I really enjoyed reading the Jessie Fauset piece on "Mary Elizabeth." The way that the piece started out kept me intrigued to read more. When the narrator got into an argument with her husband, Roger, over her awful cooking ability for breakfast, I thought that Roger was a jerk. Roger knows that his wife is terrible when it comes to making breakfast food, yet he still insisted that she make him something. Obeying his request, the narrator cooked Roger some hot cakes and brewed some coffee. Of course, Roger took one bite then refused to eat anything else, then criticized her cooking and slammed the door on his way out. I thought that Roger's behavior was absolutely ridiculous, and the narrator had every right to be upset.

Although the narrator tried to cover up her red eyes from crying, Mary Elizabeth showed up, and immediately sensed that something was wrong. However, without saying a word, it was as if Mary Elizabeth knew exactly why the narrator was upset. Mary Elizabeth placed herself at the kitchen table and devoured what was left from breakfast. This calmed the narrator down, and allowed Mary Elizabeth to tell a story about her mother and father. The story Mary Elizabeth told was incredible. After twenty-six years, her mother and father found each other again (her father was sold down the river during the times of slavery), but did not get married. I feel as though by Mary Elizabeth sharing this story with the narrator it allowed the narrator to take a step back from the argument that she had earlier with her husband and realize that she does love him, and appreciate him. When the narrators husband got home he surprised her with a gift and then apologized after dinner. At this point in the story I was glad that Roger had apologized and realized that he was rude.

In general I really liked this piece of literature. However, I am just a little confused. I know that Mary Elizabeth is an elderly black woman, but what race is the narrator and her husband, and is Mary Elizabeth a friend or a house maid?

Although poetry is not my forte, I did not mind reading the book of Claude McKay Selected Poems. Throughout most of the poems that were read, imagery of lightness and darkness were emphasized continuously. However, the image of lightness was mainly portrayed in his poems that mentioned his homeland, such as "Home Thoughts" and "Tropics in New York." the darker images, on the other hand, related primarily to America ("Harlem Shadows"). Also in each poem written directly about America, and his experiences in America, McKay seems to keep a consistent tone of frustration. However, McKay's tone shifts dramatically to loneliness and even sadness when he becomes nostalgic toward his homeland. Both McKay's images, as well as, his shifts in tone made me question why Claude McKay decided to stay in America if he felt such intense feelings toward his beloved homeland. However, such extremes of lightness and darkness that were depicted in his poetry reveal that both images can be either positive or negative, but they are all very complex.

The end of the novel The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man aroused numerous emotions within me. To begin with, the conversation between the Texan and the old union soldier made me angry toward the Texans view point. It boggled my mind in reading that portion of the novel that someone, or anyone for that matter, could be so ignorant and ridiculous. When the old soldier came back with reliable facts to support his claim I could not help but smile. It is extremely appalling and sad that there was so much hatred in the South that eventually compiled to lead to lynching and other abuses toward the African American race.

The narrator decides once and for all that he is going to pass as white, but will not label himself as either or; that people can perceive him for what they view him as. With this decision the narrator finds himself back in New York City were he begins to live the "American dream."

However, with the life the narrator is pursing, I feel as though he is in conflict with himself over the prior decision he made to pass as white. It is as if he feels guilt for not declaring his African American heritage. I feel as though the narrator puts his own guilt at ease by laughing "...heartily over what struck me as the capital joke I was playing." I suppose this specific statement could also be viewed by the reader, or the Caucasian race in general, to be a slap in the face.

At the very end of the novel it is evident that the narrator is lonely and extremely disconnected. Even though it appeared that the narrator would eventually feel comfortable with who he is, he never discovered who he truly is, and in turn, never fully accepted himself. With him not being able to accept himself for what and who he is, it is remarkable to me that he was able to love another person (his deceased wife and his children).

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

In chapters six through nine in The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man the scene moves from Atlanta to New York City. Upon arriving in the City the narrator discovers the concept of gambling. Although gambling may be a fun pastime, the narrator chose to quit his job as a cigar maker and focus primarily on winning at the "crap tables."
So far in this novel, the narrator has convinced the reader that he definitely does not know what he wants in life, and at times, appears to be childish, weak, and extremely naive when making decisions.
However, it may be possible that these poor decisions being made by the narrator are essential for him to discover who he truly is. Without the poor decisions the narrator has made in New York City, perhaps he would have never discovered "rag-time music." This new discovery of music has encouraged the narrator to play music more, where he has "...developed into a remarkable player of rag-time; indeed, I had the name at that time of being the best rag-time player in New York (p.115)." In turn, the music "club" of which the narrator frequents, has allowed him to meet a variety of people.
Although there is a lot going on throughout the novel, it is bewildering as to why the narrator never refers to anyone by their names. Instead, the narrator simply labels them as "companion", "widow," "jockey" and many more. These specific labels the narrator has placed on the other characters throughout the novel makes the reader question if it has anything to do with his own personal struggle to label himself as white or black. It also brings into question why the narrator himself does not possess a name. One can only hope that these questions will be answered later on in the novel.