The Site of the Documentary

www.bhurt.com/barackandcurtis.php

Black Masculinity

On Radio IQ tonight, there was a segment on the effect Obama has made on the black community. They focused primarily on black males and how they have become invisible although there are immense problems facing them. This 10 minute documentary examines the redefining of black male masculinity in Obama's era thus far. 

Reading Schedule:

For Wed. Read through Chapter 7

For Fri. Read through Chapter 10

For Mon. Read through Chapter 12

For Tues. Read through Chapter 14

For Friday. Finish the book. You will have time to read on Wed. in class. 

Make sure to post weekly on the blog. 

Do the Right Thing, hmm?

"And we laughed about the scared little Chinese whose restaurant didn't have a hand laid on it, because the rioters just about convulsed laughing when they say the sign the Chinese had hastily stuck on his front door: "Me Colored Too."" (pg. 117)

Wonder how much inspiration Lee got from Malcolm X...he is quoted on the cover and everything. Just a nice connection I thought I'd point out.

Reading Schedule

All,

 Some really useful writing on Cotton here. I'd like to see everyone post at least once a week from now on. For this week, read through Chapter 5 by Friday.  Tomorrow we will have our discussion on the film, Cotton, etc... led by Claire and Erin. On Wednesday, I will give you time to finalize the presentations you worked on last week and we will begin them on Friday. For Monday, read through Chapter 7. Happy reading, Mrs. R

Preaching and Eating

It seems that the only two things that cause Harlem to stand still momentarily are church services and big meals. These are the only moments during which crime ceases to exist, showing their utmost importance to even the lowest of the low in society. Although not everyone may go to church, Sundays are respected by all. "Everything happens in Harlem six days a week, but Sunday morning, people worship God. Those who are not religious stay in bed...A drunk better not be caught molesting them (churchgoing families); he'll get all the black beat off him" (pg.110). There is a similar significance associated with eating. When Grave Digger and Coffin Ed go to Mammy Louise's, there seems to be some sort of unwritten rule preventing them from discussing the crime while they are there. ALso, when Deke O'Malley's congregation meets to discuss his innocence and start up a collection for him in prison, food takes precedent. "On many a table there was chicken and dumplings or roast pork and sweet potatoes, and crime took a rest" (pg. 112).

Yellow vs. Brown

In "Cotton Comes to Harlem", Himes separates the characters into groups based on their skin tones. of course there is the obvious black and white categories but within the black community there is another separation, based on whether the person has dark brown or yellow skin. An example of this is the physical and mental differences between Mabel and Iris. Mabel is said to have dark brown skin, while Iris has yellow skin. Mabel has a sweet temperament, and while she is gullible and quite frankly an idoit, her intentions are always good. On the other hand, Iris is a backstabbing and violent woman, who always uses sex to get what she wants. This is also seen, like when Grave Digger and Coffin are at a bar, they are approached by a "yellow whore". What is interesting is that the yellow tinted skin is closer to white than the dark brown, and all the yellow skinned characters are bad people.