Judgement

In the short essay A Natives Son by James Baldwin, the racial tension was high. His step father made it very obvious that “blacks” were not welcomed and that whites felt they were superior. Baldwin was in the midst of it all. Him and his father’s relationship was just like the negative tension between the whites and blacks; horrible.

Baldwin’s dad was very judgmental of Baldwin so he had no choice but to be judgmental about everything in life because he was taught that way. Being that whites and blacks judged each other without even knowing each other played a huge role into why there was so much racism. When a person was born during those times they were taught to either not like blacks or not like whites even though sometimes they didn’t even agree with judging another race. For example when Baldwin was sitting down at a restaurant and the white waiter walked over to him and told him that “we don’t serve Negros here.” You could tell by reading the book that the white waitress didn’t want to tell him that but it was her job to let Negros know that they could not sit down and eat, they could get their food and go. Going back to when I stated that sometimes people were pushed to judging blacks without wanting too, this is an example and Baldwin knew she didn’t want to tell him that he couldn’t eat there but he was still highly upset. Baldwin was so upset with the racial tension that was taking place that he reached levels of wanting to commit murder on other people. He was tired of being judged because his step father judged him his whole life the ironic thing was that he was turning into his father and he did not want that at all.

I believe that, that was why Baldwin found it so easy to relate white and black’s relationship with him and his father’s relationship. It was parallel to each other because both cases were very judgmental. Baldwin hated his own father. I feel that Baldwin was lucky enough to be able to figure out judgmental was wrong. After having the interaction with the white waitress Baldwin’s whole persona changed. He realized that he had to accept before he could change completely and he noticed that in the last paragraph of the essay. He says, “the fight begins, however, in the heart and it now had been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free f hatred and despair.” Baldwin knew that the acceptance and change had to begin with him and is his heart before trying to change other people.

Understanding Doesnt Come Over Night

In this essay , Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris the main character David was taken back a few steps when he signed up for a trip to Paris to learn the language of French more than he already did and too his surprise he was stuck with a very pessimistic teacher. To me this short essay did not hold my interest. The essay focused on how mean the teacher was and it wasn’t until the end where he figured out that her way of teaching was only to help him and the rest of the class understand and learn the language. A few incidents happened in the beginning of the story that made us feel bad for David and the rest of his class. I can relate to David because I have a class right now and I am sometimes scared to ask a question because I feel I will be ridiculed for what I say.

David was asked what he liked and disliked and according to his teacher she disagreed with everything that he said. David answered the teacher by stating that, " I detest: blood sausage, intestinal pates, brain pudding." He finished up the question by saying that he loves IBM and typewriters and the French word for bruise and his electric floor waxer. His teacher responded to him by saying, “Were you always this palicmkrexis?" Instead of focusing on what he liked and disliked she focused on the grammar in which he spoke and because he didn’t put a gender on typewriter he wasn’t "intelligent" in her eyes. I have had this happen to me before because I have stated my opinion and even asked a question that I honestly did not know the answer for and was yelled at and talked too as if I made the biggest mistake in the world. It makes me feel as if I can’t express myself and that I have to be conformed when I walk into class and that every question of mine is dumb, even if I believe that it’s a very well to do question.

I can also identify with David as we got closer to the end of the essay because he finally understood his teacher and understood that her negative way of teaching in the end was in the class best benefit. She wanted to the best for her students even though the way she presented herself wasn’t very pleasant. David makes a statement in the book that, "Understanding doesn’t mean that you can suddenly speak the language. Far from it. It’s a small step, nothing more, yet its rewards are intoxicating and deceptive." That’s how I feel right now, at this very moment. Although I may not get everything the teacher ask me to do or teaches me, understanding that she is in my best interest makes me at ease with myself and reassures me that I am not dumb, just have a lot more learning to do.

Change

The first thing that we always think a president will do is make "changes." For the last eight years, our country hasn’t seen much of a positive change. It seems as if the only change we get is not in our benefit in any way. Finally, November 4, 2008 I felt that we are actually going to CHANGE as a country for the first time in eight years.
I cannot express the joy that I felt in my heart when Barak Obama was announced our President of the United States. Not only is he our first African American President but what he stands for is even greater. He stands for Change. He realizes that without change, we cannot become better as a country. He realizes the needs and wants from every citizen and he will work hard to get us what we need and want. Obama has taken a brave risk. He is African American and for the longest, we have had everything going against us. Not only did he run as the biggest and most important job position there is, but he ran and he won. He changed our perspectives on the world. It does not matter the color of your skin, but it does matter about the "content of your character." He gave African Americans hope into becoming whatever they want to be. He gave America HOPE that we will finally change and get ourselves out of the bad situations that we are already in. Like Obama said, "change has come." I can finally say that I am proud to be an American.