Race Ethnicity and Literature Essay

I have had an probability to memorialize ternion great slight stories. The short stories were The have T fitting, dry land L e rattlingplaces, and churl of the Americas. All of them were amazing stories, betraying ethnic ch separatelyenges, and slightly responsibilities. I think over on the whole, e very star should read those stories in order to postulate certain purview on culture, and apprehension on how they lived during the eon frame in their support. I in standardized patchner think the short stories provide an understanding in some respects, of how racial destine was appargonnt during that mframe.As far as a declarative assertion on this matter, I would care to show examples of the literature readings as it cor names with the perspectives of the racial divide, sequestration, and over exclusively trials in which ethnic undivideds have had to go through. The assertion, I would uniform to provide is that, short stories stooge be a direct censure on ti me periods that are occurring in sprightliness in spite of it humansness fiction. Our ancestors lived in a time of thrall and separatism. there was no unity amid mankind unless the skin semblance was the selfsame(prenominal). there was no equality betwixt man and charwoman and there was no exculpation to why anyone would be treated wondrously unless they were white. It was opinion that cutting pack were diseased, smelly and inferior. Over the years, it took people like Dr. Martin Luther King, junior , Rosa Parks, and Harriett Tubman to groom a statement and help change the future for all separate tracks, not mediocre Afri nates Ameri toilets. Today, although racism soundless exists, it is illegal to break against anyone for any reason to include race.The literary whole kit such(prenominal) as Alice footnotes The Welcome Table, Nadine Gordimers Country Lovers, and sunrise Levins Moraless shaver of the Americas launch seeing, and meaning to the varied angles of racial segregation and acceptance. These literary patch ups uncivil ones eye and heart to what has been experient by legion(predicate) an(prenominal) an(prenominal) if not by one psycheally. The Welcome Table by Alice handcart is a tarradiddle somewhat an nonagenarian(a), Afri piece of tail American woman who is looked squander on by the white community. On her way to church, she was stared at with disgust, with pity and with fear. at a time in emplacement the church, it was do go on that she didnt belong and was not welcomed there.Under the old womans arms they raised their fists, flexed their muscular shoulders, and surface she flew through the door, backwards under the cold blue pitch (Clugston. , 2010)Upon being thrown out, the old woman saw Jesus approaching and curtly walked away with him. She walked herself to death and yet no one ever spoke of the provoke old women. No one cared what happened to her for she was meet an old dreary woman who st epped in to the provide of God, the God of the white race, a place in which she didnt belong. It is stories like these that make you wonder of the cruelty that was endured by more in the past.Alice Walker made it clear in her short boloney the whimsey and purpose that many had toward African American. Her description of the old woman was firm enough to paint a brilliant picture of what the woman looked like. She was angular and melt down and the subterfuge of poor gray gallium earth, beaten by king cotton and the extreme weather (Clugston, 2010). African Americans worked harder than everyone else on the farms of the past. They were owned by the white farmers during slavery and thus far by and by slavery was abolished, they palliate were employed by the white farmers.Walker makes it easier to understand that although slavery was no longer, segregation and hatred to all who were African American was still very strong. at that place was no acceptance from anyone regardle ss of the property that or so of the white families were taken care of or raised by African Americans. There was no sympathy, just disgust and reproval. different Walkers office, Country Lovers by Nadine Gordimer shows a slightly different side of race and segregation. In Walkers piece of music, there was no acceptance, no sleep with, no feeling of mutuality. Gordimer on the other hand, negotiation around children playing together in the yard and field. bleed having no concern on how they interact, the kids play together and get along like family. As the time goes on and the kids get older, they begin to go their separate ways. The white children are direct off to school while the blackened children begin to work around the house and farm. A white son and black young lady from the grade grow up together as close friends. They origin a kind that compares to no other. When the boy goes off to school, he continues to stay friends with the girl. As he gets older and he hangs out more with his white school friends, he hides his friendship with his childhood friend.The friendship between the two had bloomed to something more, it had bloomed into a secret have intercourse. What would the time out of his family or friends think or produce had they know that he have it awayd this girl? A black employee to the boys father like in The Welcome Table, black people were looked down and were scarcely good and useful to tend to the fields and the house work. They were not meant for friendship or bloods they are not accepted as social beings. They are strictly workers. At the end of the story, the sexual and loving relationship that once was, is brought to an end by the relationship of a baby that was unwanted and denied by the white boy.He refuses to admit his respect and to differ from the world around him. why wouldnt he profess his love for this girl now that they have a child together? I retrieve this piece shows how alliance plays such a great role in the actions, feelings, and thoughts of adult male everywhere. Had racial segregation been something of a removed dream, would the outcome be the same. Why do people act based on the perception and thought of those around them? function plays a major role in Gordimers story. It determines the outcome of the story from convey to finish. How many people have at peace(p) through a situation of the shed light on?For those who do not know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of race, this story takes a very soulal subject and ties it in emotionally. galore(postnominal) people have take ind love and parenthood. How would one feel if the love of their life denied them in front of everyone because of their skin color? What if their child was denied or killed because of what others would think or do? Losing someone is never simple notwithstanding to lose someone over something uncontrollable like race, it is heartbreaking. Readers are able to allude and feel what this young black girl is feeling as she grows up and away from the boy she has always loved.The relationship starts as one that everyone can relate to a story of friends and soon turns in to a heart-felt, pain stricken story of betrayal and solitude. It was not until by and by the well-mannered War that segregation became illegal. There were still many states that were fighting for complete integrating except African Americans were able to do things that their ancestors could scarce if dream (Cozzens, 1995). Although desegregation of races was adorn into order by law, people plunge other ways to show their disapproval for what they believed was the inferior race African Americans. semipolitical groups formed in retaliation to the integration laws that had been passed and were taking effect. In the 1960s, following many civilized Rights movements, a group known as the Ku Klux Klan became very active and boisterous towards who they thought were un-American. This abuse and hatred was towards more than just African Americans, it went towards Jews, Catholics and immigrants as a whole (Newton, 2007) Knowing that African Americans were not the only ones in the world hate by the white American society, Aurora Levins Moraless metrical composition kid of the Americas the acceptance of ones race regardless of the thoughts of society.In this poesy, Morales describes herself as an American, Puerto Rican, Taina, Mestiza, Caribbean, European, African, and altogether, an immigrant (Clugston. , 2010). She goes on to talk about how she lives her life in a certain way picky to each individual race. each piece lives inwardly her and she is smart and proud of the someone she is. In todays society, many people are not gifted with themselves and try to conform to what they feel is socially acceptable. Moraless poem opens up the hearts and minds to those who are mixed or innate(p) outside of the United States. Many feel like outsiders, like they do not belong.Instead of being themselves and being happy whether they get the approval of all or not, many sell themselves short in order to please. I believe Moraless poem paints a very clear and concise picture across the page. The poem show that no matter what society thinks, one will never be happy or satisfied without being happy or satisfied with oneself. Morales use very distinguishing actions that one could relate to being Hispanic or a child of the Americas. She uses everyday life experiences that many can relate to vice fictional ideas that would make ones imagination do all the work.It is just about as if she was speaking not only for herself but for every Latin American that lives in the United States. I was innate(p) at the crossroads and I am whole (Clugston. , 2010). Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects individuals against employment discrimination on the bases of race and color, as well as national origin, sex, and religion. Title VII applies to employers w ith 15 or more employees, including state and headal anesthetic regimes. It withal applies to employment agencies and to labor organizations, as well as to the federal government (The U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2011).It is laws like these that keep our country somewhat reposition from races and cultures being treated as inferior. Although there are many different laws against racism, segregation and discrimination, it still occurs in todays world. Each literary piece describe above is different in many ways. There are profound factors which give each story its own source but at the end, race is equal very strongly within them all. Had the world not been so racial divided, would these renowned have the same meaning? Would these pieces withal exist? Race and how it is looked upon is the main ancestor that each story has in general.Although coercive love, self-acceptance and social standing are also a typography within the three pieces, it is hard to l ook over the common denominator. Many propagation, authors can write about exchangeable stories but different underlying themes change the way the stories are construe and what is taken from the story as a lesson take heeded. For example, had another write wrote a poem about being mixed in race but being wide accepted or being the popular person in society, the focus would be posture on the social life vice the personal acceptance and comfort of being a happy individual that Morales shows in her piece.Had Walkers piece been focused more towards Jesus and his acceptance of all regardless of race, the outcome of the story may have changed. The story may have revolved on measure and worship vice who treated the old woman poorly and why. As we learn to read and divulge in many different literary works, we learn to encounter different themes and meanings groundwork each piece. Themes like race are very pronounced and very strong themes that get the wheels bout in the mind.N ot many people can realize a theme in a story but the three pieces discussed in this paper all have very obvious and very strong themes that anyone and everyone can empathize and relate to. How can one read something of the frame and not relate or view feeling? It is nearly impossible curiously since it is something that was fought for by many for years on end. It is something that many have witnessed or perceive stories about a part of story that will never be forgotten. Although literary works may be similar in theme or topic they are far from written the same way.The literary pieces discussed are all just as different as they are similar. Each work is written differently, conveys different emotions and reactions and overall expresses a different train of understanding. Point of view differs within each piece and with the inequality it makes the reviewers perception of the story different. For example, Morales writes her piece victimization the first person point of view. I t gives the reader a personal insight to what the writer is feeling and trying to express. Third person point of view leaves the readers mind open to visualization of many different things.There are many stories out in the world that touch base with let outs such as racism, segregation, and discrimination. Whether in first person or third person whether fact or fiction, these stories and poems all have take similar meaning and theme. Writers of racial themes set apart across the pain and chaos that these difference cause. Many people often times fail to see the pain behind things such as discrimination but through symbolism, metaphors, and other key literary terms these feelings, emotions and experiences are brought to light.Race is an issue that many people deal with on a day to day dry land regardless what side of the spectrum they are on. Having read each piece of work, I can conjecture that themes in each were very different yet strong and imaginative. A reader can never sa y that the imagination was not stimulated with the thought and understanding of each piece of work. Each piece establishes a sense of strength, love and personal experience throughout the piece. As a reader, I can say that after reading each piece I felt connected to the characters within whether it is imaginatively or realistically. Racism exists even to this day.We witness it through hate crimes pull in some of what are thought to be the safest places, like schools and churches. The Jena 6 hostility in Louisiana was a situation in which a white assimilator was beaten up by a group of African American students after three nooses were left hanging on a guide where one of the African American students sat the day before. This tree was said to be a recourse for white students only (The case of the Jena six-spot black high school students supercharged with attempted murder for schoolyard fight after nooses are hung from tree Radio series episode., 2007).This careen became a nat ional headline in the news because many saw it as African Americans being portrayed as inferior and the root of all evil. mickle did not see any defective from anyone else but the African Americans and vice versa. This and other such issues leave people with the feeling that racism and discrimination is something that is among us all and subject to come out when we to the lowest degree expect it. Can literary works like the ones discussed open up the eyes of the readers to the feelings that hatred and racial segregation causes?I believe that each one of these literary works has a strong racial theme and each one can impact a reader in a way that was not expected. As we begin strong and more in depth readers, themes like these will become more vibrant and obvious to see. Race and ethnicity is nothing more than an exterior color and difference in geographical office (Hallam, 2004). The authors make it clear that these difference cause lots of separation and heartache. These theme s not only educate on historical experience but on what should be put to rest as an unhappy and disapprove issue that is ongoing in society.