Literary Essay on “in the Kitchen” by Henry Louis Gates, “Am I Blue” by Alice Walker, and “Just Walk on By” by Brent Staples

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The meaning of segregation is a disliking matter, all African Americans wanted was equal rights, no harm against them, and to be seen as one. Yet, the African race had to endure on changing their appearance, being compared to animals, and having to alter public space just to try and fit in with the white community. Hearing stories of those such as Henry Louis Gates and Brent Staples shows us how history can repeat slightly from the past. Indeed, African Americans would try and transform their hair, going from kinky to strait. In Henry Louis Gates, an American Literary critic, short story “In the Kitchen” (1994), informs the reader the politics of “good hair which is straight and bad hair which is kinky (314),” The title “In the Kitchen” is ambiguous meaning it has a double meaning. One meaning it is being in a three dimensional room, and the other meaning doing hair. Gates uses process analysis to give reader a vivid picture on how the African Americans endure on the difficult process of straightening their kinks, just to fit in with the white society. Given details on how African Americans would change their appearance just to try fit in with the white culture. According to Alice walker, she gives examples on how no matter what African Americans do to change their appearance as far as hair, African Americans will still be compared and objectified to animals. Laster 2 Additionally, In Alice Walker, an American Author, short story “Am I Blue” she persuades the reader to be sympathetic to animals and to show how similar animals and humans are. Alice Walker also gives examples on how sl... ... middle of paper ... ... In conclusion, segregation is how separation was between groups of race is a dreadful situation. African Americans wanted no harm, they wanted be able to share the same places such as restrooms. The black community tried to change the way they looked, sound, or objectify to animals. African Americans are being seen as a negative light, because of the skin color, hair, and where we come from. Works Cited "In the Kitchen" Analysis" StudyMode.com. 11 2010. 2010. 11 2010 < http://www.studymode.com/essays/In-The-Kitchen-Analysis-494895.html>. Walker, Alice. Am I Blue? Clouse, Barbara Fine. Patterns of a Purpose 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print Staples, Brent. Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders his power to Alter Public Space. Clouse, Barbara Fine. Patterns of a Purpose 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print

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