Stories of the Quest for Civil Rights

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/us/19birmingham.html?_r=1

I think this is a great story about the civil rights movement because he was not doing this for fame or recognition but instead he was doing it because he genuinely thought the black community deserved transportation. In a time where it was extremely difficult if not impossible for black men and women to receive transportation without being ridiculed he stepped in and made an effort to change that. He saw something that he disagreed with and instead of sitting there and moping about it he got up and made a difference. Its sad to to know that his story will most likely never be known by the masses but for those who know what he did or not he played an important role in changing history for the better. 

A Walk Through Harlem.

One of the similarities that I noticed from the website to Having Our Say was the importance of churches. Going to church was obviously a big deal back then in the community and more often than not it was expected. Bessie and Saydie touch on the topic of going to church while the walk through Harlem showed multiple churches on the same street.
On the 2nd link I learned more about James Weldon Johnson who we learned about in class. He was a poet from Harlem that helped put Harlem on the map. His poetry was closely tied with music and him and his brothers even wrote songs together. He continually pushed for civil rights and broke down many racial barriers for his time.

Expressions in Art.

Sadie and Bessie talked about how black people were talked down upon and treated poorly. This picture shows a black child in the most helpless position. To me this picture portrays suffering, fear, neglect and overall misery. The child seems helpless and doesn't know what to do.

Having Your Say.

Something I feel strongly about is not doing things just because society says you should do it. I feel like nowadays most people judge everything they do based of what society would think of it and not what they personally think about it. Their perception of right and wrong is what society says is right and wrong and not what they feel is right or wrong. Well society isn't always right and we need to stop basing our decisions of what is accepted by society and instead make decisions based off what we personally believe. We need to stop blindly following society and instead make our own unique paths.

There Was A Child Went Forth

In this poem I think Whitman is talking about how the child had all these experiences and memories that became a part of him to stay with him forever. As the child experienced something it became forever engraved in the child's brain and therefor a part of him. I connect to this because I try to experience as many things as possible and store them in my memory to learn from them. The more we experience the more we learn and maybe that is what Whitman is trying to say.

Emily Dickinson's Garden Of Poetry

The Bee

 

Like trains of cars on tracks of plush

I hear the level bee:

A jar across the flowers goes,

Their velvet masonry

Withstands until the sweet assault

Their chivalry consumes,

While he, victorious, tilts away

To vanquish other blooms.

His feet are shod with gauze,

His helmet is of gold;

His breast, a single onyx

With chrysoprase, inlaid.

His labor is a chant,

His idleness a tune;

Oh, for a bee's experience

Of clovers and of noon!

 

- Emily Dickinson

Dickinson shows her love and appreciation for nature and wildlife in this poem. The way she describes the bee you can tell that she holds it in high regard. You can tell that she has carefully observed bees before and she truly enjoys it.

Transcendental Vs Antitranscendental

I personally enjoy the antitranscendental writers over the transcendental writers. I think they are more bold and willing to veer off the path and go their own way. They do not do what society wants them to do. In a lot of their stories I feel like we can find great morals. Like in "The Scarlett Letter" she turned that punishment into a bold statement of individuality. I think the antitranscendental writers that we have learned about our amazing individuals with incredible imaginations.