american-myths-spring-18-blog

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Red Dirt in the Morning

Northwestern New Mexico

In the badlands of the Bisti/De-na-zin Wilderness Area near Farmington in northwestern New Mexico.

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Florence: A Symbol

Florence, a fair-skinned, golden-haired boy, with an angelic face is a character in Bless Me, Ultima, who has a large impact even though he is not the main character. Florence does not believe in God, yet he still attends church with this friends. Florence is a like a martyr, a person who dies for their religious beliefs, in this story.

When we are first introduced to Florence, Tony says that he “had never seen anyone like him, so white and speaking Spanish. He reminded me of one of the golden angel heads with wings that hovered at the feet of the Virgin in her pictures” (p. 36). We are first given a religious reference even though Florence is not one for religion. Florence is immediately told that he is going to hell because doesn’t believe in God by Horse. Florence is made to be seen as an outsider or made to not exactly fit in with the other children. He has a quirk that he eventually gets beaten up for in Chapter Diechiocho. Throughout the story, Florence is ridiculed and shamed to not believe in God.

There are several ironic references to religion throughout Florence’s character. The name Florence is derived from the French name for Saint Florentia, a Roman martyr, for her Christian beliefs. Even though, he doesn’t believe in God. Florence still defends people who aren’t Catholic. When Bones said that Protestants go to hell, Florence says, “No, they don’t.” He also says that since he doesn’t believe in God that there is no hell for him to go to. Tony also continues to describes Florence as “angelic” in almost every scene he is mentioned. Florence is also punished several times throughout the story. While both Tony and Florence were both late to catechism, Florence was punished. When Tony was pressured by the children to punish him for no confessing his sins, Florence was beaten up. Florence is also the reason why Tony brings to question God and religion. Florence, himself, is a martyr, even though he doesn’t necessarily die from his beliefs.

Florence represents the rebel or the outside of the children. He doesn’t fit in with their religious beliefs, mainly due to his past. His parents died when he was younger and his sisters are prostitutes at Rosie’s. Florence points out the flaws in every religion. He is smart and thinks differently from his friends. He shows that critical thinking is often ignored when it comes to religion. People are willing to follow without any second thought. His death breaks another wall of innocence within Tony.

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Tribute to Ralph Ellison.  Riverside Drive, New York City.

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When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.

Ralph Ellison (via quotemadness)

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Read black authors  Ralph Ellison, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Lorraine Hansberry, Nella Larsen, and Langston Hughes

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Go Tigers! Heading off to college in Alabama! Tuskegee Institute on a music scholarship! Hollerrrr!

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Claim for The Invisible Man, Scene:  Cast Iron Bank

In The Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison uses symbolism throughout the novel to exemplify certain societal aspects.  For example,  the narrator happens upon a cast iron bank which is insulting because, it is blatant discrimination against the African-American community.  The  bank represents how society views African-Americans; for example, in the novel the narrator had previously described how people look at him with disinterest, as though he is not even a human being, he is specifically talking about the south; however him being located in Harlem, New York, shows how racism has no bounds, and therefore cannot be contained to a single region. The bank is filled with money in such a manner such that it seems to the narrator like it is choking.  The narrator describes the countenance of  the figure as “more of a strangulation than a grin”.  There is a parallel between the bank scene and the boxing scene, which happened earlier in the novel, because, both scenes exemplify how society sees him as a stereotype, rather than a person.  Unfortunately, the narrator cannot rid himself of society’s view of him, which is shown when he is not able to ditch the debris from the destroyed bank.  Ellison really expounds on how individual ignorance seeps into society so, societal tensions manifest into social injustice and at times violence.  These aspects of The Invisible Man can be compared to certain aspects of today’s society.

In the twenty-first century racism obviously still exist.  In correspondence with the novel there has recently been a undisguised advertisement of racism which surfaced in the media.  This advertisement was promoted by the company H&M and displayed a black boy, wearing hoodie that had the word “jungle” written across the front.  This advertisement understandably angered quite a few people, and it corresponds with the novel because, like the bank the ad shows how society can disregard and lack empathy for an entire race.  Both the bank and advertisement show how racism can be promulgated by society.  Racism does still exist in today’s society--even if it is not as apparent as it once was.  For example, people can be racist through acts of appropriation.  Racism can still be obvious, too.  In 2017 there was a rally held in Charlottesville, South Carolina, this rally was being held in protest to the removal of the statue of Robert E. Lee; it was meant to unite white nationalist.  A man rammed his vehicle into a group of counter-protesters, killing one and injuring many.

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The Imagery of Stereotypes

Ben Caplan

Dr. Rothenbeck

ENGL 2270

April 20, 2018

The Imagery of Stereotypes

“. . . the cast-iron figure of a very black, red-lipped and wide-mouthed Negro . . . stared up at me from the floor, his face an enormous grin, his single large black hand held palm up before his chest. It was a bank, a piece of early Americana, the kind of bank which, if a coin is placed in the hand and a lever pressed upon the back, will raise its arm and flip the coin into the grinning mouth.”  (Chapter 15.)

This passage from chapter 15 describes a small coin bank that is a racist depiction of a stereotypical African man with large red lips.  Enraged with its appearance, the narrator takes the figurine and smashes it. After realizing what he has done, he then decides to clean it up and fold it up into an old newspaper.  After, without warning to Mary, he leaves her house to join the Brotherhood.  He first tries to get rid of it by throwing it in a random trashcan, but a lady tells the narrator to take his trash out of her trashcan.  He then tries to get rid of the statuette by buying it in snow and leaving it in the middle of a crosswalk, however, a man sees the narrator place the object and misinterprets the action as him dropping the bank, and thus returns the object to the narrator’s unpleasant surprise.

In addition to the narrator's painstaking attempt at getting rid of the coin bank, it and the passage represent a satirical look at stereotyping, racist culture.  For example, the bank in and of itself is a toy.  As Woody from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story would put it, “…a child’s plaything!”  This coin bank is made for the amusement of small white children to play with performing pet-like tricks for them.  It mirrors that of a slave in the 1800’s for the self-effacing amusement of white slave owners.   Moreover, it also represents the idea of a Black man being an object.  The representation of a decoration or toy for white people to play with.  As I said before, the narrator leaves Mary’s and he finds himself frustratingly trying to displace the insulting coin bank.  The bank also realizes another stereotype, that of the stubborn stability of its horrible tendency to follow a person throughout their life.

These events and characterizations satirize racist stereotypes created about black men in the dark past of American history.  Through its dark complexion to its tenacity to keep following the narrator, Ellison writes this section of the novel with a sort of conflicting view of the world.  He is trying to convey a powerful deeper meaning with a satirical view of this situation.  Granted this method has been used before and after the publication of this novel, plenty of times.  We see it especially in Spike Lee’s Bamboozled, something I hope to get more in-depth with in the future.   For now, however, you just have to settle for this as I leave you hanging on the edge of your seat.  Seemingly grasping for more of the analysis of this satirical approach.

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Invisible Man

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison has no shame displaying its themes very obviously. The novel goes in the path of racial segregation and inequality. To begin the journey, Ellison expresses his feeling of being an “invisible man”, the feeling as if because of his race he has no power, a feeling which is shared among his peers. As these men are blindfolded and put against each other to fight, their human rights and equalities are being stripped away in front of them. This is just one example of the injustices of this time.

This novel also focuses on the historically African American university, Tuskegee. This institution at the time did not educate those to be doctors or lawyers, they provided technical skills. For example, these included jobs such as welding and plumbing. This was not appealing to some and so they protested. They were not happy that blacks were only taught those skills and were viewed as less intelligent.

Racism is very prevalent in today’s society and unfortunately always has but hopefully that case will change. Incidents like Martin Luther King being assassinated for standing up in what he believes in and something similar happening to Malcom X. Our democracy clearly states in the freedoms that everyone has the freedom to speak. These people should have the freedom to speak up for what they believe in in. While technically our society has the “right” to freedom of speech, because of the government we are under, those circumstances are not really true. A wonderful example is our president, Donald Trump. We can have rallies and protest for government policies we do not believe in, but if those in power do not share similar beliefs, those of the surrounding communities’ thoughts and ideas are belittled and not respected.

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Ralph W. Ellison’s enrollment photograph; taken upon his arrival at the Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee University), Alabama, 1933.

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All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, even though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naive. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer.

Ralph Waldo Ellison, Battle Royal (via zhenrui)

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I remember when I remember, I remember when I lost my mind There was something so pleasant about that place Even your emotions have an echo in so much space And when you're out there, without a care Yeah I was out of touch But it wasn't because I didn't know enough I just knew too much Does that make me crazy? Does that make me crazy? Does that make me crazy? Possibly And now that you are having the time of your life Well think twice That's my only advice Come on now, who do you Who do you, who do you Who do you think you are? Ha ha ha, bless your soul You really think you're in control? Well I think you're crazy I think you're crazy I think you're crazy Just like me My heroes had the heart To lose their lives out on a limb And all I remember is thinking I wanna be like them Mmhmm ever since I was little Ever since I was little it looked like fun And it's no coincidence I've come And I can die when I'm done Maybe I'm crazy Maybe you're crazy Maybe we're crazy Probably ooh hmm

Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

Songwriters: Brian Joseph Burton / Gian Piero Reverberi / Gianfranco Reverberi / Thomas Callaway / Thomas Decarlo Callaway

Crazy lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management US, LLC

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Ralph Ellison, March 1, 1913 – April 16, 1994.

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Work in Progress for my ‘Invisible Man’ by Ralph Ellison banned book poster design. Need to finish up the shading on the jacket and put in the quote and lightbulb.

Once printed, going to do something to the lines for the face, thinking tracing them in silver pen.

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Ralph W. Ellison’s enrollment photograph; taken upon his arrival at the Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee University), Alabama, 1933.

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I remember that I’m invisible and walk softly so as not awake the sleeping ones. Sometimes it is best not to awaken them; there are few things in the world as dangerous as sleepwalkers.

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (via tessalivesandbreathesbooks)

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Blog Post

Write at least one post (500-word minimum) that elaborates on something from the class readings, presentations, or discussion and connects it to an ongoing discussion/debate in 21st Century America.

The novel examines the path to racial equality supported by Booker T. Washington, that of a gradual progression of legal and social equality for African-Americans. Tuskegee trains teachers and carpenters and farmers, not exactly the academic elite, and this fact is seen by some as inaction. Washington’s views on equality can be contrasted with W.E.B. DuBois,

From what I learned in high school history, many African-Americans during this time were divided on the best strategy for racial equality. Washington presented a gradual change, not seeking tremendous change immediately. W.E.B. DuBoise felt that African-Americans deserved the change they sought, and was unwilling to compromise in his effort to get it. In Our Nig, the idea of social equality for African-Americans is not a movement that is prevalent. Abolitionists fought for legal freedoms and sought the abolition of slavery, but did little to push for social equality in Northern states where they lived.

The discussion of racism is still relevant in 21st Century American, unfortunately. Though we have made a lot of progress as a country since the time periods shown in “Our Nig” and “Invisible Man”, deep divides still exist in our country. Last season, many NFL players refused to stand for the national anthem played before games in an effort to bring attention to the issue of race in America. This shows that on one of the biggest stages, race still plays a part in America today.