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Self Acceptance In Charles Johnson's Lack Of Self

Decent Essays

Be Yourself Charles Johnson’s, “Dreamer”, exhibits the importance in the lack of self acceptance and how it will affect the rationalization of the “self” throughout the course of adolescence to adulthood. Realizing he is not, and will never be, Martin Luther King, Chaym Smith is faced with a task he yet again has failed. As a miraculous painter, tranquil monk, and heroine abuser, Smith tries to find his place in this world within every crevice and corner instead of within himself. Understanding why Smith is this way, is to understand the estranged relationship he has with his father. Due to the of lack of a father figure within his life, Smith’s ability to feel accepted within any particular setting can be futile. We …show more content…

To achieve this he uses his physical self in a sense of becoming Martin, rather than his ability to actually contribute to the cause of the Civil Rights Movement solely. Martin Luther king was raised by both his mother and father, he was also fortunate enough to have both his paternal and maternal grandparents in his life, this nurturing family background would be enough to make everyone and anyone feel a little envious. Smith habitually would feel what he calls, “...the Negro disease”, against King, his background, and his current gifts such as Kings oratorical skills. Smith would dismiss King and call him all types of scrutinizing names just to bruise King’s ego all while trying to become that …show more content…

Be yourself. Chaym Smith is a multi- talented man with gifts beyond the wildest dreams of Martin Luther King himself, and he still could not see his worth. As stated earlier, Smith is an artists, a writer, a man of philosophy, a man capable of showering whomever he encounters with love and nurturement, and a skilled handyman; a man with such talent and potential could not even see that within himself. Nevertheless, Smith realized, somewhat, his potential. He realized that though he could not change the world in Martin Luther King sized proportions, he could always create small change within a small

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