When reading “The Trial of Thomas Builds-the-Fire” and “This is What it Means …” by Sherman Alexie, there were two main characteristics in the system, which were discrimination and unjustness. Thomas was treated very unjustly. ” BIA suit said to the others. “What charges should we bring him up on?” ( Alexie 140 ). The BIA suits are trying to set Thomas up just because he is a Native American. “Well, ” they all agreed. “It has to be a felony charge. We don’t need his kind around here anymore.” ( Alexie 140 ). They even try and make the punishment even harsher. It shows that the government dont seem to care about Thomas at all and doesn’t care for his opinion.
Fiction
Government
Sherman Alexie alludes to an unjust and racially biased rulership. It is evident from Victor’s and Thomas’s stories that the color of their skin deters them from receiving fair treatment. Firstly, in Victor’s case, the unjust government is depicted when he meets the council to ask for funds to go for his father’s body. It is evident from the council’s response when they say, “Now, Victor, we do have some money available for the proper return of tribal members’ bodies. But I don’t think we have enough to bring your father all the way back from Phoenix” (Alexie, 100). It depicts their reluctance to help victor because he is Indian since the funds are only unavailable for him and not the other members. Therefore, Alexie demonstrates an unjust and racially biased rulership against people of color.
In Thomas’s case, this type of rulership is evident in his trial. It arises when the BIA guys discuss and say, “What charges should we bring him up on? Inciting a riot? Kidnapping? Extortion? Maybe murder? Another guy in a BIA suit asked, and the others laughed. Well, they all agreed. It has to be a felony charge. We don’t need this kind around here anymore” (Alexie, 141). It highlights the racially biased rulership where the BIA wants to charge Thomas for various felony crimes that are not his to ensure he is deported. Therefore, Thomas is an allegorical figure in the criminal justice system since he is the leading figure in the case, and he is a symbol of the biasness in the justice system.
Work Cited
Alexie, Sherman. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Open Road.
Writing As Activism
Writing is still a viable form of activism for BIPOC today. I would say that it is more effective today than during Bambara’s time. There were few platforms for her to air her views. For instance, she could either write a book or go to the media. However, today, people can use many social platforms to call for change. It makes it easy for people to look to writers for empowerment. For example, after the death of George Floyd, people used social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to call out for injustice. The original author who initiated the campaign to ensure those who killed George Floyd were arrested empowered other people to re-tweet the matter until it became a global cry. Therefore, it is easy to empower people today through writing than in the past.
Critical Race Theory, Colson Whitehead
First, write a paragraph explaining why you chose this particular story out of the three. What drew you to it? How did you make your decision? What did you base your choice on?
- I decided to choose Colson Whitehead’s story because I think that Critical Race Theory is a very interesting topic, seeing as how it’s being portrayed and viewed in America. Many people believe that it’s a bad thing while having little to no knowledge of what it actually is and what purpose it serves. I’d also personally like to do more research into CRT myself so I can understand it and apply it to the world around me, and see it in different places and ways. I also enjoyed reading about Critical Race Theory in the previous readings and so I’d like to continue to develop new ideas and a brighter, stronger understanding of it. I’d also like to be able to educate those around me about topics and issues that affect my community, which are important to me. Critical Race Theory plays a major role in the lives of many African Americans such as myself, and through understanding it, only then can we develop stronger and newer ways to tackle the recurring racial issues in this country.
What is Colson Whitehead saying about racial relations within an institution such as education?
- I believe that what Colson Whitehead is saying about racial relations within an institution such as education, is a clear and constant power struggle between the white and black students. “December Matches – the prelims within your dorms, and then the bout between the best black fighter and whatever chump the white guys put up” (Whitehead 2). This theme is shown continuously throughout the story, it even begins with all the Black kids supporting a bully because he is the one that will represent them in a match against the whites. This created the capacity for cruelty, fueled by racist ideology.
How does he express the capacity for cruelty, as bolstered by racist ideology?
- Whitehead expresses the capacity for cruelty, which is fueled by racist ideology by setting the story in a boxing environment, where cruelty and violence is in a way accepted, and since there is a clear racial divide, the racism makes it worse. “The racial division of the school recreated itself in the gym, with the white boys taking the south half, and the black boys claiming the north. They jostled at the borders” (Whitehead 4). This shows not only the racist ideology, but the tension which leads purely as they bump and elbow each other. The racial tension is always present within the school, and the racial division is not only present in the school, but within the attitudes and actions of both students and teachers. From the way that the students talk, to the way that they group themselves, it is clear that the capacity for curly is only heightened by the fact that they choose to dislike each other because of race.
Discussion Post – 2
The race of the writer is extremely important when the narrative deals with issues of race, because for example, a white woman such as Kate Chopin will never really understand the experiences of those who live under the circumstances of racism. She might be able to gain more knowledge by surrounding herself with those who have actually lived through racism, but her account will never be as accurate or personal as it would be coming from, say a Black person. Especially since Chopin is on the receiving end of racism, she might underestimate or not truly be able to understand how the lives of Black people have been affected or damaged by it. When dealing with issues of race it is most important that we get narratives from those who actually live through it, because those voices will be the most honest and authentic narratives. The same applies to any narrative that describes all groups of oppressed people.
Discussion 1 – Chopin
He drops the letter, and turns around to look out towards the field. He looks around at where he stands, feeling dizzy and unsure of who he is. His blood begins to boil as he realizes the lie that he has been living, and the truth that he was kept from. He realizes the hypocrisy that he and those around him have lived, and how wrong he was. He turns around and calls out:
“Desiree!’ “Desiree”
But she was long gone, and she didn’t come back. Armand dropped to his knees and looked up at the sky as if he could see through the tears that fell as he did. He knew the truth and couldn’t avoid the sinking feeling of misery, the same pain that Desiree had felt. He wished that he would’ve known the truth earlier, so he could’ve righted his wrong before it was to late, and it was. He grabs the letter, and leaves, freeing the slaves, and freeing himself from the lies that he lived under.
Rationale:
“And the very spirit of Satan seemed suddenly to take hold of him in his dealings with the slaves” (Chopin 4).
Armand’s treatment of his slaves was cruel, and once he discovered the truth about his own family, i think that he would’ve become engulfed in shame, hypocrisy and guilt. He can no longer justify his actions because once he realizes that his wife and children belong to the same race that he treats horribly, and that even him himself belongs to the same race. Everything that he once knew was shattered in that one moment, and everything after changes.
Marxism & Feminism
Think about the similarities and differences between Isamu and Roku in terms of social class.
What do you think Oseki learns from her run in with Roku? What is the significance of their meeting through the lens of Marxist theory?
- While reading “The Thirteenth Night” by Higuchi Ichiyo, I observed key similarities and differences between Isamu and Roku. A big difference that I think plays a huge role in the story is that Isamu and Roku both come from different social classes, Isamu enjoys the advantages of luxury and wealth while Roku is the complete opposite, and is a part of the lower class. Oseki being married to Isamu she would move up in the social class, and thus leaving Roku behind. This was a decision she realized she had to make, to be with who she loved, or to be with who she knew would help advance her status in society. Through the lens of Marxist Theory, we see how social classes interact and how one group might look down upon another, while simultaneously benefiting off of them.
Think about the setting of “The Thirteenth Night” particularly in terms of historical era. Given what you know of the era, and more specifically, what you learned about Higuchi Ichiyo’s life story, what or who could the female character represent? What role(s) did women play in society at the time, what kind(s) of power did they have, and how did they navigate their way through the systems of power?
- I think that “The Thirteenth Night” really showed how women had to choose to live or survive during the era. We see how Oseki decided to lose true love, in order to escape the struggle of the lower class by marrying into an upper class family like Isamu. This often leads to a life of suffering because it becomes simply a business endeavor more than an actual partnership. Oseki chose to navigate through systems of power by marriage, and I’d imagine that this was a common thing. Women often were not given the same level of respect as men, and were expected to be household wives, and cook and take care of children. They were not given the same benefits as men, even if they married their way to higher classes.
Sherman Alexie (Government)
In both of Sherman Alexie’s poems “The Trial of Thomas Builds-The-Fire ” and “This is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona ” we see great examples of the unequal and unruly qualities of government. When Thomas was on trial he faced unfair disrespect on account of him being Native American. Even before his trial had begun it was made clear of how they viewed him. “Inciting a riot? Kidnapping? Extortion? Maybe murder?” another guy in a BIA suit asked, and the others laughed. “Well,” they all agreed. “It has to be a felony charge. We don’t need his kind around here anymore” (Alexie 94). Thomas even had made it clear that he wasn’t sure of what it was exactly that he was being charged for. “Your Honor,” he said. “I don’t believe that the exact nature of any charges against me have been revealed, let alone detailed”(Alexie 95). When Victor from “This is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona ”, went to the BIA to request money to aid his fathers death, we saw another example of the lack of fairness or sympathy. “Now, Victor, we’re sorry for your loss and the circumstances. But we can really only afford to give you one hundred dollars.” Both situations showed the unfair circumstances and treatment that both men endured, even after they both clearly suffered.
Discussion Post Topic 2
In my opinion parents should tell the truth to their children but also be cautious of what they do and say around them. Children can mimic their parents by saying things they say or do things that they do. Although I’ts okay for parents to tease when it comes to fun fictional kid stuff. Like Santa Clause, The tooth fairy, the monster in the closet can be fun things for kids to look forward to and to have that happy childhood nostalgia when they get older. But also things that doesn’t need to be hidden shouldn’t be necessary to hide from children. Just because they’re young should not mean that they should be hidden from the truth. Also when children are hidden from the truth it could make it worse and make them have a different point of view on things.
Activism Through Writing
I believe writing to be an ever-present form of empowerment and discovery of the self – activism being closely related regarding the change. Activism involves forming and maintaining practiced ideologies, whereas I believe that – to achieve a semblance of an ideal ideology – is easily reached through a practice of writing and reading. This messages has stuck with me when I happened across an image of a letter sent by Kurt Vonnegut, a writer, giving advice on the value of writing. His advice was clear in that practicing of the art of writing goes hand-in-hand with the growth of the soul when done with pure intent. The concept of “soul” may be abstract, but I find the evident growth to be imperative to the liberation needed for activism of BIPOC.
