Zitkala Sa

Zitkala Sa was a young indian girl. She had an innocence about her that was shown through most of her passage. Her mother warned her of paleface's like the one's who had taken the life of her sister and uncle. Her mother also told her that when she was as tall as her cousin (sunflower) she also could do certain things. In her mothers' eyes she was the best thing the world could offer, she was her entertainment, and also her reason of being. In reality I believe this passage sent the message of how indian life really was. Bonnin was raised in a family at this point in time that consisted of only her mother. I mean yes they were a very close community in which the older generation called the children their grandchildren, but in reality it was just her and her mother sent off to survive in a wilderness full of hardships. This passage showed the struggle of how indians lived, and how their only way to give their children an education was to send them off with white people, whom they disliked strongly. The tribe believed strongly in spirits, and everything had a reason. For example, the growing of the plum tree was not just because of the planting of seeds, but rather it was because of the man burried beneath it that the bush grew so strong. The mother never wanted to send her daughter off, with everything she had she wanted to keep her dear and close to her. But in the same sence she knew that was the only way to better her future, was to send her off to a strange land offered to them by the people that took so much away from indians.

Washington and Du Bois

Through reading Washington's address I learned that he was very interested in the freedom and equality of colored to whites. He states that Blacks should be treated equally in education, jobs, politics, voting, and every mannor possible to whites. Du Bois admitts in the beginning of his passage that Washington is dedicated to helping the southern blacks, and instead of letting them follow a path he formed a way of life. In many different parts of Du Bois's article he states how Washington is a successful man, but yet there are parts where he differs with his opinion.

Du Bois seems to pick appart every aspect of Washington, his views, actions and way of life. For example, he talks about how Washington makes a fool of himself persay while at dinners and such events with important people, by bringing race and other non-necessary conversation to hand. It is also stated that some of the blacks regret learning his theories, and forgive him which to me proves they respect him, just have learned from him to learn more about the culture they live in. He also feels that Washingtons ideas led to the hault of higher education for blacks, the giving up of insisting civil rights and political power. But if you look at Washingtons' veiw point it doesn't seem to be what he's asking for at all. Maybe that's just me. Du Bois seems to feel that all Washington wants out of this whole mess is to strive for business accomplishment. He believes that Washington will deprive the blacks of everything they have to become noble with business.. This is where their views differ a lot.

In all I was kind of confused by Du Bois because he seems to agree with Washingtons intentions, but yet he totally dissagree's with them in the same aspects. Washingtons sides seem to want to help the blacks of the south to gain prosperity, noblty jobs and such other higher status things than they had previously had since being free, but Du Bois looks at all of this as a hinder to them because they must give up many things like higher education to recieve an effect that is way down the road. So in everything I feel that Du Bois agrees that the blacks should be helped but he finds the ways that Washington does them is the wrong way to go about it. I hope this answers it well enough.