I found this poem to be very important to my research for it shows the opposite side of what I am trying to find answers to. The fact that Nikki Giovanni talks so highly of Black Men in this poem and focuses on the positive aspects of the beautiful Black Men, it still seems that she has to reference the hardships that they once faced. The whole poem is dedicated to the beauty of being Black and then their is one line in the first stanza that lets the reader know that the speaker is aware of the hardships but it seems that she tries to cover them up while emphasizing the positive aspects of being Black.
Beautiful Black Men
by Nikki Giovanni
(With compliments and apologies to all not mentioned by name)
i wanta say just gotta say something
bout those beautiful beautiful beautiful outasight
black men
with they afros
walking down the street
is the same ol danger
but a brand new pleasure
sitting on stoops, in bars, going to offices
running numbers, watching for their whores
preaching in churches, driving their hogs
walking their dogs, winking at me
in their fire red, lime green, burnt orange
royal blue tight tight pants that hug
what i like to hug
jerry butler, wilson pickett, the impressions
temptations, mighty mighty sly
don't have to do anything but walk
on stage
and i scream and stamp and shout
see new breed men in breed alls
dashiki suits with shirts that match
the lining that compliments the ties
that smile at the sandals
where dirty toes peek at me
and i scream and stamp and shout
for more beautiful beautiful beautiful
black men with outasight afro
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Since the Earliest of Times
Since the earliest of times African-Americans have lived with hardships.....
This is a song that would have been sung by these slaves.
Wade in the water (children)Wade in the waterWade in the waterGod's gonna trouble the waterIf you don't believe I've been redeemedGod's gonna trouble the waterI want you to follow him on down to Jordan stream(I said) My God's gonna trouble the waterYou know chilly water is dark and cold(I know my) God's gonna trouble the waterYou know it chills my body but not my soul(I said my) God's gonna trouble the water(Come on let's) wade in the waterWade in the water (children)Wade in the waterGod's gonna trouble the waterNow if you should get there before I do(I know) God's gonna trouble the waterTell all my friends that I'm comin' too(I know) God's gonna trouble the waterSometimes I'm up lord and sometimes I'm down(You know my) God's gonna trouble the waterSometimes I'm level to the groundGod's gonna trouble the water(I Know) God's gonna trouble the waterWade in the water (children)Wade out in the water (children)God's gonna trouble the water
The Hardships of African-Americans
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1463139
This website is about the hardships that African-Americans indeed have faced between 1864 and 1954. I believe that the reason African-Americans include so much hardship is because of the many struggles they faced for so long.
Do you agree or disagree?
Poet Research Paper
I had to do a research paper on a poet of my choice and I chose, Nikki Giovanni. It was our job to connect the poet's life to their works. Nikki Giovanni is an African American poet. Researching her was a direct link to my essential question. Being an African American poet in her poems she exhibits the hardships and suffering that I see common in many works by African American writers.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Yet Another Hardship...
Clara's father is introduced in the novel and his purpose of immigrating to England was to establish a foundation for his wife and daughter. This hardship is typical not only for blacks but anyone that lives in a third world country. Jamaica being a third world country, wasnt providing enought for the Bowden family and Clara's father, Darcus had to do something about it, so he decided to go to England to start a new life. But then wen he got there it was't that simple and he got sick, yet another hardship that he has to face. He only sits in the corner of the living room in a chair, with his eyes permanently plastered to the television.
Because of this Clara's mother Hortense has to take the lead role. She is a proud and dedicated Jehovah's Witness. With her religion and her independence she is portrayed as a strong black woman.
It seems that through the hardships of her husband she is able to remain strong.
Because of this Clara's mother Hortense has to take the lead role. She is a proud and dedicated Jehovah's Witness. With her religion and her independence she is portrayed as a strong black woman.
It seems that through the hardships of her husband she is able to remain strong.
At Odds
"...Ryan was red as a beetroot. And Clara was black as her boot."
When the schooling that both Clara and Ryan recieved in Jamaica is talked about I made me think. I started to see that Clara being in her natural environment was only at odds because she was a Jehovah Witness, and Ryan was at odds because he was white. So maybe only in the element of white people are blacks depicted by their hardships because they are the minority in society. Because it doesnt show any evidence that Clara was an outcast because of her color while in Jamaica but rather because of her choice in religion...just a thought. What do you think??
When the schooling that both Clara and Ryan recieved in Jamaica is talked about I made me think. I started to see that Clara being in her natural environment was only at odds because she was a Jehovah Witness, and Ryan was at odds because he was white. So maybe only in the element of white people are blacks depicted by their hardships because they are the minority in society. Because it doesnt show any evidence that Clara was an outcast because of her color while in Jamaica but rather because of her choice in religion...just a thought. What do you think??
Interacial Couples
In certain times interacial relationships were not accepted. Even today some people still look down on them...
It is introduced that Clara and Archie have chemistry with each other. Clara is of Jamaican descent and Archie is an assimilated British. The fact that Smith incorporates the integration of two opposite heritages together, being black and white, shows that although Clara is looked upon as an outcast in society because she is black she is still accepted by some. The fact that Archie accepts Clara shows me that Archie either (1) sees himself as an outcast too, (2) doesnt care that Clara is black, or (3) that this could lead to some problems with these characters within their society.
The fact that Smith includes this relationship it shows me that her, as a writer is trying to show that although Clara is at odds with society shes doesnt care and because she believes in interacial relationships she is going to include them in her novel, because she is the result of an interacial couple.
I see that this relationship between blacks and whites is important to the novel because Smith even talks about Clara's previous relationship which was with a man named Ryan Topps. And again Smith describes his physical features that allow the reader to know without a doubt that he is white. Him being "redheaded, flatfooted, and freckled to such an extent that his skin was rarer than his freckles.
So the fact that Clara has had relationships with white men maybe leading to something. Maybe in this novel the black female isnt portrayed through hardships afterall but more information will tell...
It is introduced that Clara and Archie have chemistry with each other. Clara is of Jamaican descent and Archie is an assimilated British. The fact that Smith incorporates the integration of two opposite heritages together, being black and white, shows that although Clara is looked upon as an outcast in society because she is black she is still accepted by some. The fact that Archie accepts Clara shows me that Archie either (1) sees himself as an outcast too, (2) doesnt care that Clara is black, or (3) that this could lead to some problems with these characters within their society.
The fact that Smith includes this relationship it shows me that her, as a writer is trying to show that although Clara is at odds with society shes doesnt care and because she believes in interacial relationships she is going to include them in her novel, because she is the result of an interacial couple.
I see that this relationship between blacks and whites is important to the novel because Smith even talks about Clara's previous relationship which was with a man named Ryan Topps. And again Smith describes his physical features that allow the reader to know without a doubt that he is white. Him being "redheaded, flatfooted, and freckled to such an extent that his skin was rarer than his freckles.
So the fact that Clara has had relationships with white men maybe leading to something. Maybe in this novel the black female isnt portrayed through hardships afterall but more information will tell...
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
The first book that I will be reading is White Teeth by british-jamaican writer, Zadie Smith. I picked this book because it was recommended to me, but also because I believe that it will be interesting to see if the fact that Smith is of mixed descent has any affect on her writing about blacks. This will give my research to exploring my essential question some variety.
So, in the beginning of the book there is no talk about any black female characters, which i thought was going to affect my exploration of finding answers to me essential question, but just as the first chapter closes the writer introduces a black woman by the name of Clara Bowden...
When Clara is introduced she is said to be "beautiful in all senses except maybe, by the virtue of being black." This being the first sentence that described the only black female character mentioned so far, I got the idea that black people are going to be portrayed in a negative light in this story.
It seems that Zadie Smith tries to set aside the negative aspects of the portrayal of black women by stating the beauty of Clara but then its like she can't escape the negative aspects and has to include that being black is Clara's only drawback. She goes on to explain all of the qualities of Clara and they are all positively based on the beauty of women. From her curves to her independence. Through the description of Clara I would have never known that she was black if Smith didnt bluntly put it out there. I wonder if this has any significance? After that the only other distinction that Clara is a black woman is depicted by her Jamaican accent.
In literature the dialect of a character can say alot. So with this I see that Smith included this to distance Clara even more as an outcast in society based on her heritage.
As i continue reading and I am introduced to more information on Clara I will track whether or not her place in society changes or does she remain "beautiful in all senses except maybe, by the virtue of being black."
So, in the beginning of the book there is no talk about any black female characters, which i thought was going to affect my exploration of finding answers to me essential question, but just as the first chapter closes the writer introduces a black woman by the name of Clara Bowden...
When Clara is introduced she is said to be "beautiful in all senses except maybe, by the virtue of being black." This being the first sentence that described the only black female character mentioned so far, I got the idea that black people are going to be portrayed in a negative light in this story.
It seems that Zadie Smith tries to set aside the negative aspects of the portrayal of black women by stating the beauty of Clara but then its like she can't escape the negative aspects and has to include that being black is Clara's only drawback. She goes on to explain all of the qualities of Clara and they are all positively based on the beauty of women. From her curves to her independence. Through the description of Clara I would have never known that she was black if Smith didnt bluntly put it out there. I wonder if this has any significance? After that the only other distinction that Clara is a black woman is depicted by her Jamaican accent.
In literature the dialect of a character can say alot. So with this I see that Smith included this to distance Clara even more as an outcast in society based on her heritage.
As i continue reading and I am introduced to more information on Clara I will track whether or not her place in society changes or does she remain "beautiful in all senses except maybe, by the virtue of being black."
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
ESSENTiAL QUESTiON!
A great deal of African-American female authors, I believe based on the past and hardships that African-Americans have gone through, are influened to present these issues in their works of literature. With this pattern apparent I will be exploring how these ideas of hardship and suffering are portrayed in the works of Black writers and how they change over time.
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