Summary of Patricia Smith's 'What It's Like to Be a Black Girl'

In “In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens”, Alice Walker looks to educate us on the hardships that almost all black women face when trying to express themselves through things such as art. She delves into many sociological and psychological concepts that have affected black women throughout human history. These concepts and ideologies created a realm for mass exclusion, discrimination, and oppression of many African American women, including Alice Walker’s Mother, who Alice utilizes as one of her particular examples. The writing thematically aims to show how these concepts of sexism, racism, and even classism have contributed to black women’s lack of individuality, optimism, and fulfillment for generations. The author does a tremendous job of defending and expanding upon her arguments. She has a credible background, being a black woman that produces the art of literature herself. As well as being raised by one, Walker’s first-hand experience warrants high regard. Therefore, her use of abstract and introspective language is presented clearly and convincingly. Also, her use of evidence and support from sources like Jean Toomer, Virginia Woolf, and Phillis Wheatley, all produce more validity for her stance through poems, quotes, and even experiences. All these individuals have their own accounts pertaining to the oppression of black women and their individuality. Successfully arguing that the artistry plights of black women described in “In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens” are

A black man, Arsenio Hall is the executive producer of his own talk show. Which is one of the most democratized forms of television shows. Often times his show brings the raw, honest truth from the hearts, minds, and souls of black Americans. This segment right here was one of the realest moments. Arsenio starts the show by stating that he had to bring her back to kick off the current episode that was being filmed. This sends a very strong message to the media and society that the voices of not just black people, but young black women will and must be heard. The creative design of this set and the director's choice of shots suggests a calm, yet powerful stance on a subject. This vision is accomplished by the soft blue, purple, and hint of green lights that contrasts the color of her skin and outfit and allows her to pull away from her background. If they would have used colors with a reddish hue, it could create a feel of anger or vengeance. The bluish tone can also suggest the confidence and intelligence of the speaker herself. Additionally the strong spotlight on the speaker states that she is the main focus so pay attention.

The memoir “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston, was first published in 1928, and recounts the situation of racial discrimination and prejudice at the time in the United States. The author was born into an all-black community, but was later sent to a boarding school in Jacksonville, where she experienced “race” for the first time. Hurston not only informs the reader how she managed to stay true to herself and her race, but also inspires the reader to abandon any form of racism in their life. Especially by including Humor, Imagery, and Metaphors, the author makes her message very clear: Everyone is equal.

Both of these works have many connections with the world at large because that what these works are based off of. Black Like Me may be a little old but, that was what the world was like back in the 50’s and 60’s.

The early 1900s was a very challenging time for Negroes especially young women who developed issues in regards to their identities. Their concerns stemmed from their skin colors. Either they were fair skinned due mixed heritage or just dark skinned. Young African American women experienced issues with racial identity which caused them to be in a constant struggle that prohibits them from loving themselves and the skin they are in. The purpose of this paper is to examine those issues in the context of selected creative literature. I will be discussing the various aspects of them and to aid in my analysis, I will be utilizing the works of Nella Larsen from The Norton Anthology of African American Literature, Jessie Bennett Redmond Fauset,

Elaine Potter Richardson, more famously known as Jamaica Kincaid, is recognized for her writings that suggest depictions of relationships between families, mainly between a mother and daughter, and her birth place, Antigua, an island located in the West Indies. She is also familiarized with Afrocentrism and feminist point of views. Kincaid’s work is filled heavily with visual imagery that produces a mental picture in readers that helps them connect stronger to the reading. An example of this really shines through in her short story piece, “Girl.” This short story describes the life of a lower class woman living in the West Indies, and also incorporates thick detailing between the relationship between her and her mother. Jamaica Kincaid structures the story as if her mother is speaking to her. She writes broad, but straight to the point, allowing readers to imagine to picture her experience. Kincaid uses visual imagery and repetition consistently throughout “Girl” to reveal the theme and tone of the story; conflictual affair between a mother and daughter.

Both Alice Walker and Zora Neale Hurston are similar to having the same concept about black women to have a voice and being perspective. These two authors are phenomenal women who impacted on the southern hospitality roots. Alice Walker and Zora Neale Hurston comment on fear, avenge, and righteousness among African American women that are abuse of their power. Walker and Hurston uses the same theory of feminism to point out the liberation that is told through the story of survival. The comparison of the two authors expresses hardship among characters to discover their purpose. Also, Walker fines Hurston books intruding on into detail the heritage. Hurston narratives was not dull it was more upscale and interesting to talk about change to become reality. Walker and Hurston develop a comparison of the folk tale tradition in black culture. (Howard 200)

Being different is all about how you handle it. I choose to compare the poem “What it’s like to be black girl.” And the short story The Welcome Table. These to stories are told from different point of views, although they both made me feel sorry for the person the story was about. In the story the welcome table very few people felt sorry for the old black lady. Mostly they felt like she had step on their toes for having the audacity to come in there all white church. She didn’t fit their color code, or dress code. All they saw was a black lady with a not so pretty dress and ashy legs. It made me feel sorry for her. I also made me think about how I felt when I first started going to my church. I was judge along with other unwed

Sometimes people hold on to our past which could cause us to lose understanding of others and in the world. For an example, the poem “To a dark Girl” by Gwendolyn Bennett is about how young black girls carry pain on the shoulders and they should let it go. This essay is about how the author’s use of tone , word choice , and imagery helps the following theme emerge in “To a Dark Girl”: that black girls should never hold on to their past.

Title: When The Black Girl Sings Author: Bil Wright Publisher: Simon and Schuster Genre: Drama In the book “When the Black Girl Sings” one of the characters is Lahni Schuler. She is the only black student in her private prep school

In “The Stolen White Girl”, John Rollins Ridge creates a new identity for the narrator in his discovery of freedom through love. It is evident that both in his introduction as well as his conclusion that there is pure optimism and confidence for his future. From the very beginning of the poem, the narrator begins his optimistic journey into freedom as he shares in the first stanza “The prairies are broad, and the woodlands are wide / and proud on his steed the wild half-breed may ride”. The narrator is of Indian, (Native American) descent; and while he establishes his chains as a “wild half-breed” amongst the White, he asserts that love knows not color but is rather free to choose whom it wishes. Freedom on the other hand in his culture knows color, and by stealing the white girl, he in essence steals freedom.

Relationships span the spectrum, from the mumbled “hey” tossed over the shoulder to a colleague to the intimate “oh, how are you?” pressed into the palm of a lover or loved one. Many factors complicate them, but assumptions about race and racism can pull a relationship up or drag it down. Such is the case in Americanah by Chimamanda Adichie: Ifemelu, the protagonist, realizes that race tangles relationships until it is impossible to tell the beginning of the string from the end. While race, in the context of fleeting relationships, causes different people to be treated differently, it can also deepen lasting relationships and create cherished bonds between the two parties involved.

We’ve done quite a few readings from different time periods such as American Romanticism, American Feminism and Post Colonialism. For this paper, I am going to compare and contrast 2 readings, Young Good Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid. Hawthorne’s writing is from the American Romanticism week and “Girl” is from the Post Colonialism week. From my understanding and interpretations, the two of these readings share common themes such as public perception, gender roles, for lack of a better word and trust but they have differing views of each theme.

“Sula” by Toni Morrison is a 1973 novel that deals with a numerous issues as it follows two girls and their lives in the Bottom, Ohio during a time of racism and power struggles. The novel does a wonderful job of exposing power issues between black and white communities, as well as power struggles within the black community. The main characters Sula and Nel represent to different types of black women. Sula, a strong black woman that is determined to be herself in the face of adversity, and Nel, a black woman who seems to have surrendered her freedoms for marriage and the status quo. This novel has themes of racism, feminism, male oppression and self-awareness that are evident in “Tough Guise 2” by Jackson Katz and Zora Neale Hurston's “How It Feels To Be Colored Me,” but the most interesting theme in “Sula” is one of black-on-black oppression.

A rhyme scheme. An antidote. Poems are often viewed as simple things to read. People do not notice realize how perplex they can be. Poetry has its own way of telling a story. In only a few lines, one’s entire life can be explained. However, only some poets know how to connect to their audience on a different level. It takes a specific type of person to create vivid pieces of literature. Usually authors who thrive on writing have gone through experiences that made them full of wisdom. The way one writes reflects back on who he/she is as a person. As a result of growing up in a traditional black family, Mari Evans incorporates her values about being an African American in her poem, “I Am A Black Woman.”