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Speech at Illinois Wesleyan University, Martin Luther King Jr. (1966)

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"And so he can rise to the point of being able to look into the face of his most violent opponent and say in substance, do to us what you will and we will still love you"

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"And so he can rise to the point of being able to look into the face of his most violent opponent and say in substance, do to us what you will and we will still love you"

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The text's overall message is not to dehumanize your enemy but to look at them as a person and love them. People hold so much hatred toward each other that it damages our community and society. If there's constant hatred, we will never get along. This is shown in examples such as with Elwood from The Nickel Boys. Elwood never stooped so low as to be violent or insulting to his enemies. He respected Martin Luther King Jr. and used the speeches that he had memorized to help him get through his hard time at Nickel Academy.

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"The Cutting of My Long Hair" from The School Days of an Indian Girl, Zitkala-Ša (1900)

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"Then I lost my spirit Since the day I was taken from my mother I had suffered extreme indignities. People had stared at me. I had been tossed about in the air like a wooden puppet. And now my long hair was shingled like a cowards! In my anguish I moaned for my mother, but no one came to comfort me. Not a soul reasoned quietly with me, as my own mother used to do; for now I was one of many little animals driven by a herder." 

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"Then I lost my spirit Since the day I was taken from my mother I had suffered extreme indignities. People had stared at me. I had been tossed about in the air like a wooden puppet. And now my long hair was shingled like a cowards! In my anguish I moaned for my mother, but no one came to comfort me. Not a soul reasoned quietly with me, as my own mother used to do; for now I was one of many little animals driven by a herder." 

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This quote demonstrates how taking away something that is a big part of someone and their culture can be damaging as it contributes to their identity being minimized and forced into something it's not. Everybody has a right to their own identity and in this quote, the girl being forced to cut her hair is violently stripped of her own identity and heritage. The author adds descriptions of how upset the girl is about her hair demonstrating the lack of respect the teachers had and the affect it had on the girl.

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"Song of Myself" from Leaves of Gras, Walt Whitman (1855)

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"And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier." 

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"And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier." 

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This quote suggests a positive perception of death. As people suppose it to be negative, the author argues this idea by saying it's "different than what anyone supposed". In my opinion, death is only negative when one doesn't achieve all they want in their lifetime. From my perspective, the word "Luckier" is there to falsify the claims that death is unlucky. Death isn't necessarily lucky, but it's more fortunate than "unlucky".

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"You'd kneel down to the dry land Kiss the Earth that birthed you Gave you tools just to stay alive And make it out when the sun is ruined It's the same way you showed me, showed me You showed me love"

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"You'd kneel down to the dry land Kiss the Earth that birthed you Gave you tools just to stay alive And make it out when the sun is ruined It's the same way you showed me, showed me You showed me love"

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The entire quote is a beautiful reflection on how linked Earth and humanity are. It discusses how the earth should be respected and given thanks for all that it does to support and preserve life. The Earth is shown as a caring power that offers people not just the physical means of survival but also the mental and spiritual strength to face difficulties. In the end, the quote emphasizes the idea that the gifts that come from the Earth are acts of love that instruct people on how to survive, thrive and return that love.

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A Psalm of Life, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1838)

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"In the world's broad field of battle,  In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!"

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"In the world's broad field of battle,  In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife!"

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The author of this poem used metaphors and personification to exaggerate his point that life is worth living to the fullest. This relates to Chris McCandless in Into the Wild as he has a similar mindset. He choses to live his life in the present and enjoy the time he has. He doesn't await and fear death but he accepts what his life has given him and makes the most out of it in the unknown time he has left living.

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"Lost, but now I am found I can see that once I was blind I was so confused as a little child Tried to take what I could get, scared that I couldn't find All the answers I need"

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"Lost, but now I am found I can see that once I was blind I was so confused as a little child Tried to take what I could get, scared that I couldn't find All the answers I need"

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The song's emphasis on personal growth and enlightenment reflects the importance of individualism in American culture. In American society, self-reliance and overcoming challenges are considered valuable qualities. The fear of not discovering the answers and the never-ending pursuit of them are related to the larger American culture of creativity and exploration. It's common to see Americans portrayed as continuously searching for fresh opportunities and answers.

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." 

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"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." 

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This quote connects to the idea that we humans can determine our destiny and our past nor our future can affect that. Emerson used the exaggerated word "tiny" to describe how little of an impact our past and future have on our destiny. This quote minimizes the importance of external forces such as our past and suggests that resilience and character have a bigger impact on what shapes our fate.

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The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald ( 1925)

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"He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night" 

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"He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night" 

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A clear example of the details of the American Dream, the quote from "The Great Gatsby" highlights the conflict between ambition and reality, the lure of the past, and how difficult achievement. It refers to the larger American experience of attempting to better the future while facing the burden of history. Fitzgerald analyzes the rich and often conflicting aspects of the American Dream through Gatsby's story, making it a lasting analysis of what it means to be an American.

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The Nickel Boys, Colson Whitehead (2019)

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"That was the way of the world, Elwood said. Things denied, things untold, things hidden and disguised."

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"That was the way of the world, Elwood said. Things denied, things untold, things hidden and disguised."

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This quotation, which captures the darker sides of the American experience, emphasizes how widespread systematic injustice and the denial of reality are. It highlights how systemic oppression is often covered up or disregarded while speaking about the hidden histories and untold histories of underrepresented communities. This is fit with the larger American story of facing hard realities directly in order to create a society that is more open and truthful. Ultimately, it emphasizes how crucial it is to be open and honest when addressing and resolving wrongs of the past

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"Somehow we gotta find a way / No matter how many miles it takes"

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"Somehow we gotta find a way / No matter how many miles it takes"

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Mac Miller's lyrics from "Ladders" reflect the American spirit of resilience and determination, emphasizing the drive to find a way forward no matter how difficult the journey. This ties into the American Dream, where hard work and perseverance are key to success. The optimism in his words highlights the belief in better futures, a core American value. These themes connect to America's history of overcoming challenges and the cultural emphasis on individual effort and hope. Overall, the lyrics capture the essence of striving for goals and the importance of the journey itself in the American experience.