Notes of a Native Son

In the essay "Notes of a Native Son," James Baldwin talked about the relationship with his father as well as the issue of blacks and whites. Baldwin states that his father was a very bitter man he lived and died in an intolerable bitterness. In addition, he never had any sort of relationship with his father. He even said at one point that he felt that he hated his father. His father was never nice to him or any of his children. When Baldwin was a young boy he feared him and never was excited when he would come home. When his father died Baldwin had no expression he was even drunk at his father’s funeral.

Furthermore, when Baldwin was in high school his warned him about his white friends and how white people should not to be trusted. His father also said to Baldwin that white people would do anything to keep a black person down. Although his father did warn his Baldwin did not really listen or think it was true until he went to a restaurant and was denied service because of his color. He became to hate white people and almost came close to murdering. At his funeral when a man was giving a speech about his father he talked about what a great man he was and all the good things his father was. That is when everything unfolded.

In conclusion, he realized that his hatred towards him and his father was the same hatred towards blacks and whites. He realized all the little things his father did for them and how proud his father was when he was a young preacher. He states that people matter, life matters, but the color of the skin does not matter. Hatred could destroy so much and never failed to destroy man who hated. That was what Baldwin stated it was an unchallengeable law.

Reflection on "Plaits"

I enjoyed reading “Plaits,” by Frankie Lennon because it can teach us a lesson. I also liked how the author was very descriptive. It gave me a picture in my mind while reading the story. I was able to relate to how the author felt. I think as we grow up we all encounter problems that makes us take matters in our hands and end up making things worse for ourselves. This story reminds me of when I was in second grade there was a boy that made me cry. It makes me laugh every time I look back.

The boy who made me cry was very annoying and rude to everyone, he would always get in trouble and would made kids cry. When I was little I had a lot of baby hairs I hated them but it never bother me so much until this little boy made it obvious. I remember it was during recess we were playing handball and we were standing in line when he noticed my baby hairs he started making fun of me and pointing and laughing. Soon everyone started laughing then out of no where he decided it would be funny to pull on them. I started crying and ran to my teacher and told what he did to me. He was given detention for two days.

Even though he was unable to play that still didn’t give me any satisfaction I was hurt so I went home got some scissors and cut my baby hairs. I started crying even more because I looked horrible. My mom saw and got mad at me but she didn’t do anything to make it better, so she left me that way so I could learn my lesson. The kids made fun of me even more, so my mom finally cut bangs to cover them. So in a way I cooked my own goose.