Throughout the books The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Black Boy by Richard Wright, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, and “The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas” by Reginald McKnight a common theme appeared and that was power is strong and present in tough situations and you need to fight to survive. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie explains the struggles with stereotypes, racism, and the difficulties of a young Indian boy, and how he overcomes them (Alexie). In the book Black Boy, Wright explains the difficulties of a young Black male growing up in the south during the hard times for colored people (Wright). In Macbeth, Shakespeare tells us the story of a Thane having his powers grow and as he and his wife move up in the rankings by murdering anyone in their way things get out of hand and he ends up dying (Shakespeare). In the short story of “The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas”, McKnight tells us about a you black male who goes to school of mostly whites and is struggling dealing with one bully who is extremely racist and it continues until another black male steps in to help (McKnight). Power is often misused and it may be good or bad. Everyone is powerful. In their own way of course and of you want more you need to earn and deserve it. Women are powerful and deserve every right that a man receives. Many women are pushed away from some jobs or they aren’t as powerful and strong as men. Your race doesn’t affect you being a strong independent person and working hard. Many Black people are discriminated against and are pushed off to the side and it’s wrong. In Richard Wright’s book, Black Boy, and Reginald McKnight's book “The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas”, goes into this topic deeply and how they overcome the difficulties and continue on into a strong healthy lifestyle (Wright, McKnight). Everyone is powerful no matter your age or size. This is a less well known topic but many are struggling with people telling them that they are too small or young to be able to do a certain task. Again in Black Boy there are many examples of how powerful Richard was at a young age and how he pushed through all the negatives to follow his dreams and make a change to the world (Wright). Many let the negatives get to them and say that it’s true and that they are unable to do it. Many are helping change people from being discouraged and inspiring others all around. When someone feels powerless they may even feel useless and all because of the size, gender or race they may be. Some may not feel right which often may lead down a rocky road and it doesn’t always turn out pretty. Make sure to help and encourage others and especially your own family members, so they stay off the rocky road and achieve something amazing.
Everyone is powerful, women are powerful and deserve the right that every man gets. Many jobs throughout the US were called men's jobs but nothing was holding a woman back from being able to do most of the tasks. For example, all the president’s throughout the past have been male presidents. Some cause of this is blamed on sexism but also after serious sexism was brought down the women seemed to hold themselves back. Hillary Clinton ran for president in the 2016 election and sadly didn’t make history by becoming the first female president. She did stand up for her rights and showed other women that they have the strength do it too and overcome any obstacles. We may even see a female president sometime in the next 12 years. Women have grown stronger over the years taking on more tasks and pushing the boundaries every year. Nowadays you see women in the army, navy, air force and marines. At one point in time only men were drafted into the military and was thought for women to stay back at home and care for the children and live a good life, but women wanted that feeling of serving and protecting our country and they finally were able to join in 1948 after President Truman signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act. This allowed women to join the military and help serve our country. This was a big step in showing the power women have and definitely will be seen in history as a big moment for women. Shakespeare writes, “I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this” (Shakespeare 1.7.57-60). Shakespeare really shows the strength of women in Macbeth and in this scene, they are preparing to murder King Duncan, and Macbeth was chickening out and Lady Macbeth chimes in and shows how she wants more power and has the strength to do lots of damage. Lady Macbeth shows the strength of women being able to do things that many thought as a job best suited for men. She will take over and do what needs to be done and shows the strength women have and you shouldn’t underestimate them. In Black Boy, Richard’s dad leaves his family and it is all left on the mom to provide for the entire family and find a good job and keep it, all while staying healthy and paying bills. Richard Wright tells, “She did not answer or turn her head” (Wright 85). Richard’s mom seemed to be a big inspiration to him and she used all of her power balancing all of her jobs and dealing with her severe sickness and doctor bills when she could afford a doctor. She used up all of her strength to fight for her life everyday and that is a great example of a true fighter and a strong woman. So, women are powerful and deserve equal rights because what makes them different, they are fully capable of doing everything anyone else could do. And all of the goes in with tying together with everyone having power in the world and nobody has significantly more than another. We need to make a change though, because all across the world people are being treated unfairly based upon their race, sex, and other things in which they deserve more, and we as a community need to help with that.
Secondly, everyone is powerful, and your race doesn’t affect you being a strong independent person and working hard. Many people discriminate black people for doing things that are wrong and against the law but it is simply not true. In Black Boy, Richard is a young black kid growing up in the south and his life is hard. Richard Wright writes, “Yes, it was true that my father had not come home to sleep for many days now and I could make as much noise as I wanted” (Wright 15). Today, the world believes that white people deserve more and black people just get to be paid less. Barack Obama being president from 2009 to 2017 really shaped the community and helped us all believe that we are all equal and need to be treated equal. This also falls back on the past when we enslaved black men for work. Also, many call the Muslims immigrating to the US as terrorists, but in reality they are fighting for their own lives back home, and they are using lots of power to rise above the negatives of them being called terrorists and to find a better life in what we call a free country. According to Memo, “We are fighting the wrong enemy” and its caused by a past event in 2001 that killed many Americans. In the book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie writes “‘I want to go to Reardan’” (Alexie 45). In this point of the book Junior, the main character, who is Indian, wants to go to a new white school where all the kids seem to be very well off. Junior on the other hand just wants a good learning experience and to get away from the reservation. He fought for his right and showed the others that his race doesn’t mean he is a bad person or that he is poor, even though it's true, because to find that stuff out you need to really know them. Even with all of the things that maybe bad the still deserve to be treated equal and have the same opportunities as everyone. He especially used his power to show he wanted the better life, and he wanted to change his ways of the reservations rules and ways of living and you should follow your dreams and use your powers to your advantage and make your own future. Your race should affect a person's actions, thoughts or feelings about you because it doesn’t matter about one person doing a bad thing in the past or hurting someone. People are different from one another and just because one black person did this doesn’t mean your black next door neighbor will to. They are standing up for their rights, using their power, because everyone has it, and showing what needs to change to make everyone's power and rights equal. If we don’t find and put into effect a change in the world soon the place may go crazy and we won’t be a strong country that we are now. So, change needs to happen and we need to stop killing, blaming, and using others based on their race or ethnicity because we are going down a steep hill to get back on top of that hill would take a very long time to get up.
Finally, everyone is powerful no matter your age or size. It seems many get told they are too small to do something that they want to do or help with. It isn’t true, size doesn’t matter in doing task and it especially doesn’t make a smaller person have less power and authority. A former UMD Hobey Baker winner and hockey player, Jack Connolly, was said to be to small to make it in the NHL and he ended up going undrafted. He then moved into a Swedish League where he has moved around and shown his ability to play hockey. He showed his strong power that he is strong enough to make it in a professional hockey league and his size isn’t affecting him and he will continue to do well. I think this is a good story and helps the younger smaller people build up their power to attempt tasks that they normally wouldn’t do or try. Also, looking into the NBA you are often told you need to be big so you don’t get blocked. The shorter people often play point guard and shoot 3-pointers. A player for the Los Angeles Lakers, Isaiah Thomas takes short players in sports to another level standing at only 5’ 9” he is one of the top 10 NBA point guards to date. He shows it in his gameplay as well and he is so aggressive in the games. I think this is another good representation that your height doesn’t matter and you have the power to be mentally taller and higher than your height and you are able to overcome the small obstacles and make your mark and inspire others around the world. In the book Black Boy, Richard Wright writes “I studied night and day and within two weeks I was promoted to sixth grade” (Wright 124). Richard became extremely smart in school and used his power with his knowledge and become very strong into following his goal of becoming a writer. He was able to skip a grade because he showed his smarts at a young age and was inspiring people in and around his community of his story and plans of a better life and the power he could gain to outsmart the big, mean people in the world that would treat him wrong. Size definitely didn’t affect him in pursuing his goals and making changes in the world for the best and everyone is equal. This was a strong problem in “The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas” including the story of another young black boy rising over the bigger, older and more mean kids with the help of another black male. McKnight writes, “If it all worked, you could have ten white kids all to yourself. They could talk to you, get the feel of you, scrutinize you bone deep if they wanted to.” (McKnight 89). Size shouldn’t affect anyone in their use of their power and you just need to overcome all of the obstacles in your way. Size doesn’t effect the power you have and you just need to believe it is possible for you to do something and being short isn’t a bad thing and you are able to do somethings that others are not able to do. So, there is benefits on both side and to accomplish something you just use your power and work around it and let other people know you are strong enough to do things to and don’t let them get to your head.
So, whether you are 5’9” playing in the NBA or looking to be the first female president don’t let those who tell you that you won’t succeed get in your way because you have the power to do things and rise above what they say. You can be the first, best, or newest person to make a change and show your power in achieving your dreams. Everyone is powerful. Whether it’s your size, race or gender holding you back and others telling you the same. Don’t let it get to you, you are strong and have the ability to rise above any bad situation. Many said Isaiah Thomas, a basketball player wouldn’t make it in the NBA or at least not very far but he did, and he rose above his size and inspired all the short people that want to play basketball. Hillary Clinton was the first woman to run for president, even though she didn’t win the election she inspired many women across the world that they have power. Barack Obama became the first Black President and showed the country that he was a good choice for his country and he wants the best. Change is needed, and we need to stop bringing people down because they are able to do what we think they are not not capable of, and if you are telling them negative things they won’t like you, and will become sad and not want to even try. If no changes are made everyone may seem sad and no energy would be shown at home, in the workplace, and anywhere else. Keep our words nice and encourage those and tell them of the power they have.