THE ETHICS OF LIVING JIM CROW

It may seem a little odd when I say I like stories like this one. Looking into different perspectives on how people may have lived, acted, or have been treated. Richard Wright mentions multiple times on how his "Jim crow education" helped in each of the nine stories he wrote about; Wright here, learned to “lie, steal, dissemble, and that dual role which every Negro must play if he wants to eat and live.”

First, I wanted to say that the title of this story got me thinking. In history class this year, before I moved, we talked about the Black Code in the 1800s which restricted the civil rights and liberties of African Americans with no pretense of equality. Following, African Americans gained some rights after a case with the Supreme Court allowing them to have some freedom that became the Jim Crow laws. These laws dealt with segregation between the African Americans and whites starting in 1876. Even though the "motto" for this era was separate but equal, no one meant it. As we all know, people still treated African Americans wrongly in the sense that they had a different skin color then all of us whites. Thus, the segregation of public schools, public places, public transportation, restrooms, restaurants, and drinking fountains all occurred. Richard Wright put the words "Jim Crow" into the title of the story to say how he was treated during these times of his life. 

In the fourth story, the "white man’s home" with "green trees, trimmed hedges, cropped lawns" all became horrifying symbols for Wright- what this world turned into, and had been. Wright even uses a simile to compare himself being "examined like a prize poodle," to when he was trying to get a job. Imagine your job interview today. This is an extreme interview isn't it compared to that isn't it?  At this time, all you would do is stand there while they check out all physical features to see if you qualify.  

Women's rights have come a long way since the 1800's.  In Wright’s second story, the store owner and colleague both took advantage of this poor women because she couldn’t pay her bills. The men beat her up, “the floor covered in blood, strewn with wipes of hair and clothing." Meanwhile one of the guys said she was lucky nothing worse happened. In today’s world, the women would have gone to jail, some sort of trial, or given the groceries on credit. This also would have been considered abused, and the men would have been sent to jail. In these times however, it was perfectly normal.  

Amendments one and nine are violated here in story four. Wright was just walking down the street when he heard "Get down and put up your hands!" A policemen almost arrested him for walking in a white neighborhood at night. I see this sometimes today as well, but the opposite. If a white man walks into the “black’s territory” we get questioned. Some African Americans use the term “racist” toward whites nowadays. They bring up the past when all laws have been changed and everyone is equal under the law and in society. God made everyone in His image. He leaves no one out, and loves everyone the same. No one should be treated different because of skin color, or because of any other issue either.

The tragic event of 9/11 has prompted questions, devastation, and loss of loved ones to this country. Jon Updike and Susan Sontag wrote essays that were in the New Yorker's "Talk of the Town,” each having his/her own perspective on what occurred that particular day.  

Jon Updike's essay was both honest and truthful. I liked his piece since he described what was happening all around him, on top of an apartment building. He was able to see the destruction first hand with "smoked speckled bits of paper curling into the cloudless sky," the horrifying sight of the "south tower dropping," while holding onto his wife realizing he just watched thousands of people die.  The author states that this tragic event had a "false intimacy of Television," that the newscasters could not capture the emotions and "horrendous" event. Updike referred to as a "nightmare ballet," scenes being replayed over and over. Many, like Updike, didn't-(couldn't) believe this could happen, that it "was not quite real."  

Not only that, but Updike has a positive outlook on the whole situation. Through this hard time on many, everyone worked together to “pick up the pieces” and continue onward, “to go on living.” Updike has this amazing attitude on the aftermath. He makes a connection with the motto, “the sun will rise tomorrow” by saying hey, we can get back to normal. The “boats tentatively move in the river, the ruins still sending out smoke, but New York looked glorious.”

On the other hand, Susan Sontag starts right from the beginning and was not afraid to speak her mind on the issues that laid at hand. These issues dealt with the media, the attackers, and how our country as a whole responded to the situation. Basically she is saying why focus on "cowardly" attack on "civilization,”  "liberty,” "humanity" or "the free world" but an attack on the world's self-proclaimed Superpower over ruled by the actions of the invaders.  Sontag clearly states that government is trying to “protect” the country by saying “everything is OK” and “our country is strong” when clearly it isn’t. The author brigs up an interesting point on “who doesn’t think America is strong?” Is the government just saying that to reassure themselves, or trying to convince other counties that they are going to move on, pick up the pieces, and “stand tall?” They are not giving out details of the reality that had been brought forward. The government should start “thinking more” and making smart decisions to put our country back onto its feet. To do so, “America doesn’t just need to be strong.”

            Even though I was five at the time of 9/11, I remember what happened, at least to my mom. I was on a play-date with one of my good friends and I just remember playing in the yard when my mom ran inside. I followed her and she said to go back outside so I did. Not until recently, a few years ago, did I find that my aunt (mom’s sister) was scheduled to work on one of those plans that crashed into one of the world trade centers. I don't know the exact reason why she didn't work that day, but I remember my dad going to meet her in New Jersey for her to come visit us and made it to our house safely very late the night before September 11th. Every year I like to watch documentaries of this event, just to learn more about what happened. Every person has their own perspective on what happened that day.