A Review on the Works of James Baldwin Essay -- Literature

Introduction The works of James Baldwin are directly related to the issues of racism, religion and personal conflicts, and sexuality and masculinity during Baldwin's years.James Baldwin's works, both fiction and nonfiction were in some instance a direct reflection his life. Through close interpretation you can combine his work to give a "detailed" look into his actual life. However since most writings made by him are all considered true works of literature we can't consider them to be of autobiographical nature. Religion Personal Life Baldwin reflected his own life in various forms. These include autobiographical essays to fiction and drama. His first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, and play, The Amen Corner, mirror his childhood experiences in the storefront churches of Harlem where James and his stepfather, David Baldwin, preached. The "Autobiographical Notes" section of Notes of a Native Son and the "Down at the Cross" section of The Fire Next Time provide a seemingly realistic view into Baldwin's childhood and his growing involvement with the civil rights movement. Filled with a number of autobiographical passages in Nobody Knows My Name, No Name in the Street and The Devil Finds Word join together to provide a general, somewhat realistic, autobiography. One interest in particular is Baldwin's view on his relationships with Richard Wright ("Alas, Poor Richard") and Norman Mailer ("The Black Boy Looks at the White Boy"), both of which are included in Nobody Knows My Name .(Werner, Craig 45-48) When Baldwin was three years of age his mother married David Baldwin, a Southerner who had made the journey to New York as part of the large stream of black migration north during the times following the First World War. James, t... ...aesthetic: James Baldwin's primer of black American masculinity." African American Review 32.2 (1998): 247. MasterFILE Premier Werner, Craig. "JAMES BALDWIN." Research Guide to Biography & Criticism 1.(1985): 45-48. Book Collection: Nonfiction. Baldwin, James Preservation of Innocence." Zero 1.2 (Summer 1949). Rpt. in Out/Look 6 (Fall 1989), 40-41 Powers, Peter Kerry. "The Treacherous Body: Isolation, Confession, and Community in James Baldwin." 787-813. Duke University Press, 2005. Academic Search Premier. de Romanet, Jerome. "Revisiting Madeleine and `The Outing': James Baldwin's revision of Gide's sexual politics." MELUS 22.1 (1997): 3. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. Robert E. Morsberger. "James Baldwin." Magill Book Reviews. Salem Press, 1998. eNotes.com. 2006. 4 Dec, 2010 james-baldwin-0080505824

Family Issues as the Main Cause of Violence Essay

What is the main cause of violence in Master Harold†¦ and the Boys? â€Å"Master Harold†¦ And the Boys† written by Refaat Rayhan uses South Africa during the Apartheid era as the main setting that illustrates institutionalized racism and how it unconsciously affects the characters. Hally’s warm relationship with two black African servants reflects humanity’s potential to dispel racial boundaries. Since Hally has spent a great part of his youth with these two Black African waiters, they created a unique sense of human attachment that may seem peculiar to most people that. Simultaneously however, the political climate due to apartheid system becomes apparent as the story progresses. The play centrally gives the full impact of Hally, Sam and Willie’s simple conversation of the daily events and problems in their lives and how the conversation reflects the hidden effects of Apartheid system with these characters especially on Hally’s part. It is apparent that the dominant manifestation of violence here is how the characters unconsciously respond and conform to racial differences. However, it can be concluded in this story that family issues also triggers the theme of violence in their midst of conservation. Hally who has lacked an optimistic fatherly presence in his life has unconsciously looked to Sam to fill some of that fatherly role. The unsatisfactory image of Hally’s father who is drunken cripple of a man and self centered pervades throughout the play. Hally’s self esteem and self worth has been damaged over the years because of his father’s shortcomings and imperfections. His father trials and tribulations have been shouldered by Hally as his own. Hally’s hostility and ambiguity of character in the play particularly in the conversation is being manifested every time he is being confronted by his mother on the phone call. The conversation of Hally, Sam and Willie started humorously. They initially chatted about ball room competition and later, Hally and Sam teases each other about Wilies’s dancing and his dancing partner. Hally in the beginning of the play displays his fondness and friendly interest in the lives of the boys with his optimistic affirmation and approval of their ballroom dancing. Hally’s ambiguity of character is of course initially discernable on how he unconsciously and subtly respond to the social construction reality of white’s and black’s differences during the whole course of conversation. But let’s focus on family issues as a triggering point that revealed the real nature of Hally and his tendencies to subtly demonstrate racism. The abrupt and short lived call of his mother once in a while disturbs Hally’s moments of optimism and reminisces with his fond memories with two blacks. The violence here is manifested with the mood alteration of Hally every time his mother calls. In the first call, the news that his mother is bringing his father home from the hospital that day makes Hally uneasy. Since he believes that his father has not fully recovered yet makes him disappointed with the news. As a result he becomes agitated with both Sam and Willie, reminding them that they should go back to work. On the second call when her mother confirmed that she is bringing her father home from the hospital, Hally argues with her but loses the argument. He eventually turns his anger loose on Sam and Willie. On the third call of his mother, Hally is forced to speak to his father and pretended to be happy about the homecoming. Sam, aware of what’s happening opposes Hally from disrespecting his father. Hally whose pride is hurt, blows out against Sam as he never has before. Hally out of anger reminded Sam of his status as a servant not a friend or a father or any special relationship. Note that Hally, Sam and Willie speak familiarly and affectionately to each other especially as they reminisce the old days when Hally’s family is out of picture, but the course of the conversation altered as Hally is faced with the pressures of his family issues. Hally’s hidden and unknown familiarity in racial differences taught by his parents is revealed. What is the main cause of violence in American X? The visual approach of the movie especially in the series of flashbacks to the years leading up to Derek’s crime and punishment obviously illustrates violence. One might say that the main theme or reasons of violence here is the disastrous implications of racism and hate since Danny and Derek, who are the main protagonists, are both white supremacist that advocate the conviction that white people are superior than any other race. However, the explanations of Danny and Derek’s radical changes in behavior should not be perceived as relentlessly one dimensional alone but rather should look closer to the Derek and Danny’s family background since the subtle voice- overs in the film also guide the viewers about the events of their family’s life. Derek, on the peaked of his teenage years was initially influenced by his firefighter father who was an assumed racism. When Derek’s father is murdered in a drive by shooting, shortly afterward Derek was transformed from a white ordinary teenager to a vengeance seeking white supremacist. The death of Derek’s father unconsciously influence his future endeavors in different forms of violence. Derek eventually involved himself from minority gangs in their area that commits acts of violence and intimidation. Derek with his skills and abilities became a leader that all these wannabes skinheads look up to including his younger brother Danny. Danny idolizes his bother that inspire his future involvement in crime and punishments. But when Derek was been in prison once and emerge with a desire to change attitudes and fates, Danny got disappointed that reflects change of heart as something brutal. The brutalities manifested in the movie started from Derek’s father up to how Derek greatly influences his brother. Work Cited Page: American History X. Prod. Morrissey, John. McKenna, David. Hess, Jon. Carraro, Bill. Witten, Brian. Peak, Kearie. Turman, Lawrence. De Luca, Michael. Tisch, Steve. Dir. Kaye, Tony. Perf. Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D’Angelo, Fairuza Balk, Avery Brooks. New Line Cinema, 1998. Fugard, Athol. â€Å"Master Harold†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and the Boys. Penguin Books, 1984

The Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy - 1376 Words

Lee Harvey Oswald and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy November 22, 1963 (Jennings), a day that changed American history, and a day that’s events still haunt the nation of freedom and liberty. Whether it be Jacqueline Kennedy’s pained cries or the hoodless limousine, a piece of this day in history lies in every American’s mind. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States of America (Bugliosi 11), to this day has several conspiracies, some disproved, and some still left for American people to ponder upon. Despite the plentiful amount of these questionable conspiracies, it is written in the Warren Commission that the monster behind the murder of the beloved leader of America was, in fact, one lone man by the name of Lee Harvey Oswald. The belief that Lee Harvey Oswald worked alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is strongly exhibited by the aim of the shots fired, the evidence detectives found at the crime scene, and Oswald’s previous attempts and successes involving murder. The first piece of evidence against Oswald would be the aim of all three shots fired at the President. Three shots in a row were fired, two of them hitting the President (Fetzer 11). The first shot fired was mistaken for many things, and did not do any damage as it missed completely. Nobody dared to believe it had been the sound of a gunshot until a second shot was Prier 2 fired. This shot entered through PresidentShow MoreRelatedThe Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy1242 Words   |  5 Pages1963: The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is an event in American history that will forever as one of the nation’s darkest days. The brutal murder of the President is seemingly terrible enough, but suspicious decisions of the federal government in regards to investigating the assassination alienated American youths from being able to trust the government, and is partially responsible for the current detachment that many citizens feel towards it. Many things about the assassination do notRead MoreThe Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy1112 Words   |  5 PagesThe assassination of President John F. Kennedy is one of the most memorable days in American history. The Making of Modern America states â€Å"Americans would compare the personal impact of the assassination to Pearl Harbor, and later to the collapse of the World T rade Center in New York† (123). Kennedy’s assassination brought about many conspiracy theories and ultimately begs the question, what if Kennedy had lived? President John F. Kennedy was sworn into office on January 20, 1961. Kennedy and hisRead MoreThe Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy1951 Words   |  8 Pagesinevitable.† JFK was a man defined by his morality, however his appeasing methods were perceived by some as a weakness, ultimately preluding his inescapable death. It is to a highly significant extent that the CIA was responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, as contrasting ideologies, acting as motive, integrated with extensive influence and power, enabled the CIA to eliminate JFK, to infiltrate their own desired means of governing. as an impediment of desired governing. UncertaintyRead MoreThe Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy1754 Words   |  8 Pagesinvolve the assassinations of previous presidents, vice presidents, senators, civil rights activists and political figures. Assassinations although tragic are inevitable that usually occur due to political reasons or payments and they don’t only affect the lives of their families but the lives of innocent citizens. Three political assassinations that might interest you are the assassinations of President Abraham Lincoln, President John F. Kennedy and his brother Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy consideringRead MoreThe Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe Assassination of President John F. Kennedy â€Å"On Friday, November 22, 1963 just southwest of the intersection of Elm and Houston streets in Dallas, Texas, hundreds of people witnessed one of the most famous murders in recent history† (Waggoner 8) . His wife was with him and she tried to save him but he died on the way to the hospital. President Kennedy was only 46 years old when he got killed. His term of presidency lasted from 1961-1963 (Kreiser Par.) President Kennedy was married with 3 kidsRead MoreThe Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy2245 Words   |  9 Pagestruly killed President John F. Kennedy? The facts of the most famous assassination of an United States President in history are clear. The assassination happened on a routine visit to Dallas, Texas on the Presidential campaign trail. At 12:30pm shots are fired and President John F. Kennedy is mortally wounded. President John F. Kennedy is rushed to nearby Parkland Hospital. At 1:00pm President John F. Kennedy is pronounced dead. Approximately 1:15pm, 45minutes after the assassination, John F. Kennedy’sRead MoreEssay on The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy1576 Words   |  7 Pagesheld on November 22, 1963, but by mid-afternoon one of the most tragic events to ever plague not only the United States but the entire world. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy would go on to be one of the most infamous days in history; surrounded in scanda ls, controversy, and conspiracy. There were three main reasons that the president was in Dallas, Texas. One of those reasons being his mission of reelection. Another reason was to raise more Democratic Party presidential campaignRead MorePresident John F. Kennedy s Assassination2463 Words   |  10 Pages President John F. Kennedy s assassination has plagued the nation for over fifty years. America has come to associate death, conspiracy, and change with the tragic events of November 22, 1963. John and Jackie Kennedy traveled from the White House to the state of Texas to began a campaigning tour for the upcoming presidential election. Kennedy began his trip with hopes of securing votes to help him secure a victory for the 1964 election. John F. Kennedy began his tour through Texas to regain supportRead MoreThe Assassination Of Presidents Abraham Lincoln And John F Kennedy1225 Words   |  5 PagesMany treasonous acts have plagued American soil in the past, most notably, the assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F Kennedy. Tragic events such as a loss of a political figure, or leader, emphasize the dark and bloody motives that often stem from greed and lead to poor decision making skills. Oftentimes, similar incidents occur in both literature and Hollywood productions, from Shakespeare’s classic plays to James Bond films, with the antagonist always facing dire consequencesRead Moreâ€Å"The President Has Been Shot† the Assassination of John F. Kennedy600 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"The President Has Been Shot† the Assassination of John F. Kennedy tells the story of one of the most horrifying events in American history. James L. Swanson takes the reader through the events leadin g up to the assassination and depicts the sunny, Texas afternoon on November 22, 1963 with dramatic details and an impeccable perspective. Born in Brookline, Massachusetts in May of 1917, Kennedy remains the youngest man ever elected president of the United States. John, known to friends as Jack, had