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Booker T. Washington vs Malcolm X

 Both Booker T. Washington and Malcolm X were self made men who went out of their way to educate themselves even in the face of oppression. Booker T. Washington documented his journey in his Autobiography titled Up from Slavery . In his autobiography, he recounts how himself and the other recently emancipated slaves were taught to read by the few literate black people in their area (Washington 20-21). Washington struggled to regularly attend schooling due to his work schedule, but even then, he found free time in between his long work hours to practice reading (25). He accredited his perseverance and work ethic as the main components of his success, and he believed that other black people should work hard to prove themselves worthy of participating in white society rather than fighting directly for rights. Malcolm X was also a self made man, but his education background differed from Booker T. Washington’s; Malcolm X learned to read while he was serving a prison sentence for burgla...
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A Comparison of "Down by the Riverside" and "A Raisin in the Sun"

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     “Down by the Riverside” written by Richard Wright and A Raisin in the Sun written by Lorraine Hansberry both grapple with racism and racial segregation in their narratives. “Down by the Riverside” follows Mann as he navigates himself and his family to safety during the flooding of the Mississippi river. Along his journey, he encounters numerous obstacles such as Mr. Heartfield whose boat someone had stolen and given to him to transport his pregnant wife to the hospital and the soldiers who forced black men to work on the levee. These obstacles symbolize the blatant oppression and racism within the system that black people faced during that era.  A Raisin in the Sun follows the Younger family as they navigate their financial difficulties and personal conflicts. Themes of racism arise throughout the story when the family is given an offer to not move into a predominantly white neighborhood in an effort to preserve the whiteness of that community. Both “Down by the...
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The Preservation of Vernacular Tradition in African American Literature

Vernacular tradition plays an important role in African American history and literature. During the slave era, black people were systematically denied the right to learn how to read and write, which led to the reliance on word of mouth transmission for the spread of knowledge and culture. The vernacular tradition was a form of resistance and preservation of one’s identity while facing oppression. Some examples can be seen with songs such as “Pick a Bale of Cotton” and “Go Down, Moses.” In the case of “Pick a Bale of Cotton,” it shows slaves trying to uplift their spirits to keep going even while doing repetitive backbreaking work. “Pick a Bale of Cotton” emulates the repetitive setting by repeating phrases such as “Oh, Lordy, pick a bale of cotton” (line 5). By singing these songs while working, the slaves resist giving up hope in the system of oppression. Many of these songs are uniquely experienced through listening. Reading the lyrics doesn’t showcase the mood that the song is tryin...
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