Category: Compassion

In the essay How It Feels to Be Colored Me, Zora Hurston demonstrates the love, compassion, and self-confidence that serves as her moral compass. These intrinsic values guide her in a direction that leaves the audience with the unspoken reality what the African American culture has been forced to confront. During her journey, Hurston depicts a strong creation of sense of self and brings awareness to the subject of race and its function in place. Nevertheless, Hurston demonstrates such unique composure and reminds her readers as to what it means to be a human being. We are all intrinsically valuable, and social categorization is simply a social construct of society.

Throughout, Hurston tackles the topic of racial progression and favors an opinion that wouldn’t be supported by her fellow African American’s during this period. She begins to express her love for her race, yet like Booker T. Washington, she doesn’t force blame on the white community for the struggles of slavery. What has happened in the past, is behind society. Yet, since its impossible to forget, why is it so hard for our communities to forgive? Still, Hurston depicts her gratitude for the voyage that she is so willing to embark upon. As she searches for her identity, I as the reader became susceptible to her logic, and understood it clearly. We begin to see some what of a revolutionary view from Hurston, in her idea that we as communities are the ones who separate and discriminate amongst ourselves. She continues by attributing these racial differences to our lack of open mindedness and the failure of society to learn from our history. Rather than embracing our differences we reject them, which leads to potentially lost individuals such as Hurston searching for their individuality.

Growing up in Eatonville, Zora never encountered the issue of wondering who she was, or what it felt like to be unalike. During her essay, she illustrates the occasional interactions that she’d have with the white community, and then the moment that she “became colored.” Originally her only interaction with those of another race was merely entertainment based. She describes how the passerby’s “liked to hear me ‘speak pieces’ and sing and wanted to see me dance the parse-me-la.” Nevertheless, Hurston didn’t feel as though she was putting on a show. She was merely being, Zora. This comfortability that she possessed shows how she didn’t identify her self as a colored girl. Still, is noticeable to her that there are differences, yet she has the tendency to overlook them.

It wasn’t until she moved, at the age of 13, that Hurston finally felt the heaviness that her skin tone burdened her with. But she wasn’t going to let this futile outside influence hinder the drive and determination that she had. Her adventurous personality left her looking forward, and never looking to the past. Hurston conveys how she doesn’t, “belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal.” This largescale view on society shows how she isn’t running away from her African American distinctiveness, yet she’s hurrying towards it. This difference in opinion is somewhat intriguing for me to believe, primarily for the fact that she doesn’t feel victimized by her past. The horrid stories and memories that continuously fight to remain relevant seems to catalyze the resilience that she is so willing to portray. Hurston brings awareness to the subject that she mustn’t let the past dictate who she will become, rather use it to determine who she is.

Near the end of her essay, Hurston plays with an interesting image of equality that we haven’t really seen before in our previous writings. She uses a unique metaphor and describes herself as a colored bag mixed in with other bags, each of a different color. The bags that she is describing are serving as symbols for individuals of different races. She continues by expressing that if we dump these bags, they can be “refilled without altering the content of any greatly.” These contents that Hurston is describing are the memories, values, and characteristics that make us who we are. She distinctively plays with the idea that we are all created equally by the “Great Stuffer of Bags”, and it is time our communities accept this.

The use of such metaphors gives an attractive appeal to the audience by making them contemplate the reality of the subject. Rather than simply expressing her concern with the discrimination that surrounded her, Hurston gives a heartfelt story of her life. Where she succeeded to enforce the realization that she was not born black, yet it is who she became. The point that I feel is important to observe is how she didn’t view herself as colored until she was labeled that way. Throughout numerous generations, we have been forced to face the harsh reality that hate is undoubtedly present. Nevertheless as the years continue to pass, it is the duty of our civilization to crusade down the path of equality in hopes of discovering a universal solution.

I found it quite interesting the way that Hurston expressed her feelings throughout her essay. She is continuously exposing us to the strength of character that she possessed. IN addition, the way that she separates herself from the average African American during this time is astonishing. Hurston is undeniably showing the audience her willingness to blend humanity. Though she realizes discrimination exists, she refuses to comprehend why. Why is it that something so far in the past, is still so relevant in the present? This is the barrier that Hurston is chipping away at. Also, another topic I found attractive was the separation she establishes between other African Americans. Hurston believes that when it comes to something so recognizable yet minor as race, we must distinguish our character based on our own actions rather than those around us.

While reading Hurston’s concepts, I couldn’t help but notice how they relate to the content that we have discussed throughout this semester. We can take her essay and recognize the implication of equality, and everlasting battle that she fights to represent herself rather than the entire African American community. I also interpreted a tremendous amount of metaphors that was widely used in literature during this era. In addition, Hurston believed that black progress was inevitable. Therefore, the undemanding composure that she portrayed in her writing helped soften the tone of her essay rather than aggressively attack the issues that lie within society. Nevertheless, Hurston used an undemanding and tolerant tone that foreshadows the idea that society will eventually find their own identity. In her eyes our self-identification is inevitable, however we must resist the urge to bath in self-pity to find this independence.

Throughout this semester we have read and analyzed numerous literature works and have continuously seen a pattern. We have individuals who don’t let the idea of race dictate their lives, and those who revolve around the topic. However, I don’t feel as though we have seen anything such as Hurston’s work. I read her essay, I was inspired. Not specifically because of her philosophy, but how it still plays a role in our modern-day culture. To this day, race and its relevancy has still managed to stay alive. Nevertheless, could this be an antidote to our differences? With bringing away awareness and implementing the ideas discussed in this essay I believe we can accelerate the destruction of racial disparity. Hurston’s logic should be expressed on a wider scale in hopes of cleaning up the societal toxin that we call racism.

In the essay “On Compassion”, the author, Barbara Lazear Ascher analyzes the idea of compassion. She employs certain tactics and resources of styles such as rhetorical questions, selection of detail, pathos, and thoughtful tone to assert an overarching claim: compassion is not something humans are born with but is something that must be garnered throughout time.

Within the essay, Ascher draws in the audience through strings of questions after developing detailed scenes, evoking the audience’s thought process. She can introduce her potential claim by analyzing the idea of compassion through the actions of people in their everyday lives. An example of this would be when she first introduces the story of a mother and her baby being approached by a homeless man. The woman eventually hands a dollar to a homeless man, who then takes it and walks away. Archer notes in specific detail how the baby mother’s “ hands close tighter on the stroller handle as she sees the man approach”(Ascher 35). She details scenarios by which she questions whether or not the works of compassion are simply fake appearances that cover misguided reasons. This manifests and is described when a mother, whose intentions are to protect her child, “pushes the stroller before her, bearing the dollar like a cross”(Ascher 36). The specific detail emphasizes the situation and can provide insight into the character’s motives and decisions. Ascher then asks the question, “ Was it fear or compassion that motivated the gift?”(Ascher). This question may sound simple but is yet so intricate. Simple questions like these engage the reader further into her passage and make readers question themselves. This strategy that Ascher uses, allows the reader to put themselves in the shoes of someone else and question what was being driven by, or in this case, the woman, with her motives. Asher leaves the ends of women’s tribulations open to examination by the reader, doubting the true motives between these gestures of affection

The acts of compassion are analyzed once again when the author introduces a new scenario and encounter with a homeless man with whom she stands and experiences. Ascher utilizes imagery to impart the scene; “an old man has wandered in and stood inside the entrance. He wears a stained blanket pulled up on his chin, and a woolen hood pulled down to his gray, bushy eyebrows. As he stands, the scent of cigarettes and urine fills the small, overheated room”(Archer). This detailed imagery, as well as the use of pathos, can allow the audience to visualize the man’s awful odor and feel compassion as well. Her imagery makes the smallest details of the homeless man come to life, implying the homeless man as a possible threat, or the innocent, starving man he could be. It also describes how the owner of the shop provides food to the homeless man and how the mayor decides to move the homeless off the streets and onto the hospital. Everybody responds to several things in various ways. These instances are prime examples of the various moments where one was faced with a small yet unlikely threat and responded with an act of kindness. In this case, offering money or food in exchange for assent.

Another way the Teacher communicates her message is through a thoughtful tone. At the beginning of the passage, she gives off a skeptical time, which may seem like she is shooting down the idea of compassion. This is apparent until the last couple of paragraphs where she binds together he thought and answers the many rhetorical questions she asked. Her undeniable thoughts help the audience remember her point that “raw humanity offends our sensibilities” (Asher 37). She also explains how she is incapable of denying the existence of any compassion in this world at all and reminds us that there are “many conditions that finally give birth to empathy the mother of compassion”(Ascher 37). The tone she forms comes together to form a thought-provoking essay on this unusual subject of compassion.

Ascher’s overarching claim which is substantiated with smaller claims deals with the exploits of compassion, as well as the motivations behind them. She employs a somber tone by becoming a third-party observer. She embellishes the different times she has observed numerous moments where someone is faced with a potential threat and retaliates the threat with an act of kindness to seek the true motives among these polite actions–fear or compassion. Her main purpose and overarching claim is to describe how empathy and compassion are born and can come from one’s different economic standards. The higher class or the rich, can see and feel what the poor are going through. This further explains how compassion isn’t something that one is born with but can be learned through experiences and can be taught throughout the years.

In this short essay I will explain the reasoning for why compassion is the most important attribute for any new student midwife to display. Compassion is a feeling of pity and distress of someone less fortunate or suffering, this will include the desire to help and alleviate it (Collins Online Dictionary, 2020).

The foundation for all care guidelines for a new student midwife is implemented by the Nursing and Midwifery council (NMC). The Code for the NMC is seen as a way of reinforcing professionalism for future and existing midwives. Student Midwives emulate the code in practice with guidance from their mentors on placement (NMC Enabling Professionalism, 2020). 1.1 of the NMC code states, treat people with kindness, respect, and compassion (NMC Code, 2020). Compassion is clearly stated as a paramount element in the NMC Code and is fundamental to patient care and can be described as intelligent kindness. It can only improve patient experiences and the quality of care they receive. There is often a misconception that compassion is a weakness and is sometimes confused with kindness.

However, compassion is a quality we may innately possess and manifests itself in times of suffering and loss. The empathy we feel ignites our need to support and help alleviate those in need. It is the unfolding of moments between the interaction and relationships with others. This is shown in many ways for example listening, communicating, supporting, helping, empathising, caring, and advocating (Clifton and Steel, 2015). These relationships are from both communications silent or spoken, or even from a moment of reassuring eye contact. You do not have to speak to show compassion. Listening first, speak second. The giving and receiving of compassion have major beneficial impacts of the human physiology (Compassion/The Psychologist, 2020). Compassion negatives can be from mood and fear.

A patient’s mood has a huge impact and opens a doorway to enable compassion to flourish. This is important for a student midwife to show compassion as this leads to great relationships in practice. Midwifery Students realise the importance of positive relationships, and the importance of compassion as they advocate for mothers and are ambassadors of maternity care. Student midwives will act in a way that comforts and relaxes the patient. Compassion is shown in many ways, through body language and having polite and clear communication with patients. Compassion is great way for a student midwife on placement to get involved in the care and show understanding and gain knowledge and experience. It allows a novice midwife to be a supporting and calming influence in childbirth.

Compassion means many things to different people however, to a student midwife it makes them more resilient, kind and understanding. There is something to be said about never underestimating the power of a smile and the smallest act of kindness. Compassion is central to how others perceive their care and is the most important attribute for any new student midwife to display.