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Hard rock returns from the hospital for the insane

That made my day. .
             Although I was scared and what I considered weak, there are some who everyday have the courage to say what they want. Those are to be admired, but they are also endangered. Although in the early 1970's many lobotomies were performed on prisoners as a source of control. I don't believe that is what was done to our spirit Hard Rock. I feel there were beatings and verbal abuse. Belittlements and "character adjustments" were the key; there was no time to perform some costly surgery on a black man. In the poem when the other men "waited and trapped themselves in the cloak" it was a dark and dreary time. They were patiently waiting and anticipating the return of their champion. I imagine the cloak they waited under was that excited feeling you get when you don't know if everything will be all right. I see them sitting around the mess hall eating their cold and nasty lunches, in complete silence. At this point there would be no "bad behavior" since Hard Rock was not around to act out on their rage.
             It was even more interesting when the prisoners sat around exchanging stories about his accomplishments. For instance when it was said that it had taken " eight screws to put him in the hole". Eight officers of the law were needed to contain this one man. Who would not look forward to his return?.
             When he returned as a "gelded stallion" striped of his strength and vigor. That must have been like watching your mother get robed and being able to do nothing about it. That feeling of helplessness is a powerful adversary in the breaking down of men's spirit. Much like the repeated incidents that occur in the times of today where African-Americans are repeatedly targeted for their skin tone. Recently a segment was done on the UPN station, it was titled " Driving while black". African- American citizens were being stopped while driving through residential neighborhoods for being black. Another incident an African-American male had gone into a police station to file complaint against an officer.


Essays Related to Hard rock returns from the hospital for the insane

1. Identity of African American

In "hard rock returns to the prison from the hospital for the criminal insane" by Etheridge Knight using the first person voice ("we"), the author is close to the subject, but not obvious emotionally involved with a depressed tone. To the poet, Hard Rock epitomizes freedom. Hard Rock was, at one time, the living example of a free man imprisoned. Hard Rock "is known not to take no shit/from nobody " (Etheridge 891). and "he had the scars to prove it" (Etheridge 891). ... His spirit suddenly "was really tame/ . . . a screw who knew Hard Rock/From before shook him down and barked in his face/And...

  • Word Count: 350
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

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