#HI, THIS IS GOING TO BE AS THE SAME ASSIGNMENT YOU DID LAST TIME

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Over the past few weeks we have been spending our time discussing “The History of African American Entertainment” the artists who have made substantial impacts to the genre, to the culture at large and how we view these values, issues, histories, and social conflicts today as we reflect on the past.

We have been doing this with the vehicle and lens of Art and entertainment, the compelling stories and dynamic characters of our recent Black American History that have sprung from the roots, remembering’s and re-telling’s of what actually happened in our past and how we as a society wrestled with it then, and today.

This week you watched Dutchman. Here we have a playwright who are challenging our view of the past and how the struggle for certain races to succeed, forced to assimilate into a white dominated world view are hampered and faltered not only by modern society, the social norms and decorum or – code of conduct – of the day, but also by the personal struggle and need for self identity in the face of a very rooted value system (Jim crow) that had been lived in and ascribed to since the days after Reconstruction.

Now that you have done the reading and are able to reflect over the past two weeks, I would like you to wrestle with this quote from Notes on Dutchman.

“Baraka challenges the black community to produce art that portrays the human condition, and provides The Dutchman as a paradigm”………”It must be produced from the legitimate emotional resources of the soul in the world. It can never be produced by evading these resources”

– What is the human condition that Baraka speaks to?

– How is the SYMBOL of the Dutchman (The name of an infamous 18th century slave ship) and the train that the play takes place in provide a “PARADIGM” for more effective storytelling?

– How do we understand the human condition (as Baraka sees it) in a better way?

– What do you feel are “legitimate emotional resources of the soul“?

– What does Baraka mean when he says this? Do you agree with his stance? Why or why not?

Now, as we look at this topic through the lens of our present day and 2018, how do you feel we are doing as a society in providing entertainment and the telling of stories (Theatre, film, T.V.) about civil rights generally, black history, and how we have progressed as a society since the first time that Dutchman or A Raisin in the Sun, first made an impact on the American public and body-politic?

Minimum 150 words – Use complete sentences and correct grammar.

Part 2: Your Comments: Read and respond to two other students’ answers. Make sure you are specific and identify who and what you are responding to.

Remember, your answer needs to be at least 150 words total and use proper English grammar and syntax, and you must reply to at least two other students’ posts.

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THIS IS FOR PART 2:

RESPOND TO THIS: 1-

The human condition that Baraka speaks of is the way that African Americans were treated in the past and how that came with discrimination as well as harsh segregation. It is was no secret that African Americans were mistreated just because of their skin color as appose to whites. As we watched the Dutchman, there was a clear understanding that clay represented black America, while Lala represented white America. Lala lures and seduces Clay into her ways as they are in a subway, which represented exactly what it was at that time where black America were seduced by white America. Although, Clay (black America) was seduced by Lala (white America) because he wanted to live the American dream he didn’t let his guard down because he knew no matter what white America will never let him have the things white people have with that came the American dream. There’s no surprise there but the fact that white America seduces black America into thinking they can have it all and at the end takes any chances of them reaching for their dreams.

The symbol of the Dutchman and the train being where the whole play takes place represents a paradigm because it was portrayed as the slave ship in the 18th century. Clay was seduced into thinking that he can have it all the whole package of the American dream, which is what exactly what Lala was doing to him knowing that he wouldn’t be able. This made a more effective storyteller because the way Clay and Lala represented both sides were done perfectly because white America had complete control over black America by promising everything they can have. Baraka made it perfectly known of what the play was portraying of both sides of America mostly black America and what they are going through with white America.

I understand the human condition better because of the way Baraka portrayed the play of white America and black America. It made me realize how much white people have control of black people by manipulating them into thinking that they can get and do whatever white people have. For example when Lala seduced Clay into talking to her and then Lala becomes crazy with Clay until he had enough and hit her. I felt like that was the plan the whole time because at the end Lala killed him. That’s how powerful the control of white people have over black people.

I believe legitimate emotional resources from the soul are things that mean the most to a person and when expressing it will portray exact passion for it. There can be world related situations or personal, but no matter what it is it will always be said with a passion. I agree with Baraka because I do believe that most of the African Americans had to go through hat he portrayed in the play and I know there’s many other stories out there that need be told.

I think there has been massive progress in the entertainment industry, but we can do more. We do have more black casts out there now and showing their great talents even have lead roles that have changed the industry.

AND THIS 2:

– What is the human condition that Baraka speaks to?

• Baraka speaks to both White and Black America. One could say that he is speaking to the Black community about how mistreated they are by the White America/ community but I think he is shedding light on both. He is showing how White America is treating Black America and how it is unfair and unjust in multiple ways from the very beginning until the very end. He is speaking to the Black community that no matter how educated or well off they are doing, White America will accuse and treat Blacks a certain way, despite their hard work and efforts.

– How is the SYMBOL of the Dutchman (The name of an infamous 18th century slave ship) and the train that the play takes place in provide a “PARADIGM” for more effective storytelling?

• I think that it is very effective when storytelling because as the movie progressed, the crowd of people started getting bigger and it reminded me of a ship picking up more passengers. It also represented a ship very well especially at the end when he was killed and everyone picked him up to take him out of the “train” ship. It also showed how Whites control Blacks on a ship like how they did with a slave ship.

– How do we understand the human condition (as Baraka sees it) in a better way?

• We understand how White America treated/ treats Black America on a daily basis in numerous ways. First, by being accused and assumed of our surnames and our upbringing just because of skin color. We then see how White America is tolerated despite how disgusting Lula was acting. It shows that only when Clay acts out, that it is unacceptable and disgusting. When he was trying to hold it in for so long and finally couldn’t handle it anymore. He shows us a raw and dark light of how history is repeating in the modern day.

– What do you feel are “legitimate emotional resources of the soul“?

• I believe that legitimate emotional resources of the soul include passion, empathy, compassion, and security. To feel free and open with how you are truly feeling about how your soul is reflecting is based on what makes you feel secure and passionate about. When you are passionate and confident about speaking/ describing about what you’re proud and passionate about is REAL AND LEGIT. When you see someone elses’ hurt and situation and you feel compassion and see the pain, you start to learn more about your soul than you ever knew.

– What does Baraka mean when he says this? Do you agree with his stance? Why or why not?

• I think Baraka is trying to describe that this how all Blacks feel and are going through. I agree that what he described in the movie is what MOST of the Blacks felt and endured. I just think that there was a lot of unfortunate events unsaid and that we should leave room for others to tell us their story.

Now, as we look at this topic through the lens of our present day and 2018, how do you feel we are doing as a society in providing entertainment and the telling of stories (Theatre, film, T.V.) about civil rights generally, black history, and how we have progressed as a society since the first time that Dutchman or A Raisin in the Sun, first made an impact on the American public and body-politic?

• I think that we are progressing extremely fast to where we SHOULD be but we are not there yet. We now have BET and shows that have all Black casts and have shows that just recognize the Black entertainers and performers who have changed the entertainment industry and made a difference. Another great movie was Black Panther which hit records!

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