Impressions of Zitkala Sa's (Gertrude Simmons Bonnin) narrative. What do you see as the overall message in this portion of text?
The impression I got from this reading was of Zitkala's innocence and the beginning of that innocence's end. In section 4, The Coffee-Making, Zitkala attempts to show the warrior kindness and hospitality and acts as she thinks is best, but her naivety and lack of experience causes her to mess it up. Also, in section 3, The Beadwork, she recounts how she used to chase her own shadow, not realizing the connection between her movement and its fleeing. This innocence is what causes her to trust the palefaces. She forgets her mother’s warnings of them from the beginning (that they caused her uncle and sisters death) and begs to be allowed to leave with them. (I found it ironic that the translator was tempting her with apples – almost like Eve and the snake.)Upon leaving with them she begins to be afraid, comparing herself to ‘a captured young wild creature.’ (pg. 1019)
Also I felt a big message was that of community and tradition, which like her innocence is beginning to fade.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
*Washington and Du Bois*
Consider how Washington and Du Bois are "in conversation" with one another. How do their respective opinions differ?
In W.E.B. Du Bois's work, “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others” Du Bois responds to Washington’s Atlanta Exposition Address of 1895 and states that “the time is come when one may speak in all sincerity and utter courtesy of the mistakes and shortcomings of Mr. Washington’s career, as well as of his triumphs, without being thought captious or envious, and without forgetting that it is easier to do ill than well in the world.” (pg. 885)
In Washington’s address, he expresses the idea that “the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly, and that the progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forging.” (pg. 763) He is not, as many blacks would, demanding equal rights and reform immediately, but believes rights will come as the race proves itself by contributing to the country. He also says “No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilting a field as in writing a poem. It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top. Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities.” (pg. 761-2) When he says to ‘cast down your buckets where you are’ he’s referring to the south and that they should help themselves so that they will “be prepared for the exercises of these privileges [the law.]” (pg. 763)
Du Bois does not agree at all with Washington’s idea of how to gain equality. He says “Mr. Washington represents in Negro thought the old attitude of adjustment and submission… and Mr. Washington’s programme practically accepts the alleged inferiority of the Negro races.” (pg. 888-9) Du Bois describes Washington’s idea as a policy of submission which forces them to give up political power, insistence on civil rights and higher education of youth which concentrating solely on industrial education, acclamation of wealth and conciliation of the South. He questions Washington’s theory by asking “Is it possible, and probable, that nine millions of men can make effective progress in economic lines if they are deprived of political rights, made a servile caste, and allowed only the most meagre chance for developing their exceptional men?”(pg. 889) Whereas Washington advocated his races own efforts to succeed and achieve equality, Du Bois promotes the idea that blacks should press for civil rights; “By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men…” (pg 893)
In W.E.B. Du Bois's work, “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others” Du Bois responds to Washington’s Atlanta Exposition Address of 1895 and states that “the time is come when one may speak in all sincerity and utter courtesy of the mistakes and shortcomings of Mr. Washington’s career, as well as of his triumphs, without being thought captious or envious, and without forgetting that it is easier to do ill than well in the world.” (pg. 885)
In Washington’s address, he expresses the idea that “the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly, and that the progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than of artificial forging.” (pg. 763) He is not, as many blacks would, demanding equal rights and reform immediately, but believes rights will come as the race proves itself by contributing to the country. He also says “No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilting a field as in writing a poem. It is at the bottom of life we must begin, and not at the top. Nor should we permit our grievances to overshadow our opportunities.” (pg. 761-2) When he says to ‘cast down your buckets where you are’ he’s referring to the south and that they should help themselves so that they will “be prepared for the exercises of these privileges [the law.]” (pg. 763)
Du Bois does not agree at all with Washington’s idea of how to gain equality. He says “Mr. Washington represents in Negro thought the old attitude of adjustment and submission… and Mr. Washington’s programme practically accepts the alleged inferiority of the Negro races.” (pg. 888-9) Du Bois describes Washington’s idea as a policy of submission which forces them to give up political power, insistence on civil rights and higher education of youth which concentrating solely on industrial education, acclamation of wealth and conciliation of the South. He questions Washington’s theory by asking “Is it possible, and probable, that nine millions of men can make effective progress in economic lines if they are deprived of political rights, made a servile caste, and allowed only the most meagre chance for developing their exceptional men?”(pg. 889) Whereas Washington advocated his races own efforts to succeed and achieve equality, Du Bois promotes the idea that blacks should press for civil rights; “By every civilized and peaceful method we must strive for the rights which the world accords to men…” (pg 893)
Friday, February 2, 2007
*Regionalism*
Late into the evening on a cool August night, just as the sun began setting over the lake, a man walked through the vineyard with quick decisive steps, making his way from row to row. The grapes which were his screen against watchful eyes had been protecting him for several months as he had traveled and they served as his most useful safeguard to avoiding detection besides the endless expanse of trees. Ducking with each sound from the roadway the man laughed to himself at the irony of the situation; all his life he had hunted deer and other animals in the area but now he was the hunted.
It had been almost four months since his escape from prison and since then the area had exploded in activity in an attempt to find and arrest him again. State policemen were called in and news trucks never seemed to leave. So much excitement in such a quiet, rural area where interesting is a rarity and excitement has never happened before created a lot of discussion, especially as time wore on with no capture. The man, Ralph, was not unaware of the attention. However, he knew that if it had been a different region or at a different time of year, he never would have escaped detection for so long.
While mostly cool in late summer, nights in the winter would have been tortuous and impossible, with; lake effect white outs so bad you can’t see your hand in front of your face and wind that can make your breath feel frozen inside of you. The woods however, even before the mild summer weather, were his best alliance. A seemingly endless expanse of birch, elm and oak trees so dense in places that no one but locals could successfully find their way. And then there were the farms – grape vineyards mostly but also hay and corn where a man could just disappear into the fields. With so much land and so few people around there were more places to hide than people in the towns. The towns themselves were nothing too impressive; mostly little or no shops, abandoned buildings and one traffic light if they were lucky, the perfect picture of a deteriorating community.
It had been almost four months since his escape from prison and since then the area had exploded in activity in an attempt to find and arrest him again. State policemen were called in and news trucks never seemed to leave. So much excitement in such a quiet, rural area where interesting is a rarity and excitement has never happened before created a lot of discussion, especially as time wore on with no capture. The man, Ralph, was not unaware of the attention. However, he knew that if it had been a different region or at a different time of year, he never would have escaped detection for so long.
While mostly cool in late summer, nights in the winter would have been tortuous and impossible, with; lake effect white outs so bad you can’t see your hand in front of your face and wind that can make your breath feel frozen inside of you. The woods however, even before the mild summer weather, were his best alliance. A seemingly endless expanse of birch, elm and oak trees so dense in places that no one but locals could successfully find their way. And then there were the farms – grape vineyards mostly but also hay and corn where a man could just disappear into the fields. With so much land and so few people around there were more places to hide than people in the towns. The towns themselves were nothing too impressive; mostly little or no shops, abandoned buildings and one traffic light if they were lucky, the perfect picture of a deteriorating community.
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