Take Control of Your Culture - American Studies - Blog

Madea, the Symbol of the Typical Black Woman?

Tyler Perry, other wise known as Madea,is a global symbol of the typical African Amercian woman.  Being naturally agressive, yet at the same time caring to others in the house hold.  Being a man of great sense of humor, could his symbol be seen as a racistal figure as well? think of Madea from another race's point of view, how would you react towards black females knowing they could be like this symbol and be aggressive at any moment? would you be afraid to aproach said females?  These are the questions that come along with modern day society. 

There are many things that can be used to descibe african american females, but tyler perry likes to stick to the "facts" and "stories" that come along with this culture of females.  In african american households, the female is portrayed as the ruler of the house.  She lays the laws essentially, but at the same time she isn't the ruler. The african american male obeys the females rules but he knows he is controlling, but doesn't need to say so.  Basically speaking, the African american female plays a strong role in her household.

Coming of Age

I think that Alvin in a lot of ways is experiencing a coming of age story. He is starting to realize his powers more and more. I think a big moment in his coming of age is when he gets visited by the stranger after sending the cockroaches into his sisters room for revenge."And then in his vision he was one who lived, one who got away from the looming, stomping boots, under the beds, into the cracks of the wall."p.61. Also he is coming of age because hes realizing that hes different from other people with some of the things he can do. Things like crack the rocks perfectly, and fix his wounded leg. The last thing that really shoes his coming of age is him deciding to remove the bone from his leg. This shows how mature he is and how he can think ahead and decide the best thing to do even if it is painful at the time.

African Crucible

The African Crucible exist in northern Angola. In 2007 Domingo, 12 years old, was accused by relatives of being a witch. When he was 12 his father died all of a sudden and doctors did not have a answer to what caused his death. Domingo's family tortured him while calling him a witch until he confessed that he was the cause of his fathers death. 432 children have been abused or abandoned after being called witches. 

Also a mother blinded her 14 year old daughter with bleach because she believed that it will help with getting rid of evil visions. A few months later a father made his son drink battery acid because he thought that his son was a witch.