America: To Speak or Not to Speak

Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a speech about his views on the war in Vietnam titled “Beyond Vietnam-- A Time to Break Silence.” King gives seven reasons as to why he is against the war. During his time, King parallels the use of violence in Vietnam and the violence in black communities. King also  expresses his compassion for the young men of his time who feel violence is the only answer. King knows that America was being hypocritical since they were promoting violence in Vietnam. For example, King says, “I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today -- my own government” (3).  In other words, King knows he can not convince the people he deals with first hand  to believe violence is not the answer when their government is says the opposite. In the year 2015 young men from lower social classes are turning against each other and their communities. Therefore, King’s speech is relevant to the times we as Americans are going through now because even though there are solutions to the problem of violence and racism in poorer communities the problems still exist.

King showed compassion for men from lower social classes; who are poor. King also speaks  out on how he is against the choice of men joining the army. King says, “I could not be silent in such cruel manipulation of the poor” (2). King feels the poor are being manipulated  into joining the war because they feel there is no other option. Today, America’s poverty rates have risen, which in turn is making these impoverished communities want to rebel. The government still does not do enough to help the poor. Sending the men to be in the military leaves women and children in danger being left to fend for themselves. Yet the government will put money into projects that help people who are in good standing in life. For example, the government spends about 2.6 million dollars on awareness of chinese prostitutes drinking more responsibly. This just shows the type of situations America feels are more important than the abundance of poor people in their country. King brought up this point about the war, but America continues to be selfish and not be willing to help the people that they are exploiting for their selfish gain.

In addition to King speaking on how he feels about the use of the poor, he also reveals another way America is hypocritical. While white and black men can fight together in the war, they still would be segregated outside of the war. Racism does still exist in today’s time. From a personal experience of living in Atlanta, Georgia, I became the target of racism. I went to a predominantly white private school in the year 2011. The students would not speak to me or sit directly next to me in the cafeteria or classrooms. Even the teachers would ask questions that were based off of stereotypes such as, “Is your father around?”. I attended this private school because the public school lacked vital materials needed for a proper education such as enough textbooks for the students. The public school was predominantly minority students. The school board still did not give more money to fund the school and help the lower class children. King also was against the war due to funding being taken from a campaign to help the poor which was (The Poor People’s Campaign). King saw the injustice in taking the money away from people who were in need of it.

Finally King gave examples as to ways we could solve these issues of violence and racism. For example the issue of racism there have been numerous solutions such as bonding and ending segregation if we are letting these men fight and die together, but you can not change the way a person thinks. For the issue on our lower social class with people using violence as an outlet, why not let the American government be the example for peaceful protests and peaceful outlets for problems? I feel there should be more money put into helping people rather than tearing them down. King shows such compassion as a leader and just as a person with respectable morals for the people of the Ghettos who face violence and exploitation both of which still plague our communities.

James Mcbride, the author of “The Color Of Water”  said, “If you have the material it will form itself as a kind of connective tissue”(45) . Mcbride is saying that as long as you have the material to being with you you can accomplish things because they will work with you. Americans need to work together instead of against each other. If Americans took the stand to join together in hopes to prevent violence and speak out on it as a whole, changes would be possible. The only solution for America’s problems is to bring attention to them. Just as King uses his speech to bring attention to his feelings about the war in Vietnam, America needs to speak out on the issues of poverty and exploitation.

Freedom : Fact or Fiction

The concept of freedom can mean something different to everyone. The concept stems from the level of freedom you feel you already have in your life. When people think of freedom they think mostly of liberty which includes freedom of speech. The definition of liberty is being able to do things of your own will as long as it does not affect someone else from doing the same. (Websters Dictionary).  James Mcbride the author of The Good Lord Bird  introduces two characters named Pie and Sibonia. Mcbride portrays Pie to be better or of higher rank and social status than Sabonia. While Sibonia is  presented as a mentally ill outside slave. Pie runs a “whore” house and would be considered the “main whore” but she  has someone with more authority than her as well, Ms.Abby.  Ms. Abby is Pie’s owner and has the power to take away the material things that Pie cherishes. While Pie is held on a silver platter by onion the reader is to think Sibonia is only a mentally ill slave, which of these two women is actually free? Pie may be in better living conditions than Sibonia but Sibonia has everyone fooled about her mental illness which is to her advantage. Without Ms. Abby  Pie would be a regular slave being subjected to sexual abuse and manual labor making Sibonia ultimately more free than Pie.  

Pie is described as a beautiful mulatto woman who got to live in a house with nice clothes and authority. Pie was the “main whore” which explains why she has so much authority. Pie did not have full freedom of speech because she always watched what she said around Ms.Abby. How could she possibly be free if she does not feel she has freedom of speech? Pie is also putting on a disguise for herself as a woman who fears no one and is happy with the way she is living. Pie shows fear throughout most of her introduction, she became on edge when she found out that Onion was indeed a boy posing as a girl, “You gonna get me hanged” she says. ( 152). She shows fears by knowing the type of punishment she may receive if Ms.Abby finds out what she knows. Pie fears for her life because she knows she can be replaced.

Pie is now holding onto a secret about someone’s true identity just like Sibonia is holding onto Pie and Onion’s secrets. Pie is portrayed as the type of woman who would do anything and hurt anyone to keep her social status and material possessions which shows she is very materialistic. She tells Onion when he is hiding under her bed, “Git outta here, cow face. And if any of my money’s missing while you’re in this town, I’ll cut your throat so wide, you’ll have two sets of leps working at the top of your neck.” ( 151).  She threatens and uses her authority to intimidate people as a defense mechanism. It is a defense mechanism because she is afraid to even seem as if she is showing weakness or compassion. She has to put on a facade of security when she knows that one wrong word could end her perfect world as she knows it.

Now Sibonia on the other hand was faking mentally ill for protection. She needed to be protected from manual labor and sexual abuse while plotting her rebellion. Sibonia although has freedom to speak and use her  knowledge but she is confined to being in a pen because of the color of her skin. Meanwhile Sibonia is described as a dark-skinned woman who lived outside in a pen wearing rags and seemed to be mentally ill. Freedom is having the ability to be your true self and not be limited or have to conform. Freedom is being able to be acknowledged by your personality and character rather than your skin color. Mcbride does show freedom of speech from Sibonia. When Sibonia is asked about plotting the rebellion she responds, “I am the woman,” she said and I am not ashamed or afraid to confess it.” (175). Sibonia is strong willed and brave for standing up for something she believed in.

Furthermore, Pie does not know the meaning of freedom because she will always have to rely on someone else to keep them safe. Even though being treated well she does not know the feeling of making her own decision other than the choice of who she sleeps with. While given the choice the fact is that she still has to sleep with someone. Ms.Abby wouldn’t keep her there if she was not working as well. She always has to look over her shoulder because just as she may double cross someone it could also happen to her if she did not keep up the facade she needed in order to keep her decent life. Yes, Pie and Sabonia are both being treated as slaves but Sibonia was no one’s slave because she was able to speak for herself, and once given the chance she was able to be herself. Without Ms.Abby Pie would be nothing because she is the source of the life she lives.

To bring back the definition of freedom, freedom is the ability to be independent, fearless and have your own identity. Sibonia make an identity for herself in order to pursue life in a way she felt would benefit her. Sibonia may have not been happy but she was content with life. She had nothing to lose, she was brave and took full responsibility for her actions.  Pie will always hesitate because her social status is more important to her than actually being free. Sibonia can stand on her own while Pie would not even open her mouth to jeopardize what she had. Sibonia had the chance to live a live that she wanted and do something she wanted which was use her knowledge to plot a rebellion. The ability to stand on her own fearlessly and speak freely, That is true freedom.