Colson Whitehead

Railroad, by Colson Whitehead, freedom is just a dream every African American character desires. Whether enslaved or free they must navigate the impossible choice between slavery or racism. The stigma of colored people create this idea that Ridgeway believes "If niggers were supposed to have their freedom, they wouldn't be in chains. If the red man was supposed to keep hold of his land, it'd still be his. If the white man wasn't destined to take this new world, he wouldn't own it now." (Whitehead) Similarly

checking his name off a list, but J. hasn't bothered to look at it so he doesn't know what time dinner is," (p. 693). J Sutter's experience in checking into the hotel as a journalist offers telling evidence of the theme of alienation. The imagery that Whitehead uses solidifies the core theme of social alienation. Here, the protagonist's name is disembodied. His name is on the list, legitimizing his status in the society. On the list, he belongs to a group a professional organization. He is accountable to

Eric Foner had earned his doctoral degree at Columbia University, where he currently teaches as the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History. As a Historian, Author, and Researcher, Foner wrote Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad to display the reality of how the Underground Railroad thrived. The book describes the abolition movement and how it developed through individuals and societal groups and its works to help fugitive slaves gain their freedom. While there was a

Unlike other authors, Colson Whitehead decided to develop his main character in a unique and complex way in his novel The Underground Railroad. Cora’s character development not only occurs with the people she meets, but also with the locations she passes through. Each station, with its own interior and setting, is what ultimately affects her character’s state of mind. Since every state has a different view on slavery, it is natural that the conditions of each station reflect that of the opinions

their dreams. All the different racists, different religions, and different cultures have brighten the city of new york. It becomes more like a nation instead of a city. Colson Whitehead’s had mentions in his book Colossus of New York that there are “eight million naked cities in this naked city-they dispute they disagree” (Whitehead 6), which show us how diverse the city is. People in this city have their own thoughts and dreams because they all come from different places in the world with different

Eric Foner, the author of Gateway to freedom, is a history professor from Colombia University and is one of the most famous historians in the United States. Gateway to Freedom is about the history of the underground railroad and the stories of slaves struggling to seek freedom in the United States. As stated by Foner, “the underground railroad by definition can only be understood as an intercity, interregional enterprise” (Foner, 2015, pg.7). New York City was “safe haven” for slaves, after the

search for justice is ongoing, one’s devotion to this goal often leads to failure in the face of oppression. For Elwood Curtis, this tragic failure represents how racial equality is one of the several fights for justice continuing in today’s world. In Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys, Elwood is optimistic that racial equality and the elimination of the corruptive system of Nickel Academy is within reach, yet is unsuccessful in reaching this goal before his death. Despite being able to influence Turner

Throughout the history of America, the “civilization” of slaves has been a complex issue that is often not looked at nor discussed enough in society. In its general definition, most people would think civilization is the process in which a person or animal is adapted to fit into a society. While this definition is technically correct, this is a simple example of what the word truly means. In the context of slavery, this term means the systematic dehumanization of people who were abused or imprisoned

As Discussed earlier this the semester, The idea of the “Zombi” originated in the Vodou religion in the Caribbean, specifically Saint Domingue or modern day Haiti. When the Zombi originated, it was deeply rooted in Slavery. The original Zombie was when one would dig up old corpses and control them to work as free labor(White Zombie). The “Zombi” would be under the control of another. This idea was well depicted in the film “White Zombi” When Beaumont took control of Madeline Short, and make her a

A blank page. All writing begins with a white sheet of unnamed possibilities. And yet with skills, knowledge, and ideas, a blank page can morph into something magical. Shakespeare did not simply stumble upon Romeo and Juliet. Instead, he had to use his heart, mind, and pen to produce his masterpieces. Throughout freshman English class, we have been developing the skills to fill that daunting blank page with meaningful words. Moreover, students have been exposed to esteemed authors and asked to synthesize