterized as a problematic factor of society. This idea further established the argument in the form of the improper development process for a black individual in a white-dominated society.
4. “Of the Dawn of Freedom”
The great illustration of historical movement is the central feature of this piece of literature presented by Du Bois. The author of this text mentioned that social difference in the form of the colored line is the basic problem of the society of the 20th century. Undoubtedly, there is a need to pay more attention to the concern that why there is social difference exist for black and white individuals. The existing relation between lighter and darker-skinned souls requires more explanation in the form of prevailing differences and how these features influence the realities of these separate groups. Furthermore, the author of this section successfully set his ground that colored line is not just the problem of the United States of America but it should be considered on a global level. As the keen reader of this content, I strongly agree with the author’s argument that there is a need to address the issues of injustice and social clash that exist due to the calamity of racial difference.
5. “Of the Meaning of Progress”
It is one great narrative presented by Du Bois of his journey as the struggler in society due to the phenomenon of colored lines. He clearly defined his experience as a teacher along with all the problems he faced. Financial struggles illustrated by the author that made it impossible for him to afford a horse or carriage, so he compelled to walk around in different areas of the states. It was immensely difficult for him to searched for the school in the state where he can teach and existing racial difference in the society was one major reason for this imbalance facet of consideration. The calamity of racism was impressively defined by the author through his different experiences during his struggle as a teacher. He illustrated the event when the food was served to the white men first due to the chronic phenomenon of racism that he faced due to his color.
6. “Criteria of Negro Art”
The prevailing difference between two social groups was also impressively defined by Du Bois specifically by focusing on the area of art. The factor of beauty is one central aspect of the author’s concern appeared in the form of the text of “Criteria of Negro Art.” He intended to describe the perspective of beauty by considering dynamic approaches. He posed the question that who is the most eligible entity to define the factor of beauty for someone. This particular thought is greatly connected with the living conditions for African Americans in society. It is significant to eradicate the issue of racism for black people to achieve better forms of the beauty of this world. Moreover, the approach of art is also greatly explained by the author that the medium of art is used as the propaganda that requires the necessary attention. It is rightly said by him that the approach of art can be used to successfully deliver the actual concept of beauty to others.
7. “The New Negro”
“The New Negro” is characterized as one of the most influential pieces of literature when it comes to identifying the need for change for the community of African Americans. This specific term is defined as the source of encouragement and motivations for the people of the African American community to seriously think about the phenomenon of change over social, economic, and political grounds. This novel presented by Alain LeRoy Locke that strongly established the importance of the specific term of “New Negro.” Through the collection of different and magnificent works of fiction, poetry, art, and essays by African Americans, the author was keen to present a strong image of the African American community in American society. The successful interpretation of African Americans’ work indicates why it is important to consider the African American community as an important part of American society to achieve better social development domains effectively and efficiently.
8. “When the Negro Was in Vogue”
It is a short story created by Langston Hughes with the basic thought to describing basic cultural aspects of African Americans. The author of this story comes up with the argument that why it becomes a great matter for white Americans to greatly focuses on the overall approach of black culture. I perceived this concept is immensely interesting as it referred to as the feature of reducing the social gap between the communities of white and black Americans. It is also vital to significantly connect this central theme with the transitional domain of the time-period of this story development. The era of the 1920s has great importance in the overall development of the African American group in the country because it was the time when the nation was gone through from major forms of transition and development. It was the time when African Americans start obtaining a better position in American society due to the prominent features of urbanization and innovations that appeared in the country.
9. “How It Feels to be Colored Me”
This essay by Zora Neale Hurston is one great representation of strong personality elements considering the hardships of reality. She clearly illustrated her circumstances that she faced due to her identity as an African American woman. She further explained the idea that how hardships of her life helped her to recognize herself and better apprehends the approach of self-identity. She comes up with the argument that all people are established as random colored bags that are filled with random bits of different things. She successfully explained this idea that how it is different for a female to live in the black community by facing various domains of racism. Her initial struggles in life due to the calamity of racism eventually helped her to identify her strength in the form of self-identity and self-development. The exposure in society eventually assisted her to see the world with various dimensions and strongly fights back to problematic facets of life.
10. Passing by Nella Larsen Parts 1 and 2
Passing is one great novel presented by Nella Larsen that clearly and successfully represented the approach of the Harlem movement. It is the story of the reunion of two childhood friends who lived different forms of lives due to diverse life dimensions. The first and second parts of this novel have great significance to successfully apprehends the main idea or theme of this novel. The first part of the story illustrated the form of the struggle faced by Irene as the devoted mother to her children. She almost risks everything to bring a better future for his boys. The second part of this story also played a significant role to make better inferences about the overall content and theme of this storyline. This section defined the ongoing issue of racism for the black community and it affects their domain of the living. Furthermore, the character development of Clare that she wanted to become part of both the communities of black and white people to get better privilege in life.
11. Passing, Part 3
The last part of this novel also has great importance referring to the overall meaning and approach of the author established in this storyline. This section of the novel revealed information about the event of Christmas time when Irene is greatly disturbed by improper behavior from others. She upsets with Clare and wanted to reveal her real identity to the world which was hidden by Clare to attain a better position in the white people community. This form of consideration is a clear depiction that as black Americans, it was immensely difficult for people to achieve better developmental domains in the white-dominated society. The recognition of Clare as African American was undoubtedly a terrifying moment in the novel that clearly explained the chronic prevalence of racism in the roots of American society. The existence of racism in the community eventually shapes people’s behavior towards each other and white people are not intended to build relationships with people who belong to the black community.
12. “A Raisin in the Sun,” by Lorraine Hansberry Act I
“A Raisin in the Sun” is a play presented by Lorraine Hansberry with critical thought of consideration. The basic ideas relevant to this play are recognized as the features of hopes, dreams, and plans for a better future. The first act of this play explicitly revealed that all the characters were dealing with some form of unaccomplished dreams in their lives. It is also critical to indicate that most of the characters had unfinished dreams in the form of financial stability or money enhancement. They were struggling and striving to achieve their potential targets of getting a better financial position in society. The younger family in this play intended to have a better materialistic position in society by having different facilities in life. It is observed that every character of this play has its struggle to make efforts to ensure the successful application of their hopes for the future.
13. “A Raisin in the Sun” Act II
The basic idea of scene II of this play is to determine whether money solved all the problems of the Young family or not. After the death of his husband, Mama gets a huge amount of insurance that dramatically turned the whole perspective. It was the time when all family members become able to pursue all their wishes connected with the domain of financial stability. A comprehensive understanding of different scenes of act II for this play revealed that nothing much change for the family due to the availability of money. Their dreams were not successfully collided with the prospect of money enhancement. The family had to face the calamity of separation due to the existing difference between their aspirations towards life. The difference in life choices was one major factor for Young Family that restricted their ways to achieve a sense of satisfaction and contentment from life. Additionally, it is also established that money is one major element that causes separation between people as it makes them more materialistic and self-centered.
14. Dawn by Octavia E. Butler, Part 1
It is one interesting science fiction novel by Octavia E. Butler that also established some great arguments considering the issue of racism. The idea of alien species was greatly depicted by the author through the development of the story in part 1. The storyline in chapter 1 started from the representation of Lilith Iyapo, who waking up again. I perceived this immensely interesting to learn some major themes through the imaginary domain of alien species used in this novel. The first part of the novel presented with the title of “womb” that gives prior hint to some approach of the entire storyline. The growing encounter between Jdahya and Lilith Iyapo established the idea that human survival is an instinct approach for humans in the form of strive for this life. The strange dynamics of the entire act made it crucial to think about life realities in some different manner.
15. Dawn, Part 2, 1-6
The second part of this novel interestingly developed the entire content of the story referring to the approach of immense suspense. This part of the novel based on the approach of “family” as the main prospect of consideration. This section depicts the phenomenon when Lilith wakes by observing the wonderful form of a meal with the great involvement of a home-oriented environment. This part of the novel was the introduction of family-owned by Jdahya and it turned as great feelings for Lilith to experience the domain of family again. This form of representation by the author helped the audience to think about the importance of family and normal life in the overall form of social development. It turned as a great form of protection and survival for the individual in society as being part of a family. It is noticeable to apprehend that feeling of protection can never be fully achieved without the active involvement of the family as a shield.
16. Dawn, Part 2, 7-12, Part 3 1-3
The third part of this novel recognized with the name of “nursery” that illustrates the further development of the main theme of the storyline. This section based on the depiction of efforts of survival by Lilith on the place where humans were sent for the sake of survival and living for a longer period. At this place, Lilith was able to enjoy some necessities of life in the form of large-size space to live and an ample quantity of normal food. It turned out as a great blessing for Lilith to successfully survive in this type of life circumstances. The necessities of food and clothes were stored for her that she can avail whenever she wanted. It is vital to indicate that this particular phase of survival was somehow satisfactory for Lilith as she was able to enjoy necessities. This form of representation indicates the basic elements to ensure a successful form of survival of life under the domain of strange circumstances.
17. Dawn, Part 4
This part is established as the last part of this novel that helped the audience to reach the main idea of the story presented in this science fiction novel. This section started from the scene when Lilith and Joseph wait at the spot on the riverbank and carrying some elements of survival. These features recognized as the domains of food and necessary instrument to successfully deal with any further difficult situation. The final conversation between the characters of Lilith and Joseph eventually helped to establish the main theme of this story. The idea of otherness is a major theme of this novel which was completely apprehended by Lilith through her entire journey of survival. This form of consideration eventually turned as the phenomenon of prejudice and biasedness that appears in the case of those people who are characterized as outsiders from one social group. Humans tend to reject the benefits of others to ensure their survival as the priority.
18. Sula by Toni Morrison, pp. 1-66
“Sula” is one great novel presented by Toni Morrison in 1973 with some great themes and areas of necessary attention for the audience. The main idea apprehended by the author in this novel is to make some efforts to identify the prevailing difference between good and evil. The first part of the plot narrative also helps to recognize the existing difference between domains of right and wrong. The traditional pattern is utilized by the author to deliver the main idea or theme of the novel to the readers in a comprehensive manner. The events of the childhood of Sula and Nel were also a clear explanation of the main idea of selecting between good and bad to achieve better outcomes in life. This specific idea is greatly portrayed by the author through strong character development in the case of all the leading characters of this story. Sula’s thoughts of being evil by killing a chicken in her childhood are a significant example of the existing difference between two approaches of good and evil.
19. Sula 67-End
I perceive the ending section of this novel as the most dramatic approach to end the story as it uncovered the chronic realities of life. The idea of cruelty of life was greatly presented by Morrison in the final section of this story. It is interesting to compare the life of adulthood from childhood as both have a clear contradiction. It is established by the author through the characters of Sula and Nel that it is immensely complex for someone to remain faithful with others in the form of friendship during the captivating phase of adulthood. This particular idea is greatly interesting for me to unveiling the harsh realities of life that played an imperative role in the overall development of human beings. This form of consideration also involves interruption of different external factors that played an important role in the overall approach of personality development. The immense detachment with relationships eventually caused an immense form of dissatisfaction for the individual.
20. Final Thoughts
A detailed consideration of all the literary content selected for this analysis ultimately helps to identify some pinching and important realities of practical life. I closely learned about different social difficulties faced by people due to the chronic approach of social standards. It is observed that mainstream society defined societal roles for all the individuals based on their race or identity and forcefully confined them to limit their progress in those roles. The social calamity of racism specifically in the case of African Americans is greatly described by all the authors in their literary works. The consideration of these forms of content helped me to closely observe all the social obstacles faced by African Americans in a white-dominated society only due to the calamity of racism. This specific idea requires more attention because the social problem of racism persists in the society that needs to be resolved as early as possible to develop better living standards for every individual.
