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Living the American Dream

In: English and Literature

Submitted By kbonds59
Words 825
Pages 4
Bonds 1
Kenneth Bonds
Instructor Poff
English 1302-184
February 22, 2013

Living the American Dream/Nightmare

Robert Haydens’ “Frederick Douglass” talks about issues that Frederick Douglass the man endured and suffered through. To have been a “slave” (7), beaten to his knees” (8), while others, some who stand around encouraging this inhumane treatment are free. We can only imagine the thoughts that would race through our heads during times of cruel punishment, humiliation and mistreatment: Please KILL me so this Misery will END!? If I take my own life I won’t be subjected to the torture any longer? In contrast, Edwin Arlington’s “Richard Cory” tells us about a wealthy, educated, free, and we are going to assume that Mr. Corey was white. Was Richard
Corey living the American Dream? We would argue – yes, yes he was? Did Mr. Douglass, yearning for freedom, civil rights and equality suffer the American Nightmare? Once again, our answer would be “Yes”. Here we have two men in America – one Black, one White at two polar opposite ends of a racial divide; two different worlds in this one world we call “America”. How can one man’s dream be another man’s nightmare? Depending on the source, the answer to this question will vary. Our answers to this question are simple: Race – the color of one’s skin and education. What makes America a great place to live; also can make America a viciously evil place to live? One’s race, national origin, religious beliefs and education will determine which America you are going to experience. Robert Hayden’s “Frederick Douglass” wonders: “When it is finally ours, this freedom, this liberty, this beautiful and terrible thing, needful to man as air” (1-2). It appears that Hayden knows that freedom and liberty, that racial equality will occur one day. Mr. Hayden is probably wondering if he would live to see this “American Dream” become reality in his lifetime. We are willing to bet that Frederick Douglass had this very same thought during his years of slavery and as a Spokesman for the Abolitionist Movement (page 1234). This issue reminds us of Langston Hughes “Harlem” where the question: What Happens to a Dream Deferred?” (Page 106) is asked. Edwin Arlington Robinson’s “Richard Cory” from the looks of things – had it all. He was white, he was “rich” (9), and he was well “schooled” (10). “We thought that he was everything (11) to make us wish that we were in his place” (12). Why would Mr. Cory go “home and put a bullet through his head”? (16). Richard Cory appears to have everything? Wealthy, educated, “he was a gentleman from sole to crown” (3),” Clean favored, and imperially slim” (4). He even had the envy of some of the people he interacted with. How ironic! Both men apparently lived a nightmare, suffered -- one to the point of killing himself. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan our definition of America will be totally different from most. We read that America was the “Home of the brave, land of the Free”. Really? Even in the mist of the 1967 Riots? Of course, we realized that the definition was based on the color of your skin. Through education and life’s lessons we experienced the “Real” America and read about that other America in our textbooks. America is that place where millions of people/immigrants came in search of a better life. Obviously, things had to be extremely bad wherever they came from to come here and endure all the hardships. They were discriminated against, ridiculed and treated poorly, just because they looked, talked, dressed or acted a little different. A Caucasian family treated different because they looked different? Well, if that’s the case -- a Black man and his family may never stand a chance of getting equal treatment in our opinion. After America becomes this “melting pot” of nationalities. In our eyes, the only group or race that’s suffering are Black people. We are aware that anyone who fails to educate themselves will suffer regardless of ethnicity. When the enslavement of Native American Indians was abolished, Blacks were brought over to replace the now emancipated Indians. We believe that the color of one’s skin plays a significant factor when it comes down to treatment in America. The darker you are – much more difficult times await you. After reading these poems we definitely feel a sense of isolation and conflict. In Robert Hayden’s “Frederick Douglass” the isolation is apparent when the author writes: “this Negro beaten to his knees, exiled, visioning a world where none is lonely, none hunted, alien, this man, superb in love and logic, this man shall be remembered” (7-11). In Edwin Arlington Robinson’s Richard Cory there had to have been some sort of conflict for Mr. Cory to “put a bullet through his head” (16). Despite what you may think – even if you are careful -- Living the American Dream just might become that Nightmare.

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