Blog #5 Monster and Incognegro Creating "Conversation"

The two books Monster and Incognegro press the issue and obstacles of being black in our country.  It  is a priviledge to be white in America because it is as the superior race.  Racism is seen in both of the books and how black individuals are treated opposed to whites solely bases on their skin color.  In Monster it is less evident and you have to be able to decode the inner meaning of the text to really see how blacks are at a disadvantage being the inferior race. Racism and cultural identity is more viewable and prevalent through the characters of Zane and Carl when they travel south to Mississippi.  When the trial starts in Monster, Steve Harmon is instantly sterotyped and grouped along with Bobo Evans and James King the true criminals solely because he was a young black man living in Harlem, NY.  Attorney Petrocelli judges Steve and labels him as a "Monster" before the jury even decides the case.  Even though Steve was considered as an accomplice and didn't commit the crime, he is instantly looked down upon by the jury and it was hard for O'brien to convince them that he was truly a good kid.  I believe if Steve was white the trial would have gone a lot differently and wouldn't make much of a story.  Having Steve as a black teen helped to get the issue of racism and social inequality across to the reader.  Throughout Incognegro racism was depicted brutally through lynching and beatings towards all blacks who were in the south opposed to up north.  When Zane and Carl get off of the train in Mississippi the first thing they see is a black man being harrassed who was just minding his own business.  Any black man who walked the streets was thought as a disgrace to the community and were punished because of their skin color.  Zane had an advantage because he was a light skinned black man who was respected because he could blend in with the white community.  He wrote under the name Incognegro in the column of the Harlem newspapers because he was able to disguise his black identity and infiltrate clan gathers and beating so he could write about these horrific behaviors while fitting in with the others.  Appearing to be a white man is probably the only reason why Zane was offered the job in the first place even though he was very intelligent and was a skilled writter. Carl who disguised his African American accent, spoke with a British accent and mingled with the other whites and fit in to their behaviors and drinking habits.  He was even offered a place to stay by a wealthy land owner because he thought that he was a white man.  When Mr. Huey revealed Carl's real identity as a black man all of their views changed towards him and treated him like dirt.  He was mistaken by the identity of "Incognegro" and was beaten and lynched because of his race and disrespect towards the white community.  Zane's twin brother Alonzo was imprisoned for a crime and continued to get questioned even when the Sheriff knew that he was innocent.  What would drive this man to keep him locked up even when he knew that he hadn't committed any crime?  It was easier in the south to blame a crime on a black man because no one really cared about his life.  Cultural identity is very evident in this instance because Zane was more light skinned and respected by the community, whereas Alonzo was kept locked up because he was more dark skinned.  It is a priviledge to be white in our country today and as seen in the two stories we read.  Black individuals are looked down upon because of their race and are at a huge disadvange in many aspects.

Blog #4 Unit 2 Material

After watching the numerous videos assigned for class it was evident how racism exists in our everyday lives.  In the film "A Class Divided" the children's made friends with one another and soon changed their views and attitudes towards one another solely on their eye color.  In only about twenty minutes these young children learned to prejudice others and discriminate because they thought they were better than the others.  In our society today numerous families raise their children to discriminate and think a certain way towards other races because they think that their race is superior.  Are these children able to have their own opinion at this point?  If children at a young age are "brainwashed" to think a certain way then they may become racist towards others in the community, and it may take them their entires lives to actually give these minorities a chance and realize that all human beings are alike.  Racism will always exist in our world and there are many factors that lead to this horrible act.  Everybody should be given an equal change no matter what color, race, or gender they are.  When you are part of the inferior race it is hard to find your true identity, this is displayed through the character Steve Harmon in the book Monster.  He is labeled in the same group as James King, Osvaldo Cruz, and Bobo Evans because he is a black teen that lives in Harlem, NY even though he is a good kid.  We picture Steve in his jail cell as we read his diaries and he struggles to think if he is indeed a "Monster" or if he is innocent.  His attorney O'brien is always unsure and doubtful of a good outcome of the court trial because she knows it is going to be hard to convince the jury that he not the same as the others involved in the robbery and homicide.  Do you think that Steve lied under oath to be proven innocent becuase he admitted to going into the conveinience store to buy gum? Stereotyping is a big issue in this book and makes it very hard for Steve to seem innocent infront of the jury because their views are already prejudged.  Steve has to realize that he has a good heart and falls into a different category than these other "Monsters."  I believe that he finds his true identity after he is proven innocent and not viewed as a criminal with the others.