This blog serves as a public forum for you to post your reactions to a broad range of texts--from Shakespeare's really uncomfortable early play Titus Andronicus to Alan Ginsberg's "obscene" poem "Howl" to the latest album from Kendrick Lamar. The conversation revolves around notions of cultural influence and how popular "products" get us to react to them and to the things they endorse.
This poem is definitely interesting. I really like the way it reads as a more continuous story than a typical poem does. Reading this, one can sense the obvious racism that Soyinka is trying to convey. The person making the call, a black man, is repeatedly denied by the person on the other end, a white woman. What is interesting here is that not only is one able to see the thoughts of the white woman on the black man, the thoughts of the man on the woman are also stated. To me, the poem illustrates how difficult it is for a person having to deal with the problems of racism. This can be seen when the woman keeps asking the man just exactly how dark he is. Despite the man’s protests, the woman keeps asking the same question, over and over and over again. It is almost like she wants the answer he gave her to be changed. Throughout the poem, the man is unsure whether to tell the truth, as he is afraid that she will hang up the phone and the conversation will end. When she eventually does hang up at the very end, the man is still trying to reason with her over something. The problem of racism, not only in the US, but around the world, did not end in the 1960s and early 1970s. I think this poem serves to remind us that this problem still exists, and unfortunately, will continue to do so in some form if something is not done.
In the poem, it took me a couple reads that it is about racism. I believe that this conversation that is going on in the poem with the speaker is over the phone with a white lady who continually asked how dark he is. Starting at line 5, he said that he came from Africa, and there was a silence on the phone, then proceeded with the woman asking how dark he was. She compared the colors of skin to milks, which I thought was funny because it would either be white or chocolate milk, no in between. In response to the bombarding from the white woman, the gentleman answer that he was “West African sepia.” It is almost as if he is nervous that the phone call will end if he admits to the woman of his true color. This instance shows racism that is coming from the white woman toward the black gentleman on the phone. At the end crushed my heart because he was upset to hear that she had hung up and said that he would want her to see for herself. Looking that this poem was written in 1934 leads to that blacks were still separate from white pre-civil rights movement. I agree with Kristen that even though we have come a long way from where we used to be on racism, it still exists today.
This poem shows the lighter side of racism in the 1930’s. A man and woman are talking on the phone, discussing negotiations for a house. Everything is about finished being discussed except the man hasn’t told her what he looks like. I personally think it was odd because during most phone conversations with strangers, I rarely ever discuss my physical appearance. But this was a different time, and understandable because he didn’t really know what kind of neighborhood he’d be moving into or if the woman would even sell it to him. Anyways, they begin to discuss “how dark” he is, to get a picture as to whether he may blend in with the neighbors or not. He tries to state his case by saying he’s “west African sepia”, which is a reddish-brown color, but he believes she has hung up the phone. He begs and pleads to keep negotiating and even offers to meet her in person just to clarify he meets the requirements of having light enough skin. This poem showed that even though nothing terribly violent or extreme happened, racism was still a brute force back then. Something as simple as a phone call went that far south that the lady decided to hang up because the man brought up the pigment of his skin. I believe that that is terrible and wrong and am happy it is at least not that bad today. I say that because some forms of racism does still exist, but not that bad. All this man wanted to do was buy a house, but was denied service after bringing up his skin color. If this was the “polite” way of being racist, I don’t want to see it any more extreme.
I think the really sad thing about this poem was not the fact that racism was being discussed over the phone, it was that it seemed so normal. Neither the woman, nor the black man thought it was unnecessary to discuss how dark a man's skin color was. In fact, they almost made it a point solely to discuss the pigment of skin color in order for a transaction of housing to take place. I almost wanted to tell the man that it did not matter the color of skin; that he should be able to live in a house, but for this time period that was not the case. The woman did not bother to meet the man to determine if he was a nice reverend, or if he was a mean ax murderer, the only thing that mattered was whether he was black or white, light or dark. This shows that this woman did not really care who took the house, as much as if they were white. Almost like if you are white then you would be OK, not steal or damage the house. Also, the black man felt like he had to prove that he was not as dark as she thought, and that if she met him she would let him have the house. I like to think that even back then racism was not as prominent as is portrayed in history and this poem; however, many people's kindness and social graces were determined whether or not you looked like them or not.
This poem portrays the struggles that an African American had to endure during that specific time in history. The poem shows a conversation between a white woman and an African American about purchasing or renting a house. Something that should be irrelevant in process of buying or renting a house was the main topic during this conversation, which was race. The color of this person’s skin was the deciding factor on whether or not they would get the house. I found it funny that when the African American told the woman that he was African the woman asked, “Are you light or very dark?” I think that even if he said he was a light African American the woman still would not have let him purchase or rent the house. Just the fact that he was an African would be enough to deny him the house. I found it sad to read this because this was very much the case during that time in history. It was a very rough time for an African American during that time in history. At the end of the poem the man was pleading and begging the woman to just give him the time of day. It seemed like he was trying to lightly tread the water by saying things like “West African sepia” or “Palm of my hand, soles of my feet are a peroxide blond.” Just to make it seem like he wasn’t as dark as the woman expected him to be when he said that he was African.
Wole Soyinka’s 1934 poem, “Telephone Conversation” seemed to me as a poem of racism. The whole poem just consists of a white woman and a black man having a conversation over the phone. When the woman realizes that she is talking to an African American, she begins to only question him on how dark he is as if that would be the deciding factor on weither she will continue their conversation or end it. The man, at first, is very hesitant to answer the question, but eventually he just told her that he is “West African sepia.” The woman did not understand what he meant so she continued to bombard him with the same question. Near the end of the poem, the man tells the woman that he is the color like brunette, but that parts of him, such as the soles of his feet and palms of his hands were peroxide blond. After hearing that the woman hung up the phone, but the man still pleaded for the woman to “see for herself.” The man seemed desperate at the end to convince the woman that she and him were not much different at all, which is also why I believe that he told her that the soles of his feet and palms of his hands were the same color as her. I believe that she hung up after hearing that part because of the racism in that era. She didn’t want to hear that she could have anything in common with the black man on the phone. This poem seems to be a reminder that racism may be not as great as it was back then, but it does still exist today.
It astonishes me they way people were treated just based off the color of their skin in the early 1900s. This man is said to be talking to a landlady and is trying to buy a home or something and the first question she wants to know is "how dark?" The proceeds to ask him again and again continuing to want a response. This woman doesn't seem to be interested in anything else about this man. If he's buying this home shouldn't you be more concerned about his financial situation than anything. Thankfully in today's society we have become more excepting of others and their culture backgrounds and skin color. Especially coming to a school like D'Youville College, you see diversity everyday. Whether its the obvious like skin color, or career choices, wealth and personal likes/dislikes. The school and the neighborhood around us are very culturally diverse and overall D'Youville as a whole seems to be respectful of the many differences. Going back to the poem, at the end this man is begging her, just as he knows she is going to hang up on him, to give him a chance. He is telling her that he is just as equal to give him a shot. Then the poem just ends.. does the landlady give him a chance? Does she put aside his skin color? My guess would be, no.
I liked that this poem didn't come right out and say what it was talking about; it took me a few reads to get it. This poem was very sad. It highlighted the racist practices that were still prevalent in the 1900s in a way that somehow struck a chord with me. The imagery was powerful, as was the writing style. I felt like I was there with him in the telephone box as he felt confusion and utter disbelief when she kept asking him about the color of his skin. I could hear the desperation in his voice as he pleaded with her to not hang up on him, as he asked if she would at least want to meet him. All that this poor man wanted was a place to stay, and she couldn't give him that because of the color of his skin, even if she wouldn't be living on the premises with him. The sheer fact that people were actually treated this way, and still are to some degree, sickens me. Personally, I've always had a hard time understanding how people can be so ignorant as to put themselves above someone else based off of something as superficial as skin color.
Telephone Conversation showed the racism that existed in the early 1900s. Today it is hard to imagine someone not being able to find an apartment just because of the color of one’s skin. The landlady the author describes seems to be of wealth. “Lipstick coated, long gold rolled cigarette holder pipped.” The author describes her as wealthy possibly to show that anyone can be racist, regardless of wealth, gender, or level of education. The author also describes himself using words such as sepia or brunette. The woman seems not to understand and needs a more dumbed down explanation. People of this era looked down upon African Americans and thought many negative things about them, including believing that they are not as smart. I think this is why the author shows the woman not understanding him to show that he is smarter than her. The man then seems to mess with the lady by throwing out a large amount of words that she wouldn’t understand, further showing his intelligence. The man tries to relate to the land lady by stating that his hands and feet were the same color as her. The last description the author gives the lady is of his “raven black bottom”. The author then shows humor after by asking if she would rather see for herself. This poem shows the stupidity of racism and how a person is unable to judge another because of their race or appearance.
This poem is definitely interesting. I really like the way it reads as a more continuous story than a typical poem does. Reading this, one can sense the obvious racism that Soyinka is trying to convey. The person making the call, a black man, is repeatedly denied by the person on the other end, a white woman. What is interesting here is that not only is one able to see the thoughts of the white woman on the black man, the thoughts of the man on the woman are also stated. To me, the poem illustrates how difficult it is for a person having to deal with the problems of racism. This can be seen when the woman keeps asking the man just exactly how dark he is. Despite the man’s protests, the woman keeps asking the same question, over and over and over again. It is almost like she wants the answer he gave her to be changed. Throughout the poem, the man is unsure whether to tell the truth, as he is afraid that she will hang up the phone and the conversation will end. When she eventually does hang up at the very end, the man is still trying to reason with her over something. The problem of racism, not only in the US, but around the world, did not end in the 1960s and early 1970s. I think this poem serves to remind us that this problem still exists, and unfortunately, will continue to do so in some form if something is not done.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem, it took me a couple reads that it is about racism. I believe that this conversation that is going on in the poem with the speaker is over the phone with a white lady who continually asked how dark he is. Starting at line 5, he said that he came from Africa, and there was a silence on the phone, then proceeded with the woman asking how dark he was. She compared the colors of skin to milks, which I thought was funny because it would either be white or chocolate milk, no in between. In response to the bombarding from the white woman, the gentleman answer that he was “West African sepia.” It is almost as if he is nervous that the phone call will end if he admits to the woman of his true color. This instance shows racism that is coming from the white woman toward the black gentleman on the phone. At the end crushed my heart because he was upset to hear that she had hung up and said that he would want her to see for herself. Looking that this poem was written in 1934 leads to that blacks were still separate from white pre-civil rights movement. I agree with Kristen that even though we have come a long way from where we used to be on racism, it still exists today.
ReplyDeleteThis poem shows the lighter side of racism in the 1930’s. A man and woman are talking on the phone, discussing negotiations for a house. Everything is about finished being discussed except the man hasn’t told her what he looks like. I personally think it was odd because during most phone conversations with strangers, I rarely ever discuss my physical appearance. But this was a different time, and understandable because he didn’t really know what kind of neighborhood he’d be moving into or if the woman would even sell it to him. Anyways, they begin to discuss “how dark” he is, to get a picture as to whether he may blend in with the neighbors or not. He tries to state his case by saying he’s “west African sepia”, which is a reddish-brown color, but he believes she has hung up the phone. He begs and pleads to keep negotiating and even offers to meet her in person just to clarify he meets the requirements of having light enough skin. This poem showed that even though nothing terribly violent or extreme happened, racism was still a brute force back then. Something as simple as a phone call went that far south that the lady decided to hang up because the man brought up the pigment of his skin. I believe that that is terrible and wrong and am happy it is at least not that bad today. I say that because some forms of racism does still exist, but not that bad. All this man wanted to do was buy a house, but was denied service after bringing up his skin color. If this was the “polite” way of being racist, I don’t want to see it any more extreme.
ReplyDeleteI think the really sad thing about this poem was not the fact that racism was being discussed over the phone, it was that it seemed so normal. Neither the woman, nor the black man thought it was unnecessary to discuss how dark a man's skin color was. In fact, they almost made it a point solely to discuss the pigment of skin color in order for a transaction of housing to take place. I almost wanted to tell the man that it did not matter the color of skin; that he should be able to live in a house, but for this time period that was not the case. The woman did not bother to meet the man to determine if he was a nice reverend, or if he was a mean ax murderer, the only thing that mattered was whether he was black or white, light or dark. This shows that this woman did not really care who took the house, as much as if they were white. Almost like if you are white then you would be OK, not steal or damage the house. Also, the black man felt like he had to prove that he was not as dark as she thought, and that if she met him she would let him have the house. I like to think that even back then racism was not as prominent as is portrayed in history and this poem; however, many people's kindness and social graces were determined whether or not you looked like them or not.
ReplyDeleteThis poem portrays the struggles that an African American had to endure during that specific time in history. The poem shows a conversation between a white woman and an African American about purchasing or renting a house. Something that should be irrelevant in process of buying or renting a house was the main topic during this conversation, which was race. The color of this person’s skin was the deciding factor on whether or not they would get the house. I found it funny that when the African American told the woman that he was African the woman asked, “Are you light or very dark?” I think that even if he said he was a light African American the woman still would not have let him purchase or rent the house. Just the fact that he was an African would be enough to deny him the house. I found it sad to read this because this was very much the case during that time in history. It was a very rough time for an African American during that time in history. At the end of the poem the man was pleading and begging the woman to just give him the time of day. It seemed like he was trying to lightly tread the water by saying things like “West African sepia” or “Palm of my hand, soles of my feet are a peroxide blond.” Just to make it seem like he wasn’t as dark as the woman expected him to be when he said that he was African.
ReplyDeleteWole Soyinka’s 1934 poem, “Telephone Conversation” seemed to me as a poem of racism. The whole poem just consists of a white woman and a black man having a conversation over the phone. When the woman realizes that she is talking to an African American, she begins to only question him on how dark he is as if that would be the deciding factor on weither she will continue their conversation or end it. The man, at first, is very hesitant to answer the question, but eventually he just told her that he is “West African sepia.” The woman did not understand what he meant so she continued to bombard him with the same question. Near the end of the poem, the man tells the woman that he is the color like brunette, but that parts of him, such as the soles of his feet and palms of his hands were peroxide blond. After hearing that the woman hung up the phone, but the man still pleaded for the woman to “see for herself.” The man seemed desperate at the end to convince the woman that she and him were not much different at all, which is also why I believe that he told her that the soles of his feet and palms of his hands were the same color as her. I believe that she hung up after hearing that part because of the racism in that era. She didn’t want to hear that she could have anything in common with the black man on the phone. This poem seems to be a reminder that racism may be not as great as it was back then, but it does still exist today.
ReplyDeleteIt astonishes me they way people were treated just based off the color of their skin in the early 1900s. This man is said to be talking to a landlady and is trying to buy a home or something and the first question she wants to know is "how dark?" The proceeds to ask him again and again continuing to want a response. This woman doesn't seem to be interested in anything else about this man. If he's buying this home shouldn't you be more concerned about his financial situation than anything. Thankfully in today's society we have become more excepting of others and their culture backgrounds and skin color. Especially coming to a school like D'Youville College, you see diversity everyday. Whether its the obvious like skin color, or career choices, wealth and personal likes/dislikes. The school and the neighborhood around us are very culturally diverse and overall D'Youville as a whole seems to be respectful of the many differences. Going back to the poem, at the end this man is begging her, just as he knows she is going to hang up on him, to give him a chance. He is telling her that he is just as equal to give him a shot. Then the poem just ends.. does the landlady give him a chance? Does she put aside his skin color? My guess would be, no.
ReplyDeleteI liked that this poem didn't come right out and say what it was talking about; it took me a few reads to get it. This poem was very sad. It highlighted the racist practices that were still prevalent in the 1900s in a way that somehow struck a chord with me. The imagery was powerful, as was the writing style. I felt like I was there with him in the telephone box as he felt confusion and utter disbelief when she kept asking him about the color of his skin. I could hear the desperation in his voice as he pleaded with her to not hang up on him, as he asked if she would at least want to meet him. All that this poor man wanted was a place to stay, and she couldn't give him that because of the color of his skin, even if she wouldn't be living on the premises with him. The sheer fact that people were actually treated this way, and still are to some degree, sickens me. Personally, I've always had a hard time understanding how people can be so ignorant as to put themselves above someone else based off of something as superficial as skin color.
ReplyDeleteTelephone Conversation showed the racism that existed in the early 1900s. Today it is hard to imagine someone not being able to find an apartment just because of the color of one’s skin. The landlady the author describes seems to be of wealth. “Lipstick coated, long gold rolled cigarette holder pipped.” The author describes her as wealthy possibly to show that anyone can be racist, regardless of wealth, gender, or level of education. The author also describes himself using words such as sepia or brunette. The woman seems not to understand and needs a more dumbed down explanation. People of this era looked down upon African Americans and thought many negative things about them, including believing that they are not as smart. I think this is why the author shows the woman not understanding him to show that he is smarter than her. The man then seems to mess with the lady by throwing out a large amount of words that she wouldn’t understand, further showing his intelligence. The man tries to relate to the land lady by stating that his hands and feet were the same color as her. The last description the author gives the lady is of his “raven black bottom”. The author then shows humor after by asking if she would rather see for herself. This poem shows the stupidity of racism and how a person is unable to judge another because of their race or appearance.
ReplyDelete