Suffering and Assimilation Essay - 1111 Words

One of the recurring themes that shows up in the literature written by African Americans and Mexican Americans seems to be the suffering of the past and present along with not much hope for the future. The pains expressed by these people are related to race, poverty, violence, and lack of opportunity. Another recurring theme is the minorities assimilation into the white society. Minorities have always been socially pressured to assimilate into the society in which they live. They are subtly encouraged in the United States to become a part, The American Dream. These two themes can be seen in, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Sonnys Blues, by James Baldwin and even the real life of Jean Toomer, a famous writer.†¦show more content†¦In Sonnys Blues, the story places emphasis on Harlems African American community and its struggle to become successful both economically and socially. Sonnys brother is a high school algebra teacher who grew up in Harlem, who has made an attempt to escape the streets by getting a good job and assimilating himself, as best he can, into white society. In subtle ways, however, he has internalized many of the prejudices of that society. When Sonny tells him that he wants to be a musician, his brother immediately assumes that this means a classical musician. After it becomes clear that Sonny wants to play jazz, a traditionally black genre, his brother thinks that it is somehow beneath him. The success that Sonnys brother has in assimilating into the white-dominated society separates him from his brother and a world that, Filled everything, the people, the houses, the music, the dark, quicksilver barmaid, with the menace that was the irreality. On the other hand, Sonny lives outside of the white society and is portrayed as the family failure. Rather than assimilating himself into the mainstream culture and following The American Dream, he chooses to immerse himself in the blues world and become a heroin addict. It is a powerful portrayal of how individuals react to and deal with their circumstances. In The House on Mango Street, the is suffering isShow MoreRelatedWhich Policy Had the Largest Impact on the Indigenous Australians1018 Words   |  5 Pageslargest impact on Indigenous Australians? Through research the Assimilation Policy had the largest impact upon Indigenous Australians and the three supporting arguments to prove this are the Aborigines losing their rights to freedom, Aboriginal children being removed from their families, and finally the loss of aboriginality. The Assimilation was a policy set by the government in 1937 and went to till 1964. This policy of Assimilation was set not just for Aborigines in Australia but for all foreignRead MoreSince the time of federation the Aboriginal people have been fighting for their rights through800 Words   |  4 Pagesprotection. The Australian government policy that has had the most significant impact on indigenous Australians is the assimilation policy. The reasons behind this include the influences that the stolen generation has had on the indigenous Australians, their relegated rights and their entitlement to vote and the impact that the policy has had on the indigenous people of Australia. The assimilation policy was a policy that existed between the 1940’s and the 1970’s, and replaced that of protectionism. Its purposeRead MoreThe Assimilation Policy and Its Impact on the Indigenous Australian Society1071 Words   |  5 Pagesprotection. The Australian government policy that has had the most significant impact on indigenous Australians is the assimilation policy. 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Oblivious to the destruction and devastation they were causing, the British had believed that they were doing this for â€Å"their [Aborigines] own good†, that they were â€Å"protecting† them as their familiesRead MoreAssimilation Process That Immigrants And International Students Undergo1065 Words   |  5 PagesThis shows the three aspects that form the type of assimilation process that immigrants and international students undergo. The society that they come from, in correlation with their reasons for migrating and the society that greets them all come together to determine the degree of ease of integration for individuals. While the factors differ for each individual, most legal immigrants and international students are able to take advantage of many different opportunities to help them integrate easierRead MorePast, Present, Future: American Indians and Latino Americans1480 Words   |  6 Pagesessentially victims of American Manifest Destiny. 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The ‘sweat-shop’ in the torment building is a meeting point for the Jewish population. The Jews try to socialize since they are common immigrants