True Liberation

The Bluest Eye-Cholly Breedlove
By L. Selah Coleman

Cholly Breedlove is the product of self loathing. Like many people of the post depression 1940’s, he is a hopeless man suffering from the effects of the Great Depression. Millions of Americans suffered unemployment and poverty during the Great Depression. The hardest hit was the already poor black community. By 1932 fifty percent of the African American population in the United States was unemployed. This started a massive migration of Blacks to the north. The migration of rural farmers to the north upset the whites there, who believed that Blacks were stealing their jobs, and the lynching of blacks became a very common practice. There was also a large growth in the Ku Klux Klan during the Depression. Because of the outcry of white citizens, African Americans were not treated equally in the work force. They had lower wages and were excluded from unions (McElvaine ,236).
Cholly is resigned to a life as a drunk, abusive husband and father. Although it is apparent that he has some form of love for his family, he has no experience in creating a stable family environment. Cholly Breedlove is the product of an absentee mother and father and perpetuates the cycle with his own family. He believes his blackness dooms him to a life of poverty and unhappiness. He is so consumed by his anger that he neglects to acknowledge the choices he could make to better his family. Cholly spent a short time during his childhood with a kind great aunt named Aunt Jimmy who may have been the only positive motherly figure in his life (Morrison ,136). He was also influenced for a short time by Blue Jack, a stand-in father figure. His happiness with Aunt Jimmy ended abruptly when she dies (Morrison ,139-140).Cholly grows to adulthood never experiencing the unconditional love of a supportive family. He fights with his wife in front of his children and neglects his family for alcohol. He is the terrible absentee father, an outsider in his own home (Morrison). As a parent, he is the exact opposite of Dick and Jane’s faultless white father. After abusing his wife, Pauline, Cholly retreats into a world of alcoholic chaos. In a drunken, confused state of, he rapes Pecola in the kitchen.
The Bluest Eye is a novel where everyone has something or someone to blame for their troubles. Pauline Breedlove blames Pecola for reminding her of her own blackness. After their home is burned down by Cholly, Mrs. Breedlove is mean to Pecola when she moves into the home of her employer. She even denies Pecola comfort and instead cares for the “Pink and White” Fisher girl (Morrison ,127-128). In The Bluest Eye, Morrison doesn't place the blame on any person. She never blames it on racism, vulgarity, or ignorance. Through an adult Claudia, Morrison says, "I even think now that the land of the entire country was hostile to marigolds that year. Certain seeds it will not nurture, certain fruits it will not bear and when the land kills of its own volition, we say that the victim had no right to live" (Morrison, 206). Morrison recognizes that nature reserves the right to determine which seeds will grow. Pecola is one of these "certain seeds" that never had a chance to grow and succeed because she lived in an environment that could not nurture her.
Morrison places the blame for the Breedloves’ plight on an ambiguous god and the church. In her introduction to the Breedlove family, Morrison questions the Breedlove's acceptance of ugliness saying, "It was as though some mysterious all-knowing master had given each one a cloak of ugliness to wear" (Morrison, 39). This divine being not only created ugliness for them but it also ambiguously created an environment that rejected and scorned this ugliness. The Breedloves are portrayed as victims of an apathetic society.

Works Cited

Maurice W. Lee, Chairman of Economics Dept., Washington State College. Economic Fluctuations. Homewood: R.D. Irwin Inc., 1955.

McElvaine, Robert S. The Great Depression: America, 1929-1941. New York: Times Books, 1993.

Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. Holt,Rinehart,and Winston, 1970.

Saturday January 17th is a day that lives infinitely in the minds of masses of Baltimoreans. It is the day we received validation by President Barack Obama in front of the whole world. Suddenly the struggling image of Baltimore’s weak school system and political foibles pales in the glow of Obama. At one instance we were forever transformed by the effect of seeing Baltimore intoxicated with the idea of hope. For as long as I can remember, I have felt shrouded by the images of junkies nodding, the lost faces of their many children left to parent themselves in the wake of the drug epidemic. In most recent years, another threat looms over our children’s lives; gang violence. We must take the vision that has been fought for and build real foundations upon it. Baltimore can no longer afford to languish in the face of despair. If our city hasn’t the means to make a change, the citizens must ask for help and be heard. The Obama visit lets us be conscious of the responsibility we have to work inside our communities to be the change we want to see in the world. Change starts from the inside out.

Who better to get the vote than Michael Jordan. His Absence from our media circus leaves us longing for such a god-like figure to shower our admiration, criticism, and secret envy upon. Not since MJ have we had the privilege of fawning over a "media crowned" king. It's wonderful to be excited about someone again...we've been let down so much recently. Even "throwback heroes" like O.J. Simpson, who have fallen from grace leave much to be desired. Often referred to as "The Real Life Cosby's", Barack and Family give all americans hope for the immediate future despite a host of challenges which greet our president-elect upon Inauguration. Long live Obama...

Bill O'Reilly claims to support Barack Obama despite his very right-wing( no forgive me, moderate-conservative ) philosophy. He represents the group of baby boomers with one foot in the 60's and the other in the 80's, declining in relevance as we make way for the digital age. Bill O'Reilly believes that the "Black Vote" is responsible for passing Prop 8 in California. Some of it's most vehement supporters are religious groups like the Mormon church, which has a long history of prejudice against both blacks and gays. It funneled millions of dollars to secure the passing of the law banning gay marriage. Conservatives like O'Reilly must stop perpetuating a deeper split between gays and blacks. There are enough reasons why we all need to let differences go. This country is based on Judeo-Christian White male Dominant Values which consistently shows bias against blacks, women, gays, the disabled, poor, and uneducated. The American pie tastes a lot sweeter in this advancing cultural revolution. It is beyond time for change!! Where is the preamble when you need it? What happened to equality? It was left behind in 1776 while those of us who were intentionally disenfranchised petition for inclusion. Now is the time for America's redemption. O'Reilly even believes that Obama is a clandestine "far leftist" in moderate clothing. He even went as far as saying that Obama's election has "emboldened" leftists to become activists. If he was oppressed by the conservative republican regime which has dominated our country for the past eight years he would also feel the need to react. Our country has suffered immensely due to Bush's personal agenda as president. Suddenly conservatives feel out numbered and bullied. Sucks don't it!!!!

The last SHALL be first and the first SHALL be last!!

I believe that Bill O'Reilly represents the passing of the torch...he who was once an innovator is now a relic.

-and so it is-
Selah

Waiting on the world to change is taking too long, so I decided to do something about it. "To lead is to serve", says my Mom of any commitment to direct the employees who are under her supervision. We have to learn to be shining examples of consistency, dedication, and selflessness. Being raised by a family who made many contributions to those in need, I was lead by example to be compassionate and give my all to my community. It does not satisfy me to do work which glorifies only the shallow aspects of my personality. As a vocalist I often am met with people who praise my music or my appearance rather than honor the Divine Creator who has granted me the gift of life. This summer has taught me my value as a leader in a world where integrity is traded for pennies, and justice is a word thrown around as loosely as the words war and peace. True integrity requires sacrifice. If I want to receive the fullness of the vast universe, I first must let go of all attachment to fear. Fear is a tool that manipulates the faithless and energizes the psychic vampires of our institutions. The church institution is crumbling because of lack of structure inside the home. Young people are not sustained by messages of "wait for a blessing" in this fast paced, Generation X world. As we develop socially we must remember to reach back for those who may be lagging behind.