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The racism in american history
The importance of English text
The racism in american history
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Tyler Ennis Dr. Marion English 112/FJT12 8 October 2015 An Elephant Versus a Mouse English courses are taught many different ways, starting in kindergarten all the way through college. However the number of books students are required to read, the papers, format and grammar all seem to have a little variant from teacher to teacher. While English is a class to focus all of these things and more. English encompasses history as well; as much history can be learned in an English class as a History class, this is important. Not too many students are fond of history classes anymore because they are considered boring. Maybe history is overthought and over taught, whereas in English students unconsciously absorb history lessons through litterature. …show more content…
One look at this word in today’s society causes a different feeling for every individual. Racism is discriminating against someone for the color of their skin. One of the main reasons this book is targeted as inappropriate is the fact that it uses the word “nigger”. Of course in today’s society this word has many different variations and meanings, depending on who says it. Before the 1950’s, this word had no other meaning than “African-American”. To the people in those days, it was how they talked. Dana Washington is an activist in successfully having the book removed from school reading lists. She recommends the following substitute: “[African-American], I could have you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny.”(Lawyer guy). This would be an easy fix for an overprotective parent. Washington’s son did, however, say that his teacher was reading sections out of the book in class using “nigger”. Without proper discussion of the context of the word and how it was used in the time period, this word should not be read aloud to students in schools. When teaching this book, teachers should begin talking to their students about the word, and how it was appropriate for the time period, but not …show more content…
The stable buck, who is African-American, gets bossed around a lot. He does not get bossed around because of his skin color, though; the job he has is almost a servant of some kind. The fact that he was black in these days most likely kept him from getting any better jobs. There was still plenty of racism in the early-1900’s, which is the time in which the book is set. (some government article). Steinbeck, when writing this book, instead of making up a fairy tale, decided to write the cold hard truth, good and bad. What the reader gets from this novel is a good read, accurate for the time period. The historical benefits of the book, and its accurate portrayal of life in this time period, are what makes it famous. Of Mice and Men is the result of Steinbeck’s research into the social economic American culture of the day. Crooks the stable buck has been put in the book because he shows us the racial separation in the 1930’s. His presence shows us that black people around this era are not respected and thought to be less important than the whites. So the problem of the book being racist is answered, it is racist, but there is justification for it. Steinbeck did not try romanticizing this time period; he wrote what he saw in everyday life. Racism in the 1920’s and 30’s was still prominent in society: there were separate bathrooms, schools,
Crooks, the black stable buck, is isolated from the community of migrant workers because of his racial status. When Lennie goes into the barn to see his puppy, he and Crooks have a conversation. “'Why ain't you wanted?' Lennie asked. 'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black'” (68). Lennie is too kind-hearted and intellectually slow to visualize the apparent racial boundary that sets Crooks aside from Lennie and the rest of the workers. Crooks is so isolated from the rest of the workers that he says he “can't” play cards, not that he isn't allowed to, which means that the racial boundary is like a wall Crooks cannot cross. Because he is black, Crooks believes that he cannot play cards with the white men. He can't get over the racial boundary, and believes he will be forever separated from the white men. In the beginning of chapter 4, Steinbeck describes Crooks' living space. “Crooks, the Negro stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the...
Why should this novel be banned from use in schools? Students should be able to hear these words and talk about them and not use them offensively. Racial content, tension, and slurs are used in people’s everyday lives. If people can use these words outside of school why would they not be allowed to be talked about in school? It is important for everyone to be informed about these racial tensions. This book also shows the reader what is was like to be growing up in this time period. Although this book uses the n-word, it uses it in a historical way. Using these racist words explains the way of thinking of the south in the 1930s. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is appropriate to use and read in school.
Naylor, Gloria. "Mommy, What Does 'Nigger' Mean?" New World of Literature: Writings from America's Many Cultures, second edition. Eds. Jerome Beatty and J. Paul Hunter. New York: Norton. 1994. 344-7.
Steinbeck uses the novella ’Of Mice and Men’ and the workers on the ranch to show the microcosm of the 1930s American Society and culture. He especially portrays Crooks in a particular way to show how Black Americans were treated in this time that the novella was set.
Crooks is a black stable hand who has been called Crooks due the hunched back he has after a horse kicked him. In the 1930’s, being black was an extreme disadvantaged. You would be discriminated for your colour and this would lead to loneliness. Crooks was always being blamed for everything that went wrong even though he was hardly involved. The boss picked on him because of his colour “An’ he give the stable buck hell” (page 21) “Ya see the stable bucks a nigger” (page 21). Candy says this when George and Lennie arrive at the ranch and after Candy said that Crooks was a nigger, George accepted the boss’ treatment of Crooks. Another time Steinbeck talks about Crooks being discriminated was when he writes about the Christmas party where Smitty took after Crooks and the men did not stop the fight because Crooks was black, but did not allow Smitty to use his feet in the fight due to Crooks’ disability.
Crooks is a lonely, oppressed African American stable buck. “CROOKS, THE NEGRO stable buck, had his bunk in the harness, room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn” Steinbeck (66). Crooks is discriminated, by being isolated and ostracized from the other ranch hands. Likewise, Crooks is mainly discriminated because he is African American, and is viewed as a less being in society. Additionally, Crooks has no rights at the ranch, and he knows his place there. In the following quote Crooks is being threatened in his own room, by Curley’s wife. “ Listen niggar, she said. You know what I can do to you if you open your trap” Steinbeck (80). In the aftermath of the confrontation between Crooks and Curley’s wife, he becomes very scared. Knowing that Curley’s wife has power over him, to make his life miserable or cause a life threatening problem to occur. Curley’s wife implies to Crooks, that if he ever confronts her again in an argument, she will accuse him of rape. Then, Crooks will be killed or most likely, lynched. Reason being; because Crooks has no rights, for he is treated almost like an animal, described also like an object, not a person often. Steinbeck possibly included this theme, because in the 1930’s African Americans were treated unjustly, in early american
They were using this word in a positive way. The word nigger came from an African American person directed at another doesn’t have a negative meaning,for them it is form of greeting.”There must have been dozens of times that nigger was spoken in front of me that nigger was spoken in front of me before I reached the third grade. Gloria Naylor has only heard the word, 'nigger ' around her family and friends of family. She has never heard it said by a white person or with a different tone of voice or context. The way the boy said it, made it sound like a 'nigger ' was something to be ashamed of.She defines the word 'nigger ' as "the varied and complex human beings they knew themselves to be."--speaking of men in the black
In the episode of the television show Blackish we viewed during class Jack was in a talent show at school singing a rap song which used the word nigger. Jack said nigger while performing the song and the audience showed shock that he said the word nigger. Jack and his parents met with the principal and Jack was suspended from school for a few days. The show then shows everyone giving their meaning or interpretation of the word nigger.
Back in the time period of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain “the N-word” was not a racial term, it was simply what African Americans were called, especially when they were involved in slavery. Mark Twain used “the N-word” because in the time period he wrote the novel, people did not know any better and nobody should change his work. Most of this controversy comes from Twain’s frequent use of the word “nigger” when referring to black slaves, including one of the main characters, Jim. Today, that term is considered a seriously offensive racial slur. However, in the setting of the novel, and during that time period, this is the term most frequently used to describe African Americans. Since Huck Finn was set in the south before
Once glorified in American literature, Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, is now being deemed controversial for its use of racist language, specifically the word “nigger.” A heated debate on whether or not this book should be brought to a classroom setting has arisen in the recent years. The fear among many educators is that the language used in this novel is too strong and offensive for a high school classroom, especially in those that are racially diverse. Reading the word in a classroom can spark uncomfortable discussions between students of different race. Also, many teachers believe that either this book should not be taught or the N-word should be replaced. This novel however, should be taught in a high school classroom in its original context, which includes the word “nigger,” because it has linguistic, historical and moral significance.
The way of life in the 1937 is completely different then today. In the book it states "Crooks, The NEGRO stable buck, had his bunk in the harness room; a little shed that leaned off the wall of the barn (Steinbeck 66)." Crook's way of life in 1937 was not well because he was black. Blacks in that time period was treated very poorly unlike today. During that time blacks did not own land or a house they work on someone
Crooks, the only black character in the story, was treated very differently than any of the other characters in the story. First, Crooks lived in the barn separated from all the others because they were white. Crooks wasn’t allowed in the bunkhouse to play cards or talk with the guys. Also, when Curley’s wife walks in on the guys and Crooks asks her to leave she intimidates Crooks by saying “I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny”(81). Steinbeck wants us to understand that we should treat everyone equal regardless of their skin color. This issue is the most prominent issue today that was mentioned in the book. Today Blacks are still fighting for what they believe is injustice against the police after a series of white police shootings against unarmed black people. These events have sparked protest both violent and nonviolent against police and has even resulted in the death of multiple innocent police officers. These issues among whites and blacks continue to hold back the american people and may continue to for years to
In society today there are still many cases of the N-word being used by different races other than African Americans. Such as schools using the N-word in class or even classmates saying it to their black classmate. Also, not only have students in school used that offensive word throughout, but teachers have been using it till this day as a racial comment towards black students (Fox news). Such as calling them the word because of having hatred towards them. The use of the word caused a teacher to get fired from her job because it had to do with racial comments and hatred towards her black students. This demonstrates that this society still shows racism today and how that one word can really offend people up until today. Unlike the word “slave”
The controversial novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, has been considered a classic in American literature. The novel details on the journey of a southern, young, American boy with the name of Huckleberry Finn and a slave, Jim. The two encounter interesting characters along their adventure who bring difficulties. However, one aspect of the book that is hard to miss would be the constant use of the “n-word”. As a result of the repeated use of the word, some schools believe that the “n-word” should be replaced. Others believe that the book should be replaced with another entirely new piece of writing or simply be permitted in class, in its intact form. While those for replacing the n-word and those for choosing another novel
One more reason why using the n word is wrong and disrespectful is because the word was linked to slavery, people think that the word “Nigger” and “Nigga” have different meaning and so they think is right to say the word “Nigga” because it means “Dude” or “Buddy” when they have the same meaning as the word “Nigger”. In a statement Cornell Dews said that Nigger is what Nigga is. “Nigga is what nigga is. There is no getting around it. Consider this, the word nigger is defined the same in more than thirty different languages throughout the world.” Cornell Dews. Nigger or Nigga, what’s the difference?. Uproxx. Nov 8, 2007.