Assignment #6
- The blacks had no fixed places of residence.
- They did not cover their bodies with clothing.
- The customs, for example the requirement to show the skull of a man one has killed before one is allowed to marry.
- Cannibalism especially meted towards their enemies.
- They are degraded into beastliness.
- They are lazy and filthy.
Assignment #7
A number of social structures in the 19th century South would have rendered it futile to teach the slaves the art of reading and writing. Firstly, there was the socially constructed common belief that even God had intended for the blacks to be inferior to the whites. With such a belief, it was not worth it to teach them how to read and write. Secondly, the all the civil offices in the 19th century South were closed to the black man. This implies that he could not take part in any learned profession. Another social structure that made it useless to teach the slaves how to read and write was the Laws of Caste. These laws forbid the amalgamation of the slaves and prevented him from enjoying anything that the whites enjoyed. It was this law that condemned him to a life of inferiority so long has he resided in a community with white people. It is because of these social structures that teaching slaves how to read and write was futile in the 19th century south.
Assignment #8
- Three hundred and eighteen slaves were born under the house of Abraham.
- The verse in Genesis where the Lord’s angel instructs the servant to return to Sarah and submit herself completely to her.
- Jacob, a man of God was also a slave holder.
- The verse in Leviticus xxv. 44, 45, 46 where people are allowed to have bond-men and bond-maids, but of the heathen communities around them.
- The verse in Exodus, xxi. 2, 3, 4 where God offers the man an option of being separated from his family by his master, or serving him for eternity.
- God allowed slaves to be inherited by the children of their masters.
- Paul argues that Christianity did not come to offer freedom from slavery but to encourage slaves not to care about that state.
Assignment #9
- Miss Daisy’s attitude towards black people undergoes a dramatic change through the entire span of the movie. Firstly, Miss Daisy comes off as a prejudicial person who knows very little of black people. This is because she does not care for them as a people. She does not trust them and does not want them around her as is evidenced by her attitude towards Mr. Hoke. However, as the movie wears on, we see subtle hints of her changing disposition towards black people in her treatment of Mr.Hoke.
- Miss Daisy is very short-tempered, annoyed and rude to Mr. Hoke. At first, Miss Daisy does not trust Mr. Hoke. However, her disposition towards him softens with time. Consequently, she develops a better attitude towards him and finally allows Mr. Hoke to help her. Additionally, her predisposition towards Mr. Hoke changes as we see him afford him a pay raise. Even if Mr. Hoke has to engineer his way using cunning, the fact that she takes part in the conversation shows her changing perspective. Finally, Miss Daisy acknowledges her feelings for Mr. Hoke. This is significant coming from Miss Daisy given her earlier predisposition towards black people, a race from which Mr. Hokes hails.
- Religion: When Mr. Hoke parks the car in front of a temple, she is afraid people will think she is taking airs with a black person.
Politics: She does not think there are many back politicians as is seen when she does not invite Mr. Hoke to see Dr. King because she thinks he already knows him as they are both black.
Peers: Miss Daisy does not want to be seen with Mr. Hoke by her peers lest they think that he is taking airs with a black man.
Social structures: Miss Daisy uses her position of authority as an employer to propagate her prejudice towards the black fraternity as is seen when she is rude towards Mr. Hoke on several occasions.
