English B (Literature)

4th Form: Pool 1

Taaboja Brown

Graded Essay: Comparative Essay

Prompt:

Identify TWO stories that deal with Prejudice

For BOTH stories, write an essay in which you explain how the racism each protagonist deals
with is portrayed in their respective stories. In this essay, you must also examine how the
person(s) deal(s) with the problem and to what extent it is resolved; and discuss how
racism/otherness impacts and shapes each protagonist by the end of their stories.

Racism: The Representation of Coloured Males in Literature

Racism, an affliction that has plagued humanity for centuries, continues to cast a shadow on
society, darkening the eyes of those naive to believe it has abated. This is adeptly depicted in
“Berry” and “What Happened?”, two short stories written by Langston Hughes and Austin
Clarke, respectively. Both stories are set in North America and portray the impact of racism on
individuals of colour on a day-to-day basis. The black, masculine identity and conflictual social
conditions aid in visualising and understanding the socio-racial issues when analysing these
literary works. In both stories, racism is a prevalent social issue, portrayed through the use of
racial minoritisation. The extent to which this socio-racial issue is ameliorated is paramount in
understanding the impacts that the theme of otherness has on the development of each
protagonist.

In both short stories, racial minoritisation—the marginalisation or discrimination against

individuals based solely on their ethnicity or race—effectively illuminates the prevalence of
racism faced by both protagonists. This is evident in Clarke’s short story when Henry, an
immigrant from Barbados, migrated to a predominantly white-populated country, Canada.
Tokenism plays a crucial role in the narrative; the portrayal of coloured characters, such as Henry
and Boysie, creates the illusion of racial diversity in the hegemonic society of Canada—when, in
reality, there is none. This tokenism adds depth to the portrayal of racism within the story, as it
utilises individuals of colour to obscure the absence of genuine diversity. Similarly, in Hughes’
short story, Milberry Jones, an individual of colour, relocates from the southern region of the
USA to the northern region, also predominantly white-populated. Through the lens of racial
minoritisation, these events underscore the prevalence of racism faced by both protagonists. The
impact of being in a minority position has a detrimental effect on one’s sense of identity,
reinforcing the perspective of racial inequality and fostering an inferiority complex. Furthermore,
the feeling of impotence faced by both protagonists, resulting from being located in a hegemonic
environment, also emphasises the portrayal of racism and its impact on the racial identity of the
characters. The depiction of this socio-racial issue is significant in elucidating how the
protagonists navigate and mitigate its profound impacts.

The protagonist in each short story had a myriad of socio-racial problems that he had to face
and ameliorate throughout the story. Milberry, in Hughes’ short story, must face the prejudice
that his employers and colleagues had against him. An instance in which this prejudice is
highlighted is when Dr. Renfield and Mrs. Osborn ponder on where Milberry will sleep,
suggesting that he cannot reside in the same room as the white employees, “Well, where was he
to sleep?” (Hughes, p. 182). However, as the story progresses, it is observed that the prejudice
faced by Milberry is never resolved, it worsens. By the end of the story, he is robbed of his
week’s pay as a result of the arrogance of his employers following a misunderstanding, “‘Get rid
of him,’ Dr. Renfield said to the housekeeper, ‘today. The fool n*gger! And deduct ten dollars for
that broken chair.’” (Hughes, p. 188). Meanwhile, in Clarke’s short story, Henry also faces
racially motivated problems of his own. In the story, this can be observed when Henry
experiences internal racism, openly expressing shame for Africans, Afro-Americans, and, by
extension, himself, “Me! A Nafro-Canadian. I don't even like the word, "African"! And I sure as
h*ll don't want nobody to know that I come from there! H*ll, no! I is a Wessindian!” (Clarke, p.
150). This self-demoralisation could have been a result of the feeling of powerlessness Henry
possesses in the monoculturalised society of Canada. However, unlike Milberry, Henry’s
problems are slowly quelled throughout the story as he relates his experiences with Agatha to his
friend, Boysie, displaying his hidden masculine fragility which Agatha unveils. These two
experiences in both stories are essential to the continuous portrayal of the issue of racism,
highlighting the theme of otherness and the development of each protagonist, as a result of it.

Otherness, a prominent theme in both stories, plays an essential role in delineating the
development of each protagonist throughout their respective stories. In Clarke’s short story,
Henry faces otherness from social conditions in his residence. Mainly, he experiences otherness
from the minoritisation and mono-culturalism in Canada towards individuals of colour, resulting
in a feeling of powerlessness in his marriage, as his wife is in a higher position than he is. This
can be seen in the story when he relays his wife’s competency to Boysie, “My wife did it, man.
She is a very educated lady. But it is going to my blasted head.” (Clarke, p. 149). Similarly, in
Hughes’ short story, Milberry also faces otherness—from his employers and colleagues. This can
be observed in the story when the narrator recounts the feeling of racially-motivated pity that the
white workers had for him, as a result of being overworked, “It didn’t take him long to realise
that he was doing far too much work for the Home’s eight dollars a week and that everybody was
imposing on him in that taken-for-granted way white folks do with Negro help.” (Hughes, p.
184). By the end of each story, the protagonist develops a sense of resilience to the prejudice
faced, becoming somewhat immune to its disease. By the end of Hughes’ short story, Milberry is
relieved of his duties after a misunderstanding occurs. Meanwhile, by the end of Clarke’s story, it
is revealed that Henry truly loves his wife, Agatha. These two events play a profound part in
highlighting the impacts of otherness on an individual, exemplifying the issue of racism against
individuals of colour.

Racism has a powerful impact on any character, showcasing its ability to change the lives of
those who are mainly affected and those surrounding them, as well. The theme of otherness is
essential to the development of these affected protagonists as their stories progress. In both
stories, the prevalence of the issue of racism, which each protagonist had to deal with, was
highlighted through the use of racial minoritisation. This racism was categorised by a multitude
of events present in each story, allowing the readers to understand how it was ameliorated. The
development of each protagonist was highlighted through the use of the theme of otherness,
which had stemmed from the socio-racial issues faced in each story. Racism greatly impacted the
protagonist in each story, allowing readers to understand how each protagonist blossomed as the
story developed.