Both the novels Long Division and Invisible Man introduce the idea of perpetuating racial stereotypes in front of white people, yet they both have differing perspectives on this issue.
Coach Stroud instructs City not purchase watermelon in front of white people, so that he does not reinforce racial stereotypes against their race. City plans to buy a watermelon for his grandma and his friend MyMy who comes along with him. However, when he tries to purchase a watermelon from his former coach, Stroud objects stating, “You worse than them ignorant-ass rappers grabbing hard on them dicks, selling that poison, and calling everybody ‘niggas’. You don’t eat no watermelon in front of no white folks… It’s just some things that you don’t do” (Laymon 91). …show more content…
However, specifically in Long Division the actions that are stereotyped behaviors of the African American race should not be completely abandoned, but enjoyed in privacy, whereas in Invisible Man it is suggested that they should be abandoned. Coach Stroud reprimands City purchasing a watermelon in front of white people, but only in front of white people, which conveys that any other race is acceptable and that he is can still enjoy watermelon if he wishes too. By answering the short man’s question meant for Invisible, Jack eliminated the possibility that Invisible could have wanted to sing and is a physically able to sing. This suggests that there is no acceptable context in which Jack finds it appropriate for Invisible to ever sing, just that Invisible “does not sing”. Despite these two differing viewpoints, both texts agree that stereotypes are not something African Americans want to fulfill or reinforce but however one cannot help it their actions just so happens to be a stereotype. The question still remains whether the actions of African Americas should change their behavior just because of these persisting stereotypes, but as displayed in both Long Division and Invisible Man there are multiple perspectives on
Coach Stroud instructs City not purchase watermelon in front of white people, so that he does not reinforce racial stereotypes against their race. City plans to buy a watermelon for his grandma and his friend MyMy who comes along with him. However, when he tries to purchase a watermelon from his former coach, Stroud objects stating, “You worse than them ignorant-ass rappers grabbing hard on them dicks, selling that poison, and calling everybody ‘niggas’. You don’t eat no watermelon in front of no white folks… It’s just some things that you don’t do” (Laymon 91). …show more content…
However, specifically in Long Division the actions that are stereotyped behaviors of the African American race should not be completely abandoned, but enjoyed in privacy, whereas in Invisible Man it is suggested that they should be abandoned. Coach Stroud reprimands City purchasing a watermelon in front of white people, but only in front of white people, which conveys that any other race is acceptable and that he is can still enjoy watermelon if he wishes too. By answering the short man’s question meant for Invisible, Jack eliminated the possibility that Invisible could have wanted to sing and is a physically able to sing. This suggests that there is no acceptable context in which Jack finds it appropriate for Invisible to ever sing, just that Invisible “does not sing”. Despite these two differing viewpoints, both texts agree that stereotypes are not something African Americans want to fulfill or reinforce but however one cannot help it their actions just so happens to be a stereotype. The question still remains whether the actions of African Americas should change their behavior just because of these persisting stereotypes, but as displayed in both Long Division and Invisible Man there are multiple perspectives on