Relationship between Races in Civil War Era

 

When we talk about racial differences, then we’ll think about how those races relate each other or how they treat the other based on their races. Let us talk about it that has been in the civil war era. As you know that the civil war era has caused many social movements and it also affected American life after the civil war. Here I am trying to analyse “My Bondage and My Freedom” by Frederick Douglass.

“Where justice is denied, where

poverty is enforced, where ignorance

prevails, and where any one

class is made to feel that society is

in an organized conspiracy to

oppress, rob, and degrade them,

neither persons nor property will

be safe.”

-Frederick Douglasss

While reading this book, I gained much insight into slavery and the evils associated with it. There were many events in the book I devoted much thought to while reading it. One of these thoughts is the topic of slaves fighting back. The first thing I wondered is, “Why didn’t more slaves fight back against their masters?” They could have easily overpowered their masters and gained an advantage over them, and yet the majority of them didn’t. I realize now, from Douglass’ explanation, that the reason slaves didn’t rebel often was because they were beaten severely for just planning to rebel. If they actually did turn on their masters, they were usually hung for all the slaves to see. The masters instilled a fear in the slaves, so that they would not cause problems and would be obedient.

”Nature had made us friends; slavery made us enemies.”

“Slaveholders,” thought I, “are

only a band of successful robbers, who left their

homes and went into Africa for the purpose of

stealing and reducing my people to slavery.”

“The more beautiful and

charming were the smiles of nature, the more

horrible and desolate was my condition.”

I can see some similarities between the enslavement of blacks in the 19th century and earlier and school. Apart from that, there are few things that I can find similar between Douglass’ life and experiences and today African Americans’ experiences. We were raised in completely different environments, under different living conditions, different standards of living, etc. He grew up an enslaved black, while today African Americans are growing up a free white. There was one thing, though, that Douglass mentioned that African American experienced and seen in modern times. Douglass described that there was still racism and discrimination in the United States, even in the so-called “free-states.” When residing in Europe, he experienced no such racism, except from Americans who were touring there.  The Civil Rights Movement may have gained more freedoms, equalities, and opportunities for blacks, but I really don’t think America has learned from their mistakes. In freshman English, I find out an interview between a Hispanic student, an Anglo student, and a teacher, to find out what, if any racism exists in Americans school today. I wish I could honestly say that no racism exists in their school today, but, in my opinion, as well as the opinions of the interviewees, it still exists in Americans school. Although not as obvious as the hate crimes committed against blacks in the 1960s, there are smaller incidences of racism in school. At times, it can be a seemingly small derogatory comment that starts a large argument between a Hispanic and an Anglo student. Other times, it is just the difference of treatment between Hispanic and Anglo students.

 

By: Putri Dian Astuti

 

Bibliography:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history/usa/race/revision/1/

http://www.gallup.com/poll/163535/americans-rate-racial-ethnic-relations-positively.aspx

http://erichmusick.com/writings/literature/my-bondage-and-my-freedom-douglass.html

The Relationship Between Native American with White People During A New Nation

The novel titled the Last of The Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper was a popular literature at that time, which is written about the relationship between Native American, British, and French. The setting time of the story is during the war between France and England in the late 1750s in North America. British and French used the Native American to become their allies, in fact that French and British fight over to colonise the north america. In the novel, we know that the Native American (Mohicans, Iroquois, Maquas tribe, etc) was actually helped both countries, and the Mohican tribe role as British allies. The story is actually talks about romanticism, a love story between Uncas (the last of the Mohicans tribe) and Cora (Captain Heyward’s daughter). But in the end, they were killed and their love became ironic, they were never been allowed to be a couple because of their different races. So, is it correct that British and French made native as their allies? What benefits that native got from the war? Which I see that the native were ended up killed by both countries’ war, instead of fight against the colony (French and British). This, I interpreted that the native was not role as their allies, but a servant. The image of “A good relationship” had been built from the novel; in fact that I see is slavery, both countries used native to explore North America, because they are the only one who really know the land well. the relationship between Native American is not a mutualism, but exploitation of Native American by British and French.

“It was in this scene of strife and bloodshed that the incidents we shall attempt to relate occurred, during the third year of the war which England and France last waged for the possession of a country that neither was destined to retain”. (Page 10) chapter 1

From the paragraph states that England and French were fight for America, “the possession of a country”, but why they used the native to help them and made them as their allies?

It would seem that the stock of the horse of Israel had descended to our own time; would it not, friend?’ (page 18) chapter 1

“Friend” a word that was used by Heyward to call Magua, as their scouts, the leader of Heyward’s party; I interpreted this as an imagery to called magua as “friend”, because it doesn’t make any sense that he called him “friend” which is actually heyward as a british, came here to conquer America.

…He is said to be a Canadian too; and yet he served with our friends the Mohawks, who, as you know, are one of the six allied nations. He was brought among us, as I have heard, by some strange accident in which your father was interested, and in which the savage was rigidly dealt by; but I forget the idle tale, it is enough, that he is now our friend.’ (Page 23) –Heyward. Chapter 2

Although they treated the native as friends at that time, why Colonel Munro forbid Cora to have relationship with Unqas? It clearly means that interracial love is forbidden.

‘He has volunteered to guide us to the lake, by a path but little known, sooner than if we followed the tardy movements of the column; and, by consequence, more agreeably.’ (Page 22) –Heyward. Chapter 2

the native were willing to helped England to guide them in America, in fact that this is an act of slavery, which impact the racism.

“Alice: ‘If enemies have reached the portage at all, a thing by no means probable, as our scouts are abroad, they will surely be found skirting the column, where scalps abound the most. The route of the detachment is known, while ours, having been determined within the hour, must still be secret.’”

“Cora: ‘Should we distrust the man because his manners are not our manners, and that his skin is dark?’ coldly asked Cora.” (page 24) Chapter 2

‘I am glad to encounter thee, friend,’ continued the maiden, waving her hand to the stranger to proceed… (page 29) Cora.

The conversation between Alice and Cora was talking about the natives, which actually is, Alice had presented racism at that time. Yet Cora has good sides of humanity and fell in love with the last of Mohicans tribe, Unqas.

To conclude, Cooper shows that the relationship between white people and native at that time won’t work at all, because the native also demeaned themselves with helping both countries that causes racism that still exist until now. It represents by Uncas and Cora’s love story, the interracial love.

Relationship Between Races After 9/11

Racial differences in America will always be a part of its history, and racial differences could change our future days.

 

Sept 11, 2001, while American had been talking about ending-summer vacation, the racial divergence came up once. It didn’t talk about between white and black people, but it was definitely about the faith. Al-Qaeda hijacked airlines and crashed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, the Pentagon (military headquarters) in Washington D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania. From that event, it was hard to believe that people would do such a brutal thing. This event led into some issues, including the immigrant issue and faithfulness issue.

Post 9/11, America was still hurt. The people became more aware about the ‘middle-east’ things. They were scared that in their circumstance, a terrorist would show up. The government was focus on the immigrants. They carried out a record number of deportations, especially on Moslems.

On the other way, this attack seemed not really affected for some people. They had an opinion that not all Moslems were bad and the immigrants should not get a deportation. All immigrants were part of America.  The Visitor (2007), a film that focuses on identifies, immigration, and cross-cultural communication in post 9/11. Walter, an America, has a good relationship with Tarek and Zainab, who actually immigrants from Syria and Senegal. This film starts with Walter meets Tarek and Zainab live in his old apartment. He doesn’t know that his apartment is taking controlled by other people. He later discovers that both of them are illegal immigrants. Walter lets them to stay in his apartment. Tarek teaches Walter to play African-drum, and invites him in Tarek’s regular drum group. One day, Tarek gets arrested for “failing” to pay his fare in subway, which he actually already pays. In order to prevent a deportation, Walter hires a lawyer and visits Tarek often. Tarek’s mother comes and meets Walter. Soon, they develop a relationship and become close. After long process of Tarek, he is suddenly deported from United States.

First, we can see that Walter is a good man.

“Tarek: And thanks again for letting us stay.”

He lets Tarek and Zainab to stay with him in the apartment, when in the first idea they want to leave it. Some of people will not let strangers to stay with them, especially Moslems.

He builds a relationship with Tarek, Zainab, and Tarek’s mother, who actually immigrant and also Moslems. He doesn’t questioning about their backgrounds. He also learns playing an African-drum, means that he respects with culture besides from his country.

“Zainab : Do you miss Syria?, Mrs. Khalil : Yes, sometimes. I miss Damascus. The smell. But this is my home now. “

They are the immigrants, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve to live in United States. They are becoming a part of the United States. This is also their home.

Last, when Tarek gets arrested, Walter tries to help him by hiring a lawyer. Walter is afraid that Tarek will be deported someday. When people with no-heart in this situation, they can just let Tarek arrests and don’t care about him anymore because he is an illegal immigrant. For those explanations, we can say that relationship between other racial works in this era, based on this literature.

 

BY : Sekar Anidyawati Utami

Bibliography:

http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=18051

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/sep/05/9-11-impact-world-al-qaida

http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/post-911-policies-dramatically-alter-us-immigration-landscape

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relationship Between Races in Harlem Renaissance (in Modern Age Era)

Relationship between races exists not only in an era, but in every American’s history era, what I mean by exist means it is showed in literary works by the author and writer in each era. And to introduce about what I’m going to write, I’m going to discuss and mention about Modern Age era, especially on the Harlem Renaissance movement.

People must have known about Modern Age in American history. For those who don’t, Modern Age is an era between 1910 until 1930, where some of the popular event happened, such as World War I and Great Depression. Those examples are events which gave impacts to the world in every field and sector. After World War I and still remaining in the Great Depression time, there is a movement in literary way, named Harlem Renaissance. People may be familiar with this movement, but some others may be not. Here a little explanation about Harlem Renaissance; According to a professor named Paul P. Reuben, Harlem Renaissance is a time“which a group of talented African-American writers produced a sizable body of literature in the four prominent genres of poetry, fiction, drama, and essay”, and he also emphasizes that; “HR was more than just a literary movement: it included racial consciousness,…”. Knowing that, we know that Harlem Renaissance is also an important literary movement happened in American history that take up racial differences issue. George Hutchinson stated; “Embracing literary, musical, theatrical, and visual arts, participants sought to reconceptualize “the Negro” apart from the white stereotypes that had influenced black peoples’ relationship to their heritage and to each other.” This sentence clearly tells that Harlem Renaissance tried to delete concept ‘the Negro’ in white American’s way in stereotyping black American.

There are some of the writers and authors in this era, who themselves have a deep sympathy concerning this issue, such as Langston Hughes, Wallace Thurman, Rudolph Fisher, and other writers. However, right now, I’m not going to discuss about all of them, yet i will discuss and analyze Langston Hughes’ works, as one of the writers in that era.

Langston Hughes is a person who lives in the era where black Americans still had not gotten their full rights and justice, and still being differed from white people.

 

(Langston Hughes)

I , Too is a one of a poem written by Langston Hughes. In this poem, Hughes wants to describe about how white Americans treat black people, and also I can say, Hughes wants to tell the reader how is the relationship between black people and white people going. In my point of view, I think the relationship between black American and white American is not well-built, yet still gives positive impact for the blacks.

The line and other lines that i’m describing can you see in the picture i’ve attached. The first line in the poem clearly emphasize that the speaker, black person, is also American. Langston wrote the poem and showed that black people is treated as a slave, and white may ordered the black people as the white wishes.

“I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes”

That two lines are the example of what white ordered for black to do. But in other lines, Hughes shows how the black react in responding the white’s attitude towards them.

“But I laugh, And eat well,

And grow strong.”

Hughes stated that white’s behavior makes the black grows stronger. Also, white’s attitude towards the black whom is white underestimated makes him become more optimistic for the future. It gives the black more motivation to make a changes and movement to get the freedom and justice in their life.

“Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table
When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,” Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed—”

To conclude, Hughes wants to tell about relationship between black American and white American in that era through his writings. In ‘I, Too’, Hughes wants to show that black people did not feel like they’ve been treated properly by the white people, although they both are American. This relationship between black and white, which is described in the ‘I, Too’ poem, is not working. But, like I’ve mentioned before, white’s attitude towards black makes the black become a stronger person and optimistic person. Overall, although their relationship does not work out, it still gives a positive impact to the black’s character.

 

By: Alfira Marsya Agustina

 

Bibliography

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/255397/Harlem-Renaissance

http://archive.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/9intro.html

-. 2012. Literature The Reader’s Choice, American Literature, – Interactive Student Edition.

 

Our Introduction…

Who doesn’t know America? Yes, surely everyone does. Greetings from us, Alfira, Denia, Putri, and Sekar, who are studying Introduction to The History of American Culture and Literature. Here, we’d like to discuss about a topic that has always been popular in America along American history from the earliest days until today, which is about racial differences.

America as a multicultural nation has many races that relate one another in different ways. They are White, Black, Hispanics, Asians, and so on. There have been many movements which were caused by this racial differences, and there are also many literatures which talk about this issue. Let’s first we talk about what race is. Race itself means according to LeShawndra N. Price, there is no such a racial differences in a science, but it is decided by the society, “No scientific basis exists for notions of racial differences as biological, genetically inherited differences. Race is a social construction. Race and racial differences do not really exist. Rather, they have a social reality—they exist within the context of culture and the environment. Ideas of race and meanings of racial differences are determined by people in their interactions and through the negotiation of the meaning of race in everyday situations, circumstances, and contexts.”.

Based on the meaning above, we know that meaning of racial differences is depended on people’s interaction in everyday life. It means that there must be a relationship between races in America that we are trying to find out here.

This topic of “relationship between races” seems to be very interesting for us to learn it more. It brings out questions in our mind about how American people who have different races built their relationship, whether it was good or not, or whether it worked out or not. Here we are trying to analyse some literatures from different periods of America that talks about this relationship between races. We would like to know about what the words say about this relationship and what the author’s attitude is toward this issue. Let’s check them below.