In response to my previous Posts
Of the posts I have posted, and those that I have yet to post (which are on my computer and I need to post them), I have to say my favorite are about Helga, Roxy, and Ms. Ellen Craft. I very much liked talking to, and through the black women of these stories. I think each of these characters were special and dynamic because in a lot of ways, the story, the tale, the history was happening to them, and they were the subject of what was occurring. Even for Helga, though she was making the choices, can calling the shots, I believe that she was the subject of Larsen’s world. I believe Helga was in the same positionality as Roxy and Ms. Craft; all three were in a world where they were the double minority.
I believe, of these three responses, my favorite was the one I wrote to by Ms. Craft to Higginbotham. It was my first, and yet very organic, and felt right. I think I love that one so much, because I was playing a strong woman who felt and knew what Ms. Higginbotham was writing in her work. In a lot of ways, I enjoy speaking from a praxis point of view—where the theory and ideas come into play in the flesh, in reality, in the experiences of the people for which the theory describes. I very much enjoyed that piece, and it was a very nice exercise.
Of all the post, I think I enjoyed and entertained the theme of the, discovery. The discovery of power—of white power, and what that really meant to the other races, and how it formed their identity. But also, the discovery that this power can be faked, redone, and misguided—the idea that that it does not actually exist for anyone… I think I very much enjoyed writing this, in these themes.
As for what questions remain...I am not really sure. I think my final research paper on Minstrel Shows and Blackface will cover the gaps in identity and performance that I have been missing so much. I am really interested in what happens after passing. What happens when one performs his or her own identity as a trope, to reveal its contractedness, and how it can come to be and be performed… I think Playing Indian did the most to fill this gap, but I always want more…how does and Asian act more Asian? How is it represented in our imaginations, in our media? And how do these ideas in our imagination affect how we treat people in reality….how does it form policy? We have done some reading and work into this, but I believe there is so much more… It could be a whole course…. But this is a more general course, describing the identity and imagination complex over US history…. And of that, I think we have done a good job.
One last question, for us an everyone: How do the readings give you a sense about how the US imagination play a role in our perception and treatment of people and diversity?
----Temoc
Monday, May 31, 2010
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.
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.
Final Reflection
I've enjoyed this unusual format for reflection -- placing myself in the shoes of a person we've read about. At first I found it difficult to reflect as anyone other than myself, but it has been particularly useful and interesting for me to embody points of view that are not my own, especially those that I take issue with.
Two of my blog posts took this tack, last week's letter from Talcott Parsons to Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the previous week's letter from Lewis Henry Morgan to the Tammamy society. I do note, in these reflections, a lack of depth from my inability to read beyond the texts. While I do think I gained insights from the new perspectives, I don't know if I was able to think as deeply, since I was constrained by my disagreement.
I found another theme in my posts, the question of the effect of time and histories judgment. This was most apparent in my letter from Sally Hemmings to Callander, the man who wrote about her relationship with Jefferson and my letter to Thomas Holt from Money Vose, a seaman with great stories. Here, I seemed really interested in the struggle to control the narrative of the times, especially contrasted with our understanding today. I wanted to give Hemmings a voice to respond to Callander like she couldn't in real life, but I also wanted to explore the irony that I still find fascinating, that his pieces are one of the reasons we know about her story, allowing her to have a sort of upper-hand in history's perception.
This question of history's interpretation (and possible distortion) of the past is one that I wish we had discussed in class more. This was my first History class on campus and I enjoyed it immensely, getting a different perspective on issues of race and ethnicity. As a "beginner" I could have used more time looking critically at history's lenses and the act of putting together the past.
Two of my blog posts took this tack, last week's letter from Talcott Parsons to Daniel Patrick Moynihan and the previous week's letter from Lewis Henry Morgan to the Tammamy society. I do note, in these reflections, a lack of depth from my inability to read beyond the texts. While I do think I gained insights from the new perspectives, I don't know if I was able to think as deeply, since I was constrained by my disagreement.
I found another theme in my posts, the question of the effect of time and histories judgment. This was most apparent in my letter from Sally Hemmings to Callander, the man who wrote about her relationship with Jefferson and my letter to Thomas Holt from Money Vose, a seaman with great stories. Here, I seemed really interested in the struggle to control the narrative of the times, especially contrasted with our understanding today. I wanted to give Hemmings a voice to respond to Callander like she couldn't in real life, but I also wanted to explore the irony that I still find fascinating, that his pieces are one of the reasons we know about her story, allowing her to have a sort of upper-hand in history's perception.
This question of history's interpretation (and possible distortion) of the past is one that I wish we had discussed in class more. This was my first History class on campus and I enjoyed it immensely, getting a different perspective on issues of race and ethnicity. As a "beginner" I could have used more time looking critically at history's lenses and the act of putting together the past.
Reflection
I'm not really sure where to begin with this reflection. At times during this quarter I was moved, perplexed, confused, and all sorts of other emotions too. Sometimes I wasn't sure where we were going, but looking back we have come quite a long way. We have covered so many different themes and this class has really made me think. As a white guy so many of the issues we have discussed are things I had never thought much about before, but are now things that will remain salient in my mind indefinitely.
In terms of my favorite blog post, I would probably say it was my first -- a letter from William Craft -- though it was hard to see them all. I liked it because I was able to pick up on something very subtle in the reading -- the issue of what makes a slave a slave. Clearly it was more than simply being African-American and was derived from economic and political motives.
Going off of that, the origins of slavery and how it prevailed with those with mixed race identities later on was a theme I was particularly interested. Another theme that interested me is the complexity of the intersectionality of race. There are so many variables that make it hard to categorize someone under any single identity or race, and the ways different aspect of a person interact in order to shape them and how they are viewed by others is fascinating.
At the end of this course I'm left conflicted over the progress made towards the equality of the races throughout the is country's history juxtaposed against the injustices that are still prevalent today. How are we, as a young generation charged with being a vehicle for change, supposed to combat it?
Final Reflection
Looking back, it was difficult for me to decide on a single favorite blog post, so I’m going to reflect on the two posts I wrote during weeks 3 and 4—the first, a letter from a black sailor to his wife, and the second, a letter from James Hemings to his mother.
Not only did these two letters speak to each other, but I felt that they captured a lot of the themes and ideas that really fascinate me. In both blog posts (particularly in the questions), I try to engage with more transnational perspectives in thinking about racial identity in America. These two separate cases—the black sailors and the Hemings siblings—really challenge the traditional ways that we tend to think about African American identity and history as something that emerged and existed solely within the bounds of the U.S. nation-state. As their experiences make clear, African American history was also shaped by global processes, forces, and most importantly, actors.
As a (post)colonial historian, I was especially interested in the emergence of Black nationalism within this diasporic network. The pairing of these different readings during those two weeks really allowed me to see that contemporary nationalist thought had its own antecedents in these interactions that I had known very little about, as well as consolidating for me the linkages between global colonialism and local American life. Furthermore, it just goes to prove that “globalization”—despite the newness of the term—was not something strictly limited to our modern era.
The other themes that emerged in these two posts were those of gender and sexuality, which I’ve always been heavily invested in studying alongside questions of race and colonialism. In my posts, I was only able to raise questions, since our readings (and most scholarship) did not tackle directly these ideas. In particular, I wondered about the absence of sexuality (especially homosexuality) in the scholarship. (Side-note: it was hilarious in an ironic kind of way to learn in class that Gordon-Reed believes so strongly in James’ homosexuality after I had compared him to the black sailors, especially in light of the iconic status of the sailor within gay circles.) Secondly, I was also interested in the gendered dimensions of the diaspora, which often conferred mobility only to male bodies. While I’m familiar with the theoretical underpinnings of these ideas, I still have questions about the particularities of lived experiences as they relate to these larger forces.
Finally, I really appreciated that the class looked at issues of identity across all the different racialized groups in America, though I felt there was not as much emphasis on inter-group relations. If there is, it’s usually framed against the dominant White group, while the specificities of inter-minority relations are rarely mentioned. I think the ideas we’ve already discussed would benefit from a comparative approach as well, especially since different ethnic and racial groups have always lived in proximity with each other, and certain interracial conflicts cannot be solely understood under a white/non-white lens.
With all that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the class, and I genuinely feel like my understandings of race in America (as well as identity in general) have greatly improved. Not only that, I was able to learn more about certain periods of American history (especially from 1776 to 1860) that I wasn’t as knowledgeable about before.
Trac
Not only did these two letters speak to each other, but I felt that they captured a lot of the themes and ideas that really fascinate me. In both blog posts (particularly in the questions), I try to engage with more transnational perspectives in thinking about racial identity in America. These two separate cases—the black sailors and the Hemings siblings—really challenge the traditional ways that we tend to think about African American identity and history as something that emerged and existed solely within the bounds of the U.S. nation-state. As their experiences make clear, African American history was also shaped by global processes, forces, and most importantly, actors.
As a (post)colonial historian, I was especially interested in the emergence of Black nationalism within this diasporic network. The pairing of these different readings during those two weeks really allowed me to see that contemporary nationalist thought had its own antecedents in these interactions that I had known very little about, as well as consolidating for me the linkages between global colonialism and local American life. Furthermore, it just goes to prove that “globalization”—despite the newness of the term—was not something strictly limited to our modern era.
The other themes that emerged in these two posts were those of gender and sexuality, which I’ve always been heavily invested in studying alongside questions of race and colonialism. In my posts, I was only able to raise questions, since our readings (and most scholarship) did not tackle directly these ideas. In particular, I wondered about the absence of sexuality (especially homosexuality) in the scholarship. (Side-note: it was hilarious in an ironic kind of way to learn in class that Gordon-Reed believes so strongly in James’ homosexuality after I had compared him to the black sailors, especially in light of the iconic status of the sailor within gay circles.) Secondly, I was also interested in the gendered dimensions of the diaspora, which often conferred mobility only to male bodies. While I’m familiar with the theoretical underpinnings of these ideas, I still have questions about the particularities of lived experiences as they relate to these larger forces.
Finally, I really appreciated that the class looked at issues of identity across all the different racialized groups in America, though I felt there was not as much emphasis on inter-group relations. If there is, it’s usually framed against the dominant White group, while the specificities of inter-minority relations are rarely mentioned. I think the ideas we’ve already discussed would benefit from a comparative approach as well, especially since different ethnic and racial groups have always lived in proximity with each other, and certain interracial conflicts cannot be solely understood under a white/non-white lens.
With all that said, I thoroughly enjoyed the class, and I genuinely feel like my understandings of race in America (as well as identity in general) have greatly improved. Not only that, I was able to learn more about certain periods of American history (especially from 1776 to 1860) that I wasn’t as knowledgeable about before.
Trac
Reflection
My most memorable post was in response to Nella Larsen's Passing. In this post, I constructed a love letter from Clare to Irene, in which the former explained that she willingly jumped out the window in order to avoid the drama of passing as white and passing as heterosexual. This was the most memorable post for me because this was my second time reading Larsen's novel, and the metaphor of passing with regards to sexual orientation is very intriguing to me.
The notion of invisible identities and whether or not they should be claimed interests me. It's hard to hide/change visible identities, yet it's quite possible to avoid disclosure with certain invisible identities, like sexual orientation. I wonder often about the intersectionality of visible and invisible identities, as well as the idea of a primary identity. Can identities other than race be 'metalanguages' as well?
I've learned a lot about the history of various identities in this class, which has been an interesting approach for me. I'm used to discussing identities as socially constructed, instable, identities that have little attachment to a collective history, since I've always felt like history gives identity more stability and thus more power to essentialize and exclude. However, it's been so great to look at identity through literature, film, and primary sources in order to see how the construction of various identities has changed over time.
I recently read an article by queer theorist Lisa Duggan in which she defined identity as a narrative. Considering identity in this way seems valid, and helps change history from classical music into jazz, and allows intersectionality and various historical sources/forces to engage each other in constructive and performative dialogue. I guess the one big question I still have, however, is one that has been the underlying theme of our course: who am I? If my identity is fluid and constantly in the process of construction, how can I know what part of my identity is real and what part of it is merely transitory and meaningless? I'm glad I've been able to start asking these questions sooner rather than later.
A Letter from Ben Franklin to Thomas Jefferson
Dearest Thomas:
Send an emissary to Philadelphia at once; our beloved colonies are in peril. Between the bumbling Negroes, the savage Indians and these pesky immigrants – especially the Germans – everything – all that we dreamed and fought for -- is at grave risk of undoing.
These Germans, Thomas, are utterly impossible. Any attempts to Anglify them are absolutely futile. Were you aware that we must now use translators in Parliament? These Germans clamor for German street signs and some even suggested making German the official language of the colonies. One is left to wonder what will become of us if we surrender to these bold moves to Germanize our gallant colonies. And on our own land Thomas! On our own shore, they dare to menace and intimidate us! Woe to our white brethren!
Let me be clear -- everything is at stake Thomas. I implore you to heed my message and come at once.
Immigration will tear the colonies at the seams and they are much too fragile for such needless strife. There will be no unification, no camaraderie, no common understanding, no UNION as long as we are relentlessly besieged by outsiders. Miraculously, the colonies have managed to cope with the distressing numbers of Indians and slaves, but there is no ready solution to these willful outsiders. Homogeneity is best for our community. These outsiders threaten to ruin our fledgling nation and all that is pure and white and good.
I know that you worry about these matters as do I. You must return to Philadelphia at once.
Yours in citizenship,
Benjamin Franklin
Questions:
What narrative describes the origin of the word “Celtic” to describe Boston’s NBA franchise? What about the Notre Dame Irish? Is this objectification as troubling and inappropriate as the use of Native American images?
The parallels between Whiteness and citizenship are fascinating and brazenly persist today. Are there any other heterogeneous nations that manage cultural and ethnic variance better than the US? Or is our historical legacy of racial conflict too crippling to ever effectively overcome?
Send an emissary to Philadelphia at once; our beloved colonies are in peril. Between the bumbling Negroes, the savage Indians and these pesky immigrants – especially the Germans – everything – all that we dreamed and fought for -- is at grave risk of undoing.
These Germans, Thomas, are utterly impossible. Any attempts to Anglify them are absolutely futile. Were you aware that we must now use translators in Parliament? These Germans clamor for German street signs and some even suggested making German the official language of the colonies. One is left to wonder what will become of us if we surrender to these bold moves to Germanize our gallant colonies. And on our own land Thomas! On our own shore, they dare to menace and intimidate us! Woe to our white brethren!
Let me be clear -- everything is at stake Thomas. I implore you to heed my message and come at once.
Immigration will tear the colonies at the seams and they are much too fragile for such needless strife. There will be no unification, no camaraderie, no common understanding, no UNION as long as we are relentlessly besieged by outsiders. Miraculously, the colonies have managed to cope with the distressing numbers of Indians and slaves, but there is no ready solution to these willful outsiders. Homogeneity is best for our community. These outsiders threaten to ruin our fledgling nation and all that is pure and white and good.
I know that you worry about these matters as do I. You must return to Philadelphia at once.
Yours in citizenship,
Benjamin Franklin
Questions:
What narrative describes the origin of the word “Celtic” to describe Boston’s NBA franchise? What about the Notre Dame Irish? Is this objectification as troubling and inappropriate as the use of Native American images?
The parallels between Whiteness and citizenship are fascinating and brazenly persist today. Are there any other heterogeneous nations that manage cultural and ethnic variance better than the US? Or is our historical legacy of racial conflict too crippling to ever effectively overcome?
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