The Ethics of Living Jim Crow

The autobiographical sketch, “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow,” is truly a coming of age story as well as a story of survival. Richard Wright tells the tale of an average African American man growing up in times of oppression. He brings up the idea of discrimination and how African American’s learned the lesson to always “stay in their place” back then. Growing up and reading numerous stories similar to the one of Wright’s, I am well aware of the history between whites and blacks and the resentment that followed after many outbreaks, disputes, and injustices. This story brought a whole new sense of wonder and curiosity to my mind and started to make me question if some of these traditional “ways” still exist today.

This story engaged me from the very first sentence: “My first lesson in how to live as a Negro came when I was quite small.” I was taken aback on the fact that he had to live by “lessons.” Life should not be lived or structured that way. No one should have to learn to live any differently than anyone else. You live to learn from lessons and grow from them as well. As I kept reading on, I realized the feeling of disappointment that strengthened in my mind. I could not believe the American culture back then—so cruel, selfish, and unjust. And then I began to comprehend why Richard had said he had to live his life by lessons. Back then, there was no other way to live your life for African Americans. From the moment you were born it seemed, your destiny was already decided.

Another important idea that radiated from this subject was the timing of these lessons throughout this story. In life, it is common for an individual to think that they have lived, learned, and conquered nearly everything in a matter of time. Let me tell you this straight up, no strings attached: this is not true and never will be. Learning is a process gathered and developed overtime. We are constantly learning from our very first breath to our last. The author explains this very well by providing and explaining a few lessons Richard learns and experiences. This shows us, as the reader, that the lessons occur at different points in one’s life and that fact that we have to learn from them as best we can.

Wright also allows the reader to view and recognize different parts and or types of discrimination throughout the piece. This includes the idea on how African Americans had adjusted to the “stay in your place” type of attitude. This feeling and or way of life was inspired by the Jim Crow laws. People should never have to feel that they have to act, behave, or live a certain way. Back then, these “laws” were instilled in African Americans from the very day they were born. This angered me immensely. No one should have to live life stepping on pins and needles. Be loud, be proud, be you. Right? Right.

Touching on the Jim Crow aspect of things, I will admit that these laws were absolutely horrid and unnecessary in every way imaginable, but they were also—dare I say—good. From these laws, people began to change overtime. They began to learn from life lessons. See, we made it full circle! They began to realize the disappointment and unjust in their lives and eventually rise above it. They taught people to finally break free of the molding that other races—intentionally or not—had poured them in. And that, I believe, is what Mr. Wright was trying to convey throughout his story. This important message revolves around the idea that learning is constantly changing, as is everything else in this world. And we have to adjust to the changes and either decide to live by them or fight back. For in order to live you have to learn. And in order to learn you have to live.  

"Talk of The Town."

September 11^th, 2001. This date is and will forever be burned into the minds and memories of civilization. We are all permanently reminded and a part of these encounters without a choice to forget or move on. September 11^th, 2001 was not only a day of loss, misery, and outstanding courage, but also a day where America questioned its authority and resilience. In these collections from “Talk of the Town,” authors John Updike and Susan Sontag address such thoughts and ultimately lead the reader to draw their own conclusions.

I myself do not personally remember 9/11. All that vaguely comes to mind are the movies and books that have been instilled in our school curriculum, as well as the lone research I have done by myself. Looking back on that day, I can only imagine the pain, confusion, and frustration many felt. Author John Updike relates to many of those feelings throughout his article. From his first sentence, “Suddenly summoned to witness something great and horrendous, we keep fighting not to reduce it to our own smallness,” you are immediately latched. The word “suddenly” implies that an extreme change is about to happen…unknown to anyone at that time. For who would have guessed that hijacked planes were about to crash into New York’s twin towers and alter the landscape forever? In relation, the fact that he starts at the climax of the event is truly thought-provoking. You are thrown into this story and experience exactly like everyone else was—totally taken by surprise and in complete shock. Another passage that caught my attention was, “We clung to each other as if we ourselves were falling.” Updike relates to the feeling of hopelessness in this situation. I cannot imagine the feeling of not being able to help or stop this incident; you just had to be an onlooker—a bystander—and try to muster up all the dignity and strength you had inside you to force yourself to keep watching. And finally, his all-too-peculiar final sentence, “The fresh sun shone on the eastward facades, a few boats tentatively moved in the river, the ruins were still sending out smoke, but New York looked glorious.” I had to re-read that at least five different times. It would all start to make sense until the last word: glorious. Glorious is something you use to describe a beautiful sunset or a wonderful accomplishment, not after the pride and respect has been stripped from your own country. His last sentence proved to be refreshing and inspiring though. For it was amazing how one man could be so hopeful in such a bleak time.

On the other hand, Susan Sontag’s article brought a whole different mood, tone, and perspective to this memory. Her use of the word “disconnect” in her first sentence really caught my attention. That is what this whole event revolves around: a simple disconnect. Similarly, Sontag scrutinizes and criticizes the lack of things being done after the event. Her opinion was clear and strong, “A lot of thinking needs to be done, and perhaps is being done in Washington and elsewhere, about the ineptitude of American intelligence and counter-intelligence, about options available to American foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, and about what constitutes a smart program of military defense.” She expands on this thought in saying that, “Our leaders are bent on convincing us that everything is O.K,” when perhaps it is not. For it can’t be if it’s almost 13 years later and we still cringe at the memory. Her last sentence, as well as Updike’s, intrigued me as well. “Who doubts that America is strong? But that’s not all it has to be.” Her wording is extremely powerful. It’s almost like she is saying it’s our choice, as the citizens, for as what we want to do now. We can either keep portraying our ability to be strong and powerful, or move on to a different characteristic and reputation.

Comparatively, both author’s stories are beautifully written and focus on a memory that is still considered unreal for some today. Although they both have varying contrasts throughout, John and Susan both imply that 9/11 was a major life changing event. Not only did it alter one’s outlook on life, but also one’s perspective on the lives of others and the affect they can have on your own.