Last Entry!!!!

I believe it is still beneficial to study the Harlem Renaissance in the 21st century because it was extremely influential to today's world. After researching performing arts of the Harlem Renaissance, I learned that dances like the Lindy Hop are still used today. The dancing aspect of the Harlem Renaissance can be tied to modern dancing and the techniques that are still used. Also, during the Harlem Renaissance music was important and and influential. Some of the most profound musicians were during this time, especially Jazz performers. Music has evolved, but Jazz is the foundation of many types of music today.

I also believe it is important to still study the Harlem Renaissance because it represents Aferican American history and culture. We have read in numerous books the stuggle African Americans went through during this time in history. I think it is important to acknowledge it, but also learn the impact society had on African Americans and with their stregth and determination they were able to succeed and overcome their hardships.

I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of the Harlem Renaissance. I have always been interested in African American history. I was able to read a variety of literature that allowed me to understand the life sytle during the Harlem Renaissance but also the struggles and strength African Americans had during this time in history.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

When I began reading this novel, I didn't think I was going to like it. As I read further I began to really like this novel. I really like Janie's character. I like how through the novel, we see how Janie grows as a person through her relationships. We know as readers that Janie had many relationships. Her marriage with Jody was dysfunctional and did not allow her to be the woman that she wanted to be. As the story continued, we see Janie sticking up for herself and believing in herself. I like when she says "Ah reckon ah looks mah age too. But Ah'm uh woman every inch of me, and at know it. Dat's uh whole lot more'n you kin say" (p 79). I like how Janie throws it right back and sticks up for herself and doesn't let anyone hold her back from her thoughts.

I thought that the relationship with Tea Cake might be questionable but as I read I can see that Tea Cake is the man that has brought the best out of Janie. He made her feel the way a woman should feel. Although he was still a manly man, he was able to let that manly guard down a little bit and show Janie that he cared and wanted to make her happy. He was willing to pick lemons to make lemonade, he was will to comb her hair and whip the dandruff off her shoulders, etc. He was willing to accept the good and bad (accept her for her.)

I enjoyed reading about the struggles Janie had trying to find out who she really is. Although she struggled and had to suppress her feelings, she was able to overcome those hard times. She found herself, which allowed her to be happy and live a life that was fulfilling.

A Cautionary Tale and a Partisan View

After reading this story about Zora Neale Hurston, it reminded me of many topics that we have covered in class, especially the incidents where African Americans abandoned their race and culture, to fit into society, "white society." In Hurstons "Mules and Men," Hurston shares the stories of African Americans that have been forgotten for many years because African Americans abandoned those memories. I believe Hurston as an author, was brave and did not care what society thought of her as a writer. She wrote from the heart about the lives of so many African Americans. She brought life back into many lives and brought back a sense of happiness and fulfillment that so many lacked for many years.

The narrator states how Hurston was one author who did not lack the sense of racial health, complexity, etc. which so many African Americans authors lacked during this time. It was as though she was not going to settle (like so many have) to fit into a society that was not going to except her. She was going to stand tall and speak out about her beliefs and for those who have abandoned their race and culture because they did not see another way out. She took a risk, but in doing so, brought comfort and a sense of community back to the African American population. The narrator states, "Zora grew up in a community of black people who had enormous respect for themselves and for their ability to govern themselves." Not only did she bring this to those who knew her, but to everyone who read her book. Although she may not have been well known and "rewarded" for what she accomplished, she did have a positive impact of many African Americans.

Characteristics of Negro Expression

I was surprised in the section "will to adorn" when Hurston stated that "the Negro has introduced no African words to the language." I guess I never truly thought about who introduced words or where they originated from, especially if African Americans introduced words to our language. Although African Americans are looked down for their "slang," I think its fair to say that it is their own language and I do believe that it has been passed down to many generation. Words like "aint" are transformed from the english language from the word "aren't", but these words did originate from the African American culture and are still used today. I think it is important to identify because in the early 1900's it may not have been accepted, but today, "slang" words are commonly used even though they aren't "proper."

In the section "dialect", I thought it was very interesting how Hurston states how the lip form is responsible for the way African Americans speak. Hurston says, "By experiment the reader will find that a sharp "I" is very much easier with a thin taut lip than with a full soft lip." I think this description of how words are pronounced by other cultures give you more of an understanding and respect for their culture, rather than judging them of how they pronounce words.

Langston Hughes Article

After reading this article, I was very surprised how influential whites were towards African Americans without them even knowing it. In the beginning of this article it states hows "Negro art in American- this urge within the race toward whiteness, the desire to pour racial individuality into the mold of American standardization, and to be as little Negro and as much American as possible." I think in order for African Americans to feel accepted with their work and art, they had to write as though they were white. Its obvious that racial tension still existed during this time and to be successful you had to fit in and do what society wanted. The author mentions a great point at the end on the first page that "he" as the poet is never taught to to see his beauty but to be ashamed of it. It must be tough to grow up being told (by your family) that the white life is how you should live and want to live because you aren't accepted as an African American.

On the first page, the author gives examples of how the father refers to whites but unconsciously. He uses the white life as a guide for how he lives and how he raises his children. The author states "the whisper of "I want to be white" runs silently through their minds." It seems as though children during this time were taught about how to live like a white person rather than living and representing their culture and heritage. From the perspective of this father, it seems as though his goal is to blend in with the white society and try to forget about who he really is.

Cullen Poems

After our discussion in class on Wednesday, the poem "Tableau" stood out to me. It was one of my favorite poems of Cullen's poetry. I think some of his poetry can be difficult to understand and hard to relate to, which as a reader takes away the meaning of the poem.

After learning that Cullen may have been gay, this poem stands out as a way to express those feelings without actually saying it. He uses a black and white boy to show the vivid contrast of the boys walking arm in arm. I think using this contrast it makes the boys stand out to the reader, but more significantly as a race issue rather than it being assumed they were gay. Cullen goes on to describe how the dark folks stare and the fair folks talk and how "wrong" this is to the viewers. I believe that he could be using the black and white boy as a way to express his feeling about a gay relationship, but people during this time were so against black and white relationships that the idea wasn't even a thought.

I think that if Cullen was expressing a relationship between two gay boys, he did an excellent job of conveying the message through a white and black boy. The attention that a white boy and black boy would get, is probably very similar to what two gay boys would recieve if the public was aware. He hides the true identity of the boys, by using their color as a center point to his poetry rather than truly identitfying that the boys are gay.

The Best of the Brownies' Book

I enjoyed reading these stories because they are different from what we have been reading. Also, I enjoyed reading stories that were written for children. I really enjoyed reading the story "The Heritage." I think many children would be able to relate to this story. When I began reading the story, it was evident that it was going to be about an African American girl because there were numerous references to her "brown face." I was wondering if this was common during this time to reveal the characters in the stories as African American. I know from further research about The Brownies' Book that anyone could read these stories, but many of the stories were written by African Americans for an African American audience. This story was easy to read and would be easy for a child but was also easy to relate to, espcecially for children going to school. Through the story of Julie, you can get the sense that school can be tough and can make you want to give up, but with strength and determination you can succeed. I also think that Mother Mason's character could be influential for a child reading this story. She shows Julie that she has been given a gift to go to school and obtain an education. Her parents were not allowed to get an education and they are living that through her. Julie says ""Is it true that I am not struggling alone, and that I have my whole race to work for?" I think this is a powerful question that Julie asked. She is working for her race. She is working to prove that her race can be successful and can achieve anything. She is succeeding for those who weren't given the chance to succeed and shes succeeding for future generations.

I believe stories like this one were published to inspire African Americans. It was a way for African Americans to speak out about their race and to reflect on the past. I think stories like this one can help motivate the African American society to go for their dreams and do it because they can and not because they are being held back. Also, I believe that stories with a "happy ending" helped African Americans have hope to strive for the best that they deserved.