History That Is Not So Nice in the Invisible Woman by Ika Hugel Marshall

798 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay NAZI REGIME

History that is not so nice

The Book Invisible Woman by Ika Hugel-Marshell is a great and horrible book at the same time. It is great because you get an account of real history and what it was like in Germany after the war. It is horrible because it is so cruel how they treated Afro-Germans or anybody who was different in any way. However, saying that America was not much better in treating people cruelly, who were from color descent. Life in post war West Germany was difficult for mixed raced Germans because of racism in general and the fact that society and institutions perpetuated racial beliefs. Ms. Hugel-Marshall narrative offers a sneak peak on what life was like in Germany for people who were different.

Hugel-Marshall was referred to as an “occupation baby,” when she was born in a small town called Bavaria in March of 1947, in the heart of Germany. An “occupation baby” was referred to the children that were born of mixed race. Hugel-Marshall mother was white and her father was African-American soldier who was stationed in a town nearby. When she was first born things were relatively trouble free.
“I grew up the same way other children did. There was always enough to eat- though no more. I slept in my parents’ bedroom. We were a family. I was aware that people whispered behind their hands when my mother and I went shopping ` and that there was something about me that was different from other children. “ (Invisible women pg. 6)

But this did not last for very long. Hugel-Marshell was only five years old and she had no idea that she presented a horrible problem for Germany. Her country believed that she was unmoral and had no place in society. That she should be taken away from her family...

... middle of paper ...

...high and believes in herself. She is part of women’s groups that want equality in Germany. Also when she meets her family in America and is finally united with her dad that she sees many black and loving faces looking back at her.

In conclusion, this book was very educational and was enjoyed very much. As a free thinker in society one can only hope that the “world” as a whole has learned from there many mistakes in the past and have changed their polices on people who look different. We are all the same. People trying to live, pay the rent, raise your kids and go to school. No one is better than anyone else. That should be taught day one of life. It does not matter what country you live in skin color should not be an issue. Skin color has nothing to do with how you live your days out on this earth. Your own personal choices do. Life is what you make it.

Show More
Related

  • It Ll All Come Out In The Wash By Joanne Crutchfield

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    One story that the Author told that really struck a chord with me was when she went to the diner and was yelled at for just standing in front of the diner. You hear stories from like this from the past often, but it gives it a different perspective when it’s a young girl. If I was put in this situation, I would personally have a breakdown. I would want to lash out in anger and frustration, but the consequences of lashing out against a white person during this time period were very large. I have lived in predominantly white areas for most of my life, and I have not experienced any overt racism like the author

    Read More

  • Similarities Between The Book Thief And Nazi Germany

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    The heavily proclaimed novel “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak is a great story that can help you understand what living in Nazi Germany was like. Throughout the story, the main character, Liesel goes through many hardships to cope with a new life in a new town and to come to the recognition of what the Nazi party is. Liesel was given up for adoption after her mother gave her away to a new family, who seemed harsh at first, but ended up being the people who taught her all the things she needed to know. Life with the new family didn’t start off good, but the came to love them and her new friend, Rudy. As the book carried along, it was revealed that the Hubermanns were not Nazi supporters, and even took in a Jew and hid him in their basement later on in the book. Liesel became great friends with the Jew living in her basement, Max, who shared many similarities which helped form their relationship. Both of

    Read More

  • Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

    1091 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...at it means to be Black. Does that not still divide the lines of humanity based on the color of a person’s skin? I thank statements like, “race-conscious” parents teaching their children to be Black is forming prejudice. I teach my children to be kind to others not what means to be White. In interracial relationships if they have a child what should the child be taught? How to be black or white because I thank it is true, children are taught racial differences by their parents and other adults. Personally, I find most mixed racial children are the perfect skin color we all try to achieve. I am not sure I would recommend Tatum’s book to read to discourage racism even though she raises some valid points.

    Read More

  • White Teacher by Vivian Gussin Paley

    818 Words  | 2 Pages

    This passage bothered me. It is probably the part that bugged me the most about this book. There are many African Americans who are better behaved, smarter, more artistic, more athletic, etc. then white children. There are also many African Americans who are less educated and more poorly behaved than white children, but the same for both of these things go with white children. It bothers me that she knows that if the worst child in the class was white she wouldn't care if the best child in the class was white. I think that throughout the book she often generalizes with African Americans and doesn't even realize it. She claims that she is getting better, but I don't think that she really is. She keeps trying to have the African American children become the same as the white children.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl By Harriet Jacobs

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” by Harriet Jacobs, Jacob’s writing demonstrates to challenge the acceptance of slavery during the 1800’s. Jacobs, who is writing inside a “contact zone” tries to connect both societies in this story.

    Read More

  • Two Communities, One Land

    644 Words  | 2 Pages

    With all three of these aspects of racism in consideration, race was a prevalent theme in the book that couldn’t escape the reader’s consciousness. Whether it was through showing the division of the communities, or through the feelings that each race held about the other race, the book portrays the history of racism in America.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    The speaker of this article is a colored girl, Zora Neale Hurtson. She describes her point of view through life stories that had occurred as she realized that she is divergent. Zora is describing her individuality and difference to other colored people, white people, and to the readers who are different; who are afraid of being different. The purpose of the author is to describe her point of view and how she feels about being colored. This is a way to show her confidence of being a colored child/woman.

    Read More

  • The Problems of Segregation in Any Environment

    861 Words  | 2 Pages

    The segregation and discrimination of any person or race is unfair and should not be permitted or accepted. Both of these stories talk about the problems that segregation causes, and are written to prove that it is a horrible thing to segregate against someone, and that discrimination causes more problems than it helps anything. Both of these stories attempt to change society’s views of discrimination to that of their Author’s own. Both of these books hopefully made a positive effect on society, as they were meant to, and helped people realize that it is never okay to treat people differently because society wants them to.

    Read More

  • Hear My Cry

    638 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...face. Because of this relatability, I believe black people would enjoy this more than any other race.The conundrums, twists, and turns are relatable to the African American community and keep a constant connection between the reader and the characters. This book is the perfect mix of the literary elements. This book has many conflicts and each one is a little more engaging than the last. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! Once I picked this book up I could not put it down. This is one of the most touching and moving pieces of literature I have ever read. It really opens ones eyes to the hardships we don’t have to go through on a day-to-day basis. When I was finished this book all i could say to myself was, “Wow, thank God I don’t have to go through that”. If I had to rate this book on a 5 star scale I would give it 5 out of 5 stars without a doubt.

    Read More

  • Malcolm X Biography

    2103 Words  | 5 Pages

    All in all, this is a great book that I’ve ever read in my life. It really inspires me. I do agree with Spike Lee that this book had change the way I thought and it changed the way I acted. Besides, it has given me the courage that I didn’t know I had inside me. I’ve learned a lot from the book. Once again, thank you sir for giving this kind of assignment

    Read More

  • Ben

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ghout the whole book. These kids are the perfect instrument for getting her message across and demonstrate to the reader that if they can look past the skin color then adults can too and maybe they will see the similarities between whites and blacks. This book has been one of my favorites of my high school career because of the likeable characters and powerful message.

    Read More

  • A Class Divided

    890 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...e is different inequality socially and politically. The inequality is determined by people’s ideals of what they were taught and society projects as the superior and inferior races. This film shows that there is a way to change that if you make the other side see how they affect the people they are discriminating against. It is the responsibility of the adults to stop these learned behaviors and teach the children that people are all equal, that is what needs to be instilled in the generations to come otherwise everything will stay the same. We have come a long way as a people but we still have a long way that we need to go. Nothing will ever be perfect but it should always get better. The lesson that is learned from this workshop is lessons that should be taught in every classroom all over the world maybe then we will see that we are no different from each other.

    Read More

  • Mexicans and Racism

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...tain people who think of themselves as the “perfect” race and even if there are still incidents that involve racial discrimination, we have still accomplished a lot as a society as we are now closer to having full racial equality and ethnic acceptance. The pain and suffering of our ancestors through the hands of racism weren’t in vain as we now enjoy our position in a world where prejudice ceases to exist. The never ending battle between the suppressed and the oppressor finally ended—leaving the suppressed victorious. The chains of racism were finally broken and as Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

    Read More

  • History of American Race and Racism

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    These three authors tell of the division of the American race. They tell of the struggles of the black in a white people’s world; however, America has become a melting pot of the World and the “black” and “white” people that we know are slowly becoming a dying breed. There is so much that we could all learn from each other. All people bleed red no matter what the color of their skin; what a wonderful place this America and world could be if mankind would live together in peace and harmony.

    Read More

  • Deborah Gray White’s Ar’n’t I a Woman?

    1623 Words  | 4 Pages

    I recommend Ar’n’t I a Woman? to anyone, of any race, of either sex, and with any interests, because I believe this book has something to offer everyone. White’s writing has the power to totally transform her readers’ understanding, emotions, and opinions. After reading the novel, I will never again view the institution of slavery the same way. If this book does not completely change your opinion of slavery and leave you with a richer appreciation for the resilience demonstrated by the female slaves, then you have not really read it! Alexandra the Great has spoken, therefore, it is official, Deborah Gray White’s Ar’n’t I a Woman? is a literary masterpiece!

    Read More

More about History That Is Not So Nice in the Invisible Woman by Ika Hugel Marshall

Open Document