"So you see, young man, you are involved in my life quite intimately, even though you've never seen me before. . . you are my fate," (43).
This quote from Mr. Norton stood out to me because it has similar characteristics to "Theme for English B".
"You are white- yet a part of me, as I am a part of you," (Hughes lines 31-32).
Both pieces are driven by the theme of race relations. Mr. Norton speaks as if his future depends on the success or failure of the narrator. Likewise, although the narrator does not see it, Mr. Norton is right when he says the great Founder affected the whole race with his ideas and actions (45). In a greater sense, the future of blacks and white both co-depend on each other. "That's American," (Hughes line 33). This statement equalizes all races because we are all unified by one flag. The pigments in our skin are overshadowed by red, white, and blue. However, humans have shortcomings. We are blinded by racial inequality that we can't truly see how we live inside one another- the invisible man would agree. I presume he gets angry at people for ignoring him because he wants them to recognize their individual role that continually recreates society's stereotypes. American society should follow how the great Founder "transformed barren clay to fertile soil" (45) and apply it to it's stereotypes. Only then will there be visibility for all.
MKL remix
Your connection to "Theme for English B" is spot on! American is known as the melting pot: full of hundreds of ethnicities. No matter where your ancestors are from, at the end of the day, we are all American. That is what Hughes means when he says "I am a part of you" (32). Norton has the same ideas- that the fate of America depends on all races as a whole, not just one or another.
ReplyDeleteAlluding to the outside source made this response more relatable and understandable, both include a lack of understanding of the affect the white man has on the black community and vice versa. That inner correlation is what Mr. Norton continues on about but in the way that the students at the college are building his appearance and reputation essentially. The roles of influence between the poem and the book show how each race portrays the subject and emphasizes a theme of co-dependence that most often favors one side. As you said, this co-dependence is present but just as present as the racist and biased factors that it consists of.
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