More handpicked essays just for you.
Relationship with society as theme in American literature
Racial conflict in the south and west
American literature and society
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Ishmael Reed, in ‘Blues City’ gives an account of the realms of ethnic diversity, cultural rivalries, the capitalism philosophy, and the interrelationship between blues and the working class. Oakland, often viewed as a sister to San Francisco across the Bay, is one of the most unique cities in the America. It is the home to dozens of artists, blue-collar workers, the Black Panther community, and a vibrant rustic and yet industrial town. Due to Oakland's bad reputation, Reeds in 1979 expressed his reservations when his shallow pockets forced him and his wife to find a house in Oakland. The longer he stayed in Oakland however; he got to experience this world on a whole new level. In Blues City, he describes diversity that comprise Oakland, downtown Oakland. Reed shows that Oakland is Blues City by discussing how it is one of the most culturally diverse cities in America: “a callaloo of cultures.” (26). The author uses logos to support his claim and s to bolster his credibility by informing that he attended various festivals that further showed him the diversity that this town encased during the compilation of the book. He stresses his view on diversity by describing a Kwanzaa celebration, the mistress of ceremonies "is a white woman in Yoruba dress; where, perhaps less surprising, about a fifth of the audience at a Native American powwow is black. As if those events weren't enough to reflect the cultural stew, I attended a springtime carnival that celebrated Oshun, a Nigerian "saint." Oshun, daughter of the Yoruba god Olodumare,..." (Page 27). All these events were more than enough to “reflect the cultural strew” of the city (27). A combination of this scenic background and the peaceful coexistence of the different peop... ... middle of paper ... ...cording to the author, the trend was later terminated since someone in city hall realized that the park was still making profits, unlike some of the privately-run redevelopment projects in the city that have collapsed. There is also the mention of Brown’s “brutal capitalism philosophy” (33) as he converts the city into a vision of Manhattan or even Hong Kong. “Oakland is a city where identities blur “ (Page 26) and Reed has lived there long enough to experience the diversity and the political aspects intertwined with the people's welfare and beliefs. He has been referred to as America's greatest satirist since Mark Twain. Reed's work is praised for its collage and roots in multi-cultural, revolutionary and Reed's understanding of mythic archetypes. Works Cited Reed, Ishmael. Blues City: A Walk in Oakland. Crown; 1 edition (October 21, 2003). Print.