The need for Human Connections in a Community

 The readings for today were very interesting and referred a lot to the relationships we hold with each other. The first reading that I looked at for today was Edith Wharton's "Roman Forever". It was a story of two long time friends named Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, who each were widowed and left with two daughters. I would characterize the relationship between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade as one that is seemingly solid and loving on the outside but they each have their own opinions and hidden secrets about one another that have been kept quiet because they both really cherish the relationship they have. You can see throughout the story how they each give hints to a relationship that has undiscovered qualities within it. In part two Wharton stated, "Like many intimate friends, the two ladies had never before had occasion to be silent together, and Mrs. Ansley was slightly embarrassed by what seemed, after so many years, a new stage in their intimacy, and one with which she did not yet know how to deal". This suggests that throughout the course of their relationship they were still discovering different aspects of their relationship. I think that the ending of the story signaled an end to such a long friendship because of how serious the confession of Mrs. Ansley was. After having her best friend trick her into thinking that a man wrote her a letter, you would assume that Mrs. Ansley got the short end of the stick but she ended up having a daughter by her best friend's husband. Mrs. Ansley stated, "Well—because I didn't have to wait that night...I had Barbara". This shows that not only did Mrs. Slade jeopardize her relationship with Mrs. Ansley so long ago, but she also put the nail in her own coffin by not thinking the joke through. Mrs. Slade is the one who lost out on her husband, her children, and her friend. The end of that relationship was her fault.

In Elizabeth Bishop's poem "One Art", there are clues that she isn't taking the loss of "you" as easy as she claims because of her hesitation and joking nature. She stated, "--Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture / I love)...though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster" (16,19).the dashes at the beginning of line 16 and her insert of thought where she says "write it!" are signs that she is hesitating and having a hard time of stating what she said. The progression of the poem lets us know that the "you" she is talking about was someone special in that she reflects on losing frivolous things and justifies her loss as nothing of a serious mater but as the poem evolves she starts to reflect on more serious things that she has lost and admits how much she misses them. She stated, " I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,/ some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. / I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster" (13-15).She is arranging the poem to go from a lighthearted tone to a very serious one.

Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall" was extremely hard for me to fully understand. I believe that the thing that "doesn't love the wall" is nature itself. This is suggested in the poem when Frost stated, "That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, / And spills the upper boulders in the sun" (2-3). In my opinion the wall symbolizes individuality in a sense. I think that the wall keeps coming down because as the relationship between the two farmers develop and take form, it must pull from each of their tendencies and characteristics to make a thriving relationship, so the wall crumbles more and more as their relationship becomes closer. The neighbors keep constructing the wall because I think that they are afraid of losing their identity and their individuality as two different farmers. The poem stated, "He is all pine and I am apple orchard. / My apple trees will never get across / And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him" (23-25).This suggests that they want to keep their property and farming separate from each other and the only way to do that is by having a wall. I also think that the wall gives them an excuse to keep a relationship between them, so they almost look forward to rebuilding the wall as a way to rekindle their relationship. I think that in this poem good fences do make good neighbors because it serves as a mediator between a relationship with two people and also protects them from losing their individuality.

One connection I had was with the story "Roman Forever". It was interesting to me how the author came up with a story that was so powerful and subtly dramatic in a sense. It reminded me of soap operas and how they are always revealing these big dramatic hidden secrets to each other. I'm sure that during the author's time there was infidelity going on, but the way in which she wrote the story shows how the style of writing books and scripts have been influenced.

What does Frost mean in the poem when he says, "We have to use a spell to make them balance:/ Stay where you are until our backs are turned!"?

The Need for Communities to Stand Up for What is Right

Both of the readings for today gave strong insight into what a community should be, as well as what it takes for a community to thrive. In reading Winthrop's " A model for Christianity" one major thing stood out to me that was a little different from Thoreau's work.

In "A model for Christianity", Winthrop's main notion of a stable and thriving community is one that is conducted and governed under God's divine purpose for the community. He thought that it should be a Christian community and that its inhabitants should contribute to the idea of selflessness. He felt like everyone had a right to do as they so pleased as long as they abide by the laws of government.Winthrop also felt if God's purpose wasn't implemented in the community and people began to disobey not only the laws of government as well as the plan of Christ, then they would be punished with God's wrath and the community would fail to flourish.He stated, "The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world". This suggests that Winthrop believes that God shall play an important role in New England's fate and he is giving warning that they must all abide by this plan.

In "Civil Disobedience", Thoreau's idea of community was very different from Winthrop. He believed that government should not play a big role in people's lives when he stated in his opening paragraph, ""That government is best which governs not at all". In my opinion he felt as though government did not help to strengthen the sense of community but only weaken it. He doesn't disagree with all aspects of government as seen when he states, "Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed upon, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage. It is excellent, we must all allow". I think that Thoreau's main claim was that government should not be at the forefront of society's endeavors especially one that supports slavery which was one of biggest oppositions to the government. He believes that we should be able to think and do for ourselves without having the confinement of rules and laws or having to agree with a government that contradicts our morals.

It was obvious that Winthrop's main pull on having a stable community was having God's plan implemented in its structure whereas Thoreau's main point that the people should be put first in a community. The main similarity I saw between these two people was that they both wanted America to be a place of love and unity. Above all, they both wanted the foundation of America to be that f solid beliefs in which the individual has contributed. Although they gave different reasons and explanations of how one should go about achieving this, they both wanted the same for America in the end. This is proven when Winthrop stated, "We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality. We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body". He is making the claim that through everything that a society must face, they must do it in a way of unity. Thoreau takes on a similar claim when he stated, "I please myself with imagining a State at last which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor". This suggests that Thoreau also longs for unity and equality that will solidify his idea of a strong community and an even stronger America.

One connection I had with today's reading was with Thoreau's idea of civil disobedience and the ideas of Ginsberg. They both seem to have an idea of not conforming and acting out on one's free will. They are not too impressed with government and both seem to prefer a society that is ran on individual choices rather than laws.

In Winthrop's thesis he speaks highly of God ans his plan that he has set out for the people. Do you think his view on slavery could have been similar to that of Thoreau's being that he had such a high respect for God and the government?

The American Landscape

In the readings for today I think that all of the authors' attitudes towards nature was that it is something beautiful that should be embraced. Even in destruction or overwhelming change nature was something that they all identified with in their own ways. In Sarah Jewett's "A White Heron", she portrays her outlook on nature through a young girl named Sylvia, her grandmother, a cow, a heron, and a hunter. Sylvia came to live with her grandmother and had to adjust to the country life after moving from the city. She had to learn how to adapt to country living and in dong so she became more in tune with nature so to speak. She began to love living in the country and she became so fond of it that she could navigate herself without even seeing where she was going. The text stated, "They were going away from whatever light there was, and striking deep into the woods, but their feet were familiar with the path, and it was no matter whether their eyes could see it or not". This suggests that through her daily walks with the cow, Sylvia has become very familiar with her surroundings. When the hunter came into town and offered money in exchange for the white heron Sylvia decided against the money because she did not want to be any part of contributing to the bird's death. This is seen when the author stated, "...she remembers how the white heron came flying through the golden air and how they watched the sea and the morning together, and Sylvia cannot speak; she cannot tell the heron's secret and give its life away". Sylvia represents the love for nature and everything it holds.

In Robert Frost's poem "After Apple Picking", his attitude towards nature was one that also referenced to his life. I think he used nature in this poem not just to talk about picking apples but also to help express death in a sense. Tn the poem he stated, "For I have had too much / Of apple-picking: I am overtired / Of the great harvest I myself desired" (27-29). In these lines I think he is referring to apple picking as being his life and when he states "For I have had too much" he is expressing that he cannot tolerate life anymore and is ready to die. I don't think that he used nature as a foe, or an evil to his existence but I do think that as he observed nature he related it mostly to death.

In Emily Dickinson's poems I was very confused as to the idea of nature being tied into her works. In "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church" I think that she is tying to convey the idea that she feels time should be spent at home or in nature rather than in church. She stated, "With a bobolink for a chorister, / And an orchard for a dome" (3-4) which suggests that she uses birds as her choir and the orchards for her "church building". In her next poem, "I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed" I was really confused. I could not see what point she was trying to make. The only thing that I could see her possibly trying to convey is the idea the nature is so untouched and she has tapped into what many people do not take the time to embrace, and so she describes it as tasting liquor never brewed. In "There a Certain Slant of Light" Dickinson focuses on light that comes with the winter season. In this poem I think that she is referring to death just as in Frost's poem. She explains this light as something being oppressing and in my opinion she is also talking about sickness as well.  She stated, "’T is the seal, despair, - / An imperial affliction / Sent us of the air" (10-12).This suggests that maybe she is talking about the sickness and death that comes with the winter season and the slant of light that she notices is just a reminder of the troubles that winter brings.

In the readings for today, I believe that nature played the role of change. Throughout all of the works, nature has helped them to mature, made them reflect on their lives, and have made them reflect on the impact that it has on their lives and those around them. The authors today used nature as a signal of change whether it e good or bad.

I connected Robert Frost's poem with another one of his poems entitled "Birches". In this poem he talks about how the branches of the trees looks as though boys were playing on them but he realizes that it is because of ice storms wearing them down. He then goes on to reflect on the days when he was little and he longs for those days to return. This poem reminded me a lot of "After Apple Picking" because in both poems I believe that Frost is reminiscing on his life.

How do you view nature now, as opposed to when you were younger? Do you appreciate it more now than you did when you were a kid?

The Struggle To Lead An Authentic Life

In the poem of Alfred Prufrock there are a number of things that he lets stand in his way of leading an authentic life. He notices how his life is nothing more than this mechanical and robotic cycle living among people who are stuck in the same loop of dull and predictable living. There are two things that he lets stand in the way of changing his life with the first being the fear of how people with judge him and the fear of messing up his tidy well kept life. Prufrock stated, "[They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”]/ Do I dare? / Disturb the universe?" (44-46). This suggests that Prufrock is afraid of how others will view him and also his unwillingness to, as he calls it, "disturb the universe" by knocking his life out of whack while trying to become more authentic. The second thing he lets stand in the way is his own lack of determination and will to change his life. He has played up on time as being his foe because he talks about growing old and I think that also lead to him not being as ambitious about turning his life around as much as a younger person would. I think that what Prufrock wants out of life is to be able to live out his deepest dreams and desires without having to answer to anyone or anything such as work, friends, or family but he lets time hinder this. Prufrock stated, "And I have known the eyes already, known them all- / The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase, / And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin, / When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall" (55-58). Not only is he tired of the way his life has been going, but feels trapped also.

In Ginsberg's "Howl", he is suggesting that the culture and ways of American life has driven people mad. In his last poem that we read he talked about non conformity and how one should dare to stand out from the confines that society and government has placed them in. In this poem I feel as though he is relating back to that same idea, and the people who are mad in this poem are probably people who chose not to conform. When these people deviate from the norm of society they are treated as outcasts in a sense which makes them angry and even more crazy in my opinion. This is best illustrated when Ginsberg stated, " who were expelled from the academies for crazy & publishing obscene odes on the windows of the skull, / who cowered in unshaven rooms in underwear, / burning their money in wastebaskets / and listening to the Terror through the wall" (12-15). I also think that in the poem Ginsberg is making a point that not only has the choice to not conform to society taken a toll on these people, but also has drugs, sex, and alcohol aided in destroying their minds and it is shown when he says, "dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix, / angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry / dynamo in the machinery of night" (3-5). Ginsberg is expressing throughout part one how non-conformity influenced mental breakdowns of the ones around him.

I think that the two authors for today were very pessimistic in the sense that they only showed the bad side of life as they saw it. I didn't see how any of the poems resolved the gloomy nature of their context by offering a glimpse of hope or encouragement to the issues talked about. I connected Ginsberg poem with a documentary I watched about Walter Freeman who was a famous lobotomist of the 40s and 50s. He dealt a lot with people in mental institutes who were aid to be mentally ill but maybe some of them were afflicted by what Ginsberg spoke of in his poem.

Do you think that it is possible to lead an authentic life while still conforming to society? Could there be a balance between the two of them?

The Celebration of individuality

Individuality is something that we all posses. It is what makes use unique both in mind and body. In Emerson's message of "Self-Reliance", he gives insight into being you and always thinking highly of yourself. There were a lot of passages throughout his message that expressed the idea of power and specialness of individuals. There were two main passages in part 3 that I felt best explained his ideas. In the second passage of part 3 Emerson states, "Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession". From this statement I felt as though Emerson was explaining how one should look within them to to find what makes them special and different in life.  He explains having your own gift as to be something good that you have been blessed with to make your mark in the world- something that no one else has because it has been given to you. If you walk around trying to be like everyone else then you are not reaping the full benefits of life's rewards. In the first passage of part three he also states, "It was an application of his own thought to the thing to be done and the conditions to be observed. And why need we copy the Doric or the Gothic model? Beauty, convenience, grandeur of thought, and quaint expression are as near to us as to any....". I found this topic to be so interesting because it plays up on making a point about our individual capabilities to do any and everything we want. He explains that beauty and intellect are within us all but in order for these things to shine through you must use your own mind to do so. 
In Whitman's poem "Song of Myself", it was a little harder for me to comprehend exactly what point he was trying to get across but after reading it a couple times I started to understand. I saw him express his own ideas of specialness in individuals in stanza 48. He said, "I hear and behold God in every object, yet understand God not in the least, / Nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself" (1278-1279). It is clear that Whitman truly loved himself and his individuality. He said that he could not comprehend anything being more wonderful than himself which shows that his idea of individuality is having confidence and pride about who you are. These selected passages in my opinion showcase the authors' thoughts and feelings towards individuality and having a sense of pride about yourself. 


Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour", was very interesting and it was my favorite out of all of the readings today. I think Mrs. Mallard dies at the end because she is overjoyed that her husband is dead. In the story it said, "There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature". This suggests that Mrs. Mallard was happy that she could be herself again without any one to answer to. She probably felt as though the marriage was confining her and that she was losing her individuality. The text stated, " And yet she had loved him--sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being". Mrs. Mallard had an epiphany and realized that she was back in control of her being...or so she thought. She can't continue living after learning the truth because she has finally exhaled and realized how her life will be by herself but now that her husband really is not dead she cannot come to terms with that. She went from being torn apart that her husband had "died" to being overcome with joy that her life would be hers again, back to shock and disappointment. All of those emotions were too much for her heart to take. I believe that Chopin's story affirms the other authors' notion about individuality because throughout the reading you can see Mrs. Mallard going back in forth over her life in her mind reflecting back on when she was alone, by herself and then imagining into the future where she could once again have that. She was a symbol of the loss of individuality with the desire to find yourself again. All of the readings tie into the same notion of breaking free and coming into your own as an individual. 


One connection I had was with the story "The Story of an Hour". I think that a lot of women in Mrs. Mallard's position especially, around her time felt the same way as she did. Back then women did not have a lot of rights. Most of them were housewives whose main job was to support their husbands and make sure the family was well taken care of. I can see why Mrs. Mallard, or any woman during this time period could have felt the way she did about gaining her individuality back. 


Do you think that sometimes it is harder for others to embrace their individuality because of fear, being timid, or just being afraid to stand out and accept themselves? If so, why?

The American Dream

A two story home, a plush green yard accompanied by a dog and enclosed with a white picket fence.The nuclear family who resides there comfortably with great careers and little worries. This is usually what one would think of when the words American dream are heard. I too imagine this in my head when I hear those words but for me, my personal conception of the American dream is one that goes beyond just having a great house or a perfect family. Rather than focusing on the outcome of hard work that gives us this sense of achievement I think of the American dream as the journey in which you strive for the fancy house or the high salary. For me, I am living the American dream with every path I take toward my dreams and goals and every struggle and challenge that I must overcome. Only once I have achieved these things, have I lived the American dream. In many ways, Britney Spears represents the stereotypical American Dream as previously stated above. She has the fame and fortune, the fancy houses and cars, and despite some personal issue she has struggled with- She has what everyone dreams of. She has the "easy" pass that life only deals a select few, which is why it is so tempting for us to all try to achieve.

The scene from The Pursuit of Happyness is very applicable to the Youngers- especially Walter. Out of all the people in the play, he most closely relates to what Will Smith was saying because he believed that if it was something that you desired to have whether it be fortune or living a comfortable life, you have to take risks and challenging things to achieve it. In the play Walter stated, "Mama you know it's all divided up. Life is. Sure enough. Between the takers and the "tooken". I've figured it out finally."(141).  This shows that he realizes that in order to get anything in this world you have to get it yourself. 

There are a lot of factors holding back the Youngers from achieving what they want out of life. Factors that are holding them back outside of their family unit are social and racial challenges that affect them because they are African American and in this time period the window of opportunity for blacks was very small. Inside of their family unit, the main thing holding them back from achieving their dreams are each other. There is a lot of doubt that they have for each other and it consequently made them begin to think that their life was a good as it was ever going to get. Lena was especially doubtful and scared that even attempting to go after her dreams after her husband died was too risky. After living so long in that old apartment she had gotten set in her ways because of the cards life dealt her. Even after she had gotten the courage to go out on the limb and strive for better by buying the family a new house, she let her son, Walter once again discourage her and made her rationalize settling for mediocrity. She stated, "Just aimed too high all the time-......No I sees things differently now. Been thinking 'bout some things we can do to fix this place up". In these lines you can clearly see how Lena reverts back to giving into pressure. She often sacrifices her dreams because of her fear with uncertainty. Ruth has just had it with life and her position as the wife of Walter as she tries to come to terms with how bad their relationship has gotten as well as the constant get rich quick schemes that Walter always tries to force on her. In Act one, scene one, the play states, "We can see that she was a pretty girl, even exceptionally so, but now it is apparent that life has been little that she expected, and disappointment has already begun to hang in her face" (24). Walter and Beneatha  are always butting heads which affects not only how they view each other but how they view the world. Beneatha is confused as to what path she wants to take in life and Walter is still struggling to strike gold. 

I do think that the ending of the play offered a hopeful and happy ending in that they did realize their dreams and also realized that their happiness was not dependent upon how much money they had, but by the attitudes that they held towards life, making what is seemingly bitter into something so sweet. In a sequel, I think that all of the characters would be in a better position in life because they have all realized that true success and accomplishment isn't measured by how rich yo are but what you get out of you struggles and triumph as a life lesson. Walter said it best stating, "Well- what I mean is we come from people who had a lot of pride. I mean- we are very proud people...........And we have decided to move into our house because my father- my father- he earned it for us brick by brick."(148). Walter showed that he finally came to realize what was truly important in life in his American dream that he was longing for so long is right in front of him. 

As far as optimism and determinism are concerned, I do not think that they are enough to achieve one's American dream nowadays. I say this because in such a fast paced and competitive world that we live in today, it needs to be more added to the equation. Whether it be continuing education or having a solid background and drive for what you want to pursue, there needs to be more added to an attempt at success. Sure, optimism and determinism are essential because without them- no one would have dreams and goals but they are not enough by themselves to accomplish what you want in my opinion. 

I truly believe that the recent economic situation has rained on everyone's parade. It has caused a lot of people to loose hope and had a great impact on the mentality of us all. What once was the primary agenda of going out and making it big in society is now only an exhausted hope that bills will be paid on time and families can maintain a comfortable life. For the others who are a little more optimistic about our current economic condition and feel that there is still a sunny day on the horizon  I see these words as Walter stated, "Just tell me, what it is you want to be- and you'll be it... Whatever you want to be- Yessir! You just name it, son and I hand you the world!"(109).

One connection that I made with this play is another play called "Death of a Salesman". Willy Lowman, one of the main characters lived his whole life trying to achieve the American dream. Along the way he made bad choices that affected his family, drove away his eldest son Biff, and ultimately led him to his death. I just found it interesting how both of these plays brought up the notion of striving for dreams and in the end having to realize and re-evaluate what you were striving for in the first place and if you really achieved it. 

The question I have for today is about Walter and Ruth's son, Travis. In the play Lena often refers back to her Later husband Big Walter who was of course, Walter's father. She hints that Walter is like his father in many ways and even questions his will to live by his father's values when he found out his wife was pregnant. Do you think that young Travis will grow up to become like Walter, a risk taker, or do you think that he has learned from his father desperate attempts at fortune and will go a better route?

Race and Equality

There was a time when the color of your skin defined who you were. There was a time when a whole day's work (12 hours plus more) caring for the prim and proper homes of  whites or the tail end jobs of the city only got you fifty cents richer day by day. There was a time when the mindsets of the outcast folk knew nothing more than fear and survival. There was a time when race and equality never breed racial equality because it was non existent.
I decided to start today's discussion off  with a snippet of my thoughts, quite appropriate for the first order of business which is the main similarity in outlook that these authors shared. You see it obvious to me that what McKay, Hurston, Hughes, and Cullen all had in common was the challenge of being colored in an era when segregation, discrimination and ignorance was at its highest peak. This peak of course, spanning for decades cast these authors in a world where they were constantly reminded that their skin tone was different and were often times made to believe that they themselves were different. In Claude McKay's poems he expresses the feelings and changes America has put him through, as in the poem "America" but then he also gives a glimpse of hope and perseverance in the poem "If We Must Die". In "America" he shows us that hatred and equality was common when he stated, "Giving me strength erect against her hate, / Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood".(6-7). In Hurston's "How it feels to Be Colored Me" she shows us her observation of  inequality when she states, "In my heart as well as in the mirror, I became a fast brownwarranted not to rub nor run". Although    Eatonville did not show the true colors of racial difference, Jacksonville made her analyze the world around her. Langston Hughes points out racial inequalities in both of his poems entitled "Mother to Son" and "Theme for English B". In "Theme for English B" he points out his troubles when he states, "Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me. / Nor do I often want to be a part of you". Finally in Cullen's poem he shows his encounter with being black when he stated, "And so I smiled, but he poked out / His tongue, and called me, “Nigger.”". All of these Authors show that they have witnessed and experienced bouts of inequalities because of their race and it is evident in all of their works.
The main difference in these authors' outlook on racial inequality is that they all have different perspectives on it through different social and living environments. Each one of the authors give their unique account of struggles with racial inequality with some even offering a voice to overcoming opposition and being proud of your race. They all show race and equality in a different light and mindset from one another.
In Claude McKay's poems he sees the fight for equality through the eyes of someone who was not born in America but has to endure the hardships of being black all the same. He knew that America at this time was cold and harsh to those of African descent because in his poem "America" he states, "Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, / And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth, / Stealing my breath of life..." (1-3). He also shows his will to resist from breaking under pressure as times prove to be trying for the colored at this time. In  "If We Must Die" McKay makes the statement, "Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, / Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!" This shows that he was optimistic in the fight against inequality and gave hope to those who felt defeated.
Zora Neal Hurston took on another face of colored's at that time. Her story is one of a determined and very confident black girl, who although was highly disregarded and look at as inferior, she questioned why someone of  another race felt as though they could not come in to contact with her. She showed her carefree outlook on inequality when she stated, "BUT I AM NOT tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all. I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal and whose feelings are all but about it." Hurston's idea of race and equality was that it does exist, but it exists in a manner that she refused to let destruct or sadden her. 
Langston Hughes was one of the most influential writers of his era and to this he had his own unique share of experiences and interpretations of race and equality. Unlike Hurston who saw discrimination down south Hughes spent his life in the North which gave a different atmosphere and tone to how whites treated blacks. In "Theme for English B" he states, "I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like / the same things other folks like who are other races. / So will my page be colored that I write?" which implies that he notices the differences among blacks and white, but he often time questions how it affects him. 
Countee Cullen had a very rude encounters in his experiences. He pointed out in "Yet Do I Marvel" that, "If merely brute caprice dooms Sisyphus / To struggle up a never-ending stair." This shows his continuous struggle towards racial equality. He also uses God and his doings as he questions his role in life. 
I see Zora Neal Hurston most closely aligning to the authors we looked at yesterday because she shows a lot of the same opinions and interpretations that they had. In her story you can plainly see that she knows racial equality is still a big issue, but not only does she stand above it, she also gives reasons why she does so. She stated, "  Even in the helter skelter skirmish that is my life, I have seer that the world is to the strong regardless of a little pigmentation more of less. No, I do not weep at the world!! I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife". This showed that she was determined to succeed no matter how much troubles she went through in her life. 
The connection that I made to today's readings were to the readings from yesterday. I think because the themes were so closely related it made me think about how they influenced each other as well as how each one of them  played a different role in shaping America.  I could relate a lot today with the readings. I live in a town where there is a huge racial divide. the west side of town is all white and the east side of town is all black. There are even two different schools in our little town of 2500 people. There is the private school that only whites attend and there is the public school in which all the blacks attend. To this day it still shocks me how divided my town is.  


Is there a racial divide in your hometown? If so how do you deal with it and do any of the readings for today mirror what you have experienced?