English 2000 Perspectives in Literature

There are a couple of points seeming to be relevant in society presently. However, there is one that somehow changed over the years when Audre Lorde wrote this in 1980. It would be sexism. During those times long before, women didn’t had much rights nor independence of themselves. Men overseen women as housewives, such as remaining in the household, cleaning, taking care their children, and other housework chores they must do. Men were in the higher placement in a hierarchy chart whilst women were at the bottom. The society we are living presently, women have their own rights as well as independence. However, there are some men who still have that mindset women are no better than men. I, for one as a woman, think they’re wrong. Because women are also defined as human beings, persons. Women equally can do what men can do.

Most of what Audre Lorde wrote still seems very relevant today. Like many people have said before, racism will never be completely gone. Not just that, but sexism as well. With a global population of over 7 billion, you are bound to find someone who does not like the idea of equal rights for all people, and in turn be deemed “racist” or something similar. In my opinion, I do not believe any of the author’s points have been “outdated”. The world is still very much the same as it was decades ago, the difference being “equal rights for all people”.

From my life experience, discrimination has been a noticeable encounter. Generally, these type of experiences do not affect me, although i am concerned for those who would take encounters like these personally. I have not experienced much racism, mostly due to where i currently live, New York City, “the nation’s melting pot”. This does not stop acts of racism/discrimination from occurring however.

Jodi Grant

Question 1) There was some stuff that Lorde said that was outdated like when she said ” Black lesbians are threats to Black nationhood, Are now consorting with the enemy, Are basically un-black. In this century alot of Black people are now excecting lesbians. Black woman this generation do not see lesbianism is a white women problem anymore.

Lorde said ” By ignoring the past, we are encouraged to repeat its mistakes”, this relates to me because I am doing the same mistakes that I did from the past and I got to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them in the future.

In Baldwin’s novel “Giovanni’s Room” us readers begin to sense the David has some sexual conflict with both female and males partners. Although he does not mention him feeling any sort of compassion towards  Joey, the first person he makes love with, he does mention how frightening yet joyful his experience was yet chooses to ignore this side of him and overlook the incident. The acceptance of homosexuality was not a favorite topic during the time of the novel which brings us to him reflecting on his decision “I had decided to allow no room in the universe for something which shamed and frightened me”. Although he tried to move along and get with a female, things do not work out for them not because he cheated with another female, but with a man, Giovanni. David’s character began to develop after speaking, or what seemed to be like flittering with Giovanni and was feeling a “ferocious excitement” finally bringing out his true shade on the matters of his hidden desires towards men.

There are a couple of factors, I think, that contributed to the race of the characters and why David was written as Caucasian. The most significant factor I think was the time in which Baldwin wrote Giovanni’s Room. In 1956, racism and homophobia were much more prevalent in the United States and would never allow him to be seen and credited simply as a writer. I think using exclusively white characters not only allows him to break away from the label as a black writer only confronting African-American experiences but also allows him perhaps to more easily write about his own personal struggles and conflicts while hiding behind the facade of another race. I don’t believe the race of the characters was significant for the story itself, but for the story behind Baldwin writing Giovanni’s Room.

1. Audre Lorde wrote “Age, Race, Class, and Sex” in 1980 partially to address racism within thefeminist movement, and in it she uses strong language about racial oppression, sexism, ageism, andclassism. Which of her points (if any) seem relevant in your life today? Which of her points (if any)seem outdated, in your experience?

Well I do think that sexism is quite strong in today’s society. I seen that many women don’t get paid the same as men do, I think it’s not fair that in 21st century  we still have men thinking that today’s woman is not capable of surpassing their abilities. And hey I don’t blame them sometimes; because women in today’s society is strongly seen as a sexual symbol in videos, movies etc. and they let that happen, like if it was okay to be a sex symbol. In my opinion I think men don’t see women capable of doing what they do becuase they see women as a sexual symbol “tool” and not as a human being that’s able to do what they do.

I seem to receive the message of homophobia  simply by Baldwin’s style of writing. There is a lack of verbal admittance, what I mean by this (for lack of better words) is that the word “gay” is never even used nor is there a strong amount of description among the characters. It is just somehow understood but, the sexuality of each character is never noted. For instance (page 26) the “le folles”, which I interpreted as drag queens, are described at a minimum as well as disrespectfully to simply get the point across but no more than that. It seems that Baldwin’s style of writing captures the voice of the time. A very “Hush, Hush” tone. A very important scene in the novel is when, as I would like to call it, “Jacques Calls Out David”. But even reading that conversation, Jacques never blatantly says “You are gay, stop hiding it and embrace it! ” We are just learning through context. And I definitely believe it is done purposely to portray David’s own state around the topic of homosexuality.

In Audre Lorde “Age, Race, Class, and Sex” she speaks a lot about how women within them selfs would not be treated equal, even tho they were fighting for the same rights some where looked down on while others where prised and encouraged. Even from within there same communities some black women that were lesbians would be seen as a an “enemy”.  she spoke mostly of how black women would  not get the help they deserved. While white women would not have to suffer as much.

one of her point that i feel that still is very much connected with today is the one she makes about race. if your a hispanic, black or any other minority you automatically are put into a category which is usually not a good one. From there assumptions of what you may do or may want come about, then you are push aside.

Audre lorde touched on the subjects of racism and sexism when in her time just like now is still a big issue, many people would say that in the time period we live in now is better evolved from audre lorde’s time because we’ve had rallys, protest, laws passed, ect.. But its still a major issuse. The way i see it is As long as people have a right to an opinion there wil always be rasicm and sexism and hateful comments. Audre’s choice of lifestyle along with being african american made her a target for the discrimication against her but those same discriminations still live powerfully within our society today! The media we are use to seeing makes us think its ok to discriminate as long as its not directed specificaly. But whats the difference between you calling out an indivduals name and discriminating against an entire race! lorde’s points are still valid in todays time. 

Jacques is trying to warn David. He seems to sympathize with with David, and understands what he is going through, because he too went through the same thing during his youth. Jacques has made it clear to David that his greatest regret within his love life is ever having hidden from the world that he was gay. He pretty much explains that he could have taken the risk and know what would have happened as opposed to getting old, living life with regrets, and coming out when it was too late to enjoy youthful love. This conversation makes it seem as though taking the risk would be the better choice. I agree with this, if it gives you a shot at happiness, and you’re unhappy, you literally have nothing to lose. To me, this would foreshadow what David’s life would be like, if he doesn’t learn to accept his identity in it’s entirety, and explore it and grow as a person in this time. I compare him to Jacques, and I imagine Jacques does the same every time he looks at David. It’s almost how a parent looks at their kid, and hopes that their kid can avoid the mistakes they made, and learn to live happily.