The New Mirror, By Ann Petry

The memoir “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston, was first published in 1928, and recounts the situation of racial discrimination and prejudice at the time in the United States. The author was born into an all-black community, but was later sent to a boarding school in Jacksonville, where she experienced “race” for the first time. Hurston not only informs the reader how she managed to stay true to herself and her race, but also inspires the reader to abandon any form of racism in their life. Especially by including Humor, Imagery, and Metaphors, the author makes her message very clear: Everyone is equal.

Ronald Takaki, in his book, “A Different Mirror,” tackles the traditional narrative of American History. His concern lies in the diversified structure and inclusion of parts of their world, and their relation with daily interaction between people. The problem lies, however, in that the structure of American History, is heavily dependent on a Eurocentric idea of conquering the weak. With Takaki’s narrative experience, from the beginning of Chapter 1, he reveals how through history education, ordinary Americans, generally, are subsequently narrow minded and are ill prepared to adjust to the change in demographics throughout next decades, and thereof.

In many situations, a society’s development requires challenging traditional ideas and forcing a paradigm shift. Just like Nicolaus Copernicus proposed that the earth orbits the sun, not vice versa, Ronald Takaki also challenges a traditional version of history which he calls “The Master Narrative”. In his book “a Different Mirror” chapter N.7 “Foreigners in their Native Land”, Takaki tells the story and explains how the westward expansion of the United States was a brutal event that affected the Mexican and Native communities rather than a heroic achievement from the United States government. In this document, he also portrays the willingness of the US to appeal to warlike movements as long as they are required to achieve their goals, which

The Shattered Mirror, is a short excerpt written by Kwame Anthony Appiah, explaining the idea of “cosmopolitanism,” through the use of an extended metaphor. Appiah uses the life and travels of Sir Richard Burton, to explain both “cosmopolitanism,” and “Anti-cosmopolitanism.” Appiah effectively explains what this term means, and why we should be willing to adopt “cosmopolitanism,” by use of allusions, metaphors, and sarcasm as an appeal to emotion. Appiah exemplifies Burton as both “cosmopolitan,” and “anti-cosmopolitan.” In short, being “cosmopolitan,” is defined by Appiah in the text as, “recognition that human beings are different and that we can learn from each other’s differences,” and “the recognition of our responsibility for every human

The novel holds white readers accountable for their privileges and challenges them to confront the injustices African Americans face. In the face of ongoing discrimination, there is a need for systemic change to humanize and recognize the dignity of all individuals, regardless of

Ann Petry 's novella, "In Darkness and Confusion," explicitly exhibits the ramifications of being a poverty stricken African American in Harlem, New York – via the conscious of the extremely contemplative William Jones. In this short story, readers are allowed to experience William’s anxiety about residing in a slum ridden neighborhood, working at a barely paying job, and the mental health of his deployed son. In journeying alongside William throughout the weekend, sharing his past disappointments and disillusionments as well as his hopes and dreams, the reader is able to discern his feelings of mass frustration. In walking in the shoes of William Jones, it becomes evident how the entire Black community might be overwhelmed by circumstances which indubitably inspired and provided rationale for an urban black rebellion.

In Brian Copeland’s memoir, “Not a Genuine Black Man: My Life as an Outsider”, he vividly shares to what kind of racism and treatment that he and his family have gone through in a white community in San Leandro, CA during the 70’s. Through an ethnic studies lens, we can see clearly that indeed, the treatment of most Americans or “whites” toward African-American or “blacks” are hostile. There’s an invisible gap between two races, and Being an African-American

Before laws were passed for equality, African-Americans had a difficult time coping with being undermined by whites. This led them to build their own communities and remain among their own. The story “How it Feels to be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston was written in 1928, about her moving from a community of her own kind to neighbors who discriminated against her and her family. Though a person’s environment can affect how they see himself/herself or how others might perceive him/her, difficult times does not exactly mean that a person will become bitter or vengeful about it.

Racial bias and discrimination have historically constricted African Americans from living free and prosperous lives. Especially, in America’s Progressive Era when “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” happened to be published. This groundbreaking essay, written by Zora Neale Hurston, provided African Americans with a unique approach to defying racial discrimination. Namely, Hurston’s unique defense from societal discrimination is in her steadfast optimism towards the limitations of being African American. Therefore, Hurston’s essay achieved more than bringing hope to African Americans it also provided a solution in this period of bitter adversity. This is what distinguishes Nora’s essay from other literary works because it focuses on modeling a beneficial mindset rather than listing the hardships that black people are subjected to. Zora Neale Hurston is an influential role model for African Americans, she argues that racial discrimination and unjust biases can be overcome by having pride and optimism in the progression of one’s race.

John Szarkowski is an American photographer and curator, whose opinions on a photograph’s narrative and direction are highly valued. In his time he analyzed many works of art, and produced many different interpretations, one being the ideals of mirrors and windows.

Society has always thought of racism as a war given to the lowly African American from the supposedly high class white man, but no one thought there would be prejudice within a hierarchical class system inside the black community. However within that class system, history has shown that darker colored women are at the deep trenches of the totem pole. In the novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” African American women are put under harm and control exposing the racism and sexism with their community. Through the life of Janie Crawford, Zora Neale Hurston portrays the concept of a woman finding her independence in a black, hierarchical, and racist society.

There are numerous works of literature that recount a story- a story from which inspiration flourishes, providing a source of liberating motivation to its audience, or a story that simply aspires to touch the hearts and souls of all of those who read it. One of the most prevalent themes in historical types of these kinds of literature is racism. In America specifically, African Americans endured racism heavily, especially in the South, and did not gain equal rights until the 1960s. In her renowned book The Color Purple, Alice Walker narrates the journey of an African American woman, Celie Johnson (Harris), who experiences racism, sexism, and enduring hardships throughout the course of her life; nonetheless, through the help of friends and

In her “Reflections”, Simone Weil explains that the quality of the prayer depends on the quality of the attention, which “consists of suspending our thought, leaving it detached, empty, and ready to be penetrated by the object.” Furthermore, she states that the attention is best exercised by trying to solve problems we do not understand at first, such as school exercise in a subject that we do not like. According to Weil, it is that trying that brings “more light into the soul” and improves our prayers. Therefore, it is important that students try equally hard in all subjects regardless of their likes or dislikes. Not only should they try equally hard, but they should also be able to do so without “any wish to gain good marks, to pass examinations,

In exploring the problem of identity in Black literature we find no simple or definite explanation. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that it is rooted in the reality of the discriminatory social system in America with its historic origins in the institution of slavery. One can discern that this slavery system imposes a double burden on the Negro through severe social and economic inequalities and through the heavy psychological consequences suffered by the Negro who is forced to play an inferior role, 1 the latter relates to the low self-estimate, feeling of helplessness and basic identity conflict. Thus, in some form or the other, every Negro American is confronted with the

Racism is an issue that blacks face, and have faced throughout history directly and indirectly. Ralph Ellison has done a great job in demonstrating the effects of racism on individual identity through a black narrator. Throughout the story, Ellison provides several examples of what the narrator faced in trying to make his-self visible and acceptable in the white culture. Ellison engages the reader so deeply in the occurrences through the narrator’s agony, confusion, and ambiguity. In order to understand the narrators plight, and to see things through his eyes, it is important to understand that main characters of the story which contributes to his plight as well as the era in which the story takes place.