Thorough our worlds history minority groups such as African Americas have been enslaved by majority groups, this theme carries over in NightJohn by Gary Paulsen. The booming Southern economy of the 1800's thrived because of the African American work forced enslaved by plantation owners. Where the story of NightJohn takes place was not specified (to my knowledge) but it is safe to assume that it took place in the Southern regions of the United States. The story revolves around a young slave named Sarny. Sarny is curious and slightly naive, she doesn't always understand why she has to act different or why things are the way they are. Sarny's primary caregiver Mammy is always there to keep her in line. Sarny is intrigued by a new slave that is bought by her master. Night John, is introduced as a beaten looking African American. On his first night on the plantation he asks, to no one in particular, "does anyone have any tobacco? I'm willing to trade." Sarny, having tobacco wonders what this man could possibly have to trade, seeing as he was brought in stark naked. Sarny's curiosity gets the best of her and she asks John what he could possibly have to trade. Letters, he said. John unlike most slaves could read and write. Intrigued Sarny makes the trade. Tobacco for letters. The story of NightJohn also introduces you to three slaves like Sarny who were mistreated, broken and treated like Animals. Alice a day dreaming girls was dubbed a breeder by field masters who thought her lack of enthusiasm for working did them no use. Alice after being forced into the breeding shed changed. She lost her will. She wondered up to the main house knowing fully what she was about to do would get her in trouble. The master upon finding Alice lashed her in front of the whole slave community. A few days later she walked off in the middle of the night, hid down in some brush at the end of the property and basically welcomed the dogs to come and have her. She survived. Jim an older man didn't walk away with his life. After running away he grew panic stricken, out of ideas and placed to run he decided to climb a tree to avoid the dogs. Not being able to climb high enough his dangling legs were devoured by the sickly dogs, leaving a lifeless Jim hanging from a tree. And lastly we were introduced to Pawley, a love struck boy who would sneak off to meet a slave from another plantation. One night he accidentally fell asleep with the girl he loved, upon his return to the plantation (much later in the night than usual) he was intercepted by the master and his hounds. The tendon Pawley's master split in his leg for good measure went wrong and led to him bleeding out. Sarny knew that most slaves who ran away didn't make freedom, that they didn't make it North. One night Mammy finds Sarny and NightJohn during one of their learning sessions. Mammy knowing all to well what happens to slaved who begin to read and free think freaks out. Naturally Mammy is curious as to how John knows how to read and write. Both Sarny and Mammy are shocked by his answer. That he, Night John had reached freedom and had made it North. He had learned to read and write but returned to educate slaves such as Sarny. So that Sarny and other slaves stories can be heard, so that people know the truth about what really goes on. Reluctantly Mammy agrees to allow John to teach Sarny to read and write. People like NightJohn and the result of the Civil War allow us to know the truth about what really went on.
In the mid 1900's America was on the verge of a cultural revolution lead by some of this Nations most recognized and celebrated Right's Activists including MLK Jr., and Malcolm X. The passage we read from the Autobiography of Malcolm X (I believe that's what is was) was entitled "Mascot." "Mascot" took us through the early teen years of Malcom X, but more importantly shared the turning point in Malcolm's life. Malcolm was an ambitious child, he dreamed of becoming a lawyer, and was elected class president. After a run in with the law Malcolm was sent to live with a nice white couple, the Swerlin's. Unlike most of the kids the Swerlin's fostered they tried to keep Malcolm as long as possible seeing as he brought happiness to their lives. One of Malcom's relatives Ella came to visit. Ella was from Boston and encouraged Malcolm to come visit with her. So Malcolm did just that. He bought a bus ticket from Michigan to Boston and spent the summer in Boston. Malcolm loved the city but returned to Michigan for the start of the next school year. Malcolm enjoyed school, he also excelled at school. Coincidentally school is where Malcolm X's lived took a turn. Mr. Ostrowski one of Malcolm's teachers met with Malcolm to discuss his future career. Malcolm knew early on that he wanted to be a lawyer, Mr. O laughed in his face. Mr. O told Malcolm to be realistic. From that day on Malcolm was very realistic.
Like NightJohn and "Mascot," The Great Debaters is about human rights, social equality and over coming adversity. Both TGD and NJ take place in the South where racism is a very large issue. All three stories took place at different times in our Nations history. TGD's and "Mascot" being the closest of the three. Both Samantha and Malcolm aspired to be lawyers. Samantha achieved her dream unlike Malcolm. In NJ, Sarny witnessed beatings and lashings of her fellow slaves the kids in TGD's witnessed a lynch mob. In both TGD's and "Mascot" the characters can not only read and write but they're also very well educated. All three stories depict the struggles for African American rights at different times in history.
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