Barbara Trevino

Web Reviews

“A New Perspective on What America Is Like Today” Lindsay Groth 2007

            Groth’s essay “A New Perspective on What America Is Like Today” offered a very informative overview of pertinent course objectives and terms that aid the reader and future students in gaining a better understanding of Minority and Immigrant literature. At first, her informal style was off putting, however, put into context of the assignment I was able to read it as a dialogue between Groth and future students, enabling me to appreciate the simple but informative manner in which she presented the topics. Overall, this essay can serve to inform current and future students about the course.

“As the Pendulum Swings: The Victimization of African American Women” Jennifer Jones 2007

My initial interest in reading Jones’ essay was her title and reference to women. While I was interested in the topic of the victimization of women in slavery, I disagreed with many of her statements and assumption that a “happy medium” is never reached. Jones states, “…Toni Morrison shows what happens when the pendulum swings in the opposite direction.  Women go from intentionally ignoring their children to hanging on to them for dear life.”  In reference to her statements regarding Ruth in Song of Solomon I found her assumptions to be limiting and narrow sighted. Overall, while the subject matter was very interesting, I found that her conclusions, such as her statement that “Slave masters have committed the ultimate crime against these women not by raping them, shoving them away from their children, and forcing them to ignore their natural mothering instincts, but by training African American men and women that this behavior is acceptable,” assume way too much such as that African American men and women find poor parenting practices acceptable. Her essay would be greatly improved if she provided more concrete examples that supported her assertions.

Ruth:  She’s “Alone in this World, and a Fucked up World it is too” Jennifer Reick 2007

            Among the characters we have encountered thus far during the semester, Ruth has stood out as a multifaceted character that I have teetered between thinking I understood deeply  and thinking that my understanding barely scratches the surface. In her essay, Reick portrays a very holistic picture of Ruth based on textual evidence and logical conclusions. By utilizing various texts such as the Bible, Langston Hughes poem “A Dream Deferred” and the text Song of Solomon Reick helps the reader to understand Ruth in a variety of different contexts. Reick’s style and word choice are easy to follow. In addition, her conclusions seem to logically follow her assertions which aid in the authenticity of her essay. Overall, Reick’s essay served to further the understanding of Ruth to current and future students.

 Research Plan

The Epic Within Immigrant Literature

            This class has provided me with a better understanding of the elements and themes present in minority literature. It is becoming clear to me that the epic is widely found throughout the genre. Meaning, there is often a common thread of perilous journeys, otherworldly interventions, and familial ties that may transcend generations found within many texts written by minority authors.

            I plan two write two research posts concerning the epic and minority literature. For my first post, because I am unfamiliar with the topic, I will research the elements of epics common within immigrant literature. At this point, I am unsure if I will focus on the genre as a whole or try to focus my research on one subgroup. My second post will delve more into the epic as found in either minority genders or orientations.

Essay

The “Dream” Within African American Literature

The “American Dream” has become a broadly used term to describe and identify the results of hard work, ingenuity, and perseverance of the poor, the hungry, and the tired that have made their way to America. It is implied that if one works hard enough, long enough, and smart enough they may prosper and rise to heights unseen throughout the four corners of the civilized world. Throughout literature, this ideology has been written and rewritten as testaments to the validity of this idea. However, within the pages and words of classic slave narratives and more recent African American literature, it is clear that the instead of a direct link between the individual, hard work and happiness, the attainment of the dream is more often tied to never-ending epic journeys and realized in increments instead of absolutes.

            Among the classic slave narratives, the dream can be seen as the ability of the individual to rise above hardships, forced participation, brutality, malice and treachery. Instead of procuring an elevated level of success, the dream is often realized upon the attainment of autonomy and freedom from the brutalities of slavery. In addition, it is often acknowledged that while an individual may have gained free will, the dream is not fully attained until the same freedoms are bestowed upon the group as a whole.

            In the narrative The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, the protagonist takes the reader on a journey through slavery, starting in the his homeland of Africa, and continuing throughout America and England. As a small child, Equiano is kidnapped and forced into slavery among other African tribes. However, despite the myriads of treatments he received while being traded and sold among the different African tribes, he undoubtedly acknowledges that the treatment he received from the “white” men of European descent is far worse than any he had previously endured. Throughout the narrative, the reader is offered glimpses of Equiano’s many moments of happiness while he believes to have finally found a place where he can be accepted, only to be brutally thrown from the place of comfort into the same or worse conditions as before. This pattern of repetitive heartbreak and failure followed by an almost mythical rise from the ashes by the protagonist creates a dream. While not the same as the American Dream, the “Dream” found in Equiano’s narrative is almost a hybrid of the “American Dream” that forces the reader to acknowledge the many who are denied.

            Likewise, in Incidents of Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, the repetitive pattern of loss, hardship, and betrayal followed by a literal or figurative rise above turmoil is apparent throughout the narrative. However, Jacobs introduces the reader to the special plight of women and not only the loss of the freedom of self rule, but the loss of freedom of their body. She also utilizes the color code as a defining factor among the different relationships apparent among slave women, their masters, and mistresses. It is clear that because of her fair skin and mullatto status she became an unwilling subject of her master’s ardent and unwanted desire. This emphasis on the color of skin is furthered as she provides the reader with a stark picture of the harsh treatment the children born of slave mothers and white masters are inflicted.

Throughout the narrative, a recurring theme is family relations and the desire of Jacobs’ parents, and her grandmother to ensure that the family unit stays intact and that their progeny are guaranteed as good of life that can be attained as a slave. Jacobs’ desire to keep her family intact and protect her bloodlines was apparent in her actions and words.

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave adheres to the same ideology of the dream common with the other narratives discussed. However, a central theme throughout is the evidence and propensity of violence inflicted upon and endured by the African American slave. Douglass recounts several instances where he is the subject of heinous acts of violence inflicted upon him by his master. These acts of violence serve as a mode of hardship which Douglass as the protagonist must overcome, culminating in his eventual escape to freedom. Although, Douglass does gain his freedom in the North, he continues to fight for abolition which is typical among slave narratives because in contrast to the individualistic “American Dream”, the dream found in slave narratives often focuses on the desire of the protagonist to further the dignity and respect for his former comrades of enslavement. This desire is also apparent in Jacobs’ Incidents of Life of a Slave Girl as she appealed to the reader on behalf of those still encapsulated within the bondage of slavery.

Although not a typical slave narrative Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon exhibits many of the same characteristics of the earlier slave narratives. Within the pages of her novel, Morrison’s characters encounter violence, prejudice, and the effects of the color code present within their society. For example, while Macon Dead seems to have achieved the “American Dream”, it is clear that he is not bestowed the same rights and privileges granted his white counterparts. Although he may work alongside white members of the community, he is still relegated to live and associate within the confines of his African American community. Further, Macon’s entire life seems to be a series of trials and tribulations that he has either overcome or continues to struggle with. One aspect of the Dream as defined by objective 3a in Macon’s struggle that seems to be absent is the pursuit for others of his ethnic group to gain freedom and opportunities. While Macon works to better himself and his family, he does little to help the plight of less fortunate African Americans in his community

While there are numerous accounts of the “American Dream” in literature, it is through the readings of African American authors that a more clear view is obtained regarding the dream. While it seems romantic and idealistic to believe that if one works hard they will achieve success and happiness, this belief is a fallacy. The “American Dream” is not as easily attainable as literature of the more dominant European American culture may suggest, but instead is achieved through a series of obstacles that one must overcome. It is through the narration of these obstacles that that rich genre of slave narration and African American literature has emerged.