Mianna Lucas

Professor Karen Redding

English 1102

11June2012

A Change Going to Come

When change is imminent out of the change also comes fear and uncertainty. Which can have a

positive or negative reaction along with it. In their articles Fixing Race: Visual Representations of African

Americans at the World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893 By: Bridget R. Cooks and By Invitation

Only: The American Library Association and the Woman’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago ,1893 Wayne

A. Wiegand and Sarah Wadsworth, they argue that African-Americans and women, as minorities did not

have the opportunity to experience the fair and were not represented fairly. This unfairness shows that

both groups experienced ignorance from other groups, even though both groups were becoming more

visible in society.

Both authors suggest that the displays at the world’s fair didn’t depict/show their groups as they

really were. They were mocked as being less than human as described by Bridget R. Cooks “ Like all

the fictional black character types, the Uncle shares the characteristics of exaggerated facial features

including oversized lips,often tinted right pink or red to contrast with brown of his skin. His eyes are

sometimes shown as large saucer-like circles with the whites visible on the outer edges of the iris. (Cooks

440) For the women they became seen as only a domestic figure with no place in the public. Wiegand

and Wadsworth “While upholding the distinction between women and men, the exhibits and events in

the Woman’s Building sought to extend the range of women’s domestic activities into the public arena”.

(Wiegand and Wadsworth 701)

In the fair there was also not enough examples of the groups and as stated by Wiegand and Wadsworth

that most “ values associated with separate-sphere ideology, which assigned women to the privacy of the

home barred them from participation in public life.” (Wiegand and Wadsworth 701) This was the mindset

of most people at the fair who didn’t want this group to have a exhibit

They argue that neither african-americans nor women had a say in the displays and couldn’t

experience the fair in the same way. As Bridget R. Cooks tells reader about how illustrator Peter Newell

depiction of cartoon about African American family named The Johnson family. Cooks “Newell’s

imagination, the Johnson family is unaware of these struggles for cultural representation. Unengaged

with the political dimension of the event and left behind in the progressive vision that the fair represents,

the family goes through the exposition shocked, surprised and displaced”. (Cooks 453) Both groups

are ignored at the fair and they were separated out and not included. As stated by Wayne A. Wiegand

and Sarah Wadsworth “The Columbian Exposition was relentlessly exclusive even as it conveyed the

image of openness and inclusiveness. In many of the exhibits, visitors would have found little that

documented the contributions of women, the working classes, and other marginalized groups. Prejudice

against these groups was often most conspicuous in their absence. Buildings representing Deep South

states, for example, exhibited displays that celebrated white cultures and sectional heritage but paid little

attention to the cultural contributions and heritage of the millions of African Americans living in their

midst” The groups was being ignored even after helping they were treated like they had nothing to with

the new change taking place as stated by Cook “Ignoring African Americans’ participation as part of

the exposition’s construction team helped to enforce the invisibility of African Americans not only as

contributors to the fair but also, on a larger scale, as contributors to the nation’s progress. (Cooks 462)

For the women and African Americans a positive change came for both of the groups. They both

became seen in public and whether or not it was liked didn’t matter. With these group they didn’t take

no for an answer and realized they had just as much right to be apart of the fair and the world as anybody

else did. They showed not only were they here but they were to stay and become a force to be reckoned

with.

Work Cited

Cooks, Bridget R. "Fixing Race: Visual Representations Of African Americans At The World's

Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893." Patterns Of Prejudice 41.5 (2007): 435-465. Academic Search

Complete. Web. 11 June 2012.

Wiegand, Wayne A., and Sarah Wadsworth. "By Invitation Only: The American Library Association And

The Woman's Building Library Of The World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893." Signs: Journal Of

Women In Culture & Society 35.3 (2010): 699-722. Academic Search Complete. Web. 11 June 2012.

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Mianna Lucas

Professor Karen Redding

English 1102

18 June2012

I once read a Japanese proverb that stated, “The silent man is the best to listen to.” This

saying is a testament to say that people who refrain from being overly vocal are often observant

and give much thought to their conversation before producing their words. Therefore, when they

speak, their words speak volumes. Unlike, those who don’t think before they speak and their

loose lips have sunk many ships. In “Brownies” Z.Z. Packer theme, “The loudest person does

not necessarily has the most vocal strength and power” this theme gives validity to the Japanese

proverb.

In “Brownies” the characters Arnett the loudest, and Daphne the quietest, they both have

overpowering positions. The character’s tone of voice are described to establish the difference

in their characteristics. Arnett tone of voice is described as being upholstered with confidence

that’s both regal and vulgar at the same time. Statements like " Snot, you’re not going to be a

bitch and tell Mrs.Margolin, are you” are the type of statements Arnett are known to make at

times which are belittling and overwhelming to others. Daphne voice is described as being

petite and tinkly. Daphne hardly spoke, she is a person who allows her actions to speak for her.

When all the other girls allowed Arnett to dominate them with her words, Daphne ignored

Arnett and her friend Octavia not allowing their words to intimidate her. Showing them that

they couldn't control her with their intimidating tactics. Whenever the loud and obnoxious girls

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were presented with a challenge, they became quiet and appeared weak. Which clearly showed

that they were nothing more than bullies who tried to intimidate others by being loud and out of

control.Showing that being overpowering with loudness meant nothing if you can't stand your

ground from a intellectual prospective. The quiet girls would speak in a respectful manner and

stood their ground when they were challenged to do so. The quiet girls power was within the

articulation of their words and not the loudness of their voices. They were able to speak in such

a way that allowed them to get their point across, unlike that of the noisy crew. Daphne was quiet

until her friend was belittled by another girl that’s when she became vocal and shocked everyone

when she spoke. This situation proved that even though she was quiet, she was not powerless nor

was she a pushover but spoke when she needed to. The people then realized that she had power

to gather everyone’s attention and respected her for that. In the case of the loud and obnoxious

girls they didn’t have the power anymore and now began to listen and talk to their peers with

respect. This occurred after Daphne stood up for her friend showing them that it’s not always

about being the loudest.

The lesson to be learned is, if you don’t stand up for yourself no one else will. This couldn’t

be more true for Daphne, she proved that the quietest individuals are often the ones with the

most vocal strength and power. She displayed to the people in the troop that didn’t have vocal

strength, that it’s not ok to let anyone take your voice away. Which allowed her friend to speak

and not worry about being belittled. It also showed them that the others girls would lose their

power and control over them when they exercised their voice against being controlled and

manipulated.

The David and Goliath theme is a classic example of having the strength to take down

your Goliath no matter who or what it is. It proves that you don’t have to be loudest, but be

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courageous enough to speak up for what’s right. Not giving away your power to speak in

representation of your character.

Work Cited

Packer, Z.Z. "Brownies". The Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer.

Connecticut. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 358-372. Print.