Ernest Gaines once said, “Words mean nothing. Action is the only thing. Doing. That’s the only thing”. Gaines is saying that a person should not just accept things for the way they are if change is necessary. The only way to change things is to act on one's thoughts, because thoughts alone will not make a difference. Change in injustice was especially necessary for an African American person in the mid 1900’s. The belief system was innocent until proven guilty, but that was more said than done. In reality, for an African American person at this time, the unspoken belief was guilty until proven innocent, and with beliefs like this, change is absolutely necessary. Grant Wiggins and Paul Edgecombe are not heroes in relation to the possibility
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Grant thinks that he does not have the power to make a change in injustice. Even with the little things, he lets Caucasian people control him. Grant will only “ teach what the white folks around here tell [him] to teach – reading, writing, and ‘rith-metic” (13). He feels as if he does not have any power over how he teaches, and is almost small in the way that he feels helpless. Grant has already predetermined that just because he is African American, that he cannot make a difference for even the smallest bit of injustices. Even though Grant believes he cannot be a hero of change in terms of injustice, he has no doubt that Jefferson can be one. He thinks, “I could never be a hero. I teach, but I don’t like teaching. I teach because it is the only thing that an educated black man can do in the South today. I don’t like it; I hate it. I want to run away. I want to live for myself and for my woman and for nobody else (…) I want you to show them the difference between what they think you are and what you can be” (191). Grant’s selfishness and immaturity show through here. He does not care about the bigger picture, only himself. Grant thinks that he does not have the power to help change all the cruelty and injustice against African Americans, so instead he looks to Jefferson as the person with the power to …show more content…
Cupcake grew up in a terrible childhood setting, and by the age of 11 she was already involved in prostitution, drugs, and alcohol. Soon after, she was involved in gangs, then prison, then near death on the streets. However, she finally had enough. Cupcake was able to turn her life around, and eventually became an attorney for an immense law firm. She now fights against the injustice that other people have had to endure. Cupcake’s inspiration was to “always remember the acronym for FEAR can mean one of two things: Fuck Everything And Run, or Face Everything And Recover”. Instead of giving up on herself completely, she decided to face her problem. By doing that, she turned her life around and is now helping other people do the same. As a lawyer, she is helping to stop injustices from happening and fighting for what is right when they do happen. Cupcake believes that “you cannot say it is impossible if you haven’t tried it yet. Anything is possible”. She continued to push herself, and when she thought things were impossible, they weren’t. Cupcake was able to achieve her impossible, and is now a hero to herself and to so many others around her. There is always a chance for change, and Cupcake is able to see that. She is a hero in relation to the possibility of change in injustice, she helps both herself and others fight against the wrong
Grant thinks that he does not have the power to make a change in injustice. Even with the little things, he lets Caucasian people control him. Grant will only “ teach what the white folks around here tell [him] to teach – reading, writing, and ‘rith-metic” (13). He feels as if he does not have any power over how he teaches, and is almost small in the way that he feels helpless. Grant has already predetermined that just because he is African American, that he cannot make a difference for even the smallest bit of injustices. Even though Grant believes he cannot be a hero of change in terms of injustice, he has no doubt that Jefferson can be one. He thinks, “I could never be a hero. I teach, but I don’t like teaching. I teach because it is the only thing that an educated black man can do in the South today. I don’t like it; I hate it. I want to run away. I want to live for myself and for my woman and for nobody else (…) I want you to show them the difference between what they think you are and what you can be” (191). Grant’s selfishness and immaturity show through here. He does not care about the bigger picture, only himself. Grant thinks that he does not have the power to help change all the cruelty and injustice against African Americans, so instead he looks to Jefferson as the person with the power to …show more content…
Cupcake grew up in a terrible childhood setting, and by the age of 11 she was already involved in prostitution, drugs, and alcohol. Soon after, she was involved in gangs, then prison, then near death on the streets. However, she finally had enough. Cupcake was able to turn her life around, and eventually became an attorney for an immense law firm. She now fights against the injustice that other people have had to endure. Cupcake’s inspiration was to “always remember the acronym for FEAR can mean one of two things: Fuck Everything And Run, or Face Everything And Recover”. Instead of giving up on herself completely, she decided to face her problem. By doing that, she turned her life around and is now helping other people do the same. As a lawyer, she is helping to stop injustices from happening and fighting for what is right when they do happen. Cupcake believes that “you cannot say it is impossible if you haven’t tried it yet. Anything is possible”. She continued to push herself, and when she thought things were impossible, they weren’t. Cupcake was able to achieve her impossible, and is now a hero to herself and to so many others around her. There is always a chance for change, and Cupcake is able to see that. She is a hero in relation to the possibility of change in injustice, she helps both herself and others fight against the wrong