Thomas Jefferson

Okay, I'm not sure where to begin. Thomas Jefferson's writing was alot more interesting than John smith's. But to get into more depth, as a women of Color I would usually find something of this nature to be insulting, but after our professor explained a little more about Thomas Jefferson and his character, I then just looked past it. Jefferson seemed as if he was the kind of person that couldn't make up his mind on his own opinion. He didn't keep a strong opinion throughout his writing. To be one of our Presidents and someone with Authority and leadership, he was screwed up. He was more of a follower, than a leader. He contradicted himself through the whole thing.One thing that stood out to me was the fact that he was a slave owner, not because he really wanted to, but merely because of his status in society. Most rich white people back then had slaves and other things that determined their palace in society. Probably if he didn't have them, then he would probably face tons of problems politically. Though he dissed the black race, the way that he did it and his word usage was interesting. He mentioned about Phyllis Wheatly and that she was "below the dignity of Criticism" I thought that the way he said it made him sound nicer, at first it was confusing, until i found out what it meant, it means that she's not even worth criticizing, she's not even up to the standards for criticism. It is obviously a rude comment but the way he said it made it not seem as rude. He actually made comments like that throughout his writing. To be quite honest I think that if i was in his position, i would probably be pretty blunt and just come out and say that she sucks and she's not a poet, just because she's black. But I think that Jefferson had to be a little more professional about it. But I haven;t read any of Wheatly's work so I can't actually say anything.The way that Jefferson disses the blacks, was annoying. But it was funny in the sense that when he talks about that they sweat and are angry people and don;t get any sleep. What was funny was that the White man was the reason why the black men were like that. The work that the black people were forced to do is the reason why they sweat, and don;t get any sleep. And if you were a slave, i think that you would be angry too.

John Smith

John Smith, What a guy! Jk, I found the reading to be a little dry, but as a first assignment i figured it wasn;t going to be mind blowing. I took Colonial North American History last semester and a lot of what was being said about the event where John Smith was gonna be killed by Powhatan, I learned most of that last semester. And of course for those people that have seen the Disney Pocahantas movie usually know how the story goes. The use of different poems and plays throughout John Smith's work was intersesting. I've never read anything from the play of Euripides but now I can proudly say that i read a small excerpt. Overall I found the reading to be dull, but hopefully it will get better. I don't have much interest in the subject of John Smith and Pocahantas and events that they were involved in.