Now and The Past

Authors note:  This piece is a response to the short story “ After You, My Dear Alphonse” and how it is alike and different to,  today’s age. To show how racism and wars were back then and how they are now.

How do you think racism is right now? Do you think it changed since the 1940’s? In my opinion, I think it has changed a lot. How you ask, because we don’t have segregation and many other things. There are many comparisons and non comparisons with this topic for Racism of how it was back then and how it is now.

First, the time period of this piece is reflected in the attitude and assumptions of the mother. For instance, Mrs. Wilson never really had a chance to meet or have a colored person in her house. So in that case she made assumptions about Boyd. On top of that, she made false thoughts about his family.  Plus the true time period was in the 1940’s, when racism was at a high.  During that era, colored woman usually worked as maids and people were hard on their children and who they hung out with. That is probably why Mrs. Wilson was maybe making assumptions about Boyd and his family.     

However, these attitudes are very different than the attitudes most people have nowadays. Most people are nice to every race. Some people may still have something against other races, like the KKK. But today many people treat each other the same. Also most people in today’s world invite everyone in to their homes and are not awkward around other races like Mrs. Wilson was with Boyd.

While there are comparisons, racism and war is still going on in the world and somewhat in your back yard. People in some parts of the world aren’t allowed to vote. All of a sudden riots broke out and people started dying for no reason. All they wanted was their freedom to vote for who they want to run their government and country. Then there are many civil wars that go on because they want fair rights. Then there is the murders in your own back yards. Like you hear people killing people because of their color, their beliefs, and what they do for a living. There is always a motive behind everything that happens.  

In conclusion lots of things changed. It is more peaceful for all people and all races. There were many hardships for people back in the time of Boyd’s childhood. How would you act if you were from the 1940’s and traveled in time to today? Would you fit in and act like everyone else or be like Mrs. Wilson and be  awkward around everyone else. Do you think it changed a lot or is it still the same?