Racism 4
Racism. No other word in the English language has such a history behind it. The most common meaning of the word is to hate another person or group simply because of race or religion. However to others, the word means hate and violence bringing forth a long history of violent events scarring our nation's history. Within the novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctrow, racism plays a major theme, it shows how around the turn of the century it was directed at this country's immigrants as well as towards Negroes and in the story provides reason for a character to take justice into his own hands. Racism is mostly associated with African Americans, however the story also shows how racism is directed at immigrants. "They were despised by New Yorkers. They were filthy and illiterate. They stank of fish and garlic. They had running sores. They had no honor and worked for next to nothing. They stole. They drank. They raped their own daughters. They killed each other casually," this description shows the general stereotype held toward immigrants. The novel continues with descriptions of how they lived and the harsh times they faced. It also shows how the upper class didn't give a dam about them except to dress up like poor immigrants
After this Coalhouse becomes a vigilante, he blames Conklin for the death of his finance. He forms a small group in which they first go after the same the fire department to which Conklin belongs to. Coalhouse's group kills all of the firemen, however Conklin is not there. Two demands are made by Coalhouse, the first one being to return the car in its original condition and two, deliver Fire chief Conklin to him. Until these demands are met, his group would continue to kill local fire departments. Racism against African Americans is the predominant form of racism in the novel. One of characters which shows to be a racist is Father. During one of the Sundays in which Coalhouse Walker paid a visit to the Family in the hopes of seeing the mother of his child, Sarah, he is asked by Father, "Do you know any coon songs?" Father thinks of Negro music as just smiling and cakewalking and thinks there is nothing wrong with asking this question. Coalhouse replies, "Coon songs are made for minstrel shows, he said. White men sing them in blackface." (133) Coalhouse's style of speech and dress surprises Father, he does not fit into the stereotype, which Father thinks of Negroes. "It occurred to Father one day that Coalhouse Walker didn't know he was a Negro. The more he thought about this the more it seemed. Walker didn't act or talk like a colored man." (134) When the Family learns of what has happened to Coalhouse, Sarah later that night goes to see the Vice President who is in town for a re-election campaign. She thinks that if she can explain the situation to him, the Vice President will order Coalhouse's release and the fire chief will be brought up on charges. However Sarah runs up through a crowd to get the Vice President's attention, a militia officer strikes the butt of his rifle into Sarah's chest thinking that Sarah's hand was a weapon. Her hand is mistaken for a weapon because she is a Negro. After she is arrested, she is brought to jail where is it is learned that she has internal bleeding. She is then brought to the hospital, when Coalhouse is released on bail from the jail, he immed
Some common words found in the essay are:
Chief Coalhouse, Chief Conklin, Vice President's, Coalhouse Walker, African Americans, Pierport Morgan, Rochelle York, , Father Negro, EL Doctrow, fire chief, coalhouse walker, chief conklin, major theme, original condition, fire chief conklin, racism directed, own hands, character coalhouse walker, coon songs, plays major, officer situation, plays major theme, major theme novel, racism directed immigrants,
Approximate Word count = 1432
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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