This piece by Thomas Jefferson was a little easier to read then those on John Smith. It was also enticing; in the sense that it is this piece and others like it could be the start to racism and stereotypes. Hearing such an influential person speak on different cultures and things unfamiliar to them could have a real impact on shaping their opinions about what is different from them. I am definitely not saying that Thomas Jefferson caused racism and such stereotypes; I am only saying that he certainly provoked it, and added more influential opinions to the pot than the pre-existing ones. At the time no matter how contradicting, his word carried weight to it, certainly to those uneducated.
It is also somewhat scary that He can be so contradictory. At one moment he is pledging how wrong slavery is and how it is not our right to make decisions on other peoples lives, only god has this power. While at the same time he has slaves, and maybe he could be the nicest person to his slaves, but he still has them. I did not know that he had Aspergers Syndrome, it is very interesting and this may be an excuse for many things that he did. Such as the slavery issues, and his general opinions. However, I do not think it excuses him for what he said, especially about the poets. He says how Phyllis Wheatley does not deserve the title of poet, but this is all because of his bias against black people, women and her antislavery remarks. He also insulted Sancho, saying that he writes too much about feelings, and his writing was not worth his time. He however, is more forgiving to Sancho since he is a man.
I see a similarity between Thomas Jefferson and John Smith in that they both overtly contradict themselves. John Smith left England because he felt bullied, but then traveled to the new world and bullied others to come and colonize, using religion as a manipulation strategy. While Thomas Jefferson, points out how slavery is against god's will and immoral, during which he owns slaves himself. He also makes statements saying that while its bad, its necessary or else the economy will fail.
Thomas Jefferson made very crude statements about many things in order it seems, to follow his peers rather than to lead his peers.
3 comments:
New stereotypes are continually being generated. During Jefferson's era, stereotypes were spread through writings or actions.
Today, stereotypes are spread through all types of media and actions. You can simply type 'stereotypes' into an internet search engine, as I did, and you can get a list of all sorts of them. For example, here is what I found:
Italians are portrayed as part of the Mafia.
People from the Middle East, or Muslims are thought to be terrorists.
French men are romantic but all French people are rude.
Asian people seem to be karate experts.
Hispanic people are gang members.
Homosexual men are all very feminine and flamboyant.
Jewish people are considered cheap.
As you know, there are many more.
Movies, TV shows and other media help to fuel these stereotypes. For those of you who are unfamiliar with certain or any stereotypes, the movie "Crash" is an eye-opener. It portrays stereotypes on the exterior as the white well-off government official and his spoiled wife to two car thieves, who happen to be black, as well as interior stereotypes: the Hispanic locksmith is viewed as a criminal, etc.
I don't think we will ever live in a society free of stereotypes. Stereotypes are usually derived from misinterpretations of traditions from different cultures. Something as small as a joke can spiral out of control into a stereotype, which is hard to shake.
Good points, Andrea. I think you hit the nail on the head by saying that Jefferson added more influential opinions into the point. He was a gifted and well versed man. He was a good writer. He also had many opinions and often contradicted himself, as you noted. I think you are right to see these contradiciting thoughts in both Jefferson and in Smith. I think it is important to keep these themes in mind as our journey through Southern lit. continues.
I couldnt agree with you more, he is very contradicting. One moment hes trying to state that all men are created equal but at the same time he ownes slaves. I also agree with the fact that he provoked stereotypes. He stated that black people seem to be angry people but why woulfnt they be angry people. Why wouldnt they be angry they were slves to the white man.
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