Dreaming Black Boy BY: JAMES BERRY
By: Sherica Sherica Taylor Taylor Kai Walcott
James
Berry
Born in Jamaica in 1925 James Berry wrote about the racial prejudices he experienced when he moved to the United States and later when he settled in Great Britain. When he moved he faced much hardship as a black man in a predominantly white society and resented it.
Dreaming Black Boy I wish my teacher's eyes wouldn't go past me today. Wish he'd know it's okay to hug me when I kick a goal. Wish I myself wouldn't hold back when answer comes. I'm no woodchopper now like all ancestors. I wish that I could be educated to the best of tune up, and earn good money and not sink to lick boots. I wish I could go on every crisscross way of the globe and no persons or powers or hotel keepers would make it a waste. I wish life wouldn't spend me out opposing. Wish same way creation would have me stand it would have me stretch, and hold high, my voice Paul Robeson's, my inside eye a sun. Nobody wants to say hello to nasty answers.
Dreaming Black Boy
I wish torch throwers of night would burn lights for decent times. Wish plotters in pyjamas would pray for themselves. Wish people wouldn't talk as if I dropped from Mars. I wish only boys were scared behind bravados, for I could suffer. I could suffer a big big lot. I wish nobody would want to earn the terrible burden I can suffer.
Breakdown y
³I'm no woodchopper now like all ancestors.´- He¶s no longer a slave like his ancestors.
³I wish that I could be educated to the best of tune up´ ± He longs to be educated as best a possible.
³Paul Robeson's, my inside eye a sun.´- Paul Robeson was a prominent black man in society who represented hope .
³I wish torch throwers of night would burn lights for decent times. Wish plotters in pyjamas would pray for themselves.´- He wishes that anti-black groups, notably the K.K.K known for lynching (burn light)would do good and help themselves to turn from their bad ways.
Summary Dreaming Black Boy takes readers into the mind of a young boy who has great dreams and aspirations ,whose development is hindered because of a racially prejudice society that ignore, offend and put down black people. The persona in this society therefore faces indifference, humiliation, fear and stress.
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A nalysis
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Dreaming Black Boy expresses the want for justice and recognition of black people in society through the eyes of it¶s most vulnerable member, a child. He uses the phrase, ³I wish,´ to show his longing, and great desire for equality in his society. He hopes to be successful by earning good money. Though he is at the bottom of society he has dreams of becoming more than the average black man, ³..and not sink to lick boots.´
A nalysis
(cont.)
He looks to a famous black person in society as a sign of hope and motivation, that he can be more than his color but someone admirable, despite the fact that he is constantly oppressed by the white majority and extremists like the K.K.K. Finally he expresses his desire for change and hopes that no one would experience his present situation.
Figurative Devices Repetition ³I wish´-The constant repetition of I wish shows that it is indeed a child, as this is how children express their desires. ³I could suffer´ and ³big´- Reinforces the horror of society. It also highlights the fear of the black child and the restrictions imposed on blacks in a racist society.
Contrast
³I wish my teachers eyes wouldn't go past me today,´- A teacher is to be fair but instead is not. Symbolism ³My inside eye a sun,´-The persona see¶s James Robeson as a fascinating person who is intelligent and provides hope for the future.
A lliteration
³Wish plotters in pygamas would pray..´
Themes y
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Racism Childhood A ttitude to power and authority Injustice Dreams and A spirations
Race Test Match Sabina Park Theme for English B Epitaph y
Longing Forgive My Guilt South y
Bibliography y
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McWatt, Mark. Simmons-McDonald, Hazel.(2005). A World of Poetry for CXC. Dreaming Black Boy. Heinenmann Educational Publishers. Wilson-Strann, Sharon. (2008). Poetry for the CSEC English B Examination. Dreaming Black Boy . Macmillan Publishers Limited.
