Skip to main content

Maconism



Where to start with Macon Detornay? He’s not like any other heroic character we have seen, like Jack, Grant, and Odysseus. He tends to veer off from the heroic path and more into an “angry black white boy” role. He always sees himself as this leader who can do no wrong and addresses others as if they are incompetent. To me, I think Macon is a bad leader and a hypocrite. While he criticizes other people, he never takes a moment to reflect on himself and how he can be better. This is a harsh assessment on Macon but let me explain.A vital component of being a leader is the ability to communicate. It helps your followers to understand your vision and carry it out. In contrast, Macon doesn’t exhibit that same ability. Neither his followers nor his friends have an understanding of “Maconism”. There’s one particular scene on the day of the Apology where Macon left the crowd and his friends to fend for themselves. A school teacher from Iowa comes to Nique and says,”’ I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that I truly am sorry. Racism is something we grow with - Lord knows I did - but I’m doing my best not to pass it on to my children’”(Mansbach 230). Nique responds,”’ If you’re so sorry, gimme your watch’”(Mansbach 230). I’m not an expert on “Maconism” but I don’t think Nique has the right idea either. He is literally robbing a lady who is trying to apologize to him. If Macon had thought thoroughly of his vision (which he was advised to but then brushed it off) and communicated to his followers, then this situation would not have happened.In addition to his terrible communication skill, Macon is also a hypocrite. Remember his rant about the n-word on “Rise and Shine New York”? He criticizes Kim (the interviewer) about how she unconsciously thinks about using the n-word and being racist. Honestly, he is most guilty of using the n-word. He uses the n-word with Andre and Nique and he’s white. I just don’t see the logic in that. In addition, he criticizes people about being frightened of seeing a black man. Throwback to when Macon is walking home from the poetry showdown. He sees a black man in the park and what’s his first reaction? He is scared to death and tries to run away. It’s ironic to see that Macon does the same thing that he criticized others of doing. In fact, he has never apologized to another black man on the day of Apology. How can Macon be a good leader, when he can’t set an example for others.If Macon wants to exert his influence on his followers, then he’ll have to be the first one to make the change. That’s my take on Macon. What do you think about Macon and his “heroism”?x
x
x
x

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Relationship Between Denver and Sethe

    Throughout the reading of Beloved , I have noticed a trend in the relationship between Sethe and Denver. Denver always seems slightly tentative towards Sethe and we know why. She is scared that her mother might kill her just like she did with Beloved. For instance, on page 206 (according to my version of the book), Denver states, “When she finishes the combing and starts the braiding, I get sleepy. I want to go to sleep but I know If I do I won’t wake up“.   It is disturbing to see the distrust Denver has for her mom, despite no ill intent from Sethe. The animosity between them, however, hasn’t always existed.      There is a point in time where Denver is clueless of Sethe’s past. It’s probable that their relationship might have actually been a normal mother and daughter relationship. The truth comes out after Denver’s incident with the bullies at her school. The effect of the truth impacts Denver so much to the point where she is un...
8 comments
Read more

The Revenge of the Odyssey

From our class discussion last week, a topic came up that I thought was very interesting. It was that the Odyssey has a series of revenge cycles. Throughout the book, almost every character has wanted to take revenge on someone. The most notable of these is Odysseus’ mass murder of the suitors. They ransacked his house and tried to court his wife, so it makes sense that he would be looking to get back at them. Another example of revenge in the Odyssey is when Odysseus decides to blind Polyphemus after he killed Odysseus’ crew members. This incident set off Poseidon’s rage and he trapped Odysseus on Calypso's island for 7 years. The cycles of revenge continue to the very end of the book when the suitors’ fathers want to murder Odysseus. I think that all of these revenge cycles were set off by one incident: Odysseus blinding Polyphemus. If he had kept his cool and not blinded Polyphemus, then everything would have been fine. He had another chance to save himself and crew, simply...
6 comments
Read more

Athena's True Intentions

What is Athena’s true intention? We all know that Athena adores Odysseus and Telemachus. She blesses Odysseus during the invasion of Troy and guides Telemachus on his journey. As phrased by Mr. Mitchell, Athena “digs Odysseus.” However, it is not clear why she is helping them after abandoning Odysseus on Calypso’s island for seven years and allowing the suitors to torment Telemachus for most of his life.             One theory I have is that Athena feels remorse for abandoning Odysseus; after all, she is responsible for him. As consolation for Odysseus, Athena decides to free him and helps mold his son into a hero. If Odysseus had made it home in time, he would have been the one teaching Telemachus the ways of a hero, so perhaps Athena wants to develop Telemachus to make up for lost time due to Odysseus’ absence. There also seems to be an urgency for Telemachus’ development which has to do with his father’s arrival to Ithaca...
6 comments
Read more