Destroying Stereotypes, Unifying Mankind

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Terrance Hall November 6th, 2009 Eng. 304 Prof. P. Jackson Destroying Stereotypes, Unifying Mankind Charles W. Chesnutt is a prime example of the saying, “The pen is mightier than the sword”. Although his father fought against injustices through the harsh realities of the Civil War for the Union Army, Chesnutt continued after his father’s legacy through writing stories and essays to enlighten those on the benighted consequences of prejudice and stereotypes of one another. Chesnutt stated in his journal in 1880 that: The object of my writings would be not so much the elevation of the colored people as the elevation of the whites-for I consider the unjust spirit of caste which race and all connected with it to scorn and social ostracism-I consider this a barrier to the moral progress of the American people; and I would be one of the first to head a determined, organized crusade against it (Chesnutt 689). Studying “The Goophered Grapevine” leads one to believe how dedicated Chesnutt was to achieving this goal. Furthermore, I will argue that in Chesnutt’s writings, he combats social ostracism by finding a common ground between Americans during the post Civil War era. After the Civil war, America was in need of reconciliation within the the country. The country was divided racially, economically and regionally(North vs. South). Anytime division takes place disaster is sure to follow. The Civil War was the most important event that happened in United States history. The divide among the United States was so devastating that it put families against each other. The tensions were the worse after the war and the Union had declared its victory, this developed animosity between the Northern American and the Southern Americans. Chesnutt made mention of these preconceived notions that the southerners had against the northerners in the text. Uncle Julius states in this
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