...And we're back!

It took me about two hours just to wait for the internet to post this and it is driving me nuts and I've been clicking the publish button at least 9000 times and that is why I am writing in run-ons and if this does finally publish I will be so glad...
We start off Semester Two through critical reading, and contrary to what I thought, the close readings really do take about 1-2 hours.

“Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou revolves around Joe Louis, the Black Bomber, and his faraway fight. She relives the tension and the agony revolving around that single radio, so in a sense, the story was not so much focused on the fight itself, but rather the emotion that it evoked. As African Americans, it is difficult for them to reach a position of power; because they are constantly reminded of their history, they cannot move past and start anew. When Joe Louis emerges on the international scene, an immense feeling of pride overtakes them as they realize that against all odds, an African American man, son of an African American woman, has emerged the victor. It’s as if he represents their whole race and his movements in the arena dictate their rises and falls. Some people in our class discussion wondered if these people were placing too much importance on Joe’s actions, and I’m inclined to say that perhaps these people in Angelou’s story didn’t have much to place hope upon. The whole event seemed like one of the biggest events in their lives, with overindulgence and splurging, so this suggests that Joe is who they look up to, and who they see to hold the power in a white man’s society. When you’re a member of a minority, there’s a feeling of overwhelming pride when one of your kind stands up to fight for the rest. At those moments, you act as support and encouragement, much like these African Americans in the Store, and you can hope that his actions make a difference.

Maya Angelou’s recollection of Joe Louis’ fight draws striking parallels to another true story I watched. Fearless was about a man, Huo Yuan Jia, who fought his way up to fame through his amazing martial arts skills. I’m not quite sure how much of it was real, but his story went like this: After attempting to drown himself—his only child and mother are killed by a vengeful man—he is saved by a group of farmers. At the same time, China grows weak from attempts by Western countries to colonize it, and Chinese people are relegated to a minority status. Yuan Jia returns to make a statement for the Chinese people, and to demonstrate that China is not “the weak man of Asia”; he defeats numerous opponents and draws attention from both sides to his victories. The Chinese people rise up to support this single man and cheer him on from the stands. Tragically, during his last battle, he falls ill after he is poisoned by the westernized Japanese, yet he is declared the victor nonetheless. As he lies dying, his disciples ask if they should seek revenge, he answers that revenge is not the answer and that they should all try to make a difference in life. ~Fin.~ This movie proved that someone can stand up and make an indelible impact upon those they touch.

And yet, winning the battle does not necessarily mean winning the war. Although Yuan Jia’s victory and death made him a martyr and instilled a sense of national pride, it was much later that China was able to muster up force to drive out foreign influences. Similarly, the African Americans in Angelou’s story can’t even walk home without fear of being lynched.