Rassen in Da Sun

"Chuck D", this Public Enemy fan calls himself. He is a Charles, but his real last name does not start with the letter D. He began this essay by scrawling a few snatches of Beastie Boys lyrics at the top of the page. Then he scribbled them out. Then...he flame-broiled the art of literary criticism.

Having just taken a physics test, he found himself staring down the barrel of a pop-quiz on reading comprehension in tenth grade English. The task was simple: a short essay on the plot and symbolism of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, the previous week's reading assignment. Chuck D was not prepared for this.

Oh, he'd read the book, alright, but not in a way that fostered quick recall. So he had to improvise. Laying down ream after ream of carefully-rethought bullshit (you can see the progression of his thoughts in the cross-outs), he postulates as a thesis statement that the book shows "the proper way in which the black should show their disgustsfaction with society." Naturally continuing in that ever-so-culturally-sensitive vein, he refers to the play itself as Rassen in Da Sun. He then conflates Raisin with Death of a Salesman, referring to the Loman family (rather than the correct Youngers) over the course of the essay. Following several sentences about how plants die (unsuccessfully in the service of explaining a metaphor), his memory of the play's development erodes, and he relates that "some stuff happens" before the entrance of a new character, whose name (Joseph Asagai) he very nearly remembers: "This new guy, Anewgu..." Then...some more stuff happens, and he can't think anymore.

Perhaps the best part of this essay is that, despite the teacher going on a rather forceful diatribe about the worthlessness of this essay and Chuck D's chances in college, she still gave him 3/5 for his efforts.

A transliteration, done by the Archives' best graphologists, follows below, with teacher's comments in red.

Transliteration:


Mike D
From B. B.
Judy called me, so It just stuck w/me

Chuck D

Literature is a blend of mor images and morals. Sometimes when reading a book, the reader can extract an understandi universal truth or "spiritual enlightenment. Although some novels use the trite happy ending made famous by fable & tale; some books offer more a more insightful th don't deeper an endi an ending with a deeper meaning. In Rassen in Da Sun, Hansberry not [unintelligible] shows the reader wants in the end, wants the reader to see the (proper way)? in which the black should show their disgutsfaction with society. -> This is a weakly put interpretation

Hansberr The (Loman) Whoa - wrong play. family, Throughout the play, expirences much (trepidation.)? First they live in a crowded rundown apartment which offers little or no sunlight. In the Their hopes & dreams are symbolically represented by a withered old plant, which sits in the stagnet apartment and slowly dies. because of lack The cause of this plants death is lack of sunlight is due to the lack of sunlight in their apartment. Th Even from Because of the death of the Loman father the family is set to recieve ten thousand dollars from an insurance agency. The family anxiously awaits this sum money for they all believe that this could be be the means by which to get out of the ghetto. They qu quarrel and fight about what to do with the money The question of what should be done w/the money results in many quarrels between the family members. Then some stuff happens and a new character enters. This new guy, Anewgu, symbolically represents the roots of the african roots of the family. He tells the family "Ain't no good come out of money made fr that came from the blood of dead man." Then some more stuff happens and I can't think anymore.

Me before physics test: [happy stick figure] "Yeah, school" I want to learn...me want to be smart!!

Me after physics test: [stick figure on the floor] "MEH!!" me stupid, me fail physics test, me no care about finishing essay, me tired.

You know, I hope, that this isn't even worth my time to read. Is this how you're planning on getting through college? Or life? When it gets tough, suck it up! It will only get harder, & your college professors aren't as nice as I am. Believe it or not.