Michael Cooper’s work in his NYT article “Tenor Will Sing Anthem at N.F.L. Game but Supports Athletes’ Kneeling Protest” explains the moral dilemma Lawrence Brownlee experienced when asked to sing the national anthem at a NY Jets and Baltimore Ravens football game. Brownlee is a tenor in the Metropolitan Opera, felt torn when asked to sing the anthem at the football game (Cooper). He understands the power the flag and anthem has on people like his father who was in military, as well as others who fought and love this country (Cooper). Brownlee expresses his gratitude for the opportunities he has being a man of color, comparing to the ones of his ancestors had during the time the anthem was written (Cooper). But since he is part of the minority,
he cannot ignore the protest started by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick (Cooper). Brownlee’s opinion on the whole situation is that “’It is an act of protest which I agree with and support wholeheartedly,’ Mr. Brownlee said, ‘for while I remain hopeful that we as a people are gradually moving towards equality in all areas, I still believe that much needs to change in our society in regards to the policing and mistreatment of minorities.’” (Cooper). In the end, he decides to sing the anthem using the voice he was given to sing for all the people in this country and their feelings from people like Kaepernick to people like his father (Cooper). This relates to the story “The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas” by Ursula Le Guin because Brownlee’s ethical dilemma he faces can be compared to ones the people in Omelas experience when they learn about the child under the city. The people in Omelas once they learn about the troubles of the child choose to either live with the knowledge of the child or they leave the village (Guin). The minorities can be considered the child of the story, while Brownlee and Kaepernick are the people who faced the moral decision. Kaepernick represents the ones that leave, while Brownlee represents the ones that stay but understands why they leave.
In his essay “Black Men and Public Space,” Brent Staples discusses his personal experiences of being an African American male, while coming to the realization of the harsh realities of the stereotypes it carries. Through his anger and frustration, he learned to alter himself in public spaces by making others around him feel less threatened. Not always would it work, such as the occasional double glances he’d get from the person in front of him or a click when walking past someone in their car. Seeing first-hand the effects of being an African American male made me think twice about how they had to present themselves in public due to the decade long stereotypes that the color of someone’s skin can carry. Seeing this happen through my eyes made
Tony Kushner, in his play Angels in America, explores a multitude of issues pertaining to modern American society including, but not limited to, race, religion, and sexual orientation. Through his diverse character selection, he is able to compare and contrast the many varied experiences that Americans might face today. Through it all, the characters’ lives are all linked together through a common thread: progress, both personal and public. Kushner offers insight on this topic by allowing his characters to discuss what it means to make progress and allowing them to change in their own ways. Careful observation of certain patterns reveals that, in the scope of the play, progress is cyclical in that it follows a sequential process of rootlessness, desire, and sacrifice, which repeats itself.
In Audre Lorde’s bildungsroman essay “The Fourth of July” (1997), she recalls her family’s trip to the nation’s capital that represented the end of her childhood ignorance by being exposed to the harsh reality of racialization in the mid 1900s. Lorde explains that her parents are to blame for shaping her skewed perception of America by shamefully dismissing frequent acts of racism. Utilizing copious examples of her family being negatively affected by racism, Lorde expresses her anger towards her parents’ refusal to address the blatant, humiliating acts of discrimination in order to emphasize her confusion as to why objecting to racism is a taboo. Lorde’s use of a transformational tone of excitement to anger, and dramatic irony allows those
Finkelman, Paul. His Soul Goes Marching On: Responses to John Brown and the Harpers Ferry Raid. Virginia: University of Virginia, 1995. Print.
It was America mid 1850’s and slavery was a sensitive topic between the north and the south. It seemed slaves had no hope of ever changing America’s ways until a white man by the name of John Brown decided to stand up and fight for the abolishment of slavery, which has been said to be one of the major events leading up to the American Civil War. Browns actions were defended by himself claiming they were “consisting of God’s commandments” (Finkelman 2011). I will explain Brown’s deontological ethical perspective while preforming the actions for the abolishment of slavery.
Many people hail “The Star Spangled Banner” as the greatest piece of American music. The audiences of America’s national anthem seem, instinctively, eager to express their respect by embracing the notion to remove their hats and stand up. However, not many people ponder over the question of what “The Star Spangled Banner” truly means. What does it mean? Why does it deserve so much reverence and honor? What exceptional difference allows it to prevail over the masterpieces of prominent composers like Mozart and Beethoven? The answer is fairly simple. “The Star Spangled Banner” symbolizes America’s perseverance, its set of moral laws and ethics, and its history that constitutes what America truly means.
I think this play is a lot about what does race mean, and to what extent do we perform race either onstage or in life:
For many Americans the thought of paying for their freedom sounds irrational. However, throughout time, history has shown us that freedom has not been free for a group of people. Sonny’s Blues, paints the life’s of two African American brothers whom lived in the 1950’s, where segregation was ruled illegal, but many people still practiced it. Even though, the two African American brothers engaged and tried to adapt their lifestyle to their Caucasian environment, they were still the target of what segregation had engraved on their environment’s culture. Sonny’s Blues by James Baldwin, details how racism makes those who have a darker skin pigmentation pay for their freedom; causing them to suffer, socially and physically.
When one is confronted with a problem, we find a solution easily, but when a society is confronted with a problem, the solution tends to prolong itself. One major issue that is often discussed in today’s society that has been here for as long as we’ve known it, is racism. Racism is also a very repetitive theme in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. Almost every character has experienced racism whether it be towards them or they are the ones giving the racism in this novel. Racism is a very controversial topic as many have different perspectives of it. In Toni’s novel, three characters that have very distinct perspectives on racism are Macon Dead, Guitar, and Dr. Foster. These characters play vital roles throughout the novel.
Anthem shows an unorganized way of equality. “It was easy to escape from the palace of corrective detention. The locks are old on the doors and there are no guards”(Rand) The government tries to keep everyone equal but when someone acts up, they don’t put the effort in to fix him or her. It is not hard to be different in a place that does not put in effort in the have equality. Harrison
Both Kincaid’s short story “Girl” and McPherson’s short story “Why I Like Country Music” employ instances of brusque dialogue to underscore their respective protagonists’ struggles against institutionalized prejudices.
Percival Everett’s “The Appropriation of Cultures” (2004), demonstrates the power of a symbol and the meanings that it can carry. In the story, Daniel Barkley is a highly accomplished African American man who graduated from Brown and frequently plays guitar near the campus of The University of South Carolina. From the beginning of the story, Barkley exposes a distinct independent personality that isn’t afraid to break stereotypes or labels. The first scene describes an instance in a bar where white fraternity boys were challenging Barkley to play ‘Dixie’ for them. Instead of refusing, like most would have done, he instead begins to play and take ownership of the song. Later in the story, Barkley decides to purchase a truck with a giant confederate flag decal in the back. Despite the strange stares and confusion
For Stanley Forman, a photographer of the Herald American news, it was unlike any other day heading to work. News in Boston, which had been going on for months, stated that the protest over a “court-ordered school desecration” was still being held as active. Assigned the task, Forman’s job was to take photos at the City Hall Plaza, where a couple of high school students would demonstrate to the crowd. It seems that Forman wasn’t in such a hurry; however, what came next soon baffled a life as the “agitated” students made their way to a well-dressed black man and attacked as he was walking to City Hall. As the man tried to flee, he found himself about to be assaulted with an American flag by one of the protestors. Forman, who had already snapped over a dozen photos at the scene, caught the image (Sullivan). Although the photo taken was nearly three decades ago, The Soiling of Old Glory caused shock towards the entire nation, which stirred emotions and confusion. It caused a wide range of effects, which drastically changed the lives of the photographer and two main people in the photo. However, because of Boston’s negative view from the public made the photo unnecessary to publish.
The essay is structured in around the central focus of discrimination in America during that time period. Placing rhetorical devices in the essay such as imagery, analogy, metaphor, and anecdote to support that claims made in the argument to embrace African American pride it continuously assures the point that being colored is amazing. Using the brown bag analogy: “I feel like a brown bag of miscellany propped against the wall. Against a wall in company of other bags, white, red, and yellow.”(Hurston 162). Unveiling the imagery of a brown bag to show everyone is the same on the inside. Also applying cabaret scene: “This orchestra grows rambunctious, rears on its hind
When one is confronted with a problem, we find a solution easily, but when a society is confronted with a problem, the solution tends to prolong itself. One major issue that is often discussed in today’s society that has been here for as long as we’ve known it, is racism. Racism is also a very repetitive theme in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. Almost every character has experienced racism whether it be towards them or they are the ones giving the racism in this novel. Racism is a very controversial topic as many have different perspectives of it. In Toni’s novel, three characters that have very distinct perspectives on racism are Macon Dead, Guitar, and Dr. Foster. These characters play vital roles throughout the novel.