Of Mice and Men Inquiry Activity

Gelina Wiles

Parkinson bell: 4

English III

March 14, 2016

Why were people of lower intelligence rejected in the past?

            It wasn’t that the people of lower intelligence were rejected in the past, it was based more on race. People did think that if you were African American you weren’t smart, but that is not the case. In the book Of Mice and Men, there’s a character named Crooks. He is African American, but he does get rejected by everyone else he works with. It’s not because of his intelligence, but more because of his skin color. Crooks admits to Lennie in the book this and says “Why you ain’t wanted?” Lennie asked. “Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black.” (Steinbeck, 68) Crooks admits that the men who work with him don’t let him associate with him because he’s black. He has to live isolated from everyone based on his skin color, because during this time, people saw black people as slaves and not another equal. So it wasn’t because he was dumb that they rejected him, it was because of the color of his skin. 

Harlem Rennaisance

Gelina Wiles

Parkinson bell: 4

English III

March 4, 2016

The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the “New Negro Movement” spanned during the 1920s. It took place in Harlem New York, and was a cultural center for black writers, artists, musicians, etc. It was a time for the african americans to show that they should be equal, through their art. One poet from the Harlem Renaissance was Countee Cullen. He wrote one poem in particular called “Tableau.” Reading this poem, or really anything from a Harlem writer, you read a lot about the racism. In Countee’s poem “Tableau”, he writes about a white and black boy being friends. During this time it was frowned upon, and it even says in his poem “From lowered blinds the black folk stare… Indignant that these two should dare In unison to walk.” (Cullen, 5, 7, and 8) Cullen is exemplifying the racism present. Today’s writers do the same thing, in expressing how they feel about our present society.