Reading response 11/17

Reading response 11/17

Amiri Baraka, author of “Suppose Sorrow Was a Time Machine” visualizes his own family’s history of racial violence and takes his readers through that history. Baraka starts the short story by presenting his grandfather, Tom Russ. He states, “Say that you are Tom Russ. It is Dothan, Alabama, U.S.A. 1898. You are a Negro who has felt the ground vibrate, and you are trying to interpret the vibration. You are trying to interpret the vibration, and what it means in 1898 Dothan” (1). This quote seems to have a deep meaning in terms of the repetition and the use of word “vibrate”. The author wants to emphasize the vibration that is constantly brought up in the story. I think the vibration is representing the ambition, determination, and dreams that Tom Russ had. He faced a lot of struggles but he never gave up on his dreams. His store was burned down the first time and he rebuilds it and the second time it was burned down, he rebuilds it again (1). He didn’t run away from his city or his family when he started facing these challenges. He ended up leaving when they burnt the store again for his family. It states “Your unborn grandson says leave this pisshearted town, Tom” (2). They were trying to tell him that there are vibrations anywhere he goes because it all starts with him. If he has the determination to succeed, he will. Baraka states “A vibration can carry a man a long way” (2). This quote really stood out me because it shows that as long you have the ambition inside you, you will always be able to succeed to reach your goals.

Throughout the story, it feels like Baraka is taking us through a timeline of family’s history. He starts off in Alabama and makes his way to Pennsylvania and then New Jersey. From 1898 all the way to 1943, we are able to see a sequence of events that occurred in his family throughout the years.

I was able to make a connection to David Henderson’s “Sun goddess”. In both writings, the authors write in prose and use short, blunt rhythms in the beginning a paragraph. The overall similarity between the two is the reflection on the authors own life and the image of empowerment. In “Sun goddess”, the single mother’s struggles was the topic and she never gave up. In this short story, Tom Russ’ struggles was the topic and he was able to overcome them. Both of the characters were very powerful in spite of the challenges they faced.