he mon-ey lay on the table for the rest of the evening. It was stillrhere when I went back to my cabin. In the morning, thorrgh, I found anenvelope tacked ro my door. Inside were the four fifties and a two-wordnore rhar said EIr,4ERGENCY FUND
Elroy gives money to the narrator. This gesture tells me as a reader how Elroy wants to not pressure but help him do what he feels is best for himself.
My conscience told rne ro run, bursome irrational and powerful force was resistine like a weighr pr-rshingme toward the war. What it came down to, srupidly, was a sense ofsharne.
Self vs self conflict.
.1 all I wanted was to live the life I was borr-r ro - a main-stream lfe- I loved baseball and harnburgcrs and cherry Cokes - andnow I was offon the margins of exile,leaving my counrry forever,and itseemed so impossible and terrible and sad.
I agree with Daniel, the narrator seems to be realizing that he did take what he had for granted. It took him being gone to come to this realization.
After supper one evening I vomited and went back to mycabin and lay down for a few moments and then vomited again; anothertime, in the middle of the afterno
All of these actions are a result of his anxiousness and I also feel like he has some sort of regret for making the decision to come to Canada. He is scared.
he man who opened the door rhar day is che hero of my life. Howdo I say rhis withour sounding sappyi Blurr ir our - rhe man saved,me. He ollered exactly what I needed, wirhour questions, withour anywords at all. He took me in. He was there ar rhe crirical cime - a silent,watchful Presence. Six days larer, when ir ended, I was r-rnable ro find aproper way ro rhank hirn, and I never have
Meeting this man he describes as a " hero ", shows how easy it was for his mindset to change in a small moment.
own in my chestthere was srill rhat leaking sensarion, somerh ingvery warln and preciousspilling out, and I was .ou.r"d wirh blood ;rnd hog-stink, ",ld for along while I just concentrated on holding myself rogetl-rer. I rernernbertaking a hor shower. I remernber packing a suitcase and carrying ir ourto the kitchen, standing very srill for a few rninures, lookin
I agree with Alicia. This piece of evidence reveals some self vs self conflict. He is leaving for Canada now, but the internal conflict tells me the he is unsure that he is making the right decision.
It was a kind of schizophrenia. A moral split. I couldn't make upmy mind. Ifeared the war, yes, but I also feared exile. I was afraid ofwalking away from my own Iife, my friends and my family, my wholehistory, everything chat matcered to me
The narrator connects his situation to the mental illness schizophrenia to describe how he is torn between two hard decisions.
r some point in mid-July I beuan thinking seriously about Canada
The narrator thought of running away to Canada as a way of escaping potential drafting.
rk. I was no soldier. I haced Boy Scouts. I hatedcamping out. I hated dirt and tents and mosquiroes. The sight of bloodmade me queasy, and I couldn'r tolerare authority, and I didn't knowa rifle from a slingshot. I was a liber,tl, for Christ sake
The narrator has an understanding of self. He knows that he is not one for violence, and gory things. He doesn't consider himself to be the " ideal " soldier.
Courage, I seemed to think, comes to us in6nite quantities, like an inheritance, and by being frugal and stashing itaway and letting it earn interest, we steadily increase our moral capitalin p''rsp2l"xtion for that day when the account must be drawn down
Courage is something and individual inherits as time goes on. I wonder what is the relevance of courage in the story.
f his is one story I've never rold before. Not to anyone. Not to myI parents, not to my brother or sister, not even to my wife
This sentence tells me that the narrator is reserved when it comes to telling this story. I can infer that it may be something very personal.
Look in de box dere Delia, Ah done brung yuh somethin'!
Syke's insist on antagonizing Delia without fear of retaliation.
his one open eye shining with hope.
The irony that the woman that he mistreats, belittles and pretends like he doesn't need in his life is the one person who could help save his life in this moment.
All this Delia could see and hear from her place beneath the window, and it made her ill. She crept over to the four-o'clocks and stretched herself on the cool earth to recover. She lay there. "Delia. Delia!" She could hear Sykes calling in a most despairi
Delia knows that she has a choice to make it how to react to Sykes's injury. Her sense of relief that justice has finally been served prevents her from reacting sympathetically.
This time she decided she need not bring the hamper out of the bedroom; she would go in there and do the sorting. She picked up the pot-bellied lamp and went in. The room was small and the hamper stood hard by the foot of the white iron bed. She could sit and reach through the bedposts--resting as she worked.
This is a turning point for Delia by working in her room she is taking a stand against Sykes to show that she has grown and is no longer concerned about how he feels about her work.
77Sykes poured out a saucer full of coffee and drank it deliberately before he answered her. "A whole lot Ah keer 'bout how you feels inside uh out. Dat snake aint goin' no damn wheah till Ah gits ready fuh 'im tuh go. So fur as beatin' is concerned, yuh aint took near all dat you gointer take ef yuh stay 'roun' me.
I believe Sykes is adamant about keeping the rattlesnake because he knows how much Delia fears and will use it as a power tool against her.
He still assured her that he was the swellest man in the stat
I think he tries to convince her that he's the swellest man in the state as a way to convince himself that's a good man despite how he treats his wife and is seen by others in town.
Sykes was ordering magnificently for Bertha. It pleased him for Delia to see.
I am curious about when Sykes feelings towards Delia turned to hate.
gate. Delia and Sykes fought all the time now with no peaceful interludes. They slept and ate in silence. Two or three times Delia had attempted a timid friendliness, but she was repulsed each time. It was plain that the breaches must remain aga
I agree with Jailynn. It does appear that Delia is trying to make peace, but it is evident that Sykes has no interest in making amends with her. He does not respect their relationship or appreciate her.
that moment, Sykes and Bertha arrived. A determined silence fell on the porch and the melon was put away
Despite all that was said about Sykes, they all seem to be intimidated by him. This is not a surprise.
time. "Taint no law on earth dat kin make a man be decent if it aint in 'im. There's plenty men dat takes a wife lak dey do a joint uh sugar-cane. It's round, juicy an' sweet when dey gits it. B
Clarke is basically saying that if Sykes really wanted to change his attitude, he would’ve done that already. But you can’t give help to someone who doesn’t want to be helped. Sykes takes Delia for granted which is sad because she is a very hardworking lady.
t in Merchant. "He'd a' been tied up wid one long time ago if he could a' found one tuh have him. Did Ah tell yuh'bout him come sidlin' roun' mah wife--bringin' her a basket uh pecans outa his yard fuh a present? Yessir, mah wife! She tol' him tuh take 'em right straight back home,
Sykes flirting with other women shows that he does not value his relationship with Delia.
It's too bad, too, cause she wuz a right pritty lil trick when he got huh. Ah'd uh mah'ied huh mahseff if he hadnter beat me to it
He’s basically saying that all the stress from the relationship is wearing Delia out and you can tell by her appearance. She doesn’t look how she did when they first became a thing.
Syke Jones aint wuth de shot an' powder hit would tek tuh kill 'em. Not to huh he aint.
People in the town are aware of Delia and Sykes abusive relationship.
Yep," Joe Lindsay agreed. "Hot or col', rain or shine, jes ez reg'lar ez de weeks roll roun' Delia carries 'em an' fetches 'em on Sat'day
This piece of evidences proves how much of a hard worker Delia is.
Anything like flowers had long ago been drowned in the salty stream that had been pressed from her heart
The comparison to flowers going down a salty stream represents their relationship going downhill.
omin' heah to pile up on mah sweat and blood. You aint paid for nothin' on this place, and Ah'mgointer stay right heah till Ah'm toted out foot foremost."
Delia is faithful and hardworking, while Sykes is out here cheating on her and not helping her in the home. She is the breadwinner of the relationship, although she may not be earning money, she supports their relationship.
put mah fist up side yo' head to boot."
This tells me that the relationship may also be abusive.
ou ain't nothing but a hypocrite. One of them amen-corner Christians--sing, whoop, and shout, then come home and wash white folks clothes on the Sabbath."
Sykes appears to be very dominant in their relationship. He is talking down on her in this piece of evidence.
She saw that Sykes had kicked all of the clothes together again, and now stood in her way truculently, his whole manner hoping, praying, for an argument. But she walked calmly around him and commenced to re-sort the things.
Sykes doing this shows that he had no appreciation for Delia sorting the clothes. Now it just seems like he acting this way to start a conflict between the two.
You sho is one aggravatin' nigger woman!"
This comment seems to be derogatory.
Some day Ah'm goin' tuh drop dead from some of yo' foolishness.
Delia is saying that one day his jokes will be taken too far.
It softened her knees and dried her mouth so that it was a full minute before she could cry out or move.
I can relate to this experience and what Davonte said. It is very similar to sleep paralysis, you become stiff you can't even make a sound.
a wash-woman,
Delia worked as a cleaning lady.
od. Because what you've been trying to do is meddle in something you know nothing about. All that concerns you here, Sam, is to try and do what you get paid for - keep the place clean and serve the customers. In plain words, just get on with your job. My mother is right. She's always warning me about allowing you to get too familiar. Well, this time you've gone too far. It's going to stop right now. [No response from Sam.] You're only a servant
Hally and Sams relationship seem to be taking a little turn. Hally is starting to be disrespectful towards Sam. I still Believe that this a result of what Hally is dealing with at home. I dont Feel that he should treat Sam like this because of how good their bond was.
don't give a [crap] about my homework, so, for Christ's sake, just shut up about it. [Slamming books viciously into his school case.] Hurry up now and finish your work. I want to lock up and get out of here. [Pause. And then go where? Home-sweet [ . . . ] home. [Geez], I hate that word. [Hally goes to the counter to put the brandy bottle and comics in his school case. After a moment's hesitation, he smashes the bottle of brandy. He abandons all further attempts to hide his feelings. Sam and Willie work away as unobtrusively as possible.] Do you want to know what is really wrong with your lovely little dream, Sam/ It's not just that we are all bad dancers. That does happen to be perfectly true, but there's
This detail really shows how Hally has a bad temper. This can be a result of his relationship with his father at home. Although it’s not the best way, this might be his way of expressing his feelings.
Subtitle: "Global Politics on the Dance Floor." No. A bit too heavy, hey? What about 'ballroom Dancing as a Political Vision
I am on the same page with Ryan and Jaely, I don’t understand the connection between ballroom dancing and politics.
we want life to be like. But instead, like you said, Hally, we're bumping into each other all the time. Look at the three of us this afternoon: I've bumped into Willie, the two of us have bumped into you, you've bumped into your mother, she bumping into your Dad . . . None of us knows the steps and there's no music playing. And it doesn't stop with us. The whole world is doing it all the time. Open a newspaper and what do you read? America has bumped into Russia. England is bumping into India, rich man bumps into poor man. Those are big collisions, Hally. They make for a lot of bruises. People get hurt in all that bumping, and we're sick and tired of it now. It's been going on for too long. Are we never going to get it right? . . . learn to dance life like champions instead of always
Sam is teaching Hally that dance is something that you get better with as time progresses. He basically explains to him that it is okay to make mistakes. I feel Like this is a common lesson that Sam continues to tell Hally so far in the play.
Yes, gentlemen, that is precisely what I am considering doing. Old Doc Bromely - he's my English teacher - is going to argue with me, of course. He doesn't like natives. But I'll point out to him that in strict anthropological terms the culture of a primitive black society includes its dancing and singing. To put my thesis in a nutshell: The war-dance has been replaced by the waltz. But it still amounts to the same thing
Dancing is an aspect of black culture that is greatly appreciated. It’s something that continues to be passed through generations.
Sam, you're not asking me to take ballroom dancing serious, are you
Hally shows no interest in learning ballroom dancing. We can infer that Hally is just insecure because he doesn’t feel he would be good at it.
I don't like Mohammed. I never have. I was merely being hypothetical. As far as I'm concerned, the Koran is as bad as the Bible. No. Religion is out! I'm not going to waste my time again arguing with you about the existence of God. You know perfectly well I'm an atheist
Hally’s atheist beliefs cause him to be against the idea of higher power.
gested what I read. It's safe. I've hidden it away in the Theology section. Nobody ever goes in there. Any anyway who are you to talk? You hardly even looked at it. SAM: I tried. I looked at the chapters in the beginning and I saw one called "The Struggle for an Existence." Ah ha, I thought. At last! But what did I get? Something called the mistletoe which needs the apple tree a
Hally and Sam share two different opinions about this book, and who they think the man of magnitude is.
many reforms. Napoleon regarded all people as equal before the law and wanted them to have equal opportunities for advancement. All ves - ti - ges of the feu - dal system with its oppression of the poor were abolished." Vestiges, feudal system and abolished. I'm all right on oppression
I agree with Aaron, this detail shows that Sam is against the idea of oppression. Explains why him and Hally are able to get along, this is something that would be very rare back then.
So what happens when the exams come? HALLY: Failing a maths exam isn't the end of the world, Sam. How many times have I told you that examination results don't measure
Sam gives Hally some advice that you would hear from a parent. This detail shows how Sam and Hally share a good bond. He explains that it is okay to fail sometimes.
And I hate to say it, but the answer is: I don't know. Maybe he hasn't even beenborn yet. Or is still only a babe in arms at his mother's breas
I agree with Xavier, that specific detail tells us that they are aware that social reform is something that will come with later generations. During the time period of the play, and based on prior knowledge, people weren’t confident enough or brave enough to speak out against discrimination, etc.
HALLY: Did you hear my Mom talking on the telephone, Willie? WILLIE: No, Master Hally. I was at the back. HALLY: And she didn't say anything to you before she left? WILLIE: She said I must clean the floors. HALLY: I mean about my Dad.
Hally doesn't seem happy about his father coming home early. I wonder why he's acting in thus way? Is there something going on between him and his father?
. His clothes are a little neglected and untidy: black blazer with school badge, gray flannel trousers in need of an ironing
Although Hally is a teenage, this quote makes me wonder if Hally has anyone around him to help him look put together.
Three nights now she doesn't come practice. I wind up gramophone, I get record ready and I sit and wait. What happens? Nothing. Ten o'clock I start dancing with my pillow. You try and practice romance by yourself, Boet Sam. Struesgod, she doesn't come tonight I take back my dress and ballroom shoes and I find me new partner. Size twenty-six. Shoes size seven. And now she's making trouble for me with the baby again. Reports me to Child Wellfed, that I'm not giving her money. She lies! Every week I am giving her money for milk. And how do I know is my baby? Only his hair looks like me. She's [messing]around all the time I turn my back. Hilda Samuels is a [b
Willie and his wife marriage isn't healthy. Their relationship appears to be something that causes him stress.
eating her up every time she makes a mistake in the waltz? [Shaking his head.] No, Willie! That takes the pleasure out of ballroom dan
I didn't interpret " beating her up" as physically touching her. I interpreted it as bringing her down verbally. For example, yelling at her when she makes the mistakes, not abuse. But we are informed that she does get abused.
-n-d one two three four . . . and one two three four . . . [Ad libbing as Willie dances.] Your shoulders, Willie . . . your shoulders! Don't look down! Look happy, Willie! Relax, Willie!
Dancing seems to be something that brings Sam joy. In the dialogue, he sounds very excited to be teaching Willie.
Leaning on the solitary table, his head cupped
His head cupped in one hand makes me think that he is bored, and he is reading the comic book to keep himself busy
His smile melts into the part of Claire that still remembers when he was missing his two front teeth
This detail shows how Claire will always cherish the little, meaningful memories that she had of Aaron.
Claire tells the reporter some innocuous nice thing about Seraphin’s boyfriend, and the paper calls him one of her best friends, after which she stops trying to explain.
In my opinion, I feel that this was very selfish on Claire's part. She knew that her and Aaron's relationship was more serious than being " just friends ". Her not going into detail about it and being honest would cause people to make up their own description of Aaron.
rs. Hall will tell the reporter that a black boy doesn’t get out of the car at night in the woods for a car full of angry white boys in Virginia. Claire’s father will read the paper and say it’s not the 1950s.
I agree with Gabby that Claires father is blind to the fact that race played a big part in the situation that took place. He really doesn't see the wrong.
I killed someone. I loved him. I walked away. A warped version of that icebreaker game. Two truths and a lie, or two lies and a truth
I agree with Tanakh that Claire feels guilty for Aarons death.
The first person to speak is a weepy white sophomore boy, who expresses how distraught he is to be on a campus that has been touched by hate and personally apologizes to the black students on campus, which apology takes the full remaining three minutes of his allotted time
Claire is very privileged to still be able to attend school while on campus.
Because every time I see her I want to tell her I’m sorry your mother is alive, because it reminds me that mine is dead.”Aaron winces. He takes a nervous sip from his red cup before looking at her again.“That’s fucked up, Claire. My mom misses you too. You’re messed up right now, I get that, but at some point you’re going to have to stop making it worse.”
These details make me question if Claire is so jealous of Angela and Aarons mom surviving that she has grown a disdain towards black people. Could this be why she sees no wrong in her actions?
354 new emails, most of them from strangers. Across the hall, campus movers are noisily carting Carmen off to a new dorm. A reporter from the student paper, unable to reach her by phone, has slipped a note under Claire’s door asking for an interview. She gath-ers from his note that several bloggers have now picked up both the bikini photo and Carmen’s photo of last night’s postcard.
Carmen doesn't realize how serious these actions are. She isn't aware that consequences would follow, especially with her being in college. It could possibly result in her getting kicked out of school.
Chicago’s impoverished black neighborhoods—characterized by high unemployment and households headed by single parents—are not simply poor; they are “ecologically distinct.” This “is not simply the same thing as low economic status,” writes Sampson. “In this pattern Chicago is not alone.”
The effects of injustice are still present today.
“prayers for relief”—payback of all moneys paid on contracts and all moneys paid for structural improvement of properties
basically reparations.
I’d come out of Mississippi where there was one mess, and come up here and got in another mess. So how dumb am I? I didn’t want anyone to know how dumb I was.
Ross shouldn't have to feel like this. Nothing was his fault, he's the victim.
Blacks were herded into the sights of unscrupulous lenders who took them for money and for sport.
The "American Dream" was nearly impossible to achieve as a Black person.
their homes and communities deteriorated
they continued to become worse.
Ross would acquire no equity in the meantime. If he missed a single payment, he would immediately forfeit his $1,000 down payment, all his monthly payments, and the property itself
This makes me wonder if all the Blacks in that same community were being scammed also.
ut a handful of middle-class African Americans had lived there starting in the ’40s.
Integration was familiar to the people of that community.
black pilgrims
this term is new to me
Landowners were supposed to split the profits from the cotton fields with sharecroppers
Sharecropping system was very much corrupt.
Clyde Ross did not, and thus lost the chance to better his education.
This detail shows how black people didn't have access to the best resources, causing them to miss out on opportunities that could've granted them success.
And so for the upkeep of separate but equal, the entire Ross family was reduced to sharecropping.
The Ross family's accomplishments were stripped from them. During these times, Black people were deprived of education so they couldn't stand a chance against the authorities to defend themselves. This is a complete injustice.
debt peonage
they still had to do slave-like labor
You and I know what’s the best way to keep the nigger from voting
This comment shows that the government was very unfair and their strategy of keeping control over the people was to get rid of blacks. If blacks kept getting lynched, who was helping to represent them ?
40-acre tract of land,
I agree with someone else's comment that they must've acquired this land due to "40 acres and a mule" that slaves would be granted.