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#flo #inclass *
1 time to go.
lets do it.
american hist is fraught! we continue semester 1.
1.0.1 I Hear America Singing
BY WALT WHITMAN (Links to an external site.)
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, < varied, diverse Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong, < "his". as it should be, blithe = carefree The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, < singing "his," song is possesive The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, < ? The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck, < singing what belongs to him The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands, < singing "as" The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown, < ploughboy = any country boy The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, < "of" Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else, < song is unique The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, < ? Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
his his his what as on of reflects agency?
unique -> everyone is valuable, not just unique. everyone does their part
I, too, sing America. < america is something that can be sung
I am the darker brother. < sick wordplay. They send me to eat in the
kitchen
When company comes, < second class? using fundementals like eating? ::
bottom of maslow hierarchy But I laugh, < overcoming, improving And eat
well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow, < tomorrow! hope! I'll be at the table < promise When company
comes. < period, not comma.. Nobody'll dare < dare? not about power Say
to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America. < nationalist as well? wc
sing vs am 'too' is crucial - ariel
2 Theme for English B
Langston Hughes (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) - 1902-1967
The instructor said, < instructor
Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you---
Then, it will be true. < generated from someone, then it is true?
I wonder if it's that simple? < not saying it's wrong? I am twenty-two,
colored, born in Winston-Salem. < missing context here I went to school
there, then Durham, then here < to this college on the hill above
Harlem. < college "on the hill" I am the only colored student in my
class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem, < lead "down" through a
park, then I cross St. Nicholas, < missing context again Eighth Avenue,
Seventh, and I come to the Y, < the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the
elevator < diverging paths up to my room, sit down, and write this page:
< meta! this must be true
It's not easy to know what is true for you or me < you or me instead of
us? or just, what is true? at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm
what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you: < are experiences hear you,
hear me—we two—you, me, talk on this page. < ?? in dialogue (I hear
New York, too.) Me—who? < the question of identity Well, I like to
eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. < sterotype? I like to work, read,
learn, and understand life. < contrast I like a pipe for a Christmas
present,
or records—Bessie, bop, or Bach. < contrast! all about being split
between two worlds I guess being colored doesn't make me not like
the same things other folks like who are other races. < likes more So
will my page be colored that I write? < page embodies the reader
Being me, it will not be white. < But it will be < a part of you,
instructor.
You are white—
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. < intwined culture That's
American. > interconnedtednes is american Sometimes perhaps you don't
want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that's true! < inevitable As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me—
although you're older—and white—
and somewhat more free.
This is my page for English B. < trapped in the institution
we all define eachother, and then communal definition is what is american. this stretches class and race and wants, it's "true"
2.0.1 another poem
Will V-Day Be Me-Day Too?
Langston Hughes (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) - 1902-1967
Over There,
World War II. < not here!
Dear Fellow Americans, < fellow, also an american I write this letter
Hoping times will be better
When this war
Is through.
I'm a Tan-skinned Yank < def? Driving a tank.
I ask, WILL V-DAY
BE ME-DAY, TOO? < included in the victory?
I wear a U. S. uniform.
I've done the enemy much harm,
I've driven back
The Germans and the Japs,
From Burma to the Rhine.
On every battle line,
I've dropped defeat
Into the Fascists' laps. < served americans cause
I am a Negro American < not just a "normal" american Out to defend my
land < my land Army, Navy, Air Corps---
I am there.
I take munitions through,
I fight—or stevedore, too.
I face death the same as you do < fundemental unity Everywhere. < but
death is everywhere. iffy tho, cus so did the other side of the war?
I've seen my buddy lying
Where he fell.
I've watched him dying
I promised him that I would try
To make our land a land < land is not literally land, yet Where his son
could be a man---
And there'd be no Jim Crow birds
Left in our sky. < nice wordplay
So this is what I want to know:
When we see Victory's glow,
Will you still let old Jim Crow
Hold me back?
When all those foreign folks who've waited---
Italians, Chinese, Danes—are liberated.
Will I still be ill-fated
Because I'm black?
Here in my own, my native land, Will the Jim Crow laws still stand?
Will Dixie lynch me still < who? :: confederates When I return?
Or will you comrades in arms
From the factories and the farms,
Have learned what this war
Was fought for us to learn? < war was fought for them to learn? because
applied to others?
When I take off my uniform,
Will I be safe from harm---
Or will you do me
As the Germans did the Jews? < drawing similarity to nazis When I've
helped this world to save,
Shall I still be color's slave? < slave to color itself? Or will Victory
change
Your antiquated views?
You can't say I didn't fight
To smash the Fascists' might.
You can't say I wasn't with you
in each battle.
As a soldier, and a friend. < friend When this war comes to an end,
Will you herd me in a Jim Crow car
Like cattle?
Or will you stand up like a man
At home and take your stand < at home? about democracy? For Democracy? <
taking a stand for equal rights = a stand for democracy That's all I ask
of you.
When we lay the guns away
To celebrate
Our Victory Day
WILL V-DAY BE ME-DAY, TOO?
That's what I want to know.
Sincerely,
GI Joe. < missing context here :: generic soldier