Conformity and Stereotypes in Measuring My Blood and The Artificial Nigger
Adults frequently make conscious attempts to pass on their values and judgments concerning a number of matters to younger generations by sharing their own views. Generally, the advice they pass on is helpful for one to become a successful, productive member of the general population; however, this process of indoctrination can be harmful if the views shared by the elder are racist. Gerald Vizenor's "Measuring My Blood" and Flannery O'Connor's "The Artificial Nigger" explore the circumstances in which racist individuals try to induce others into following stereotypical ideas and how their influence can lead to a negative outcome.
One reason older people project their negative, racist attitudes is so that they may boost their own self-image. For example, in O'Connor's "The Artificial Nigger," Mr. Head acts as if he were the world's foremost authority on African-American issues since he has interacted with them during several brief occasions in the past. In Nelson's uncultured opinion, his grandfather's seemingly unendless knowledge about black people is impressive, and "for the first time in his life, he understood that his grandfather was indispensable to him" (257). The elderly grandfather enjoys the rare occurrence of having Nelson look up to him and respect his authority. Generally, Nelson merely looks at his caretaker as just another poor, unsophisticated country redneck incapable of furthering his own well-being; however, when the issue of black people is brought to attention, he is finally taken seriously. Otherwise, Mr. Head is just an unsophisticated man who gains his sense of self-worth by abusing minorities. ...
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...is the transfer of racist ideas through the use of indoctrination. While the main difference between the two stories lies in the way a seemingly trustworthy source shares its stereotypical ideas with either a single individual or a large group, indoctrination, as evidenced in both stories, can be hurtful and damaging. Some individuals, such as Gerald Vizenor are able to see the racism often associated with the sharing of ideas, but other, less intelligent or caring people simply accept other people's opinions as their own.
Works Cited
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Shoemaker, Nancy. “ Native-American Women in History.” OAH Magazine of History , Vol. 9, No. 4, Native Americans (Summer, 1995), pp. 10-14. 17 Nov. 2013
We are trained to think and perceive things the way they are presented to us as we grow up. Naturally, the ideologies we are taught at a young age generally stay with us until we are adults. As proof, C.P Ellis was taught at a young age that African Americans and Jewish people were to blame for his problem, or the problems of the poor whites in America. Psychologist Daryl Bem theory of self-perception delivered the attitude and emotional connections Ellis had to his behavior when being a Klans’ man. Also, Connors approach to acceptance, when moving past negative events in our lives.
In this paper I will explain and discuss the historical events that took place in a small rural town in early Massachusetts. The setting for which is Irene Quenzler Brown's and Richard D. Brown's, The Hanging of Ephraim Wheeler. I will explain the actions and motives of Hannah and Betsy Wheeler in seeking legal retribution of husband and father Ephraim Wheeler. I will also discuss the large scope of patriarchal power allowed by the law and that given to husbands and masters of households. Of course, this will also lead to discussions of what was considered abuse of these powers by society and the motivation for upholding the Supreme Court's decision to hang Ephraim Wheeler.
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Although Flannery O’Connor didn’t even live to see her 40th birthday, her fiction endures to this day. In “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and “Everything that Rises Must Converge,” O’Connor effectively deals with the two huge themes (topics) of religion and racism. These two themes are crucial to understanding much of O’Connor’s great works and are relevant to all readers of O’Connor throughout all ages.
In 1917, the United States found itself buried in a conflict with many different nations. Labeled as World War I, the United States goal was to support the fight for democracy across the world. As the war progressed, there was a need to fulfill many jobs due to the labor shortages that the North had been experiencing. To be more exact, the North received a major labor blow, due to the large enlistment of men into the Army. The draft also helped to cripple the labor supply of the North. The fact that the North was primarily industry based, caused many jobs to become vacant, and created an extremely high demand for an immediate labor force. Large numbers of African Americans migrated from the South to the North in response to the need for a steady labor force, and in hopes of finding economic growth. As World War I ended, many more African Americans migrated from the south to the north due to an overwhelmingly large amount racial tension in the aftermath of the war. This great migration of African Americans, from the south to the north led to black settlements in some of the larger northern industrial cities, such as Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. In about 1920, many of the African Americans who had moved to the north from the south were beginning to embrace the concept of the “New Negro”, which was a movement that was not only a social revolt against racism, but also served as a literary movement, as well as redefined African American expression. This movement better known as the Harlem Renaissance was a key contributor to African Americans, and the way that their roles changed in the United States, on the road to equal rights as well as economic equality. The Harlem Renaissance will forever be remembered as the turning point in African American culture, as well as their place in America today.
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The Harlem Renaissance was a new focus on African American literature, paintings, artwork, and music through the lens of African American experience. Marcus Garvey was one of the early political leaders of the Harlem Renaissance movement. In 1920 Marcus Garvey started a back to Africa movement. His organization the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), held
Pages one to sixty- nine in Indian From The Inside: Native American Philosophy and Cultural Renewal by Dennis McPherson and J. Douglas Rabb, provides the beginning of an in-depth analysis of Native American cultural philosophy. It also states the ways in which western perspective has played a role in our understanding of Native American culture and similarities between Western culture and Native American culture. The section of reading can be divided into three lenses. The first section focus is on the theoretical understanding of self in respect to the space around us. The second section provides a historical background into the relationship between Native Americans and British colonial power. The last section focus is on the affiliation of otherworldliness that exist between
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of Native American Culture as a Means of Reform,” American Indian Quarterly 26, no. 1
The racism/intolerance that will be examined has been seen in America for centuries and in the last fifty years, seemed not to be such an issue anymore and that is intolerance toward one's ethnicity. Coupled with the advancements in technology and in the purported enlightened attitudes that people show one another, the very thought that r...