Upon The Head Of The Goat By Dudley Randall

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It is a universal fact that in a conflict there will always be those on the side of injustice and minorities who will fight against it, dividing communities. In the memoir, Upon the Head of the Goat, narrated and written by Aranka Siegal, is about just this. It describes the trifles of World War II firsthand while emphasizing how the Nazis segregated against Jews. The poem “Ballad of Birmingham”, written by Dudley Randall, is centered around the bombing of a black church in Birmingham, Alabama. Given these points, it can be concluded that both stories share similar themes involving segregation and injustice. The theme being, accusations without evidence ends in conflict because of three reasons, it causes divisions within society, it shifts …show more content…

Rebelling against your oppressor is right, it is only necessary because of accusations made without evidence. If there was no unfair blame, one could avoid ample bloodshed. “Ballad of Birmingham” highlighted this point. Within stanza one a child asks her mother “‘Mother dear, may I go downtown Instead of out to play, And march the streets of Birmingham In a Freedom March today?’” (Randall Stanza one). This quote not only gives context to the poem but shows the reader that it takes place during a rebellion. After this quote, the Mother replies that she may no go to the march due to the danger, but may go to church. Later in the poem, it states For when she heard the explosion, Her eyes grew wet and wild.” (Randall stanza 8). From this one can infer that because of the rebellion, the oppressors reacted in bombing an all-black church. Upon the Head of the Goat has similar points on the matter. In the narrative, Lujza quotes “And if the police pick one of us up, they do not punish the individual; the entire family receives the same punishment -- deportation to Poland.” (Siegal 108). This quote alone shows that families would get punished by the politically powerful for doing what is right. Not to mention the fact that Lujza had killed herself later in the narrative to ensure this doesn’t happen to her family. Given these quotes, one can conclude that rebellion, although needed in drastic times, wouldn’t be necessary if accusations without evidence weren’t

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