...In American literature, around the 19th and 20th centuries, many writers instituted themes and mythical tales of the “tragic mulatto”. The tragic mulatto was usually a stereotypical, fictional character that was assumed to be sad, or even suicidal, due to being of mixed race. Failing to completely fit in the “white world” or even the “black world”, the “tragic mulatto” is illustrated as a victim of a society divided by race. This depiction typically influenced the notion that there is/ was no place for one that is neither completely “black” nor white”. The tragic mulatto myth historically painted people of mixed race as emotionally unstable, sexually seductive, effeminate or otherwise troubled. “The tragic mulatto is usually a woman. Especially in mediocre melodramas, so often the vehicle for presenting the tragic mulatto character. Nothing supposedly inspires sympathy more than the plight of a beautiful woman whose touch of “impurity” makes her all the more attractive. The fact that many of these stereotyped characters are raised as white women—in fact as aristocratic white women and only discover their Negro blood as adults—allows white readers more identification with them than with full-blooded Negroes.” —Judith R. Berzon, Neither White Nor Black: The Mulatto Character in American Fiction As seen in our selected readings, the character of mixed race was often a she, appearing to be all white but part of her was black. At times, she would hide or deny her blackness through...
Words: 674 - Pages: 3
...Definition Essay Example Being Mulatto: A Mixed Experience The year was 1989. I was a naive 19 year old, away from home for the first time. I had just completed Army basic training and was now beginning MOS (military occupational specialty) school at Fort Benjamin Harrison Indiana. We stayed in dorms, two or three to a room. One night I was talking music with my two black roommates, and at some point during our conversation, they made it clear to me that I did not “know my history”. They meant that as a half-black person, I should be knowledgeable about black history and black musicians. But who were they to decide what my heritage was? Just because they grew up listening to Sly and the Family Stone? So what! I grew up listening to the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. How was that any less “my heritage”? So there I was, immersed for the first time in black culture (the base must have been 95% black and other races), and I didn’t know the language, much of the culture, or get the jokes. We went out to dance at the club on base, and I met this really cute black guy. Being raised in a small rural town, I’d never met or dated any black men. I just remember my stomach sinking in embarrassment when he looked at me like I were from another planet and said, “you don’ know what time it is!” I looked at my watch and back at him, clueless. But that was his point, and the girls’ point. Apparently, I had no business calling myself half-black, since I knew so...
Words: 1464 - Pages: 6
...Nancy D. Jimenez Ms. Kanavy English 1302 September 20th 2013 Mulatto: A Play Portraying Life In The South In his two act play Mulatto, Hughes portraits the life of southern blacks in the 1930’s and their struggle to be acknowledged as equals. The play describes a white man torn between two worlds; a black woman suffering, like any mother would, over the misbehavior of her child, and finally a black man in the quest for acknowledgement. And the series of events that lead to the death of the two men. It shows specially the struggle of a young man in the middle of a clash of two ethnic groups. We can also see Hughes reflected in his character Robert. As the play starts the first character we find is the white plantation owner, Mr. Norwood. Norwood is the father of five children, William, Sallie, Robert, John, and Bertha who he has with his mistress Cora Lewis. He is torn between the not so evident love for his children and the pressure of society. As we hear him speaking to Cora we see he does love his children but also has to be strict with them, especially with Robert. Norwood points this out in his speech to Cora: Cora, if you want that hardheaded yellow son of yours to get along around here, he’d better listen to me. He’s no more than any other black buck on this plantation. How’s Talbot going to keep the rest of those darkies working right if that boy’s allowed to set that kind of an example? Just because Bert’s your son, and I’ve been damn fool...
Words: 1597 - Pages: 7
...In 1691, the Virginia law further established that a free white woman who had a bastard child by a Negro or mulatto man had to pay fifteen pounds sterling within one month of giving birth to the child (74). In the event that the mother could not pay the amount, she would become an indentured servant for five years. Whether the fine was paid or not, the child would have to serve for thirty years (74). This law, which would bind the child to the church, although intended to prevent people from having sex with people of color, was also used as a means to benefit the parish as fines would have to be payed if violated, one’s child would have to be given up, or the child would become a servant, providing money or labor to the...
Words: 743 - Pages: 3
...Gibbs Brothers Two of the notable African-Americans that made a mark in African-American revolution in the 19th century are the Gibbs Brothers – Mifflin Wistar (17 April 1823- 11 July 1915) and Jonathan Clarkson II (28 September 1821 – 14 August 1874). Jonathan, Lynch (2012) and Alexander (2010) stated, had been enthralled by the Presbyterian Assembly when he was young, which became his inspiration while studying in Kimball Union Academy and Dartmouth College. Following his graduation in Dartmouth as one of the three black students to have graduated in the school, he opted to enter into a seminary as a Presbyterian minister; seeing that the South violated Scriptures by practicing slavery. He had also aided the abolitionist cause by writing in The Liberator and The National Anti-Slavery Standard. He had moved to both the Southern states and in Florida (1867) where he moved away from being a missionary and into politics, being elected to the State Constitutional Convention of 1868, being the leader of the Florida Republican Party and the team to represent the blacks in the Convention, fighting for equal rights and freedoms. Like his brother, Mifflin had been exposed to the realities of inequality of both blacks and whites in the country as he was growing up. Gates and Higginbotham (2004) stated that by 1840s, both he and his brother aided the black movements and met with known abolitionist Frederick Douglass. As he travelled with Douglass, Mifflin entered the field of business...
Words: 736 - Pages: 3
...loved one or death in such a large amount.. "We will NEVER forget." This quote shows how ignorant and neglectful people are. World War II, the Holocaust. Adolf Hitler wanted to perfect the human race, and he was willing to annihilate everyone who got in his way of doing so. Over 11 Million people were brutally murdered by Hitler and his Nazis. When people commemorate this tragic event in the world's history, they never forget the Jews that were killed. But in reality the number of Jews killed was 6 million. People always overlook the 5 million others who were also targeted by Hitler. The other 5 Million victims were people who came from different backgrounds, cultures, and had different beliefs. Hitler went after Homosexuals, Black and Mulatto people, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christians and Christian Officials, Gypsies, Poles, physically and mentally disabled people, and many more. When Hitler became the chancellor of Germany, his main goal was to preserve the pure Aryan race, people of blonde hair and blue eyes. Aryans were believed to be tall, handsome or beautiful, and have the perfect skin colon. Hitler believed...
Words: 1602 - Pages: 7
...Saint-Dominique and travel up into the mountains to join the slave revolt, developing the roots of a military genius. Toussaint found the black rebels disorganized, fighting for only the freedom and independence of individual mulatto clans. A freeman and a former slave, Toussaint took up control of his own mulatto clan and trained them and himself in the tactical guerrilla warfare. He had an organizing skill, and had built a large, disciplined force of only former slaves, but was not prepared to battle the French reinforcements. Toussaint and his not yet battle tested force needed allies to assist the cause. Within months, he drove his army into the Spanish controlled part of Hispaniola, known as Santo-Domingo, in an attempt to make an alliance with the Spaniards, who turned Toussaint's offers down. With no support, Toussaint decided to engage his army in scrimmages with the French colonial army, and won most of them. Toussaint earned himself the name L'Overture, meaning "opener of the way"-(Toussaint L'Overture-TLP). He got the name L'Overture from his French enemies because of his ability to find the weakness in their lines. In a month of combat, the Spaniards became impressed with L'Overture, and agreed to assist, train, and supply Toussaint's mulatto force. Toussaint's newly trained army and the Spanish garrison's assaulted the French reinforcements, sending them retreating. Toussaint would soon abandon his alliance with Spain, to fight along the side a defeated enemy. A...
Words: 1525 - Pages: 7
...Grant comes to the Rainbow Bar for a drink after a great day with Jefferson. He is greeted by two mulattos belittling Jefferson. Despite Grant’s attempt to stay calm and ignore their ill-mannered remarks, his patience runs thin, and he begins to yell at the two mulattos which initiates a fist fight between the two. Jefferson, a young black man from Louisiana, is wrongly convicted of a crime to yell at them to stop in which the mulattos do not take too well, and this engages a fist fight for which an inevitable death is in store. Jefferson’s godmother has one dream for him before his execution day which is to see him go out as a man. She deems only Grant Wiggins, as the only person fit enough to teach him. Grant must find a way to get through to the young, obstinate Jefferson and...
Words: 873 - Pages: 4
...violence, sexual harassment, and the selling of family members to different plantations. This essay will vividly describe the hardship of the slaves in the 19th century. During the 19th century, female slaves experienced both physical and mental hardships. According to the narrative of Frederick Douglass, female slaves were often the prays of slave masters. Many slave masters used female slaves as their mistress. They used them for their physical pleasure at their will. Such female slaves were victims of greater hardships and physical torture. Their mistress often hated them for providing sexual pleasure and having multiple mulatto babies with their master. These female slaves could hardly do anything to please the mistress. The mistress “is never better pleased than when she sees them under lash, especially when she suspects her husband of showing his mulatto children favors…” Moreover, many female slaves went through mental hardships once they were separated from their children. It was a common practice exercised by many slaveholders,...
Words: 1208 - Pages: 5
...Introduction Racial disparity and discrimination is not a new concept to any nation. In fact, many were built on the back of slave labor, whether the slaves were indigenous peoples or imported bodies. While many nations have undertaken measures to overcome racial disparity, others have encouraged racial democracy. Brazil, a modern and industrialized nation, suffers from racial discrimination based on their position in the world economy and built on the ideology of the past. History Brazil’s history is rife with racism and slavery, dating back to its discovery by Pedro Alveres Cabral in 1500. Brazil was originally settled with the intention of harvesting Brazilwood. However, over time the profits from that were supplanted by sugar, which soon became the major export (Phillips 117). Over a short period of time, Brazil became the leading producer of sugar in the Atlantic world. The production of all these exports meant cheap labor was needed. During this time, the Portuguese were sending between 4,000 and 5,000 slaves per year to Brazil from Angola and West Africa; by the 18th century, one million slaves had been imported (117). The continually shifting landscape meant that Brazil’s exports continued to shift. By the time the 19th century came around, Brazil’s major export was coffee as sugar production had shifted to the Caribbean Islands. The continued influx of European slaves and citizens resulted in an uneven population. European labor was generally more skilled...
Words: 2882 - Pages: 12
...realised the error in his judgement he still holds onto his “usual good bearing” a product of a good upbringing by his father. Additionally Santiago Nasar exceedingly cocky as he bore his new responsibilities as head of the family after his father died and he was forced to take charge of the family ranch. His cockiness is exemplified in his interactions with certain women, most notably Divinia Flor and the mulatto girls. Nasar’s relationship with Divinia Flor was abusive and he maintained complete authority over her. An example is when he grabs her by the wrists and says “The time has come for you to be tamed.” Marquez’s diction and use of “tamed” carries it with it connotations of animalistic behaviour on the part of Divinia Flor, but ironically it is Nasar that is acting in a lustful manner, unable to tame his desires especially when placed in the role of master. He not only indulged in physical abuse, but also took pleasure in the emotional abuse of the mulatto girls where he once again assumed the role of master. “His favourite sport was to confuse the identities of the mulatto girls” and on occasion the girls had “crying attacks.” Use of “attacks” a high modal word by Marquez further highlights Nasar’s brutal abuse of power and cockiness, and maybe Victoria Guzman was right and he was “A shit.” Santiago Nasar’s position as a foreign invader of the Hispanic land also drew mixed feelings of admiration and hatred for his wealth and race. His family lived different lifestyles to...
Words: 1391 - Pages: 6
...woman writer at the turn of the last century” (Autori, 2004, pg. 1) because of her best-known work, Contending Forces, while Dreiser is known for writing “the first great urban novel in America”, Sister Carrie (Riggio, 2000, pg. 1). Hopkins and Dreiser address issues such as racism and class distinction, and both authors realistically portray rural and urban American life (Baym, 2007, pg. 724). Hopkins’ Contending Forces speaks of freed Northern blacks and freed Southern mulatto women, all descended from slaves and living in Boston (Baym, 2007, pg. 725). The Southern women in this story are attempting to fit into a society controlled by high-class Northern black women (Autori, 2004, pg. 1). Hopkins personally understood the hardships that these women faced, because she was a “single, self-supporting, independent” woman who had experienced nearly everything that she chose to write about (Autori, 2004, pg. 2). Though Hopkins writes about the negative judgments made by the Northern blacks to the Southern mulattos, positive themes such as female bonding and empowerment also emerge from Contending Forces (Autori, 2004, pg. 2). Dreiser’s Sister Carrie tells the story of a “fallen” woman who becomes a success (Riggio, 2000, pg. 1). The publishing of this book met with much opposition, and the battle to publish it is possibly one of the “most famous stories in American publishing history” (Riggio, 2000, pg. 1). Sister Carrie centers around a young girl who goes to Chicago to try and...
Words: 951 - Pages: 4
...Rape During The Antebellum Period The first African slaves arrived in Virginia, North America in 1619. As the plantations of the antebellum south flourished, the African slave trade gained momentum. Between the 16 and 19th centuries, America had an estimated 12 million African slaves (Slavery in the United States, Junius P. Rodriguez ). Enslavement of the African Americans formally commenced in the 1630s and 1640s. By 1740, colonial America had a fully developed slavery system in place, granting slave owners an absolute and tyrannical life-and-death authority over their slaves or 'chattels' and their children (Slavery in the United States, Junius P. Rodriguez ). Stripped of any identity or rights, enslaved black men and women were considered legal non-persons, except in the event of a crime committed. Documents and research on the slave era in the antebellum south are awash with horror stories of the brutal and inhuman treatment of slaves, particularly women (Slavery in the United States, Junius P. Rodriguez). Considered 'properties' by their masters, enslaved black women endured physical and emotional abuse, torture, and sometimes even death. By the 1800s, slavery had percolated down mainly to the antebellum south. While a majority of enslaved men and women were designated as 'field servants' performing duties outside the house, a smaller percentage, particularly women were employed as domestics or 'house servants', mammies and surrogate mothers. In the absence of any security...
Words: 3238 - Pages: 13
...themes of history and memory. “Southern History”, “Incident”, and “South” will demonstrate these contradictions of (African) American history and memory. Serving as a scribe, Tretheway writes these poems for those people history has muted and closed the veil on. Southern History, Incident, and South; poems from section two of her book, depict racism during slavery and the Civil War, which is a part of forgotten history in the eyes of “Americans.” These historic experiences have not been given the proper examination, discussion, or acknowledgement. Tretheway refuses to allow African American history to remain as footnotes and brings out the real “American” history in her collection of poems. Tretheway’s personal experience growing up as a mulatto in the South is seen in her poem “Southern History”. This poem shows that even after more than a hundred years after the Civil War, history is still tainted. History is imperfect and at times intentionally false as textbooks in this time period were used to misinform students; keeping them bound and restricted from the real history of America. As Tretheway’s teacher presents his lesson to the class, he quotes the text saying “Before the war, they were happy…./The slaves were clothed, fed, / and better off under a master’s care”(Line 1-4) Using this as an example as tainted history, the textbook neglects the harsh, brutal, and inhumane conditions slaves had to endure during their time in slavery. All slaves wanted to be free and no longer...
Words: 1280 - Pages: 6
...Jasmine Jones SOC 431-01 11/29/2014 “Black Spaces, Black Places” Summary Things evolve and recurring in history which is very amazing how those things happen. People have been involved in interracial relationships far back as history have been recorded. Just like has research has claimed how the world was one big continent at one point then there was a continental drift. People were then mixed into different cultures and “races”. Even dated back to slavery times, Slave masters were sleeping with their slaves which caused multiracial children even when those actions were frowned upon. That is how we have people able to claim numerous of different races because of several reasons. There was once upon a time when people could only mark only one race on applications. After the 20th century was when people were able to start claiming more than one race. It was said by the authors of “Beyond Black and White: Remaking Race in America” that nearly 7 million Americans, 2.4 percent of the nation’s population were documented as being multiracial. For as long as anyone can remember, those boundaries that kept people separated seem like it would never loosen. It is said that immigration was to help with slacken the strict racial boundaries that the country held on for so long. People that has always been multiracial before it was allowed to choose multiple races, they had to just choose which race that they want to claim. Now it is available for a parent to mark down up to about...
Words: 1115 - Pages: 5
