Mules and Men Essay - 1587 Words

â€Å"Mules and Men† Zora Neale Hurston Beneath the lies a hidden history of unorganized, everyday conflict waged by African-American working people. Once we explore in greater detail those daily conflicts and the social and cultural spaces where ordinary people felt free to articulate their opposition and power in African-American quot;folkquot; communities. Folklores function as an everyday form of resistance in the Jim Crow South. Zora Hurston, narrative frame is far more supple than has previously been acknowledged. She gave the title Mules and Men a depiction of comparison of African Americans in the South(niggers) to mules. The mule is a work horse that is not used for speed, but known for eats weak minds and strong back. Hurston†¦show more content†¦The form of the ballad allows her to occupy the same subject position as the others when she sings her piece, while the refrain allows all of the singers to come together as one. quot;John Henryquot; exemplifies the living language of nonconformity folk songs pr ovide. As she notes in her glossary, the songs synopsis fits the rhythm of spike-driving, and this suggests that the songs origin is as a work song. In the context of the workplace, the song has operated as an articulation of obsessed resistance to the hard work of laying down track. But Hurston does not sing the song with railroad workers. The context for this performance is a pay-day party, a social event that celebrates the pay-off of hardwork. Here, the song serves as a reminder of workers alienation under capitalism and of the ever-present threat of replacement by machines, while John Henrys story also serves to compare with the workers attitude on the job. John Henry dies in his attempt to out run the machine, while the workers in the camp find ways to avoid labor. Hurstons joining in the performance of quot;John Henryquot; marks a moment of transition in her narrative performance in the Polk County section of Mules and Men. Although the break is not decisive, one can detect a shift in her narrative voice from the first person to the third person. Her narration before the song concerns herself and her efforts to fit in. After she hasShow MoreRelatedTheir Eyes Were Watching God Essay731 Words   |  3 Pagesbecause he have to, but he dont tote it. He hand it to his womenfolks. De nigger woman is de mule uh de world as fur as Ah can see (14). The white man is on the top of the social and economic hierarchy. He holds the power, and due to this power has a privilege commanding respect and performed labors. The people who comply are the African-American men. However, there is a second hierarchy for the black men under the white mans privileges. 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