“Standing by my mother’s living-room window, I tried, tentatively, to ask her why our world was burning, burning. She gave me a forbidding look: Boy, be quiet so you can survive, her eyes seemed to say.” This quote, written by Hilton Als , provides insight into his childhood. By this, Al is describing the deep-seated issues that blacks faced in the 1960s. This quote provides significance to the overall narrative because it helps to reinforce the said struggles blacks faced. The quote introduces an emotional element direct from Al’s childhood, where he was living in a tumultuous and intense time filled with uncertainty and violence.
In addition to the previous quote, Al also writes, “Like any number of black boys in those neighborhoods, I grew up in a matrilineal society, where I had been taught the power—the necessity—of silence.” Al meant to highlight the fear that he and most other young black men felt at the time. He mentions that, blacks weren’t safe anywhere. “No place was safe…” Al states that the laws, the police, the landlords, shopkeepers, all of society were against them. Again, Al includes this in his article, to highlight the fearfulness he and many others experienced in a system that was against them. He describes many conflicting emotions at the time, of wanting to be strong enough to protect his mother, whilst understanding the importance of silence in a volatile social climate.
I found the quote, “Hope dies all the time. And yet we need to believe that it will come back and attach itself to a new cause—a new love, a new house, something that gives us a sense of purpose, which is ultimately what hope is.”, to be very intriguing. Drawing similarities to our current social climate. I think it’s important to hold onto hope. It is definitely worrying to see how history is repeating itself today. However, like I’ve mentioned in previous posts, it is important for us as individuals to try and preserve unity and community in our lives. Too often in the media are misleading and questionable reports that can splinter relationships far too easily.
Hope is important. Despite the brutality and impunity on many occasions, I believe, there is still hope for a better world where everyone are treated equally and fair.
It is surreal that people need to be taught from young to keep their silence, Our society has created such an unfair and cruel reality that as a child there is no escape and you need to be taught how to survive going through regular everyday life.
I agree with how the authority treats black people. The authority should be there to help everyone who needs it. The authority should not look down on blacks. Instead, the authority should that blacks are like any other human being and they should help them whenever they need it.