Journal for Dubois

The reading for today is The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois. As an activist Dubois is much more militant and full speed ahead than his contemporary Booker T. Washington. As I mentioned before this is, to me, the opposite of the expected case based on their different upbringings. I do not agree with Dubois' teachings as much as I do with Washington's. While learning intellectual things is helpful I find that when immediately slavery ended practical trades and skills were the most important things for the Negro. Also, I do not believe in his idea of the talented tenth. Choosing which persons should be capable of empowering the race is offensive in that it takes into account the upbringing and education of persons (something that Dubois had an advantage in). In my opinion it should be the responsibility of the entire race to empower the race and not the responsibility of some ten percent.

Journal for Washington

The reading for today is Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington. The title of the autobiography displays how far in life Washington managed to come just so that he could achieve his dreams of going to college. Yet while reading the story I notice how in truth Washington still had many obstacles to overcome even after many people would say he accomplished his goal. While going to give his speech Washington notes how perhaps many white folks were in attendance just to hope that Washington would make a fool of himself. In reading Washington, despite the obvious racism rampant around him, he exhibits a much less militaristic style of DuBois and I find this strange when one thinks about how Washington had been throw a lower upbringing than DuBois and perhaps had less to lose in his failure as an activist.

Journal for Hughes

The reading for today is the poetry of Langston Hughes. As a writer I love the style of Hughes in how he paints a picture. In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" it's easy to imagine the rivers of which eh speak. Also I find it clever how each of the rivers are a part of some area that is important in the history of the Negro. Three of the rivers are in Africa where a tribe may set its home along the banks of, because during this time in history water represented life. Then the Mississippi represents the line that separates the Jim Crow territory from the states that exhibit at least a slight higher form of equality.

Journal for Mckay

The reading for today is the poetry of Claude McKay. McKay was a Jamaican poet during the Harlem Renaissance era with a very militant style of activism. His poems also exhibit this same militant attitude within them. Many of his poems, like others of the Harlem Renaissance era, are about African Americans standing up for their rights. Personally I find the poem "If We Must Die" to be the most powerful of these poems in how it is written. McKay expresses an attitude of doing everything in one's power to gain rights and equality. Yet throughout the poem McKay neglects to mention race thus making this poem capable of being used in many situations where one is fighting for freedom or right e.g. World War II. This neglect of mentioning race makes the African American struggle more synonymous with the struggles of all men and women.

Journal for Hurston

The reading for today is "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston. The story is about the relationship of an abused woman and her abusive husband. The story brings up some questions about the main character Delia. I find it strange that she would put up with a person like Syke for so long despite how abusive he is and how seemingly useless he is when it comes to earning a livelihood. On the other hand, I find it sad how Delia regains her love for Syke at the worst possible time, immediately before his death. The symbolism in this last scene I find interesting in that Syke is a man who has spent many years poisoning Delia with his venom and in the end he dies at he fangs of a snake that he himself brought into his home. I actually do not like either of the main character, because Delia possesses a self limiting timidness and Syke possesses sadistic mannerisms.

William Carlos William

The reading for today is Danse Russe by William Carlos Williams. This poems falls into the genre of work by the imagists. Danse Russe is a story of a man admiring himself in a mirror as he dances in front of it naked at night. I think that this poem is in some way an admiration of the human form as the narrator admires his body in the mirror. I also like the final line of the poems in that it questions the validity of the thoughts of others. While everyone else in the house sleeps the narrator is capable of performing this dance. It is as though he is fearful of the judging thoughts of the other members of the household if they were to witness this dance. However, at night, despite his body's imperfections and the strangeness of his actions the narrator believes in the genius and correctness of his actions.