Woodson Summary And Analysis

I started the Woodson piece and I instantly made a connection on the first page. I am not sure who said it, but the phrase, “the only way to elevate people is to help them help themselves,” is something I have heard before. I have always had a problem with this statement. I think I heard this phrase thrown around when I was working as a cashier at a local grocery store in my hometown. Old white men would slither in line behind a young, African American mother and hiss that line if she paid with food stamps. It would drive me insane. Why? I saw it all as a cashier.
Old white men came in and acted like African Americans were the only ones on food stamps and were not trying to get off them. How did that elderly man I mentioned earlier know that young lady’s life? He did not. He assumed. The funny story is I saw multiple doctor’s and lawyer’s wives come in and use food stamps to pay for their groceries. I scanned and handled their groceries with just as much care because I do not know their life story and honestly do not care to …show more content…
He even goes as far as to call them “cowards.” I was shocked, but then again, I reflect on all the times I did not stand up against social injustices and I was just being a coward also. A few other points that really stood out to me were when Woodson stated that white “friends” will keep African Americans in the ghetto as long as they let them, African Americans need to not allow people to put them in “boxes,” and real education inspires people to strive to contribute more to society instead of staying in the ghetto or the “box” that society has predetermined for them. I think these points really embody the question of freedom in this piece. Woodson argues that knowing oneself and being aware of those who one is surrounded by is a valuable key to success in