Uncle Tom

Wright is mostly angry with his uncle Tom, because his uncle was basically telling him what to do with his life. Wright doesn't want to be told that he can't wright, because he wants to figure that out on his own. I think that when somebody tells you that you can't do something, then you get defensive and mad about it. I think that Wright doesn't want to be told not to write, also because that is how he expresses himself. He doesn't write to make it a career, although he may hope for that to happen, but he just does it because he likes it. If someone told me to do something because it's never going to happen, I would be mad. I would want that to actually happen to me, and find out for myself, rather than not try. So, I think that wright is mad at his unlce for squashing his dream of writing.

Wright Writes

At the end of chapter 5, wright was supposed to be praying for forgiveness, but instead he writes. This is how he not only vents his anger, but is able to express himself. He shows his writing to the girl next door, who doesn't know writing very well and thinks it is not very good. This turns out to be a confidence booster for Wright, since he possibly feels that he is smarter than the girl, and he found a way to express himself. It is way to let out his anger, and afterward feel better about himself. He feels gratified because he lashed out against his grandmother, not in a violent way, but he was able to just get his thoughts out on paper. I sense that this could be the beginning of a trend for Wright.

PARALYSIS

In the book, Wright's mother has two strokes, that ultimately lead up to her Paralysis. Wright eventually comes to terms with this, but not very easily, since he realizes that his mother will no longer be around to help him. Now, I personally didn't think that she was that influential on her son, or the best mother, but she was still his mother. This gives him a sense of abandonment, which makes him call upon the help of his grandma, but by the second stroke, I really think that he was at the point in his life where he truly became responsible for himself. Now, the part in the book where the dad offers him a nickel, and the mom basically tells him not to take charity really comes in handy here, because he did not accept favors from his neighbors, or even food that was offered. I think that this makes him more self-sufficient, but it might be controversial in the end.

Wright's "Cultural heritage"

Wright says that it was because of his cultural heritage that he hates Jews. I think that it is because blacks couldn't fight, and expect whites not to fight back. They were throwing things at each other, and even knew when it was bad to cross a boundary that was never even set. So, I think that he took out his anger on another race that wouldn't fight back, Jews. This is because he was around these kinds of things every day, but he didn't learn these because of his own personal beliefs. Also, both racial parties were taught to not like the other group, but as kids we have no idea what is exactly right or wrong. Wright learned this, and treated Jews in the same manner as he was treated by the white people.

Black Boy: Why is Wright really hungry?

Wright's son Richard shows resentment toward white families who have food, since his father left his mother Ella. Richard shows resentment openly, while his father Wright is not able to do so. Richard soon associates hunger with bitter hatred toward his father. This shows me that Wright hungers for something more than food. Could his hunger be for the ability to show the resentment that his son shows? I think that it is. I think that Wright is a complex character, especially since he was the one who was encouraging his son Richard to keep quiet about racial issues. I think Wright is also hungry for the freedom to freely express his feelings. So ultimately, I feel that his hunger will lead on paths that will eventually lead him to his own affirmation. So his hunger is not for affirmation, but for the things that will lead him there.

Do I need to go to school?

John Taylor Gatto made it very clear that a lot of people who are homeschooled are very smart. Basically he was saying that it was not necessary to go to school, and I agree with the idea that people could teach themselves. This is a good idea, but only if people are very disciplined in their studies. The whole issue with this is that some people need a social atmosphere to learn in. In most ways it is better to get many perspectives, which is hard to obtain while in a homeschooling environment. I have been homeschooled for a year, as most of you know, and am totally opposed to the idea. I think that a child should soicalize, and that going to school is an absolute necessity. Although I think at times school is not necessary, and am inclined to agree with him on this topic, it is for the simple fact that I was homeschooled that I also disagree with him.

Do I really value my education

I thought that Mann's argument about how the public school system was effective, but I highly disagree with him. In public schools there are programs that are built to prevent kids from getting behind in their schoolwork. The simple fact that we even need programs like these is the perfect example of this. We shouldn't need programs liek this if our public school systems are already effective. I say all of this because as of right now, going to a private high school, has opened my eyes. When I went to a public school I believed my parents were always right and followed their conservative views. Althoguh I try to maintain thos views, I feel as though I don't want to be labeled as conservative or liberal, but rather moderate. This is an example of how I persoanlly felt as though I did not value my non-acedemic education. When i am at University we learn life skills, and are able to think outside the box and form our own opnions, which is what I think most schools should be like. It is for this reason that I value my education at University High School, and feel as though I am not just learning academics, but I am learning more about myself everyday. So yes I truly value my non-academic education at this point in my life.