Reflection

This class has enlightened me on the pervasive issues of race and racial identity in America, topics that I now find so interesting. We have come so far in this class, and I have learned so much that I don’t really know where to start.

It was difficult for me to choose any one post, because the readings have all been amazing and brought up issues that were really thought-provoking. My posts from weeks three, four, and six on Sally Hemings, Roxy from Pudd’nhead Wilson, and Helga Crane respectively have been my favorites because they focus on women and the issues they face in slavery and as a free individual. These posts also raise the questions of why these women acted the way they did and made the decisions they made and the psychology behind one’s behavior and character have always interested me. Why did Hemings choose to stay with Jefferson instead of leading a life of her own? What does that say about her character and ability to be self-sufficient? How would a real-life person in Roxy’s position at the end of Twain’s novel feel about the choices she made? Would she believe in a pre-ordained destiny for her children or would things have fared better if she hadn’t made the switch? What explains the ambiguity behind Helga’s death? How does the decision of whether or not to “pass” affect the black woman and their lives?

I always want to better understand the lives of the individuals that we read about and how their surrounding environment influences them. I believe I have gained a better awareness of the issues that black and white women faced during the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in relation to their male counterparts and immigrants to America during that period. I have found from these readings that I am very interested in the plight of women in America during a period of drastic change due to immigration and a rising industry of commerce and trade. This is a topic that I wish to explore further and hope to be able to in other classes that I take at Stanford.

I now want to learn more about the immigrant women of America and how their status affected their behavior and relations with others. How do the Indian, Mexican, and Asian woman live their lives in a nation that discriminates not only against their race, but also their gender? How do they deal with the patriarchal nature of society in America and within their own households? We have studied race relations (among other topics) between a variety of races but I wonder about the gender issues that underlie these race relations and tensions. I am now also more interested in America’s identity and the question of what constitutes American identity versus an Other, which is so important in the study of America as a nation that is historically known as the melting-pot.

By taking this class, I feel more informed and aware of the roots of racial tensions that continue to present day. I didn’t realize how pervasive the issue of race was before taking this class. In addition, this class complements my other two classes in Art History and English that also cover the 19th and 20th centuries, which helped build a holistic framework of the period in my mind and made each of my classes all the more enjoyable. Thank you so much for offering such a wonderful class organized in a small setting that encourages discussion! I only hope to have more classes like this one where not only do I learn so much, but leave the class feeling enlightened and knowing I can have better relations and conversations with others because I better understand the history behind America’s race relations.