Vorschlag B2
People of color
Der vorliegende Vorschlag enthält in Aufgabe 3 alternative Arbeitsanweisungen.
1.
Sum up the information about Sweetness (the narrator) and her family. (Material)
(30 BE)
2.
Analyze how the narrator’s attitude towards her daughter is conveyed, taking narrative perspective and language into account.
(35 BE)
3.
Choose one of the following tasks:
Material
a)
Later in the novel, Sweetness reflects upon how she raised Lula Ann: “There was no point in being tough or sassy even when you were right. Not in a world where you could be sent to juvenile lockup for talking back or fighting in school, a world where you’d be the last one hired and the first one fired.”
Taking the quote as a starting point, discuss whether submissiveness can be an appropriate strategy when dealing with discrimination.
or
(35 BE)
b)
In an article about the Black Lives Matter movement, author Adam Serwer claims that “The United States has its best opportunity in 150 years to belatedly fulfill its promise as a multiracial democracy.” Write a letter to the editor of The Atlantic – the magazine in which Serwer’s article was published – assessing his statement, taking African American history into account.
(35 BE)
Toni Morrison: Sweetness (excerpt from a novel, 2015)
1
It’s not my fault. So you can’t blame me. I didn’t do it and have no idea how it happened. It
2
didn’t take more than an hour after they pulled her out from between my legs to realize
3
something was wrong. Really wrong. She was so black she scared me. Midnight black,
4
Sudanese black. I’m light-skinned, with good hair, what we call high yellow, and so is Lula
5
Ann’s father. Ain’t nobody in my family anywhere near that color. Tar is the closest I can think
6
of yet her hair don’t go with the skin.
7
It’s different – straight but curly like those naked tribes in Australia. You might think she’s a
8
throwback, but throwback to what? You should have seen my grandmother; she passed for
9
white and never said another word to any one of her children. Any letter she got from my
10
mother or my aunts she sent right back, unopened. Finally they got the message of no
11
message and let her be. Almost all mulatto types and quadroons did that back in the day – if
12
they had the right kind of hair, that is. [...]
13
My own mother, Lula Mae, could have passed easy, but she chose not to. She told me the
14
price she paid for that decision. When she and my father went to the courthouse to get
15
married there were two Bibles and they had to put their hands on the one reserved for
16
Negroes. The other one was for white people’s hands. The Bible! Can you beat it? My
17
mother was housekeeper for a rich white couple. They ate every meal she cooked and
18
insisted she scrub their backs while they sat in the tub and God knows what other intimate
19
things they made her do, but no touching of the same Bible.
20
Some of you probably think it’s a bad thing to group ourselves according to skin color – the
21
lighter, the better – in social clubs, neighborhoods, churches, sororities, even colored
22
schools. But how else can we hold on to a little dignity? How else can you avoid being spit
23
on in a drugstore, shoving elbows at the bus stop, walking in the gutter to let whites have the
24
whole sidewalk, charged a nickel at the grocer’s for a paper bag that’s free to white
25
shoppers? Let alone all the name-calling. I heard about all of that and much, much more. But
26
because of my mother’s skin color, she wasn’t stopped from trying on hats in the department
27
stores or using their ladies’ room. And my father could try on shoes in the front part of the
28
shoe store, not in a back room. Neither one would let themselves drink from a “colored only”
29
fountain even if they were dying of thirst.
30
I hate to say it, but from the very beginning in the maternity ward the baby, Lula Ann,
31
embarrassed me. Her birth skin was pale like all babies’, even African ones, but it changed
32
fast. I thought I was going crazy when she turned blue-black right before my eyes. I know I
33
went crazy for a minute because once – just for a few seconds – I held a blanket over her
34
face and pressed. But I couldn’t do that, no matter how much I wished she hadn’t been born
35
with that terrible color. I even thought of giving her away to an orphanage someplace. And I
36
was scared to be one of those mothers who put their babies on church steps. Recently I
37
heard about a couple in Germany, white as snow, who had a dark-skinned baby nobody
38
could explain. Twins, I believe – one white, one colored. But I don’t know if it’s true. All I
39
know is that for me, nursing her was like having a pickaninny sucking my teat. I went to
40
bottle-feeding soon as I got home.
41
My husband, Louis, is a porter and when he got back off the rails he looked at me like I really
42
was crazy and looked at her like she was from the planet Jupiter. [...] That’s what did it –
43
what caused the fights between me and him. It broke our marriage to pieces. We had three
44
good years together but when she was born he blamed me and treated Lula Ann like she
45
was a stranger – more than that, an enemy. He never touched her. I never did convince him
46
that I ain’t never, ever fooled around with another man. [...]
47
I had to be strict, very strict. Lula Ann needed to learn how to behave, how to keep her head
48
down and not to make trouble. [...] Her color is a cross she will always carry. But it’s not my
49
fault. It’s not my fault. It’s not.
Toni Morrison: God Help the Child, London 2015, S. 3–7.
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Note:
Our solutions are listed in bullet points. In the examination, full marks can only be achieved by writing a continuous text. It must be noted that our conclusions contain only some of the possible aspects. Students can also find a different approach to argumentation.
1.
The excerpt from Toni Morrison's novel provides a glimpse into the perspective of Sweetness, the narrator, and her family.
Introduction
- Sweetness is the narrator and the mother of a daughter named Lula Ann
- she expresses a strong sense of denial and distance from her daughter's appearance and skin color, referring to her as "Midnight black, Sudanese black."
- Sweetness defines her own skin as "light-skinned" and "high yellow," and she describes her daughter's skin as a stark contrast
- her internal conflict regarding her daughter's appearance leads to feelings of embarrassment and shame, impacting her ability to fully accept Lula Ann
Main Body
Sweetness (the Narrator)
Sweetness (the Narrator)
- Lula Ann is Sweetness's daughter, whose dark skin color significantly contrasts with her mother's lighter complexion
- her appearance creates a sense of alienation and embarrassment for Sweetness, who struggles to accept her daughter's physical attributes
- Louis, Sweetness's husband and Lula Ann's father, works as a porter
- Louis initially treats Lula Ann as an outsider, even an "enemy," due to her dark skin color, blaming Sweetness for their daughter's appearance
- the birth of Lula Ann and her physical attributes strains Louis and Sweetness's marriage, leading to their eventual separation and the dissolution of their family unit
Her family
- Sweetness and Louis's marriage suffers due to the perceived embarrassment and stigma attached to Lula Ann's skin color
- Sweetness's perspective reflects the broader societal pressures and prejudices that existed during the time period, with skin color often determining social standing and acceptance
- the family's experiences highlight the complexities of racial identity and the internalized struggles that individuals and families faced due to societal standards of beauty and acceptability
Family Dynamics and Societal Pressure
In summary, the excerpt explores Sweetness's internal conflict over her daughter's dark skin color and its impact on family dynamics. The narrative delves into the societal pressures and challenges associated with racial identity and skin color during the time period. Sweetness's denial and reluctance to accept Lula Ann's appearance are rooted in a broader context of societal prejudices and standards of beauty.
Conclusion
2.
- the narrator's attitude towards her daughter, Lula Ann, in the text "Sweetness" is conveyed through a combination of narrative perspective and language choices.
- perspective and the language used provide insight into her complex emotions of embarrassment, denial, and societal pressure
Introduction
- the text is narrated in the first-person perspective by Sweetness herself, which allows readers direct access to her thoughts and emotions
- this narrative choice provides an intimate understanding of her mindset, making her inner conflict and struggles more apparent
- the narrator's thoughts are presented directly, revealing her internal dialogue and emotional turmoil
- this introspective narrative style enables readers to witness the narrator's internal struggle and the contrast between her thoughts and her external actions
Main Body
Narrative Perspective
Narrative Perspective
- the narrator consistently emphasizes her lack of responsibility for her daughter's appearance, repeatedly stating, "It’s not my fault."
- this phrase underscores her denial of any connection to Lula Ann's dark skin and signals her desire to distance herself from her daughter's physical attributes
- the language used to describe Lula Ann's skin color is striking and impactful
- words like "Midnight black, Sudanese black," and "blue-black" are used to create a vivid and contrasting image
- these descriptions emphasize the stark difference between Lula Ann's appearance and the narrator's own "light-skinned, high yellow" complexion.
- the narrator employs metaphors to express her feelings about Lula Ann's appearance
- For instance, she compares nursing Lula Ann to "having a pickaninny sucking my teat." This metaphor is racially charged and reflects the narrator's discomfort and unease with her daughter's skin color.
- language is laced by societal pressures and judgments
he mentions that Lula Ann's appearance is "terrible" and refers to her daughter's color as a "cross she will always carry."
- these phrases highlight the weight of societal norms and expectations, portraying the narrator's feelings of shame and concern for her daughter's future.
- the repetition of the phrase "It's not my fault" serves as an anaphoric device, emphasizing the narrator's need to assert her innocence and lack of responsibility
- this repetition reinforces the narrator's internal struggle to reconcile her emotions and societal pressures
Choice of language
- in conclusion, the narrator's attitude towards her daughter, Lula Ann, is conveyed through the combination of narrative perspective and language choices in the text
- the first-person perspective provides insight into her inner turmoil, while the language used to describe Lula Ann's appearance, along with metaphors and societal pressures, paints a vivid picture of the narrator's complex emotions, denial, and internal conflict
- the narrative perspective and language together create a nuanced portrayal of a mother grappling with the challenges of identity, appearance, and societal expectations
Concnlusion
3.1
- the quote from the novel "Sweetness" reflects the perspective that being submissive, or avoiding confrontation and maintaining a low profile, might be a practical strategy for navigating a world where discrimination and biases exist
- however, the appropriateness of submissiveness as a strategy for dealing with discrimination is a complex and nuanced topic
Introduction
- in certain situations, being submissive can be a strategy to ensure personal safety and avoid potentially dangerous confrontations and challenges
- this is especially relevant when facing authoritative figures or institutions that may respond harshly to any form of resistance
- allowing individuals to prioritize their well-being over engaging in battles that might not yield positive outcomes
- practicing submissiveness, however, can inadvertently reinforce oppressive structures by accepting discrimination without challenging it
- this can perpetuate an unequal status quo and hinder progress toward equality
- lead to emotional distress, a sense of powerlessness, and eroded self-esteem
- allows discriminatory behavior to go unaddressed and unaccounted for, creating a culture where those responsible for discrimination are not held responsible for their actions
Arguments in favor of and against submissiveness as a strategy
- strategies for dealing with discrimination should not solely hinge on complete submissiveness or aggressive confrontation
- empowering one's rights, and seeking support from allies and organizations that champion equality
- addressing discrimination requires effective communication that is assertive rather than confrontational
- submissiveness can be transformed into advocacy through education and raising awareness about discrimination
- encouraging dialogue, educating others about the impact of discrimination, and fostering empathy can lead to change
The middle ground
- in conclusion, submissiveness as a strategy for dealing with discrimination is a complex issue
- while it may provide short-term safety and minimize conflict, it also runs the risk of perpetuating oppression and hindering progress
- a balanced approach that involves self-empowerment, effective communication, and advocacy stands as a more viable solution
- in a world striving for equality, it's important to address discrimination in ways that challenge discriminatory norms while fostering understanding and change.
Conclusion
3.2
Assessing Adam Serwer's Statement on the Black Lives Matter Movement
Subject
Dear Editor,
- I am writing to share my thoughts on the recent article by Adam Serwer titled "The United States has its best opportunity in 150 years to belatedly fulfill its promise as a multiracial democracy," which was published in The Atlantic
- the article provides a compelling perspective on the current state of affairs in the United States and its potential for progress towards a more inclusive society
- however, I believe it is important to carefully assess this statement while considering the historical context of African American history
Greeting and Opening
- first and foremost, I appreciate Serwer's recognition of the significance of the moment the United States finds itself in
- the emergence and growth of the Black Lives Matter movement has indeed sparked important conversations about systemic racism, police violence, and the need for social and institutional change
- this moment provides an opportunity for real reflection and progress toward a more just society
- yet, no sweeping statements can be made about the fulfillment of the promise of multiracial democracy
- the struggle for racial equality in the United States is deeply rooted and has evolved over centuries
- while recent events have sparked dialogues, it is important to recognize the ongoing challenges and inequalities that African Americans have faced throughout history
- the history of African Americans is marked by centuries of slavery, segregation, disenfranchisement and systematic discrimination
- promise of multiracial democracy never realized, progress was made, but resistance was strong
- today, historical injustice continues to impact various aspects of the lives of African Americans, including education, employment, criminal justice, and healthcare
Main Body
reflecting historical events
reflecting historical events
- claim that the present moment offers the "best opportunity in 150 years" to fulfill the promise of multiracial democracy should be viewed as cautious optimism
- today's movements have certainly made significant progress, but it must be kept in mind that continued efforts, legislative changes, and widespread change in societal attitudes will be required to achieve a truly just society
cautious view of the claim
- in conclusion, I appreciate Adam Serwer's thought-provoking article and his emphasis on the potential for progress
- however, we must be careful not to overlook the complexity of African American history and the deep-rooted challenges that remain
- achieving a multiracial democracy requires addressing deep-rooted problems, challenging systemic biases, and making a sustained commitment to justice and equality
Conclusion
Thank you for considering my perspective on this important issue.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
(Your name)
Closing