Shawn Jennings

9/9/14

Professor Young

English 1100

Response Questions to “Black Power”

The main point McBride is stating about the concept of black power is that it is very strong and it scared him to death.  So strong that he feared it could separate him and his Mom.  He felt that the people who led the black power movement were violent people that would kill his mother.  McBride thought to himself, “These people will kill Mommy”. 

Identity defines who McBride is because of his upbringing as a child.  McBride’s childhood is a very unique one.  He had eleven brothers and sisters who were all African American while his mother was white.  His mother was a very resilient women who took care of each and every child and loved them all equally.  McBride would be a completely different person if it wasn’t for his mother.  His mother made sure he had the best education and lifestyle a young African American could have at the time.  As a result of this McBride saw both sides of the spectrum.  He went to school with mostly white children and got the best education, but he also was part of the black power movement.  This makes his identity very special and unique.  He saw the good and bad of both sides and because of this he is a more knowledgeable person.  He saw the harshness of the whites towards African Americans.  While later seeing the rebellion of the African Americans in the black power movement.   McBride had an exceptional young life.  His mother was a huge part of that and he would not be the person he is today without her.