Afraid Of The Dark By Rosemary Bray Essay

In the 1960s life for African Americans was not the best, yet neither was it the worse. As many African Americans had already experienced the agonizing pain in slavery. In the 60s, the battle for civil rights had defined the decade. All beginning in February of 1960 when four African American students sat down at a “Whites-Only” counter and refused to leave. The uproar began when thousands blocked segregated restaurants and shops across the upper south, which drew the country’s attention to “Jim Crow” laws. There was a movement in Chicago known as the Chicago Freedom Movement which was led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Rosemary L. Bray, her mother, her abusive father and younger siblings all attended the march which demanded changes like equality for schools in the City of Chicago. In this memoir Unafraid of the Dark held many phenomenal

themes, yet three that stand out the most, Domestic Violence, Self-awareness and Perseverance.
A violent and aggressive behavior within the home is definitely what Ms.

Bray’s father possessed and her, her mother, and younger siblings all were victims, not only physically but verbal as well. It was difficult for Ms. Bray to deal with the behavior, yet she managed. Ms. Bray and her siblings weren’t physically abused as much as their mother was, which was still just as painful when they could hear the “slapping sound of flesh against flesh and the thump of their mother’s body against the wall.” (p.8).The violence was often and many times Ms. Bray would step in to protect her mother which always did not help much. As Ms. Bray got older she began to not only stand up for her mother, but herself and what she believed in as well. As the reader the violence that was read transported many emotions between wrath, melancholy and helplessness. Domestic violence cases are always hurtful especially since it frequently derives from loved ones. Not only for the characters, but as for the reader as well, it was a relieving feeling that after many years of pain Ms. Bray, her mother, and her siblings all felt free once their father passed

away.
When Ms. Bray was a toddler her loving mother taught her how to read which made her very advance for her age. Once she began school the other things which students usually are attracted to as kids, she was not. She was more into reading and the classes she was placed in was too childlike for her knowledge. She was an outcast and had very few friends because she was smarter and did not indulge in the same activities as others. For a while it bothered Ms. Bray, then eventually she became used to being indifferent. As an adolescent Ms. Bray obtained self-awareness, she had the ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals. Many times there are always a few children who are different from the rest and sometimes they are strong enough to get over the bullying from others and sometimes they are not. Reading the growth in Ms. Bray’s character made me happy that though she was an outcast she did not let it bother her much and interfere with her academics. She overcame a great obstacle as an adolescent and made me a proud reader.
Once Ms. Bray became a college student and was on her own, reality hit her. She was away from forcing rules from her parents and down went her academics. Gratefully, the Dean of students seen something great in her and had an automatic understanding of why her academics were not up to par. He made a deal with her which led her to be a graduate of Yale. As her life proceeded when Ms. Bray began work in her career field, she could not quite yet find the place of her career to satisfy her completely. Which led her to many transitions from job to job. Through it all Ms. Bray was a woman of untiring perseverance. There was no giving up even when she reached her highest goals and did not understand why somethings went left.
When reading this personal account, you notice that the main character Rosemary discussed in this paper as Ms. Bray, endures a variety of trials and tribulations in her life. She went from being a victim of domestic violence, while obtaining self-awareness as an adolescent, then ultimately gathered complete perseverance. Which all impacted one’s thoughts as a reader, that despite of any hardships or delay in achieving all of one’s life goals continue to be persistent and have faith. Ultimately, the admiration was there for her and as a future magazine publisher, I will not give up on the dreams I have, no matter what challenges I come across. Reading this amazing memoir gave me so much guidance that I will forever hold on to.