Status Updates From The Souls of Black Folk

The Souls of Black Folk is a cautionary writing of a different time, of different perspective. Yet, it reads as though some of those warnings have not left in this modern era. A struggle to find a way up from the intentional bottom that was given to African Americans after Emancipation. and where do you seek this success? In the continuous struggle of unrefined labor? in false promises of wealth? in finding identity?

1900s was not that long ago. The struggle of these people is still fresh in many minds, and is still common reality for unfortunate many.

"He felt his poverty; without a cent, without a home, without land, tools, or savings, he had entered into competition with rich, landed, skilled neighbors."

This also summarises, for a different reason to me, what it was like growing up in a domestic violence household. That feeling of hopelessness, belonging or safety, and never taking anything given by that who was supposed to be head of house. I know this is

"This, then, is the end of his striving: to be a co-worker in the kingdom of culture, to escape both death and isolation, to husband and use his best powers and his latent genius. These powers of body and mind have in the past been strangely wasted, dispersed, or forgotten."

This is the closest I've ever gotten to seeing something that would summarise how I would define masculinity.

"this longing to attain self-conscious manhood"

"into silent hatred of the pale world about them and mocking distrust of everything white"