“There should be no discrimination against languages people speak, skin color, or religion”.
-Malala Yousafzai (1)
In The Doll’s House, by Katherine Mansfield, a family named the Kelveys are discriminated from the other families because they aren’t wealthy. A wealthier family named the Burnells acquire a beautiful dollhouse. The little girls are overjoyed to show everyone the dollhouse, except the Kelveys. One of the little Burnell girls tries to play with one of the Kelvey girls, but Mrs. Burnell is ashamed to have her daughter playing with a Kelvey so she makes them never see each other again. I believe this story is showing how easily people discriminate other people because of their skin color, wealth, or religion.
The Doll’s House was written in 1922. The Civil War had finished in 1865, however African-American people were still treated very poorly. White people didn’t even think that black people were human! So they treated them so badly, but this former slave, Fountain Hughes, said this “You wasn't no more than a dog to some of them in them days. You wasn't treated as good as they treat dogs now.” (2) In fact a white man named Jim Crow made fun of African-American people by painting himself black and acting super stupid. Isn’t that horrible! Another awful incident went like this: The United States Supreme Court passed a law saying that African-Americans had to use different separate bathrooms, bus seats, stores, churches and much more just because of their color! Their mottos was even “Separate but Equal” It was so awful how white people treated black people!
In The Doll’s House the Kelveys are an eyesore to their school. No one thinks that the Kelveys are worth their friendship because Mrs. Kelvey is washerwoman and Mr. Kelvey is in prison. “...the Kelveys were shunned by everybody. Even the teacher had a special voice for them, and a special smile for the other children when Lil Kelvey came up to her desk with a bunch of dreadfully common-looking flowers.” “Many of the children, including the Burnells, were not allowed even to speak to them.” “Nudging, giggling together, the little girls pressed up close. And the only two who stayed outside the ring were the two who were always outside, the little Kelveys. They knew better than to come anywhere near the Burnells.” As you can see the Burnells and the other families treat the Kelveys very poorly. The parents strictly tell their kids not to mingle with the Kelveys.
This story gives a very clear example of discrimination. Discrimination can tear down countries and we must put a stop to it. From kids bullying other kids to countries discriminating their people.
“I believe discrimination still exists in society and we must fight it in every form.”
-Andrew Cuomo (1)
Works Cited Page
"Discrimination Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2016.
"Voices from the Days of Slavery." - Faces and Voices from the Presentation (American Memory from the Library of Congress). N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment