Unit Two: Equality 5/24

In Langston Hughes' Mother to Son, the mother is telling the son not to undo the progress that has been made towards equality. She talks about how hard it has been to climb to where she is, and not to take any steps down because it will be even harder to climb up again. This inevitable "step down" could be any action that white people disagree with, which was rarely something rational. In my opinion, this advice is really more of a warning to make progress when possible, but sort of stay in line otherwise.

In Yet Do I Marvel, Countee Cullen compares the struggle for black equality to the story of Sisyphus. According to Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished for trying to outsmart Zeus, the ruler of the Gods. His punishment was to push a boulder up a mountain, then watch it roll down to the bottom, and then repeat the process for eternity. Cullen is making the statement that while the black community tries to become equal with the white community, the more powerful white community resents them for it and turns it against them.

Both of these works reinforce the same idea, that the way to approach equality is with respect, not force or hatred. In spite of the terrible way of life and disrespect that whites had for blacks, the only way to earn respect is to show respect. Otherwise, the hatred between the two groups would be strengthened and equality would be farther than before.

In contrast, If We Must Die by Claude McKay challenges white oppression with the fist. From McKay's background, we know that he comes from Jamaica and is met with racism in America. This poem harnesses his frustration and his call to kinsmen for violence against white people is certainly a product of that frustration. It's hard to put myself in his situation, I cannot begin to understand his frustration, but it seems to me that this is a step in the wrong direction towards equality. At the end of the civil rights movement, it was peaceful, respectful, understanding that prevailed.

America also by Claude McKay shows a less aggressive side to the author. His bittersweet relationship with America is confusing. He says that America is taking the life out of him, but he loves it anyway. I find the last four lines especially confusing. What does he mean by the 'priceless treasures sinking in the sand'? Does he mean that the values America was founded on (All men are created equal) have been forgotten? That's the best I can come up with, if anyone else has some insight let me know.

My favorite reading for today was definitely Theme for English B by Langston Hughes. First, I like the flow of the poem and how easy it is to read from one line into the next line. It definitely is comparable to a jazz rhythm combined with everyday speech (like described in his background information on blackboard). I feel like it gives the author a somewhat confident, almost happy, tone, even though this poem is an identity struggle. Mostly, I like the message of this poem. The following lines, in particular, describe the message I'm referring to:

You are white-

yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.

That's American.

Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me.

Nor do I often want to be a part of you.

But we are, that's true!

I think that this is reminiscent of the "melting pot" idea we encountered yesterday in Letters from and American Farmer. It is truly an American concept to think that the people around us, even if they are not viewed as equals, are a part of our identity. Hughes emphasizes that we may not always want to associate with each other, but not to recognize this as part of our identity would be ignorant.

In short, I think that Langston Hughes is the most aligned with the concepts of American equality that we saw yesterday.