Thursday, February 9, 2012


"The word negro, the term by which, orally or in print, we black folk in the United States are usually designated, is not really a name at all nor a description, but a psychological island whose objective form is the most unanimous fiat in all American History."

Before I talk about my moment I want to comment on Wright's use of the words us and we. I thought Wright chose a really interesting writing style. I assume that this was written for a black and white audience. For the white audience the use of us could creates an image of the author in every situation, calling attention to every injustice on a very personal level. Or it could cause a white reader to feel alienated from the text. While to a black audience the use of us could have created a sense of unity. Do you think Wright chose this style to call both white and black audiences to act? Or do you think it draws more attention to the color line?

Wright refers to the word Negro as a psychological island. I take this to mean that the word secludes them, completely shuts them off from the people in society who do not go by the name negro. I am not sure how to take the way Wright...well writes. As a present day reader I do not know his goal in this text. Did he want to unite blacks and whites together? Or did he believe white Southerners were beyond help and therefore blacks must utilize this "islands" by coming together? I don't know. What do you believe Wright's style of writing says about his message?

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