John Edgar Wideman Quotes
Writer Chloe Rattray once said, “People aren't always what you want them to be. Sometimes they disappoint you or let you down, but you have to give them a chance first.” This quote may be interpreted as how just a small push of encouragement can help a person reach their goals. The quote is also relatable to John Edgar Wideman, author of “Our Time.” In his essay, Wideman speaks of his gangster brother, Robby, and the bad decisions he made. However, instead of helping his younger brother during his rough patches, Wideman stays in another city and does not involve himself with his family, especially his brother. If Wideman had encouraged Robby to stop his gangster ways, Robby most likely would have discontinued his criminal acts. In the end,
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He writes about how he could identify with his mother’s grief and her constant worrying about Robby. Although Wideman was not physically there with his mother during her phases of concern, he still felt pity for his mother. Wideman remarks, “My mother had already changed, but it took years for me to realize how profoundly she hated what had been done to Garth and then to Robby” (431). Wideman directly indicates that his mother had been affected by Garth’s death and by Robby’s reaction to Garth’s death. He also indirectly implies that discrimination against blacks played a role in his mother’s feelings. During Garth’s time in the hospital, the doctors and nurses were “jiving the other patients, ignoring Gar like he wasn’t there” (426). Ironically, the people being paid to help others did not want to aid a patient in need. Eventually, Garth died because he had trust the white doctors and nurses to care for him. His death caused a domino effect. It led Robby to engage in more criminal acts, therefore causing his mother to start worrying about him and leading Wideman to feel pity for his mother. By examining his own feelings and the feelings of his mother, Wideman was able to prove how his family and friends were affected as a result of discrimination against African
He writes about how he could identify with his mother’s grief and her constant worrying about Robby. Although Wideman was not physically there with his mother during her phases of concern, he still felt pity for his mother. Wideman remarks, “My mother had already changed, but it took years for me to realize how profoundly she hated what had been done to Garth and then to Robby” (431). Wideman directly indicates that his mother had been affected by Garth’s death and by Robby’s reaction to Garth’s death. He also indirectly implies that discrimination against blacks played a role in his mother’s feelings. During Garth’s time in the hospital, the doctors and nurses were “jiving the other patients, ignoring Gar like he wasn’t there” (426). Ironically, the people being paid to help others did not want to aid a patient in need. Eventually, Garth died because he had trust the white doctors and nurses to care for him. His death caused a domino effect. It led Robby to engage in more criminal acts, therefore causing his mother to start worrying about him and leading Wideman to feel pity for his mother. By examining his own feelings and the feelings of his mother, Wideman was able to prove how his family and friends were affected as a result of discrimination against African