The Aha Moment

In reading both Frances EW Harper's poem, "Learning to Read" and Charles W. Chesnutt's short story, "The Wife of his Youth", I cam to realize the message of both of the writings. While reading, I realized that both of them talked about slavery and how the African Americans try to become something of themselves, proving better of the white Americans. Both texts represent a sense of "independence" and showing to others that they are no longer going to sit around and watch but make an impact and capture this American Dream that we have previously talked about. In reading "Learning to Read", I got the sense of that underlying message. The quote from the poem, "Our masters always tried to hide, book learning from our eyes; Knowledge did’nt agree with slavery—’Twould make us all too wise. But some of us would try to steal a little from the book. And put the words together,And learn by hook or crook" is one example of showing detachment from their white slave owners and really setting forth their goals. Teaching themselves to read even though it was prohibited showed that African Americans no longer had a fear of their White slave holders anymore and were willing to do whatever it takes. However, by these sorts of actions taken by these African Americans, a sense of fear starts to overcome the white Americans. 
Both readings talk about this aspect of African Americans and their being in the United States at this time. In "The Wife of his Youth", explained the same message as well; become something better as an emancipated slave. I thought that both readings were very insightful and really laid the ground work for class discussions in this sense of overcoming of the barriers and what this may cause in regards to the reactions of the white Americans.