#comment7

[uwengl591]

Response to Well Intentioned Mothers by Marina

Meghan, This is a great layout for your paper with your strong examples and the highlighting the aspect of dehumanization which we have seen throughout this semester. If it helps your argument in any way, I suggest looking at Billie Holiday's "My Man." Her lyrics really examine the idea of female agency that we have seen through the books we have read this semester.

Here they are: It cost me a lot But there's one thing that I've got It's my man It's my man Cold or wet Tired, you bet All of this I'll soon forget With my man He's not much on looks He's no hero out of books But I love him Yes, I love him Two or three girls Has he That he likes as well as me But I love him I don't know why I should He isn't true He beats me, too What can I do? Oh, my man, I love him so He'll never know All my life is just a spare But I don't care When he takes me in his arms The world is bright All right What's the difference if I say I'll go away When I know I'll come back On my knees someday For whatever my man is I'm his forevermore

I know we had only looked at her song, "Strange Fruit," but I feel this may be of use to you!

Also, on a broader platform, I wonder why (from the authors that we have read) they have focused so heavily on female agency (or the lack thereof) and the outcomes of dehumanization on individuals such as Bigger Thomas. Looking back at all of our readings, I actually appreciate the fact that we read Native Son last. At first I was annoyed that Wright fed us so obviously by his writing and implying stereotypes that could already be deduced by readers. However, writing the book in the 1940s and reading it today generates two different readerships. Where the author's weren't straightforward and explicit, thus forcing readers to make their own claims on the text, Wright made it simple in order to lay out the atrocities that were happening to all African Americans and how they had to live in order to survive. Hence, Wright's character Bigger and the realization Bigger has at the end of the novel by accepting the fact that he killed the women and claiming power over himself. Wright's ability to then take the reader through "How Bigger was Born" solidifies his argument to his 20th century readers instead of thinking about a "post-racial society." I say post racial facetiously.

[uwengl591]

Sara Lawton, Comments 7 and 8

Comment 7: Response to The Many Bigger Thomases by Megan Hoffman

By Sara Lawton

Megan, I found your comparison between Bigger and Tracy really insightful. Bigger and Tracy are very different characters in that Bigger is forced into representing all the negative stereotypes about black men in Chicago, whereas Tracy is forced into representing all the “positive” stereotypes about white men in the South. The debate about whether those stereotypes are positive or not could be an entire post, so I will not go into detail here.

I also think that your phrase “inner tensions” is really helpful in describing those internal conflicts felt by many of the characters in the things we’ve read this semester.

I find “sex is the only way he knows how” in reference to Bigger a little problematic. It takes the responsibility off of him. While it is clear that Bigger is a victim of oppression, it is problematic to excuse him from accountability for what he did do. It could be argued that his actions are not his fault, or that they are not entirely his fault, however I believe that he must be held accountable to some degree, and I believe that all people know a better way to take control of their lives than rape. If they can actually implement better ways in reality is another question altogether. I read Bigger’s violence as an act of rebellion more so than an act of taking control. While he certainly was attempting to take control, I do not believe that destruction and violence are a way to take control. It may be a way to feel temporary control, or temporary dominance, but ultimately it is more so an act of rebellion.

Also, I know that as a class, we have decided that Tracy indeed did rape Nonnie, however I still believe that he tried and failed to “complete” it. I think that this might say something slightly different about these two men and the plots of the two novels. Tracy’s failure may indicate that he is unable to take control, while Bigger’s successful rebellion indicates that he is able to take control. This may lead to a negative reading of Strange Fruit, for example: Tracy was ineffective in taking control, and by rebelling he caused more problems than solving them.

Comment 8, Response to Richard Wright: Black Power by Frannie Gilligan

Thank you for posting about this, Frannie. I think that it is helpful to have the historical context of the author’s upbringing and later life to better understand the forces influencing their writing.

I was surprised to learn that Wright had travelled so much, and internationally as well. It sounds like some of those factors, specifically his travel, influenced his writing and his ability to look at America objectively.

Perhaps his upbringing also increased his desire for rebellion and led to increased support for and involvement with the Black Power Movement. Since he had suffered firsthand from some of the problems black Southerners faced in the early 20th century, like poverty, he had concrete experience that he wished to put a stop to.

I was surprised to learn that he was such an important figure in the Black Power Movement as well. I always find it surprising that these figures, who are undoubtedly important in a wide historical perspective, are often missing from our history textbooks in school. I do not believe I studied the Black Power Movement in detail when in middle school or high school, and it is always a little startling to realize how much I missed.

I think that knowing Wright’s background changes how I see Native Son. Bigger is a difficult character to read, especially when he acts out in violence.