English Blog #11

Although, the war had ended African Americans were still facing troubles in America. Claude McKay discuses one of the problems Africans Americans faced which was lynching. The first four lines of McKay’s “The Lynching” seem to have made a connection to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

First, “His Spirit in smoke ascended to high heaven” (The Lynching). As I was reading this I made the connection to the scene where Jesus says, “Into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).  Second, “the cruelest way of pain” which is referring to the hanging and burning of the man being lynched (The Lynching). I was reminded of Jesus’ cruel death. He was beaten with a whip, was mocked, had a crown of thorns placed upon his head ,stripped naked and forced to carry his cross, and was nailed to the cross. Third, “His, father had bidden him to his bosom once again;” (The Lynching 2-3). I believe the father represents God. I think lines two through three are describing God welcoming the man back into heaven. Finally, “the awful sin remained still unforgiving” (The Lynching). I was not able to make a connection with the fourth line. Could McKay be referring to Original Sin? What is the unforgiving sin?  Just like Jesus Christ African Americans were forced to be persecuted. I cannot understand what African Americans did to deserve such cruel and unusual persecution. After the Civil War they were granted the freedom they desired only to be segregated against, and lynched.  

However, I really enjoyed McKay’s poem because it does a good job of allowing readers to feel like they are witnessing the lynching. McKay’s describes the aftermath of the man’s death “Hung pitifully o’er the swinging char. The ghastly body saying in the sun. The women thronged to look, but never a one Showed sorrow in her eyes of steely blue; And little lads, lynches that were to be, danced round the dreadful thing in fiendish glee” (The Lynching 9, 10-14). One thing that really surprised me was the way the children who were present were reacting. He describes the children to be happily dancing around the burned corpse. I was disgusted that children were present at the lynching let alone dancing around a burning corpse. Why are the children happy about the man who was burned and hung to death?

I feel that McKay uses such strong language so that some emotion would be stirred as American people read this poem. As a class we have learned about the lives of the African American people. I can’t help but to think that the lives of the early African American people had not improved much after the Civil was no oneWar. Why was no one standing up against this?

English Blog #10

In “The Wife of his Youth” Mr. Ryder who is preparing for his ball gets an unexpected visitor named Liza. Liza tells Mr. Ryder of her long journey to find her husband Sam, who promised to one day reunite with her. The “aha!” moment came when Mr. Ryder said, “Perhaps he’s outgrown you, and climbed up in the world where he wouldn’t care to have you find him” (The Wife of his Youth). Early on in the reading the author describes how Mr. Ryder “had come to Groveland a young man, and obtaining employment in the office of a railroad company as messenger had in time worked himself up to the position of stationary clerk,” (The Wife of his Youth). Also the author describes Mr. Ryder as someone who “was economical, and had saved money; he owned and occupied a very comfortable house on a respectable street’ (The Wife of his Youth). These passages describe how Mr. Ryder himself had moved up in society.  I could also sense distress from Mr. Ryder after the visit from Liza when “he went upstairs to his bedroom, and stood for a long time before the mirror of his dressing-case, gazing thoughtfully at the reflection of his own face” (The Wife of his Youth). I knew that Mr. Ryder was indeed the same man Liza had spent twenty five years searching for.

Another “aha!” moment came when I saw the determination displayed by Liza who spent twenty five searching for her husband. I could see that no matter what Liza was determined she would soon find her husband. It was clear when Liza said, “Sump’ns be’ tellin’ me all dese years dat I’s gwine fin’ Same ‘fo I dies” (The Wife of his Youth). I was reminded of Frederick Douglass. In his narrative Frederick Douglass is determined to accomplish two goals. The first was being able to read and the second was to become a free man.  Liza however, was in search of her husband. Neither person gave up on accomplishing their goals. Frederick Douglass would trade his food with young boys in exchange for lessons on how to read. The determination shown by both characters was the determination that our class has been discussing when regarding to the early African Americans. During early years of our nation African Americans were determined to one day have their freedom. As a result of the war African Americans were able to have their freedom; however, equality wouldn’t come till much later. For example, even after African Americans had been given the right to vote literacy tests were set up in order to prevent African Americans from voting. Determination shown by African Americans and those against slavery would impact our nation forever. 

English Blog # 9

From 1865 to 1914 America was rapidly changing and evolving. Advances in technology and education made America a powerful nation. However, there was still a lot of controversy regarding the equality of people. Although, the Civil War had just ended tension between African Americans and the Anglos did not just fade away. In fact, it seemed to have gotten worse. For example, African Americans were given the right to vote. In response literacy tests were set up to prevent African Americans from voting. However, there was another problem in America and that was who is an American? Should all people be allowed to immigrate in America or only the selected few?
In her poem “The New Colossus’” Emma Lazarus claims, that America was a land that welcomed immigrants. In an opposing perspective Thomas Bailey Aldrich stresses his views against immigration.  So which author had the right answer about immigration in America? “In response to growing anti-sentiments, Congress in 1882 passed the Chinese Exclusion Act” (17).The law prevented anyone from China to enter America. It would seem that America was not promoting itself as a land for immigrants in fact it seemed that it was against immigrants. At this time America seemed to be a land for certain individuals excluding immigrants, African Americans, and the Indians. In a letter to the New York Sun Saum Song Bo says, “The statue represents Liberty holding a torch which lights the passage of those of all nations who come into this country” (17). Bo then asks, “But are the Chinese allowed to come?” (17) America was a land built on immigration. After Columbus' discovery people were immigrating a land that had already been settled in by the American Indians. So why should others not be allowed to do the same? 
The controversey surrounding immingration has not gone away most recently; Arizona passed an immigration causing much controversy around the nation. Becoming an American citizen is not an easy process. It is important that we see the value of our citizenship and not take it for granted

English Blog # 8

Option 1: Choose ONLY two texts that seem to be in conversation with each other (they could agree or disagree). Analyze and discuss their competing visions of the American Dream. Whose is the most persuasive? How likely would 19th-century readers be persuaded by such writers/speakers? How would geography determine that audience's receptiveness to the writers'/speakers' claims?

During the Civil War America was not UNITED in any sense. There was a lot of tension between the North and the South. This tension was due to the difference in opinions regarding slavery. For the Southerners slavery had become a customary way of life. As we have read in our text the Northern states was a place where slaves could attempt to flee to in order to live a life of freedom. Many people from both sides had different opinions.

The first author I would like to discuss is Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut. Mary Chesnut being a Southerner viewed slavery as crucial to the Southern way of life. In her diary when finding out about General Lee surrendering Mary's response was, "Now we belong to negroes and Yankees!" Chesnut is upset because she knows that the South will no longer be able to own slaves and she blames the “Yankees and negroes” for changing the lifestyle to which Southerners are accustomed to. She continues, "They are everywhere, these Yankees, like red ants, like the locusts and frogs which were the plagues of Egypt." I find this statement made by Chesnut to be ironic. Does Chesnut believe the South to be like Egypt? I believe that there is a connection between the Egyptians and the South because slavery was present in both. Chesnut believes the North to represent the plagues I believe there is a connection between the North and Moses because both advocated against slavery.  

An opposing view comes from John Brown. John Brown says, "Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I say let it be done." Brown as an advocate of slavery is accepting his punishment because he believes that he along with others are fighting for a good cause. Brown even quotes the Bible saying, "Whatsoever I would that men should do to me, I should do even so to them." This is from Matthew 7:12. Brown believed that he had a calling from God to participate in the antislavery crusade. A connection could be made between Moses who received a calling from God to free the slaves of Egypt and Brown who believes he too was called by God to free the slaves of the South.    


After analyzing both readings there is one question to be answered which of these two readings is most likely to persuade a 19th century reader. The answer would mostly depend on a person’s location. For instance a Southerner would side with Mary Chesnut because they too do not want to get rid of their way of life owning slaves. However, if a Northerner were to read John Brown's statement before his death they would empathize with him. As a reader from the 21st century I am more persuaded by the just cause being Brown. As we have read both the North and the South were both religious. However, the question is did the South act, as Christians should? No, because as we have read those who were Christians in the South tended to be the more cruel of masters.