How it feels to be colored me by: zora neale hurston
When Zora Neale Hurston wrote "How it Feels to be Colored Me," she spoke nothing but what was on her heart and mind. This text is very significant when looking at the Harlem Renaissance because it is one of the few pieces that looks at the positives for African Americans instead of focusing on the inequality that was happening at the time.
Zora had an optomistic outlook on her life. In this article she showed that she was grateful to be in the position she was in and wanted to make the most of her opportunities. When Zora states, "No one on earth ever had a greater chance for glory," she is saying that she has so many opportunities and she feels like the world is at her fingertips. Zora is going to make the most of her opportunities. She also states, " The position of my white neighbor is much more difficult," and I think that throws a lot of whites and blacks off. A lot of the focus during the Harlem Renaissance was on the inequality such as living conditions, working conditions, and rights between African Americans and whites. Hurston just put an entirely different view on the table with one statement. She has the world to gain and nothing to lose, where as whites had the world to lose and very little to gain.
In this article, Zora is also very comfortable with herself. "During this period, white people differed from colored to me only in that they rode through town and never lived there." This sentence shows that Zora never thought of herself as colored by how and where she lived, but instead thought of herself as Zora by who she was. She is also very proud of being herself and confident unlike many African Americans at that time. "I am surged upon and overswept but through it all, I remain myself."
The last paragraph of this article talks about the "great stuffer of bags." When she's talking about this, she is referring to God. Bringing in a figure that both races look up to was genius. The paragraph compares bags full of random priceless and worthless items to people. God doesn't mind if you have a different color of string, or skin in this case. He made you with diamonds in your bag, but also broken pieces of glass. Each person was made with priceless and worthless qualities no matter the race, but what she was trying to get at was each person was made in God's image and he is the final judge.
This text was one of the most significant texts during the Harlem Renaissance because it gave many African Americans hope and an optomistic outlook on their life. Some writers during the Harlem Renaissance did not appreciate Zora's literature because they were very dilligently writing so that change would be made in favor of African Americans during this hard time, but she was a very important figure because many looked up to her and her writings. African Americans and whites both got a different outlook on life at the time and Zora was just as effective as the other writers during the time period.
How It Feels To Be Colored Me Text
Zora had an optomistic outlook on her life. In this article she showed that she was grateful to be in the position she was in and wanted to make the most of her opportunities. When Zora states, "No one on earth ever had a greater chance for glory," she is saying that she has so many opportunities and she feels like the world is at her fingertips. Zora is going to make the most of her opportunities. She also states, " The position of my white neighbor is much more difficult," and I think that throws a lot of whites and blacks off. A lot of the focus during the Harlem Renaissance was on the inequality such as living conditions, working conditions, and rights between African Americans and whites. Hurston just put an entirely different view on the table with one statement. She has the world to gain and nothing to lose, where as whites had the world to lose and very little to gain.
In this article, Zora is also very comfortable with herself. "During this period, white people differed from colored to me only in that they rode through town and never lived there." This sentence shows that Zora never thought of herself as colored by how and where she lived, but instead thought of herself as Zora by who she was. She is also very proud of being herself and confident unlike many African Americans at that time. "I am surged upon and overswept but through it all, I remain myself."
The last paragraph of this article talks about the "great stuffer of bags." When she's talking about this, she is referring to God. Bringing in a figure that both races look up to was genius. The paragraph compares bags full of random priceless and worthless items to people. God doesn't mind if you have a different color of string, or skin in this case. He made you with diamonds in your bag, but also broken pieces of glass. Each person was made with priceless and worthless qualities no matter the race, but what she was trying to get at was each person was made in God's image and he is the final judge.
This text was one of the most significant texts during the Harlem Renaissance because it gave many African Americans hope and an optomistic outlook on their life. Some writers during the Harlem Renaissance did not appreciate Zora's literature because they were very dilligently writing so that change would be made in favor of African Americans during this hard time, but she was a very important figure because many looked up to her and her writings. African Americans and whites both got a different outlook on life at the time and Zora was just as effective as the other writers during the time period.
How It Feels To Be Colored Me Text
Mother to son by: Langston Hughes
This poem written by Langston Hughes is known for being a motivational piece written to future generations. In this poem Hughes writes of how past generations have fought for the rights and privileges of future generations no matter what the circumstance.
This poem speaks of the hard times people had gone through to provide a hope and future for their descendants, "And sometimes goin' in the dark where there ain't been no light". Although hope may have been dim they kept sacrificing their lives and efforts to provide equal opportunities for generations to come.
This poem symbolizes the duty younger generations have to fulfill to provide for their future. Where we are today is all because of the work our ancestors have put in to get us here. Langston Hughes writes saying, "So boy, don't you turn your back. Don't you set down on the steps Cause you finds it's kinder hard." This is significant because although at times it may seem hopeless and hard, it has only gotten easier from the past. To push for change each generation must keep progressing from past works.
Langston Hughes is known for leading Negro writers to promote change and write of non-traditional topics including jazz and blues. Langston promoted that writers begin to write about how things are unfair and should be changed. With his influence in African American Literature he was able to add on to what his past ancestors had done before him.
This text is very influential because it provides perspective of how to be progressive in today's society we must not rest on the "staircase of life" but keep climbing towards our one goal. For if we rest, the work past generations have done will have been for nothing, putting all of their hard times and determination to shame. This poem written by Langston Hughes provides motivation for the Civil Rights Movement to keep climbing on what past generations have fought for, not ending until equal rights have been met.
Mother To Son Poem
This poem speaks of the hard times people had gone through to provide a hope and future for their descendants, "And sometimes goin' in the dark where there ain't been no light". Although hope may have been dim they kept sacrificing their lives and efforts to provide equal opportunities for generations to come.
This poem symbolizes the duty younger generations have to fulfill to provide for their future. Where we are today is all because of the work our ancestors have put in to get us here. Langston Hughes writes saying, "So boy, don't you turn your back. Don't you set down on the steps Cause you finds it's kinder hard." This is significant because although at times it may seem hopeless and hard, it has only gotten easier from the past. To push for change each generation must keep progressing from past works.
Langston Hughes is known for leading Negro writers to promote change and write of non-traditional topics including jazz and blues. Langston promoted that writers begin to write about how things are unfair and should be changed. With his influence in African American Literature he was able to add on to what his past ancestors had done before him.
This text is very influential because it provides perspective of how to be progressive in today's society we must not rest on the "staircase of life" but keep climbing towards our one goal. For if we rest, the work past generations have done will have been for nothing, putting all of their hard times and determination to shame. This poem written by Langston Hughes provides motivation for the Civil Rights Movement to keep climbing on what past generations have fought for, not ending until equal rights have been met.
Mother To Son Poem