Revelations 20:All

At the end of the book, Wright realizes that the Communist part is hypocritical in both the way it composes itself (in contrast to the way it purports that it composes itself) as well as its claim to be separatist from mainstream society. First off, the communist party claims to be the accepting, open environment that everyone with a vision for a better tomorrow dreams of. They claim to be welcoming to all individuals and claim to be a progressive think tank dedicated to making the future brighter. The realization here, is they they are just as much regimented and demanding in conformity as the rest of society. They shun Richard not for his race, rather for his intellectualism. It is because they are so strict in demanding conformity that they hurl him into a curb in an attempt to dispose of him. He's an early Rodney Dangerfield; he gets no respect.

Artists and Politicians make strange bedfellows.

Off hand, I would have to agree with Wright's claim that artists and politicians stand at opposite poses, mainly because of the roles that each occupation plays within a society. Politicians analyze the reality of the situation and do what is needed to maintain power and order. Artists look at the situation from a consumer's point of view, then use their creativity in order to think up what could make the situation better. In this right, these two groups have highly contrasting interests in mind. There are the thinkers, and there are the dreamers. While both are necessary to make society a reality, they are both designed for their purpose, and while they do it well it is about the only thing they can do.

Blue Black Boy

Image Credit: http://www.flomenhaftgallery.com/collections/collections_images/blue_black_boy_choco_2a185f.jpg


Carrie Mae Weems' photographic triptych entitled "Blue Black Boy" (2008) is featured in MOMA's exhibit entitled "Reinventing Color." This work in particular is featured in the 1988 Blues portion of this exhibition. What this work says to me is that we place altogether too much emphasis on colors (races) and do not see things for what they really are: men, women, people. With this in mind, the work progresses from left to right with the words printed under each identical picture of the same boy, "Blue. Black. Boy." The final of these words finally surmises what this human should really be seen as, a fellow human no different due to any racial constrictions or prejudices. He should not be seen as blue because of the blue tones of the work. He should not be seen as black as it is the color of his skin. He is a boy. A human boy. In this right, he is as equal as any of the rest of us, and the labels of color should not be placed upon them even at first glance.

http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2008/colorchart/flashsite/index.html

GOLD!!! ...plated

The passage on page 273 in which Wright makes reference to the white girls with whom he worked focusing on the "trash" in life gives insight to the fact that they are not specifically concerned with their place in life, as the society as a whole had a preconceived notion that each person would have the insight on their own accord to know where their place is/was. In this right, the girls are able to focus on the frivolous, unnecessary aspects of pop culture, while at the same time Wright struggles through the day-to-day hardships that he faces merely because of his race. There is something here that is inherently wrong. I would equate this situation with a more modern example: the hierarchy based upon popularity that has manifested itself recently in our school systems and abroad. It is apparent that there are certain members of a society (a typical high school environment for example) that are in such a place in this preconceived caste system that they need not worry about the social struggle that takes place on the daily, because they will have everything taken care of for them, and if they should somehow make a mistake (in general) they will not be dejected as a result. There are others, however, (these are the ones with whom I equate Wright) that are in such a downcast social standing that they have to pay attention to the social ties around them; to the things that truly matter in life. They don't need to (or can't) focus on the more fleeting aspects (i.e. cars, radios, more modern: dating, social networking, etc.) because any distraction from the central focus of trying to fit in could potentially have drastic social and physical consequences. In short, Richard worked for and paid attention to the solid things; the lasting things that would truly matter and what made him his own individual. The other people were shallow; immersed in pop culture with no intellectual fortitude to make even so much as a thought to their own personal existance and relivance.

How Much Different from Slavery?

Throughout the course of this book, Wright has had to learn 'how to live in the south,' meaning the implied measures of conformity that blacks are expected to follow in regards to their mannerisms and to whites alike. They had to act with a sense of reverence to whites, and Wright learns this the hard way when he is beaten because of his forgetting to call a white man "sir." Also, Wright knew that any further complications between himself, Reynolds, and Pease would more than likely result in his further injury. It is the entire set of unwritten rules that blacks had to follow that made up the code of how to live in the south. This is literal, as not following these rules could very well result in death.

Preemptive Damage Control

Despite the time/setting differences that could account for public opinion, I believe that Wright was completely justified in giving his own speech. While I'm sure he was aware of the dangers he faced in the event that he said something potentially inflammatory, he still wanted to express the thoughts that were truly his. This is another example of where he could do something that was his and his alone. He could share his ideas with a larger group. I can understand, however, the school's intention in providing Wright with a pre-written speech. While they were trying to protect both Wright and their own image, the school should've at least given more consideration to Wright's own speech.

Uncle Tom's Tenement

There is an extent to which some severe discipline is called for. There were probably several instances in which Wright deserved more intensive measures. However, in the case in which Uncle Tom threatened to punish him for his "sassy" attitude in his response, discipline of this extent is entirely uncalled for. It is my opinion, rather, that Uncle Tom had some insecurity issues with himself, and therefore had to constantly manifest his dominance. Furthermore, this is an extension of the issues of conformity that are constantly pressured upon blacks to become entirely subservient and do exactly what is expected of you. It was this and several other factors that made Wright want to challenge the norm and be his own person.