American Dream in Song of Solomon, Narrative Frederick...

American Dream in Song of Solomon, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and Push In an era where knowledge is power, the emphasis on literacy in African American texts is undeniable. Beginning with the first African American literary works, the slave narratives, through the canons more recent successes such as Toni Morrisons Song of Solomon and Sapphires Push, the topic of literacy is almost inextricably connected to freedom and power. A closer investigation, however, leads the reader to another, less direct, message indicating that perhaps this belief in literacy as a pathway to the American Dream of freedom and social and financial success is contradictory or, at least, insufficient in†¦show more content†¦This assimilation is most apparent when Douglass leaves Baltimore: It was to those little Baltimore boys that I felt the strongest attachment. I had received many good lessons from them, and was still receiving them. (285) Nowhere else in his narrative does Douglass speak as emotionally about leaving family or other slaves even though the slave song perhaps offered the greatest lessons: This they would sing, as a chorus, to words which to many would seem unmeaning a jargon, but which, nevertheless, were full of meaning to themselves. I have sometimes thought that the mere hearing of those songs would do more to impress some minds with the horrible character of slavery, than the reading of whole volumes of philosophy on the subject could do. (262) Where his literacy awakened him to the monstrosities of slavery and the hope in the abolitionist movement, Douglass arduous journey to freedom and his simultaneous journey from orality to literacy (Gates xiv), actually separates him from his African American heritage and falls short of offering the social and economic independence promised by the American Dream. In fact, if it were not for the altruism of white community members Mr. Ruggles and Mr. Johnson, who helped Douglass choose his name, his work, and a place in theirShow MoreRelated The African-American Nightmare Exposed in Black Literature Essay2231 Words   |  9 PagesAfrican-American Nightmare Exposed in Olaudah Equiano, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, Song of Solomon, and Push    The American Dream was founded on the concept that all men are created equal(Jefferson 729) and that everyone has the capability and resources to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. The Declaration of Independence was written so Americans could achieve this dream, but was not written with the African slave in mind. The African slave was never intended to be a part of thisRead More Dreams in Song of Solomon, Narrative Frederick Douglass, Life of a Slave Girl, and Push2208 Words   |  9 PagesDreams in Song of Solomon, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and Push    In 1776 it was stated that our country was based upon one simple truth, That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Though stated with a poetic justice, this statement did not hold true for all U.S. citizens. Many citizens were held in captivity, versus freedomRead More Comparing Dreams in Song of Solomon, Push, and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl2962 Words   |  12 PagesA Dream Revised in Song of Solomon, Push, and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   America was founded on the belief that all men are created equal. However, a question must be posed which asks who constitutes men and what is equal? Where do women fit into the picture? What about minorities? The Declaration of Independence serves as the framework for rules that govern the people who fall beneath it, but who were the architects of the infamous work? They were white, upper