Binary Opposition T/TH

  Madison Richardson English 2016-44378 Dr.Harris November 20,2025 This collage represents the struggles and strength of women and people of color during the late 20th century. Each image shows how these groups fought against injustice, inequality, and discrimination. The chains symbolize oppression and how both women and minorities were held back by unfair systems. The red text “WHY US!?” expresses the pain and frustration that came from constantly being mistreated and silenced.On the left side, the “My Body, My Choice” and “Freedom” signs show women demanding control over their own bodies and equal rights. During this time, women were fighting for equal pay, reproductive rights, and a voice in society. The “Equal Pay Now” poster in the center highlights how women wanted to be treated equally in the workplace and not be judged or paid less because of their gender.The images of protests and “Help Wanted: Whites Only” signs show the harsh reality of racism. Black people and other pe...

  William Washington  ENGL 2016 Dr. Harris 11/30/ 25 Mixtape Theme: The Truth behind the War on Drugs Introduction: For this project, I wanted to explore The Intriguing conspiracy dealing with  war on drugs, and how the true origins had nothing to do with keeping the streets safe. Instead it was designed to attack marginalized communities, especially black and brown communities. Over time, removing fathers from the home caused way more issues, leading to a downward spiral of broken homes that we still see to this day. With one of my main sources being “ Nixon adviser Admits War on Drugs was designed to criminalize Black people” we see Nixon's own adviser admitting the strategy behind these calculated attacks, using drugs to villainize black people in particular. I used this mixtape to explore the effects of these cruel laws and how it truly split a community in half, Using songs from black artists from decade to decade, showing these struggles through their art. This is...

Ariel Taylor November 30, 2025 Major Project Dr. Harris Evolution of A Black Women: From Struggle to Strength During this semester, I have learned many things about the history of African Americans, specifi cally Black men, encountering struggles not only from non-colored people, but also within the Black community. In this class, I was awakened to the reality of the challenges, suff ering, and unfair treatment of African American culture and how the people in the past fought for the rights that many of us take for granted today. One thing that stood out to me this semester was Unit 3 when we had to read chapter 2 of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, and the character in the book, Nanny quoted, “De nigger woman is de mule uh de world so fur as Ah can see”(Hurston 47). This quote changed my perspective and focus to the vital position that a Black woman represents throughout history. My project consists of gathering diff erent perspectives in my family throughout multip...

  Aireana Rhoads  Dr. Harris  ENGL2016-44378 1 December 2025  Writing shouldn’t be prejudiced In the 1930’s the people wanted African American women to show their emotions in their writing and talk about their struggles that they are facing. For men they were supposed to show their courage and what they do for their family. The Great Depression made it challenging for African American writers because it was hard for them to release their books plus it was during the time where the social realism and protest literature movement was going on. Only a few number of African American wrote during the Great Depression. There were two authors who still decided to write during the Great Depression and became famous for their one book.  In 1936 Zora Neal Hurston wrote “ Their Eyes Were Watching God ,” she published it in 1937 during the Great Depression. Her book wasn’t well like in the African American community, especially Richard Wright wasn’t a huge fan of her book....

  Mario Andrews 12/1/2025 Dr. Harris Engl 2016 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1a_xHzYCq901AwASC5CeEI9lsaHOX74GnaM9LP8liduE/edit?usp=sharing   Literature and Livestock written assignment The Formation of HBCUS is seen as a net positive for now but was seen as one of the most divisive moves in the Black community during reconstruction. The debate back then was between Vocational and formal education and the universities founded reflected that. Institutions such as Howard differed from Tuskegee in function and leadership In the Atlanta compromise, Booker T Washington  spoke about his compromise to the White World, to to train, and send out the Black youth and make them suitable for employment based on the foundations of the recently banned slavery. W.E.B Dubois disagreed with this and came up with a different proposal. His “Talented Tenth" would educate the best tenth of any given population and send them back to elevate their community, Trickle down education ...

 In the 1971 Soul! interview, James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni sit down and have a real and honest conversation about relationships, emotions, and the everyday struggles black people deal with. Even though a lot of their talk focuses on love, the bigger issue underneath everything they say is the binary of Individual vs. Society. Both explain how what people feel on the inside is often shaped or controlled by what the outside world expects from them. Baldwin talks about how society forces black men to stay strong all the time and hide their emotions because they already walk through a world that is against them. Giovanni pushes back by explaining that black women are also expected to be strong, but in a different way, because they must carry everyone else’s feelings while keeping themselves together. Their conversation shows how society puts pressure on both men and women, just in different ways that affect their identity and emotions. Baldwin explains that black men hide their fee...

  Caitlyn Griffin  December 1 st , 2025 Dr. Harris ENGL 2016- 44378 Major Project The reason I chose the topic of individualism versus invisibility is to showcase the art that you can make if you allow yourself to creative freedom. People are needed to work in the industrial field; however, it is important that we allow people to branch out and be great on their own. Not everybody needs to work in a factory, we need teachers, beauticians, songwriters, and even writers. This mixtape will showcase the difference and how much greater it is when you have that creative freedom. Invisibility Working on a Building – Swan Silvertones A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke Chain Gang – Sam Cooke Working in a Coal Mine – Lee Dorsey I Wish I Knew How It Would Be to Be Free – Nina Simone Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child – Odetta There is nothing wrong with working within the industrial field. Matter of fact, I can make an argument that is very important. However, not everybody nee...

 Keira Williams   Dr. Harris   African American Literature  1 December 25  Love as Power: How Control and Vulnerability Shape Relationships  Love can be one of the most powerful forces that drives a person. This power often appears through control and vulnerability. The balance between these two elements can either strengthen a bond or tear it apart. When people love deeply they open themselves up in a way that makes them emotionally exposed in a way they otherwise wouldn’t be. That vulnerability can bring about closeness when respected but when it’s misused it can lead into manipulation. In many relationships there is a constant push and pull between wanting to protect oneself and wanting to fully embrace  love. This opposition forms the heart of my topic “Love as Power.”  Control in relationships can take many  different forms, including manipulation, coercion,  and the ability to hurt. Sometimes control is used deliberately to av...

  Kamden Moore Dr. Harris ENGL 2016 11/30/2025 New Negro in Harlem My project was focused on the new negro movement in the north during the Harlem Renaissance. I decided to portray the reborn image of the negro as opposed to the inferior and disenfranchised image. This is shown with a black person painting over a mural of the “old negro” in the heart of Harlem. Symbols of unity, music, power, and intelligence are shown, and this further emphasizes the reformation. Hopefully the piece will inspire those who sees it, as shown with the kids looking at it, but will the next generation be able to break away from the old norms? While this movement is expected to be supported by other blacks, you have some that are stuck in the old ways. For example, George Schulyer said “Aside from his color, which ranges from very dark brown to pink, your American Negro is just plain American.” (Negro Art Hokum). While yes, the negro is American, you can’t ignore the difference in their experience com...

  Claire Connor Dr. Harris African American Literature 2016 1 December 2025 What does it mean to be a woman? The literary works of Black women from the early 1900s through the Civil Rights Movement helped Black women find their place in the world by telling their stories. However, they were often criticized by Black men. Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Walker were both criticized for their portrayal of Black men in their works, while Nikki Giovanni's works were criticized for being too angry and militant. Their stories were not specifically about Black men; they often focused on the female point of view and their life experiences. Furthermore, Alice Walker is credited with introducing the term 'womanism' to describe a form of feminism that centers the experiences, struggles, and strengths of Black women. Womanism recognizes the intersections of race, gender, and class, emphasizing community, healing, and the affirmation of Black womanhood beyond the limitations of mainstream f...