Term
|
Definition
| "It amazes me that anyone would deny themselves the pleasure of my company." |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Masters degree and teaching experience from Columbia
-Anthropologist
-public feud with Richard Wright, who generally wrote about "social realism" (Wright felt that black artists must point out white racism)
-She wanted to show that black people had their own community & culture (John's problems are not from the white community) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-points out cultural differences
-everyone in the book spoke in the dialect (even Alf who was white) proving that it was region, not race
-inside-outsider dynamic: making African Americans the insider |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Allows outsiders to become insiders if they are willing to try and work at it |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-own rules of syntax
-own vocabulary (consistent throughout the book) |
|
|
Term
| Spike Lee YouTube video stereotypes |
|
Definition
-Exaggerated features
-Servants
-clowns
-monkeys
-unattractive women
-"blackface"
-dancing
-food (chicken & watermelons)
-cartoons |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Celebrities gave the mockery commonplace, making it seem legitimate
-tons of cartoons (flat, mocking, stereotypes)
-minstrel shows & performances: created to demean African Americans, justified racism, suggested that all African Americans were parts of stereotypes, continued through the 1960s as the predominant role for African Americans on stage & film |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-She would first record folklore, songs, jokes, & family stories in the South
-She would then use the data to create a novel
-She was aware of the dangers of oral storytelling and wanted to record these stories so that a chunk of black history would not disappear |
|
|
Term
| Why did Lucy stay with John? |
|
Definition
-cares about her family & 7 children
-married to the town mayor and preacher "I'm a wife made man"
-needed his support w/o a job
-she would have to get remarried (ex. Ned)
-John is her protector (water snake, bed scene)
-she desires a traditional family structure (upbringing)
-John promises to be her mother & father after her mother disowns her
-she was very young and knew little about the world |
|
|
Term
| What positive traits did Lucy see in John? |
|
Definition
-he is opposite of her (rebellion)
-first love
-charming, socially acceptable
-source of money
-means of escape from family
-hardworking (unlike Ned) |
|
|
Term
| Lucy's mother setting her up to marry Artie |
|
Definition
-he had 60 acres and two mules (60 acres and 1 mule was the standard of freedom)
-she was trying to do what was best
-Lucy could have a hand in John's future but not in Artie's
-Artie viewed a wife as a worker (bought her a mule) |
|
|
Term
| Evidence that Lucy may not really hate John's affairs |
|
Definition
-they appeal to her vanity
-he always returns to her
-other people want what she already has |
|
|
Term
| Evidence that John truly loves Lucy: |
|
Definition
-he almost kills Lucy's brother after he steals the bed
-he writes her name on the chimney (so that everyone could see it)
-he buys her gifts
-he was "sweetly distracted" by her note
-when he got out of jail, he sent money for Lucy and the children
-he becomes very angry when she mentions leaving him |
|
|
Term
| Why does John continuously cheat on Lucy? |
|
Definition
-Lucy lets him
-for his manhood (he takes on some feminine roles with Lucy)
-other girls are attracted to him
-he is proud
-the "brute beast" in him (animal, uncontrollable, blaming hypersexuality)
-he sees Lucy as his wife but also his child ("Little Bit," doll, makes her sit on his lap) |
|
|
Term
| Two times that John cheats on Lucy |
|
Definition
1. when she is pregnant (possibility of death)
2. when she is dying
Showing that he is scared she may die but also that he is incredibly selfish |
|
|
Term
| Gifts that John gives to Lucy |
|
Definition
-Necessities: dress, pineapple (not common), mangoes (exotic), oranges, pig
-Doll
-Necklace (ego boost), earrings (everyone will notice), pocketbook with money.... like Lucy is the doll he is dressing up |
|
|
Term
| African American Christianity- Pre-divorce |
|
Definition
-John is called to be a minister while working in the heat (hallucination or desire for easier work)
-early on, he mimicked other ministers (entertainment)
-he liked being a minister for: money, prestige, & attention (all of which are attractive to women)
-John's interests are all about him (wants to be a "big N_____" and wants to show off his prestige to those from his past)
-scene with converted member: John wants the attention on him to show he is a good minister
-early sermons were scripted (when he would shout, faint, yell) and repetitive
-"Natural Man" sermon after he gets caught cheating
-the more John performs, the more people flock to the church (celebrity, false Gospel that condoned sin, fun) |
|
|
Term
| African American Christianity- Post-divorce |
|
Definition
-John could have taken two paths: either to blame Hattie for the Voo Doo or to lose the church and not share the reasons for his divorce
-He chose not to testify because: of the white audience (stereotypes), would give the black race a foolish face
-he essentially sacrifices himself for the fate of his church (his first true Christian act, saves the church through committing a sin) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-allowing a train to hit his car (in a way that could have happened by accident)
-cheats on Sally with Aura (homely & barely 16) even though he has no interest in her. (He knows what will happen but couldn't control himself)
-he was afraid he would hurt his congregation and Sally like he did Lucy
-Suicide (the unforgivable sin): John chooses to save his church and wife (Christ-like) |
|
|
