Writing Homework Help

you’re going to respond to, two different post 500 words each please

“ Autobiography of ex colored man”

Post one

The narrator’s newfound pride in his identity is a beautiful yet daunting process; being proud of your heritage and race can be difficult, especially in the United States. In the case of Johnson, being biracial during that era, finding a balance to which race he identified was quite tricky. His journey of finding himself and being proud of his blackness was confusing and complex. The difficulty of coming to that conclusion during a time where society around you tells you that being black is ‘bad’ is expected. His ultimate decision of accepting himself can be due part of others who went through a similar struggle such as, DuBois hence, “From that time I looked out through other eyes, my thoughts were colored, my words dictated, my actions limited by one dominating, all-pervading idea which constantly increased in force and weight until I finally realized in it a great, tangible fact….He is forced to take his outlook on all things, not from the viewpoint of a citizen, or a man, or even a human being, but from the viewpoint of a colored man. It is wonderful to me that the race has progressed so broadly as it has, since most if it’s thought and all of its activity must run through the narrow neck of this one funnel”. As seen in the quote, Johnsons’ outlook and perspective radically changed where he can love and appreciate his blackness.

Post 2

I think the narrator’s newfound pride was very self-accomplishing to himself personally. The incident where he stood up when all white students were asked to rise, then later was asked to sit back down because he was not white. There was a bit of an identity crisis there for the narrator because he truly believed he was white. It was his old childhood friend, shiny, that inspires him to embrace his race. Only then did he feel pride and content of being black. Music has also played a big role in the narraters dilemma of his racial identity. He was a talented musician who wanted to keep the roots of African American culture in composing ragtime music. The witness of lynching has made him doublethink of his choice and reverting back to “passing” as a white man. His ultimate decision of choosing to pass as a white man was definitely a shock. He decided that being white was just the easiest route to go. I do not think he meant any harm or disrespect to his African American side, but at the time, I could understand why he would make that decision. The ending is a bit controversial. I do believe that if chose to embrace more of his black side, that he would have the same kind of fulfillment in his life.