My father worked for Mr. Pullman and white people’s tips; but he died two days after his insurance expired.
I am sure this is based on a African American woman’s story. But It is sad about the insurance topic. This is the story and life of so many African American people.
Sure and strong, mate for mate, such Love as culture fears;
Throughout generations you see people move closer and closer from the action of love. A lot of people don’t know the meaning of it anymore.
Love is but desire and thy purpose fulfillment; 40 I, thy King, so say!
A wonder line to end this strong poem off. I think with the purpose of love, it makes people entice and it was something that African American had in their community that kept them going
outsider made the suggestion that no one was eligible for membership who was not white enough
The sad truth that African American skin color would stop them rom going places. And being able to walk, eat, and party how they wanted to because of their skin color.
O brothers mine, to-day we standWhere half a century sweeps our ken,Since God, through Lincoln's ready hand,Struck off our bonds and made us men.
Speaks about slavery destroying their people and Abraham Lincoln breaking that so that they could be free and be free men
Then into it he blew the breath of life, And man became a living soul. Amen. Amen.
Just like reading the Bible. I love it but putting his own twist on it.
I claim no race, no race claims me; I am
In this poem I feel that this thing could be a image or a thought of something. It reminds me of racism, being the subject and now its facing the mob that it plagued.
Far away in a distant city, a man, carelessly looking among some papers,[Pg 17] turned over a faded bunch of flowers tied with a blue ribbon and a lock of hair. He paused meditatively awhile, then turning to the regal-looking woman lounging before the fire, he asked: "Wife, did you ever send me these?" She raised her great, black eyes to his with a gesture of ineffable disdain, and replied languidly: "You know very well I can't bear flowers. How could I ever send such sentimental trash to any one? Throw them into the fire."
He must normally gets random flowers because she was really calm about someone sending her man flowers.
Some whispered that a broken heart had ceased to flutter in that still, young form, and that it was a mercy for the soul to ascend
Seems to have went through a lot of heartbreak and loves love
And she tied a bunch of violets with a tress of her pretty brown hair."
She about women so passionately
VIOLETS
Violets seem to be her favorite flower. She brings it up in her writings a lot
Once men. My soul in pity flings
Seems to have a vendetta against men or some type of bad energy or vibe towards men.
I had forgot wide fields; and clear brown streams;The perfect loveliness that God has made,—
It to be as though she was in love or bliss with something and then it disappears
ODE TO ETHIOPIA
I think the other neighboring countries look up to Ethiopia in a way. They were the only country in Africa that was not colonized. I see lot of writers around this time writing Ode and poems to Ethiopia.
When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings— I know why the caged bird sings!
Once free it was not joyous but more of a relief to the African Americans that were at last free from bondage.
They have fooled the jailer with lying words, They have fooled the man with lies;
Hope and wishful thinking because of the lies they were told as slaves and as free people. They were once again taken for grated and used and abused.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise.
Soon after slavery was abolished African Americans still had to put on this mask that basically masked their feelings and emotions of what was done to them years prior.
O Earth, O Sky, O Ocean, both surpassing, O heart of mine, O soul that dreads the dark! Is there no hope for me?
I feel that this is how all those African American people felt when hearing that a ship was soon coming that were in neighboring countries taking people as slaves. It’s really sad.
But my sweetheart was shy, so I dared not ask For the boon, so bravely I wore the mask.
Such a sweet message to a sweetheart. The poem is like when I rat meet someone and you guys go on a date, the rush but the shyness meeting together.
You say that I should smile And drive the gloom away; I would, but sun and smiles Have left my life’s dark day.
A lot of people specifically people of non African American descent usually always say “slavery was years ago, get over it”. They expect African Americans to put on smile and forget the trauma and horrific time that their ancestors endured.
Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes, Come to yo' pappy an' set on his knee. What you been doin', suh — makin' san' pies?
This part is my favorite part and it show the African American vernacular English. The rhythm of the poem as well as the dialect is really strong
I am the Smoke King I am black.
Ending off on what he started with. A repetitive thing. A continuous reminder to whoever will try to forget will always remember.
I am the Smoke King, I am black! I am wreathing broken hearts, I am sheathing love’s light darts;
He stands with his African American community. He knows what they faced and the struggles that hit their life everyday. He is who and what his people are and had to go through.
Your country? How came it yours? Before the Pilgrims landed we were here. Here we have brought our three gifts and mingled them with yours: a gift of story and song—soft, stirring melody in an ill–harmonized and unmelodious land; the gift of sweat and brawn to beat back the wilderness, conquer the soil, and lay the foundations of this vast economic empire two hundred years earlier than your weak hands could have done it; the third, a gift of the Spirit.
African Americans built this country and held it on their backs just for people to say “go back to Africa” when in reality America is rightfully theirs. Who was going to do the hard working of building if African Americans was not here.
Out of them rose for me morning, noon, and night, bursts of wonderful melody, full of the voices of my brothers and sisters, full of the voices of the past.
African American Culture is filled with the influences and struggles of our investors who had too paved the way and make way for new generations to come.
Ever since I was a child these songs have stirred me strangely. They came out of the South unknown to me, one by one, and yet at once I knew them as of me and of mine.
Even if he didn’t sing these songs air was not a part of it it was still his culture and heritage. It still was a part him.
Frankie and Johnny were lovers Oh lordy, how they could love Swore to be true to each other Just as true as the stars above He was her man, but he done her wrong
It tells a story and I think that is what a lot of music nowadays are missing. So much good music back then.
The slaves, of course, had little personal interest in the life of the plantation, and their ignorance prevented them from learning how to do things in the most improved and thorough manner.
Another example of lack o intelligence education because they were brainwash to believe that they could not learn anything or have intelligence
The Struggle for an Education
Explain perfectly what the process of what went on back then with African Americans trying to learn and better themselves through education but couldn’t because any thought o a black person learning something would be threatening to the white man .
Nothing new under the sun.
The same story over and over. Nothing will change and less hope each and every time something bad happens.
PERPLEXITIES.—ANOTHER DEATH.
She goes through a lot in such a short span of time. It’s death after death and i feel when those deaths come her innocence dies as well.
Her anxiety increased; her countenance bore marks of solicitude unseen before; and though she said nothing of her inward contest, they all observed a change
I am sure lots of woman around that time dealt with anxiety becuse of all the trauma they faced back then.
The world would indeed be a prison of gloom;
She looks at life in such a gloomy matter. It’s so sad.
Misery! we have known each other, Like a sister and a brother, Living in the same lone home Many years—we must live some Hours or ages yet to come.
She’s already been through a lot in her young years. I like how she ususes misery in a way of speaking as if its a actual person.”Misery! We have known each other, Like a sister and a brother,”
when fate First leaves the young heart lone and desolate In the wide world, without that only tie For which it loved to live or feared to die; Lorn as the hung-up lute, that ne'er hath spoken Since the sad day its master-chord was broken!
This poem speaks to all the young ladies that have all went through heartbreak in their lives. Great way to start off a story.
Have ye not, oh, my favored sisters, Just a plea, a prayer or a tear, For mothers who dwell 'neath the shadows Of agony, hatred and fear?
She seems to be feeling the pain for each and every one of the women that had to endure the physical, mental, and emotional pain that had taken place back then.
She was nerved by despair, and strengthen’d by woe, As she leap’d o’er the chasms that yawn’d from below;
We see the struggles of the woman in this poem as well. They had to go through so much trauma and still aren’t recognized for their contributions to the world.
Secure by night and blest by day,Shall pass her happy hours;Within her peaceful bowers.
Because Ethiopia wasn’t a colonized country I feel that this poem is a poem of African pride. Speaking on the beauty of freedom in the country.
Adorn'd and crown'd I'd have her come, With all her queenly grace, And, 'mid my lords and mighty men, Unveil her lovely face.
Throughout the semester and up until now we have read about the image of women and how they were treated and scorned back in the solve times. But to read this poem its a breath of fresh air. She talks about Vashti in such a positive and uplifting way. Which gives us a different view of the image of woman back then.
Can you blame me that I did not see Beneath his burning kiss The serpent’s wiles, nor even hear The deadly adder hiss?
She references the man to a serpent which is seen as sneaky, or a enemy of some sort. A lot of men choose the wrong men to love and it bites them later down the line.
His love has been a joyous light That o’er her pathway smiled, A fountain gushing ever new, Amid life’s desert wild.
All the slave mother had was her son as hope and the last love and memory fo where she had him at which was their homeland in Africa. But now he is being sold so that happiness and love will be gone from her life. The treatment and trauma these kids and mothers had to go through is sick. Throughout the years of slavery until now mothers still have to deal with this, particularly black mothers. Their children specifically their sons becomes slaves to the street life and they either end up dead or in jail. So it will always be that void of losing a child to a lot of mothers.
When black and white fought side by side, Upon the well-contested field,— Turned back the fierce opposing tide, And made the proud invader yield— When, wounded, side by side they lay, And heard with joy the proud hurrah From their victorious comrades say That they had waged successful war, The thought ne'er entered in their brains That they endured those toils and pains, To forge fresh fetters, heavier chains
We see in my opinion the theme of self-reliance and the theme of being the proud black man shows. He speaks about how black men fight and stood with the white men during the war. Speaking on it being a proud moment. Through his work he doesn’t look for any other opinions or rely on people to celebrate him because he can rely on himself to do so.
And dare be honest though he dies; Who cares not for the world’s applause,
In this first stanza I feel that the theme of Self-Reliance is shown strongly. He says “And draw be honest though he dies; Who cares not for the world’s applause”. I feel he is showing that he will not care what others think of him or rely on anybodies opinions of self but his own. Hence the title.
I turned from him with disgust and hatred. But he was my master. I was compelled to live under the same roof with him—where I saw a man forty years my senior daily violating the most sacred commandments
This piece shows what differences these women authors had to endure compared to the men authors that we’ve read so far. These woman had to endure the sexual, mental, and physical abuse from old and nasty men that preyed on their age and innocence. Whereas the men did deal with abuse but weren’t taking much advantage of because the masters still knew the power and strength the black man had.
I WAS born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy childhood had passed away. My father was a carpenter, and considered so intelligent and skilful in his trade, that, when buildings out of the common line were to be erected, he was sent for from long distances, to be head workman.
From what we have read so far till now there are major differences in Harriet’s and the others.. This sentence just shows the difference. Being that she was mixed she got treated better than the other authors who wrote about their experience as a slave. She says her childhood was a happy one whereas we have the other authors going through tram at a young age. They’d been taken from their parents or their parents were killed in front of them. They were beat and emotionally abused. But since she was considered mulatto she was still a slave but had better treatment.
She like a restless bird, Would spread her wing, her power to be unfurl’d, And let her songs be loudly heard, And dart from world to world.
This is a poem to himself but I also feel like he wanted his readers to feel some type of personal meaning to themselves. While reading this it makes you wonder and think about your life and what you would like to see happen in yourself. He has great work.
Who fell beneath the hatchet of their pride,Then like the serpent bit themselves and died!
This quote explains the new generation so well. I want to say that it is stating that we are our own worst enemy. We get so wrapped up in these certain lifestyles that we end up destroying ourselves because the pride we have and trying to educate ourselves on things before doing them. This whole poem is a reflection of each generation that has pass and to see that we are still in this state is scary.
time
I like this poem. It kind of gives me a woman that’s lost or on a journey of finding her self and happiness. Her work is very empowering this women and what women go through daily. She gives this vulnerability but still shows resilience . She also had some wonderful quotes in this piece as well as her others. I think she might become a favorite of mines.
I’m a little lost by her but even more intrigued. I think with me not understanding the dialect it makes me imagine more and vision what she speaks about. Her is very free and geeked with passion. I might be wrong but I feel like she uses the word “bosums” a lot maybe it’s her favorite word. But in this poem she rights about a painter and their job of creating beautiful work. I think her mind and words a genius because she uses them in such a powerful but still free way.