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.

Passing

After class, I thought about Irene’s character and her “role” in society. Irene is portrayed as an African American woman who can pass when needed. In her case, when she met with Clare and her husband, she was passing. I feel like she contradicts herself. She felt that Clare was being humiliated and insulted by her husband who is obviously racist, but in all actuality it is an insult to Irene as well. She also stated in the first section that we read that she didn’t understand how Clare could sit there and just laugh and not saying anything to her husband. I feel like Irene is putting herself in the same position by passing and that if she felt it was an insult she should have stuck up for the race. I can understand the fear she felt because he was white and racist, but I don’t feel she should put the blame on other people for doing exactly what she is doing.

I think Irene says it perfectly, “Its funny about “passing.” We disapprove of it and at the same time condone it. It excites our contempt and yet we rather admire it. We shy away from it with an odd kind of revulsion, but we protect it.” (pg.82) She was stern about the idea of passing when Clare asked her the first time they met at the hotel, but she does use her color as a way to fit into society. She seems to have a sense of anger towards Clare for the way she lives her life, which I don’t feel should necessarily be the case because Irene does the same thing. Irene is proud of her race and fights for African Americans, but there are times where she acts inferior because she can pass as white, which is why I feel she should not look down on Clare for the way she is living. Clare is happy with her life and seems to feel like passing is the only way to be successful and have respect.

Movie

After watching the movie, the one thing that left a vivid picture in my mind was the way African American children were perceived and advertised. In the footage we saw today, the children were placed near rivers and on the ground to convey that they were savages and animals. There was one clip where an African American child was hanging above an alligator’s mouth that was wide-open ready to eat him/her. This shows the mistreatment that innocent children faced. They were perceived to be animals that other animals, in this case an alligator would eat. It was not right for anyone to receive treatment like this, but for a young child to be looked at like this is extremely sad.

The other thing I found interesting in this video was how mammy was represented. The only mammy I knew of was the one from Gone With the Wind. When I saw how mammy’s “figure” was changed I was shocked. I was surprised to hear that mammy’s role according to “society” was not womanly. The video stated how mammy had a lack of sexuality, but was strong, and controlled. You think of women as having a sense of sexuality, which was taken away from mammy’s so that they weren’t a threat to there mistress’.

The video revealed many things that I was unaware. I was unaware how the African American “figure” was transformed during the minstrel era and how African Americans were looked upon as something to laugh at and make fun of. Its surprising to see what occurred so many years ago, but to see that things still occur during recent times, like the Black Rambo and how African American are perceived as violent and brutal cops and detectives.