Respond to the following questions from The Warmth of Other Suns. The vast major

Question

Respond to the following questions from The Warmth of Other Suns.

The vast majority of the black migrants had left unbearable conditions and headed for the unknown. Many figured that anything had to be better. They had high hopes but they lived in fear of leaving their homeland and loved ones behind for a better life. But there were no guarantees. The author writes about the adjustments that the people had to make in their new lives. She also tells of the disappointment and disillusionment that many experienced once they arrived at their destinations. Many had thought that their new homes would solve all their problems but they soon found out that was not the case. It is human nature and a kind of internal defense mechanism that spurs a person on to improve his lot in life, especially if, like the migrants, he was living under egregious conditions. If the migrants hadn’t fantasized about how their lives would start anew in a better place, they would have never gone. There was racism and bias in the large urban areas of the north. It wasn’t as blatant as it was in the Deep South but it was there. It was difficult for migrants to find decent places to live – rent was higher in the North and West and many white landlords didn’t want to rent to them. Finding work was difficult as well. Black migrants were thought of by some as lazy and unreliable. Black women especially had difficulty finding work and when they did, they had to be concerned about sexual exploitation.

Assignment: In rich detail, describe the life that the three main characters found in the new cities that became home.

1. What were positives and negatives related to the color of their skin that was still an issue in most of their experiences.

2. They had left the South but shades of the hatred and racism they left awaited them in their new locales. The struggle wasn’t over. Identify at least five examples examples.

3. They had traded one set of problems for another… but there was light at the end of the tunnel. At least in their new cities, there was no threat of lynching and they were able to enter a store without being arrested. Why was this so important?

Explanation / Answer

1) Black migrants leave their homeland and loved ones for the betterment of their lives. They faced racism and biasness in every aspects. They had to pay the higher rents and many landlords do not prefer to rent their space to blacks. They even faced difficulty in getting jobs as they are considered as lazy and unreliable.

2) Blacks have faced same raicsm issues in the large urban areas of north as well. As whites people do not rely on blacks so they do not rent their houses or offer employment to black. Even black women have difficulties in finding a job and if they are hired there are fears like sexual exploitation.

3) In their new cities, things were normal as their was no threat of lynching and can freely move into a store, this was something which was the ray of hope for the blacks. It is important becuase they also deserve equal rights and if they are migrating from their homeland for the betterment of their lives so other countries should give them friendly environment because talent cannot be judged with skin color and offering equal opportunities will also reflect the positive impact of the particular country.

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