Page 233, “Grimly, desperately, Konate struggled not to cry out, but no matter how tightly he clenched his teeth he could not prevent a moan from escaping as the drops continued to fall. The other prisoners were still circling around him. Fa Keita was not even watching the scene at the pit. His eyes were lifted toward the east, above the thorned wire of the fences, beyond the reach of the savanna and the great trees shouldering the sky, far off to the line of the horizon. His eyes were lifted toward a meeting with the only thing truly worthy of any form of suffering – a faith with God.”
God’s Bits of Wood, written by Ousmane Sembene and also inspired by the Railroad Strike in Senegal that Sembene participated in, is filled with grave images and horrific events. To read this book was very difficult as it was difficult to put it aside once started. The things that happened during the strike are inhumane to many but reality to others. To treat people as though their lives where of no value and claim that grown men are like children simply because of the color of their skin disgusts me. One reads about hunger, pain, sorrow, loss and many other sad things in this book. It teaches the reader not to take anything for granted, to keep together, and not surrender ones belief. By not uttering a word of pain Konate shows that he will not satisfy the commandant in any fashion. The only sound he let out was a moan. He fought for what he believed in and he will not let anyone put him down. He will come out with his head held up high and knowing that the others will one day pay for what they have done. He motivates the reader to know that if fighting for what one's belief then it will be won.
Fa Keita chose not to look at the pain that Konate must have felt when the hot drops fell on his naked skin but instead he looked up and put his life in the hands of what he knew best, faith in his God. There were times where Fa Keita questioned his faith but he never lost it. Many people would not have been able to endure what was done to these men and women as well as children but they were strong and remained faithful to their struggle. They would not give in simply because others try to force them to surrender, instead they held on to their beliefs, and principles and lived by their faith. Even with the losses they came out as the true winners, not just winners of the strike but also life.
This book really helps to understand what is important in life and what must happen in order for people to get what they want. The trainmen and their families showed great heart and courage, almost no one was willing to give in, in spite of loss of family members, with very few exceptions. The loss of mothers, children and men just gave more strength to the families and all involved in the matter. To know that you live one day at a time and not knowing what tomorrow brings would frighten many but the characters in Sembene's book only gained strength from this knowledge and fought harder than before. Never give up your belief and your principles, fight for the good cause that you believe in and make things better not only for yourself but also for the next generation. This is what is to be learned from Fa Keita and Konate and the rest of the people that fought in this strike. Everyone is equal.
God’s Bits of Wood, written by Ousmane Sembene and also inspired by the Railroad Strike in Senegal that Sembene participated in, is filled with grave images and horrific events. To read this book was very difficult as it was difficult to put it aside once started. The things that happened during the strike are inhumane to many but reality to others. To treat people as though their lives where of no value and claim that grown men are like children simply because of the color of their skin disgusts me. One reads about hunger, pain, sorrow, loss and many other sad things in this book. It teaches the reader not to take anything for granted, to keep together, and not surrender ones belief. By not uttering a word of pain Konate shows that he will not satisfy the commandant in any fashion. The only sound he let out was a moan. He fought for what he believed in and he will not let anyone put him down. He will come out with his head held up high and knowing that the others will one day pay for what they have done. He motivates the reader to know that if fighting for what one's belief then it will be won.
Fa Keita chose not to look at the pain that Konate must have felt when the hot drops fell on his naked skin but instead he looked up and put his life in the hands of what he knew best, faith in his God. There were times where Fa Keita questioned his faith but he never lost it. Many people would not have been able to endure what was done to these men and women as well as children but they were strong and remained faithful to their struggle. They would not give in simply because others try to force them to surrender, instead they held on to their beliefs, and principles and lived by their faith. Even with the losses they came out as the true winners, not just winners of the strike but also life.
This book really helps to understand what is important in life and what must happen in order for people to get what they want. The trainmen and their families showed great heart and courage, almost no one was willing to give in, in spite of loss of family members, with very few exceptions. The loss of mothers, children and men just gave more strength to the families and all involved in the matter. To know that you live one day at a time and not knowing what tomorrow brings would frighten many but the characters in Sembene's book only gained strength from this knowledge and fought harder than before. Never give up your belief and your principles, fight for the good cause that you believe in and make things better not only for yourself but also for the next generation. This is what is to be learned from Fa Keita and Konate and the rest of the people that fought in this strike. Everyone is equal.
No comments:
Post a Comment