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As the black people in "Big Meeting" and the immigrants from "In Cuba, I was a German Shepherd" feel the sorrow of powerlessness because of their low social position in society, the African Americans in the short story, "Everything That Rises Must Converge" experience grief because of the deep-rooted negative stereotypes that White Americans still have about Black Americans in twentieth century America.
Even though the era of slavery had passed, Whites, including Julian's mother and a woman with red and white canvas sandals, have prejudices and stereotypes about Blacks. As soon as the Black man sits down, the woman with the red and white canvas sandals leaves the seat and Julian's mother whispers to her son, "Now you see why I won't ride on these buses by myself" (59). Julian's mother, whose father had a plantation and two hundred slaves, could not break her negative stereotypes about Blacks; therefore, she does not want her son to talk with the Black man who rides on a bus, just because he is Black.
In the story, readers can see that Black Americans have achieved wealth; this is suggested by the appearances of several of the African-American characters. A Black man who rides on the bus is very well-dressed and carries a briefcase (59). Then, a Black woman appears on the bus with the same hat as Julian's mother. But even though Black people have achieved wealth, they are still regarded as powerless minorities by White people, and they feel the sorrow of powerlessness. Economics cannot fix their situation. It is something beyond money; it is intangible.
The historical economic superiority of whites is in the story. For example, the Black woman, Carver's mother, feels insulted as Julian's mother gives a penny to her child--a condescending gesture that concerns Julian. The penny that Julian's mother gives to the Black child is a symbol of her pride and feeling of superiority as a White person.
Blacks such as Carver's mother and the Black man who carries a briefcase are victims of deeply rooted prejudices of majority group members (the Whites), and their sorrow of powerlessness results from White people's narrow-minded views and actions toward them. Some Black people try to overcome their sorrow of powerlessness by pointing out the ignorant behaviors of the Whites. Carver's mother says strongly to Julian's mother, "He don't take nobody's pennies" (373). By pointing out the disrespectful behavior of Julian's mother, Carver's mother tries to let her know that Whites do not need to patronize the Blacks because they are equal as humans.
Even though the era of slavery had passed, Whites, including Julian's mother and a woman with red and white canvas sandals, have prejudices and stereotypes about Blacks. As soon as the Black man sits down, the woman with the red and white canvas sandals leaves the seat and Julian's mother whispers to her son, "Now you see why I won't ride on these buses by myself" (59). Julian's mother, whose father had a plantation and two hundred slaves, could not break her negative stereotypes about Blacks; therefore, she does not want her son to talk with the Black man who rides on a bus, just because he is Black.
In the story, readers can see that Black Americans have achieved wealth; this is suggested by the appearances of several of the African-American characters. A Black man who rides on the bus is very well-dressed and carries a briefcase (59). Then, a Black woman appears on the bus with the same hat as Julian's mother. But even though Black people have achieved wealth, they are still regarded as powerless minorities by White people, and they feel the sorrow of powerlessness. Economics cannot fix their situation. It is something beyond money; it is intangible.
The historical economic superiority of whites is in the story. For example, the Black woman, Carver's mother, feels insulted as Julian's mother gives a penny to her child--a condescending gesture that concerns Julian. The penny that Julian's mother gives to the Black child is a symbol of her pride and feeling of superiority as a White person.
Blacks such as Carver's mother and the Black man who carries a briefcase are victims of deeply rooted prejudices of majority group members (the Whites), and their sorrow of powerlessness results from White people's narrow-minded views and actions toward them. Some Black people try to overcome their sorrow of powerlessness by pointing out the ignorant behaviors of the Whites. Carver's mother says strongly to Julian's mother, "He don't take nobody's pennies" (373). By pointing out the disrespectful behavior of Julian's mother, Carver's mother tries to let her know that Whites do not need to patronize the Blacks because they are equal as humans.