In folklore writer Sterling A. Brown’s most renowned poem, “Ma Rainey,” the music of the blues (specifically, the abridged version of “Backwater Blues” found in-text) validates a number of hardships seen in African-American daily life—from problems of poverty and segregation to issues of identity formation—and unifies African Americans in the validation of their shared histories. In his 1932 poem, “Ma Rainey,” Brown uses Rainey’s music to fulfill both of the above purposes and immerse and implicate
Blues Legacies and Black Feminism by Angela Davis emphasizes on the work of Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday – the three black women artists, who not only helped articulate working-class black feminism but also shaped the American popular culture. Because blues today is a heavily male-dominated genre, it is often forgotten that black women were actually the first artists to record the blues. Due to the long history of slavery and segregation, most black women lacked the freedom
Evolution of the Characters in The Color Purple The most important aspect of The Color Purple is the growth and maturity of each individual. There is a huge transition of many of the characters from the beginning to the end of the novel. This evolution of the characters is a recurring theme that runs throughout the novel and can be tracked by Celie’s letters. The women struggle for freedom in a society where they are inferior to men. Towards the end of the novel one can sense the slow evolution
just a bunch of noise that didn’t tell a story. August Wilson tells a power yet subtle story about the struggle of Black Americans during the 1900s. He writes about struggles in equality, and identity through the cast members of Ma Rainey music group. As I reread Ma Rainey Black Bottom by August Wilson, I was surprised to find more connections than I initially found. Being almost at the end of the quarter, we as a class have delved into many different pieces of literature. Overall, many themes of
influential women I will discuss further are Ma Rainey and Lucille Bogan. Ma Rainey grew up as Gertrude Pridgett in Georgia in the late 1880s. Having parents who were entertainers themselves, it is no surprise that Ma Rainey began her own singing career at a very young age. After initially singing with a group at an opera house, Ma Rainey joined the Vaudeville scene where she met her husband, Will Rainey. Together the two formed the duo “Ma and Pa Rainey” where they toured together, sometimes with
paper is to focus on the careers of two of Classical blues most influential and legendary singers: Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. Ma Rainey, considered by many to be the “Mother of the Blues,” was one of the first pioneers of the classical blues style. She sang with a deep, rich, and quite often rough contralto voice while the voices of her contemporaries a generation later were more harmonious. Rainey was an important figure in connecting the Classical blues, largely female dominated, with the predominately
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom The theatrical production Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is one that has many themes. Not only does the playwright August Wilson bring up several thoughts on the injustices and social issues of the time he also displays how it effected blacks. With all of these ideas it made me wonder what audience was Wilson trying to address with play. In reading the play there were several instances where I could see where Wilson was addressing a mixed audience. Let me explain. In the beginning
around them. The love in ones heart is not always as noticeable as we would like it to be; yet it is always present if someone truly loves another. It is hard not to have such a strong and desirable love for someone you have missed in the past. Ma and Tom Joad had so much love for each other, and it is rather funny how no one really noticed it but them. They always looked out for one and other during the hard times, it was the helping hand of the other that made them survive. "She crawled
As a result of a crisis, Ma Joad emerges as a controlled, forceful, and selfless authority figure for the family. Ma Joad exhibits exelent self-control during the sufferings and frustrations of the Joad's journey. Ma knows that she is the backbone of the family, and that they will survive only if she remains calm. Ma keeps her self-control when Ruthie tells some children about Tom's secret. The family becomes nervous and enraged over the situation, but Ma restores order by handling
If you consider Ma Joad concrete then consider Pa limestone... The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, shows a whole family and their struggles. The grapes of Wrath is modeled after a biblical reference to the Israelites, god¹s chosen people. They also left their land, Egypt, and wandered into the desert for many years,searching in vain for a promised land, the land of milk and honey. A lot like the Israelites, many farmers in the middle of the country began migrating to California. The Joads I believe
Jack Ma founded Alibaba Group, together with his 17 friends in 1999. Jack Ma was just an English teacher when he developed the idea of establishing an e-commerce site that will help sellers and buyers alike, as a platform for them to communicate, advertise and make transactions. The Internet was still not at the peak of its popularity yet back then, but Jack Ma had a vision. With a fund of he knew that he could help businesses in China to develop and compete competitively in the local and international
throughout western Oklahoma, and Ma and Pa Joad have decided to move their family their; evicted from their farm by the bank that owned it, they feel as though they have no choice. The journey to California in a rickety used truck is long and arduous, and results in the deaths of both Tom’s grandparents. Traveling along Highway 66, which is clogged with cars making the same trip to California for the same reasons, the Joads meet the Wilsons, a couple plagued with car trouble whom Ma Joad invites to travel
ideal figures in their refusal to be broken by the circumstances against them. Each character undergoes tremendous heartache and burden, yet they stay true to their plans and never give up. While the Joad family is moving from Oklahoma to California, Ma Joad holds the family together because her belief that a broken-family will not be able to accomplish their mammoth task. This is displayed by her not allowing the two cars to split and arrive at California at different times when one of the cars breaks
were surmounted successfully. Ma Joad and Tom Joad are two strong characters who overcame laborious predicaments. Their powerful characteristics helped to encourage those that were struggling. In fact, one principal character who was involved in a difficult situation was Ma Joad. She was a wife and mother whose only occupation in life was a housewife. She lived in an unfair time period; women were forced to do almost everything that the man commanded. However, Ma Joad was different. Ever since
misfit to Madonna through the Joad’s journey. Rose of Sharon incessantly asks Ma Joad if “it’ll hurt the baby” throughout a majority of the novel, and adopts an attitude of superiority over others with her precious possession. She all but refuses to help the family pack the truck for California for fear of disturbing her fetus, even though she knows her help is needed. Her selfish antics and complaints are patiently absorbed by Ma, who tolerates her primarily because of her condition. Rose of Sharon knows
Mr. Ma grew up in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. Neighbors called him a troublesome and often rebellious young boy, but he may have just been precocious. When he graduated in 1988, he worked as an English professor at the Hangzhou Institute of Electronic Engineering, he was very popular among students. The year was 1995, he first visited America he saw the opportunity in entrepreneurship. He was introduced to the internet that excited Mr. Ma because he would be able to catch this opportunity
The Grapes of Wrath: Beauty in the Midst of Hopelessness The Grapes of Wrath portrays life at its darkest. It is the story of migrant workers and the hardships and heartbreaks that they experience as they are driven from their land - the land that they have lived on for generations - so the banks can make a profit. Sure, cried the tenant men, but it's our land. We measured it and broke it up. We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. That's what makes it ours - being born
period of arduous and zestful moments, the archetypal Earthmother can be identified in the Joad household. Ma Joad is the citadel in the family. She thinks and cares not for herself but for the family and people. Ma has helped keep the family stable, " She seemed to know that if she swayed the family shook" (96). Even in times when food was scarce, Ma spared what she could to help those without. Ma said, "´ Look, you little fellas go an' get you each a flat stick an' I'll put what's lef' for you '" (331)
their dreams. Ma Joad is a woman of strength and hope who is the backbone of the family. She represents the Mother Nature archetype while she posses the physical aspect of guiding the family and staying strong when the family needs her most. Steinbecks shows the importance of ma's character by the syntax usage to describe ma. " Ma was heavy, but not fat; thick with child-bearing and work...her ankles, and her strong, broad, bare feet moved quickly and deftly over the floor", Ma is described
According to Jackson (1988), the persistent myth that no real law existed in New Zealand prior to 1840, is a racist and colonising myth used to justify the imposition of ongoing application of law from Britain. Pre-European Maori society regulated behaviour and punished wrongdoings through the sanction of muru. Jackson defines muru as, “a legalised system of plundering as penalty for offences, which in a rough way resembled (the Pakeha) law by which a man is obliged to pay damages” (p.40). Due to