Impressions of an Indian Childhood

This was definitely a sad story. I thought it was ironic that on page 1008, Bonnin states, "She taught me no fear save that of intruding myself upon others", yet in the end, her lack of fear seems to contribute to the sadness she feels in leaving her mother to be in the "hands of strangers whom my mother did not fully trust" (1019). It seems as if Bonnin is writing about her memories of a happy child and the story ends where her new, uncertain life will begin. The main message she seems to be trying to relay is that as a child, she was so excited about going to live with the "palefaces" and pick apples from an apple tree, yet she had no idea what kind of effect leaving her mother and culture behind would have on her. She was so excited about going with the missionaries that she failed to recognize the importance of the bond she had with her mother and neighbors and I think she feels as though she lost a huge part of herself in the move she made. She recalls all these happy memories and probably feels extremely guilty looking back, realizing the significance of the "decision" she had made. I don't necessarily understand why her mother allowed her go to with the missionaries, as she herself did not trust them and told Bonnin not to believe their lies.

The title of this story is important to me as "Impressions of an Indian Childhood" seems to hint toward the existence of a non-Indian childhood. Bonnin seems to be writing this story with the attitude as though her life had changed significantly (obviously) after she went East with the missionaries. She takes the time to specify her age at key events and even says, "The first turning away from the easy, natural flow of my life occurred in an early spring" when referring to when she left her mother (1017). She remembers her childhood prior to leaving with the missionaries as being "easy" and seems to have many vivid, happy memories. She more than likely regrests leaving and feels naive for ever believing that leaving her family and culture behind would be a great experience. If I had to choose one main idea through reading this story, I would have to say that it is to value one's homeland, customs, and culture as Bonnin appeared to be torn between her feelings toward her childhood with her mother and her desire to go East and become educated by the missionaries. Her story focuses heavily on her relationship with her mother so I believe this story deals with the importance of family and never wanting to neglect one's way of life.

Du Bois and Washington

Booker T Washington states, "It is important and right that all privileges of the law be ours, but it is vastly more important that we be prepared for the exercises of these privileges" (763). Washington Obviously hates racism and prejudice and attempts to find a solution for dealing with these issues in America. He states that he is aware of the criticism of his ideas and statements but fully believes he is right and will continue to stand for what he believes in. Washington believes that equal rights will come to the blacks-in time. He tries to always be somewhat politically correct in that he never comes out and fully blames Whites for the oppression of his race and he admits that blacks need to put forth effort to make changes as well. He believes in universal suffrage yet he makes a comment about blacks he knows of have become wealthy with the help of Whites but would refuse to ask those same Whites for advice in casting their ballots. He appears slightly ambiguous in his beliefs about universal suffrage, almost criticising his own race for avoiding collaboration with Whites by reason of principle. He states as well that he believes the voting tests should be designed equally to prevent the case in which he mentions a poor, uneducated Black cannot vote while a white man of the same status is allowed. Washington almost seems to underestimate the capabilities of Blacks when he states that they must realize that "there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem". He continuously mentions that racism is not going to end overnight and that blacks must learn to be content and feel dignity in everything they do and not feel less human in comparison with Whites and the jobs they perform. He states that Blacks must begin at the bottom and work their way to the top and not expect equality overnight. He encourages Whites to see the benefits of free blacks and for all to come together to form one nation and encourages the blacks to be patient throughout the process yet he admits that this time will come when the Whites are ready to grant equality to the blacks.
Du Bois points out that Washington did have many triumphs but also made many mistakes in his ideas. He refers to Washington as a "compromiser between the South, the North, and the Negro" (888). His most compelling argument against Washington is that he "accepts the alleged inferiority of the Negro races"(889). He believes that Washington implies that the Blacks can only survive by being submissive. He criticises Washington's expecting Blacks to give up political power, civil rights and higher education and focus on accumulating wealth. Du Bois adds that Washington's ideas are ambiguous in that he expects Blacks to become wealthy business-men yet without suffrage, this would be impossible. He believes that the constant prejudice against Blacks is a result of their degradation yet Washington himself underestimates (thus degrades) Blacks. Du Bois believes that Washington's efforts have in effect pushed the burden of equality from the nations' shoulders to the Blacks' alone. He does add that Thrift, Patience and Industrial Training for all are great principles of Washington's but he counter-acts his own principles and beliefs by appearing to apologize to the Whites for things that were out of the Blacks hands. Du Bois appears to be angry at Washington for apologizing for the blacks and expecting them to temporarily settle for less than equality in order to appease the Whites into eventually granting equality.
When first reading Washington's address, my first thought was that he appears to be trying to flatter the Whites into eventually agreeing with him and granting equality. He does appear to be convincing Blacks to "pick their battles" but I also felt as though he made a lot of genuine statements as well. He makes it clear that he does not expect special privileges for Blacks, but only wants to be equal. He scorns the fact that uneducated Whites have more privileges than uneducated Blacks. He appears to be trying to motivate and encourage his own race to be proud of who they are and help them recognize that they are not yet equal and they must take baby steps to eventually one day get there. Du Bois obviously wants equality as well but resents the fact that Washington feels the need to announce the inferiority of Blacks in order to do so. Washington's beliefs seem to be more of a compromise between the two races where Du Bois feels no need to apologize for Blacks' inferiority when it wasn't their fault they were inferior in the first place. He does not feel that Blacks should have to compromise their dignity and "pick their battles" to get what they rightly deserve. Both Washington and Du Bois have the same goals, they simply differ in what they are willing to compromise to obtain them.