At the beginning of his introduction, R.W. Emerson sounded angry and not happy, he wrote “our age is retrospective” (Emerson 1), this shows that he was not  satisfied with generations who keep looking backward instead of looking forward and enjoy their life. His point of view is that why do we have to stick with the past and its experiences that hold us back. Emerson says” there are new lands, new men, new thoughts. Let us demand our own works and laws and worship” (1). Hence, every day is a new day, we meet new people and experience new things that keep changing, so why not come up with our own religion, works, and regulations that go with our current life. In other words, adapt to our nature because it is already perfect.

Emerson continues to talk about the beauty of nature. He encourages us to be alone far from others to enjoy nature. Emerson states “to go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society… But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars. The rays that come from those heavenly worlds, will separate between him and what he touches.” (Emerson 3). It is clear how nature is important for Emerson; he believes that humans deserve some quality time with nature to discover its beauty. Describing the stars, the sun, the fields show that Emerson is in love with nature. Focusing on nature makes us feel that we own the world. Emerson claimed that “here is a property in the horizon which no man has but he whose eye can integrate all the parts, that is, the poet” (3). In this passage, the author explains that when we look at every detail of nature, we own it more than the person who bought that piece of land because he/she is not enjoying it.

The relationship between humans and nature is very strong. Emerson states that “Nature says,—he is my creature, and maugre all his impertinent griefs, he shall be glad for me” (4). Emerson is trying to convince us that the best thing to do when we are feeling angry and stressed is to go to nature because that is where we belong. There is a very important message for all human beings. We all got carried away by technology and political and economic problems, some are still connected with the past. As a result, we forgot about the beauty of nature that gives us positive energy whenever we need it and for free.

How can you be free, when you are constantly reminded that you are less because of the color of your skin?  And why does it matter? 

Why does his appearance and the appearance of other people that look like him treated differently?

In W.E.B De Bois’s  The Souls of Black Folk, he asks…

De Bois describes his life as someone who lives  between two worlds; his own, and a white man’s world. Stating “Between me and the other world there is ever an unasked question… ‘How does it feel to be a problem'”(De Bois).  A problem, by definition, is something that you want to solve/fix/get rid of/control. But a person can’t be a problem. This is shown when De Bois describes living a life as a “problem” strange. Thus, showing that he acknowledges that the idea of a person being a problem due to their appearance, is not right. As a young boy, De Bois had to realize that he was indeed different when a fun experience of exchanging visiting cards quickly changed to be a daunting one once a girl refused his card off of a glance. But De Bois liked exchanging cards, and he continued to pursue what he liked by later by reading law, or healing the sick. But no matter what he did he still felt what he describes to have a “double conscience”. Stating ” It is a peculiar sensation, this double-conscienceness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others”(De Bois). Because De Bois is black, he has the conscience of a black man, but he also has the conscience of an American. But, De Bois doesn’t want to have a double-conscience, he wants to proudly be both but the systematic racism, and discrimination(which still occur to this day) create this in between world. That brings me to question what was the purpose of creating a world where African Americans live “in between worlds” when the United States of America is supposed to be the land of the free? But everyone isn’t free, and everyone isn’t equal.

“To be a poor man is hard, but to be a poor race in a land of dollars is the very bottom of hardships. He felt the weight of his ignorance- not simply of letters, but of life, of business, of the humanities; the accumulated sloth and shirking and awkwardness of decades and centuries shackled his hands and feet. Nor was his burden all poverty and ignorance,”(De Bois) 

De Bois later discusses what African Americans have to experience every time they speak up that something is wrong, and that they should not be treated differently. When African Americans fought for the right to vote, their civil rights, when the abnormally high rate of disease in African American communities was discussed, and the fight for a better education. All human rights issues that are still prevalent to this date.

In W.E.B Du Bois, “The Souls of Black Folk”, he makes a strong point for highlighting the division among Black and White Americans that’s continued post-slavery. What’s interesting about Du Bois’ perspective, especially in comparison to Hurston’s, is how he experiences being black. He does talk about his individual experience but many times it feels as though he shifts to a perspective of one that is more collective. He experiences being black as being essentially it’s own entity, a part of him that defines him in society.

 In both of the texts there is no question of the divide that is present among the two races, the question is only in how that divide affects them as an individual and as a member of that race in society. What Du Bois does rather effectively, is talk about both while it feels like the other text focuses more on the former. While it is important to note that every person is going to have different individual experiences, such as Hurston’s assertion that she can both feel and not feel her blackness in a more individual perspective, there are many times where Du Bois is clearly looking more at the outside perspective. He’s looking at his experiences as black man from lenses of his own race as well as the other to form a bigger picture of a divide that he sees within society. This reads much more powerful, as it feels like he is not just speaking for himself in his text.

“To be a poor man is hard, but to be a poor race in the land of dollars is the very bottom of hardships.” Not only is this line the indication of the fact that he is speaking farther than just his individual self, he’s making a serious point in analyzing the position black people are faced with in society. By pointing out that while it may be one thing to be poor, it is another thing to be both poor and black, he’s highlighting racial differences and illustrating a concept that is still very relevant in conversation today: white privilege. He affirms that as a race, black folks are encountering hardship within itself and are in the midst of a battle to get on an equal level to their white peers. He capitalizes on that throughout the text, particularly a lot towards the end. He clearly outlines the history of how they have got here and how this divide is present as well as remaining hopeful that as a collective black folks will be able to integrate into American society, not by trying to be just like their white peers but by offering something to add to it, enriching it. 

Throughout reading Du Bois text, it felt as if a lot of what he was saying was relevant to today, not only showing how much the divide is still present, but just how much his focus on society rather than the individual came through. That’s what his text does so well, it analyzes the racial divide between society that has continued to this day and that’s why it is able to be so relevant to the current climate many years after it was written. It sheds light on all that is a racially divided America and begs the reader to recognize this and strive for something better.

These articles by Hurston and Fanon both authors talk about the oppression they went through in their life. They Talk about how white people used stereotypes to define them.  They both state that their race and color of their skin should not define who they are. The people who should define who they are, are themselves. 

In the first article  “HOW IT FEELS TO BE COLORED ME” Hurston explains that she feels like a brown bag. She States “But in the main, I feel like a brown bag of miscellany propped against a wall. Against a wall in company with other bags, white, red and yellow. Pour out the contents, and there is discovered a jumble of small, things priceless and worthless” (Hurston). I feel like she is saying that people only see her for what she is on the outside and not on the inside. Once you get to understand who they are you will see that some of their true selves have been stripped away from them. 

In the second article “THE FACT OF BLACKNESS” Fanon explains how they are already being judged just by their looks and how other people perceive them. Fanon states “And already I am being dissected under white eyes, the only real eyes. I am fixed” (Pg. 261).  Before he can do anything he already feels like he is being judged. He feels like the world was set against him and there’s nothing he could do. 

Both Authors just want to feel accepted for who they are. They don’t want these stereotypes pinned on them. They want to feel equal in society and be able to be who they truly are. Both of these people have been oppressed in their life and they are sharing their story to educate people and to help make a change in this world. They want people to understand what they are feeling and what they have gone through. Hurston writes,  “A bit of colored glass more or less would not matter” (Hurston). This reminds of the saying rose colored glasses. When people don’t see a full view of the world they see a filtered view. People need to take off their colored glasses and see the world for what it is and be more accepting. They need to realize that their narrow mindedness needs to change. People need to be more open and understanding of one’s differences and not letting that define them as someone who is less superior but as something that makes them human and an equal part of society.

“Being a problem is a strange experience”- W.E.B Du Bois

I had the pleasure of reading the entirety of “The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B Du Bois,  last year in my cultural diversity class. Yet, I was never given the opportunity to truly dissect this book for what its worth. Du Bois touches on several topics about African Americans from lifestyle, religion, and most importantly the race line in America that affected them.

Du Bois was a brilliant man who was sadly plagued by the never-ending racism of the United States of America. Better said in Du Bois’s words, “He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face”(Du Bois). I often interpret Du Bois speaking out desperately for change in the country, appealing with soft-spoken and heartfelt words. He wanted development in his community and to be a proud black man in America. Especially considering that Du Bois lived in segregated America at this time, with the Ku Klux Klan at their prime and racism the cornerstone of the nation. His words were not only a mere protest but in itself a full fiery rebellion

for peace. He risked his life by speaking out openly about the problems of the country for this. Du Bois wrote himself that, “The Nation has not yet found peace from its sins; the freedman has not yet found in freedom his promised land” ( Du Bois). Which he further explains the trial and error process in which black folk had to endure just to vote. Yet, it was not enough to be truly free in this country.

Du Bois goes on to invoke powerful passages of Biblical references to compare the struggle of black folk with the Israelites. This was done to help persuade the white audience to help black communities.  Du Bois goes on to say, “The ideal of human brotherhood, gained through the unifying ideal of Race; the ideal of fostering and developing the traits and talents of the Negro, not in opposition to or contempt for other races, but rather in large conformity to the greater ideals of the American Republic, in order that some day on American soil two world-races may give each to each those characteristics both so sadly lack” (Du Bois).  These are especially powerful words considering the tragedies and hardships Du Bois faced by the white race at the time. To add on from my personal readings, Du Bois loses his firstborn son because of the refusal of white doctors to help a black child. Yet, he seeks brotherhood and healing rather than destruction with his fellow man. The whole book is filled with the optimism of a better future in America. Sadly, we have yet to see this type of America for ourselves.