Young, Gifted, and Black, yes?

            Surprisingly, I can relate to Lorraine Hansberry, the author of “To Be Young, Black, and Gifted”.  Because, well, I am all those things.  That’s what I like to think anyway.  Maybe I’m not that young.  But going beyond the title, my childhood was somewhat similar to Hansberry’s.

            Children playing on the sidewalk, girls jumping rope, boys shooting marbles...  This was sort of how my childhood was (is?).  When I was younger, I played outside sometimes with my cousins.  What we played, I really have no recollection whatsoever.  Jump rope: I hated it.  Always did, still do, never won’t.  So there’s a difference right there.  And although I didn’t play marbles in the open air, an uncle of mine taught me how to play (don’t ask me what I learned;  I don’t remember). 

            Even though I grew up on a different side of the city than Hansberry, there was still that sense of the children of the neighborhood coming together to play.  I amused myself with the next door neighbors, people across the street, etc.

            Of course, I can relate to the wonder of the trains in Chicago.  Taking the train, maybe the red line, it is possible to see all the different parts of the city.  Admittedly, I’ve never taken the red line.  But I do take the blue line all the time and have taken the green line.  Just watching the people that enter those metal doors can delineate the diversity of Chicago.

             What does this have to do with being American?  Well, you can’t get much more American than Chicago.  Except for maybe New York, where things and people are busier and more expensive.

           

Marching or Saggin'?

            Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is approaching us very quickly (I don’t know what day but I’m sure it is approaching quickly).  Hence, the prompt for this blog: “King Still King?”.  There’s no need to go into background information on MLK Jr., seeing as how everyone American child learns about him in 2^nd grade, or even before then.  But what difference did he really make?  (Forgive me if I don’t write as I usually do; too tired to be my characteristically witty self).

            Back when gas prices were low and my oldest aunt was just a wee little lass, African Americans were still not equal with the rest of the pale skinned Americans.  So there were marches for civil rights.  And more marches.  And maybe a few MORE marches.  All to fight the power, fight the man, and be equal.  Martin Luther King Jr. fought the power.  And he won, too.

            But what difference does that make now?  African Americans are free and equal to whites. We (may I say we?) can go to any hotel or restaurant we want.  Have the same jobs as “the man”.  Yes, we CAN do all that.  But do we?

            Sometimes, it seems as if some Blacks don’t appreciate the freedom that MLK Jr. and other protesters achieved.  We have succeeded in some careers (President Obama).  But others seem to not want to take advantage of the opportunities made available by marchers.  The children do poorly in school and fight.  The boys’ pants hang off their knees (♪ Pants on the ground…♪).  Civil rights leaders did not fight for us to regress and act/look like slaves. 

            I am only speaking of some of the African American race.  I know there are plenty that don’t fit these descriptions.  But for those who do, please stop enforcing stereotypes. 

Quel est Un Américain ? (Numero Uno)

            So we’re back to the topic of “What is an American?”  Again.  Most likely, if you’re reading this, you’re an American.  If you’re not, why are you on this blog?  Unless you are Mexican or a Mississippian or something like that… But anyway, Americans.  I’m going to discuss Americans.

            Since we came back from winter vacation, we have been loaded down with reading assignments and the like (don’t worry, Mr. McCarthy; you’re not the only teacher doing it).  So far, we’ve had to read “Children of the Sea”, “To Be Young Gifted and Black”, “I Hear America Singing”, “There Was a Child Went Forth”, and “This Sacred Soil”. 

            These are all readings about Americans or a non-American’s views of America (Although I don’t understand what “There Was a Child Went Forth” had to do with America). 

            It is no secret that people view the U.S. as a land of freedom where opportunities abound.  Foreigners migrate here all the time for work or to escape the tragedies of their homelands.  They all truly believe and believed that North America has something better to offer.  And in my opinion, we do.  We may be in a recession, but I believe there are still some jobs out there.  At the very least, our land isn’t being completely ravaged by war and natural disasters.  Or the Native Americans’ past land, as Chief Seattle would be likely to correct me if he were alive.

            The author of “Children of the Sea” seems to be saying that really anywhere else would be better than Haiti.  And, hey, look at that!  The Unites States is anywhere else!

            Lorraine Hansberry of “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” gives her view of the country from a local perspective.  Born and raised on the South side of Chicago, she knows the down sides to living in this “great land”.  The land was not as racially tolerant as it is now.  Racism was practiced and Hansberry and her family personally witnessed it.

            My opinion of these readings: at least most of them were about America.