Thursday, May 6, 2010

Welcome, English 238/1AC students!


Isaac and Rosa, Emancipated Slave Children, From the Free Schools of Louisiana, December, 1863. Photo by Kimball.


Good afternoon, students! Here is the blog for our class. I will post all links, handouts, and readings here. Take a look!

All best,
Prof. Williams

16 comments:

  1. it's tough being among the 1st to speak on tues

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  2. Professor this site is so informative and enlightening. Indeed it is something I will share with millions in my Newsletter, in my own words and intellectual capacity. You are a master teacher. I have learned much from you. Just wanted to hear myself Talk

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  3. Do we have class Thursday May 26th
    Professorz. I am attending as an usher. Samuel Nash

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  4. I guess I will be the first to comment on Frado's new found freedom of her mind and spirit. I think that for one it took her a long time to realize that to some extent she had a choice. This of course was no fault of her own, thanks to Mrs. Bellmont,she made me feel as though Frado did not have a choice.
    When she finally realized that she did not fully have to suffer the full blows that her mistress dealt to her, it was like a sense of empowerment. She never not once thought that she could or would be able to stop the torment that she was constantly being dealt.
    Once Frado freed her body she than allowed herself to free her mind and spirit from all of the damage that Mrs. Bellmont placed on her over the years. I was so happy that she was able to free herself from Mrs. Bellmont and walk away while she still had the chance to walk.

    Michele Spears

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  5. I found Frado's new-found assertiveness refreshing to read at the end of 'Our Nig'. Throughout the story Frado suffered countless encounters of abuse from Mary and Mrs. B, both verbal and physical. By these two women, on various accounts, Frado was dehumanized as well as demoralized by their demonic behavior, and yet through all of her suffering and lack of health socialization, she was able to muster up that confidence and will in her spirit to speak up for herself. I find Frado's courage powerful on the highest degree in Chapter 10. Chapter 10 is when Frado shouted, "Stop!...strike me, and I'll never work a mite more for you" (105). The point in which I find Frado most powerful is when she comes to the realization and grasp her own understanding of what she has. "She remembered her victory at the wood-pile...She had learned to conquer; she would not abuse the power while Mr. Bellmont was home" (108). Not only did Frado know she had power but she had the cognitive capacity to understand when and when not to use it. Having power is one thing but having the knowledge to know when and when not to exert your power makes you the most powerful. That is what I think Frado accomplished here.

    Christopher Smith

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  6. Mrs. Bellmont was such an ungodly woman. Even though Frado was physically and mentally abused throughout her childhood years with the Bellmonts and abodoned by her husband while she was pregnant, I myself was finally glad that Frado earned her freedom. On the last page quotes, “Frado has passed from their memories, but she will never cease to track them till beyond mortal vision.” Now that everyone has died including Mrs. Belmont, freedom, which Frado has been longing for has arrived. She has erased and freed her mind from all wickedness. She is now moving on and continuing with life, the life of freedom. Great ending!

    Makeda Moses

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  7. The passages i found of most significance were within the chapter entitled Death.Throughout the chapter Frado struggles with her faith. Although she has suffered all her life and have encountered few kind people in her life time she does not allow her faith to completely die. She knows that there is a better place and when James is on his death bed he makes it his duty to tell Frado that one day they will be together again. However, Mrs. B still insisted on trying to break her faith by telling her that blacks can never be as high as whites. Even though Frado believed she did not know how to serve God I believe that she sereved God in having the desire to possess him.

    Anatali Saint louis

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  8. Onyinyechi Rhoda UbaechuMay 27, 2010 at 6:50 PM

    I like that, she finally was able to challenge mrs Bellmont to stop mistreating her.I believe maturity and mr Bellmont advise played a role here, she was nolonger that little nig. She heeded to the advise of mr Bellmount, not to take any more underserved beating.

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    Replies
    1. a friend from Niga is looking for you, am in DC please call 832-971-8965

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  9. Frado's new-found assertiveness :

    Frado was a woman who was physically battered but the one thing that could not be destroyed nor deterred was her spirit. I feel that Frado's new found strength proves that the spirit is intangible and it the one thing that the enemy can not physically possess - it is within. I feel that Frado finally realized this towards the end of the work. She found solace in the realization that despite her struggles her spirit, determined and undeterred, belonged only to her. Her physical withered away yet her soul and her longing to be an equal and to contribute to society as an individual and a black woman remained. I think she found finally that the it was always there and always inside of her.

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  10. Frado’s life was a bundle of with misfortune. As soon as she arrives at the Bellmont’s r, she faces cruelty and racial discrimination. We have seen that Mrs. Bellmont and her youngest daughter, Mary, to be of the same mind and manner treating her very cruelly and in a very insensitive manner they .Mr. Bellmont, Jack, and Jane are the more polite to her and shows decent behavior towards her. Jack is young, and is often gone, leaving Frado vulnerable. Jane, unfortunately, is an invalid, and is not strong enough to stand up to her motherand make her opinion count......fatima syeda

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  11. The grades!!!!!! Professor Williams gradings are fair enough. Do you all agree? Enjoy the rest of the summer all.

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