A Family Legacy

In The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, there exists an ongoing debate on whether or not the piano should be sold. Bernice and her brother Boy Willie argue about this conflict until the very end, where she ends up winning the fight. After learning about the history of the piano and seeing the legacy that it holds over Bernice and her family I see why she refused to sell it. I thought that Boy Willie’s desire to sell the piano in order for him to own land was very selfish and he didn’t think much of the sentimental values that the piano holds. Some things in life are simply worth way more than money and are priceless. Boy Willie is a character that I saw never truly learned that lesson, he stayed fixed on selling that piano until the end. He didn’t really change. Usually characters like him get a rude awakening but Boy Willie turned out just as stubborn as his sister Bernice. It was good to see that in the end Bernice got to keep the piano because she is now able to hold on to that strong painful legacy her family has left her.

A Division

In Malcolm X essay message to the grass roots, I feel like he touches upon a very important topic. The division that he acknowledged between the house slaves and the field slaves still exist today. Today this division can be seen between the middle class of the African American community and the lower class of the African American community. As a middle class, middle class African Americans are suppose to support the underclass. They are supposed to use their mind, heart and pocketbooks to help them out. Some African Americans that are able to be successful in life seem to be in denial of being a member of the race and tend to imitate a more Eurocentric lifestyle; a way of life that does not lend help to other African Americans trying to make it. I feel that no one should forget where they come from and when u make it somewhere in life it is your duty to make sure you give back to the community that shaped you and help others achieve what you have achieved. Malcolm X understood this very well. He acknowledged how some blacks today are used to appease us and are used by white people as means of controlling the African American community. I believe that as a race we should all stand united, and help others of the race reach the success they seek.

Convocatiom

Although, I didn’t attend convocation second semester, I did attend convocation at the beginning of the year. The guest speaker was the prime minister of Bermuda Ewart Fredrick Brown. The speech he delivered was so inspiring and got me very motivated to succeed here at Howard. He mentioned Howard’s great legacy, and how our four years here will be a journey. He mentioned the names of people who have sat in the same seats we were seated in and have gone to do great things. His speech made me very eager and it got me looking forward to what I will achieve here at Howard. At times I question if I will be able to do this but this convocation speech had me feeling like I can do anything. I know that being here at Howard is a great opportunity and after hearing the prime minister speak he got me looking forward to what’s to come.