What is your impression now at this point of Waters?

Cynthya Serrano
English 1B
Professor Lennon

               My impression of Waters at this point would be that he is not very fond of African Americans who make  themselves look like fools. Waters made it seem as if he liked C.J, when in reality he despised him. C.J was an easy going man who symbolized his southern roots, was a people pleaser, and represented what Waters called "geechie". Waters did not like him because he didn't want others ruining the image of African Americans towards whites, and he didn't want C.Js' kind to hold back his race. Getting rid of geechies was Waters way of obtaining respect and power from the whites. Therefore, the only people Waters' admired were those who fought and stood up against those who neglected his race, especially the whites who took advantage of them.

Cynthya Serrano

English 1B

Professor Lennon
March 11, 2014

Flyin’ West Sophie’s Character Traits

                      Traits are what makes a character unique, with the ability to be different within their own nature. In the play Flyin’ West by Pearl Cleage set In Nicodemus, Kansas in fall of 1898, we are introduced to several characters with distinct character traits; one in particular being Sophie. Sophie is a slave born female, who is amongst the oldest of the sisters from the play. Sophie’s character traits can be recognized as being ambitious with regards to being optimistic, and being very astute. Sophie was born to be a leader, despite the unlawful conduct she and her beloved black people faced in Memphis. Sophie refused to be living in the shadow of those who wanted to perceive dominance over the freed blacks. Sophie was determined to move west to Nicodemus, Kansas where they can all begin new lives and become free. Sophie’s key to freedom is land ownership, which explains a part in here leaving from Memphis.

Being ambitious and optimistic is demonstrated when Sophie and her sisters move west. Moving West captures a big part in Sophie’s new beginning. After migrating to Nicodemus a revolution began within Sophie. She began to make plans for the town in which she resided. In Act 1, scene 5, Sophie embraces how ambitious and optimistic she can be. Ambitious means being determined, aspiring, and striving towards a goal. Along with being optimistic, assured, and positive about her plans and future.  In Act 1, scene 5 Sophie lays out her plans for the town to one of her sisters, Minnie. Sophie explain to Minnie how she can single-handedly speak for the town, and convince them of all the privileges they can have if they don’t sell their land to white speculators, and keep it as a striving black community. Sophie preaches about how colored woman can be free and live as they please, and how men can work for themselves rather than for others. Sophie is the definition of being ambitious and optimistic, because she sees potential in her black community to stand up against those who shun them down. These trait best describes Sophie because she is a woman of great leadership, one who can strive away from the predominance of males, and white folks. She much rather embrace independence and demonstrate passion and visions for her people.

             As a result, great leadership requires intelligence. Intelligence is being knowledgeable, and rational about situations. Which is another trait that Sophie possesses. She is intelligent in her way of thinking and recognizing opportunities. From very early on when Sophie lived in Memphis she never questioned herself when moving west, never the less her visions for Nicodemus. She never cared how others may think of her in regards to her non-sense, instead she still fought for her communities rights. Sophie had this stubborn mentality where she knew that the goals she had in mind were what was going to make Nicodemus a better place for everyone. She never let no one tell her otherwise, stubbornness was a big part of her success but her intelligent aspects brought her to her grand reward in land ownership, and respect of others. Sophie is an admirable black woman, because she empowers other women and fights for justice within her black community.
                    Furthermore, Sophie’s traits capture her essence to be ambitious, optimistic, and astute. All which conclude Sophie to be a great leader for colored women, and prospective men. My reactions towards Sophie left me with an “I am proud to be a woman” mentality. Knowing that a woman did all that she could for the best of her town is astonishing, and rewarding to feminists. At the beginning, I thought of Sophie as being exaggerating because of how she was presented in the beginning of the play with her shotgun in hand, always being startled, and often looking through the window. When in reality she was defending her own property, and her family. Sophie has to be one of my favorite characters, I fell in love with her feminism and role-model aspects she gives off; by demonstrating that “we” as women should not fall under the shadows of pre-dominant men. Rather embrace our gender and settle for nothing less than equality.

A Soldier's Play Questions

Name of the play: A Soldier’s Play

Author: Charles Fuller

Setting: Fort Neal, Louisiana in 1944
This play won the 1982 Pulitzer Prize

The picture: Starting from the right: Private James Walkie, Private Tony Smalls, Pec Melvin, Private Louis Henson, and Corporal Bernard Cobb. Center: Captain Richard Davenport and Captain Charles Taylor. This picture represents people dressed as people would normally be dressed in 1944, they’re wearing old fashion baseball uniforms.

Black soldiers & Rank
Corporal Bernard Cobb
Private James Wilkie
Private Louis Henson
Private James Walkie
Private First Class Melvin Peterson
Private Tony Smalls
Corporal Ellis

Company's Name

221st, Chemical Smoke Generating Company

White Soldiers & Rank

Captain Charles Taylor

Wilkie Peterson 

Waters is an African American sergeant whom was shot, it is because of his brutal death that there are interrogations and controversy. Davenport is an African American who refers to himself as Captain Davenport. He served in the United States Army, attached to the 343^rd military police corps, but most importantly he is a lawyer. He is important to the action of the play because he is trying to investigate the brutal death of sergeant Waters. The catalyst of the play is Davenport because he is the one interrogating everyone, his interrogations will late cause tension between everyone.