Chapter 10 - What is the symbolism associated with Liberty Paints? Explain the points of symbolism, such as the name of the paint, the motto, how its made...
Liberty Paints is filled with black and white symbolism. This is shown in one of the first examples, in which they describe how the Optic White paint is so white that the only way you could determine if a block of coal covered in the paint was black was if you smashed it with a hammer. This relates directly to the idea that whites have power over blacks in the book. As blacks try to function and exist in society, whites coat them with (symbolic) white paint in order to get them to reject their own culture and conform to white ideology. The fact that the white paint is cretaed from darker, grimier materials symbolizes the work that black slaves had to do for their white masters. Slaves would harvest and work so that the white male who owned them could make a profit off of the, like how the black chemicals produce a white product. Liberty Paints itself has a symbolic name as, in an attempt to market to American consumers, names itself after the freedom the country was based off of. This is purely ironic since both the narrator and Brockway work for the company, and neither are as free as their white compatriots.
Liberty Paints possibly includes the most contrasting black and white symbolism throughout the novel. The first of many points would have to be the fact that the Optic White paint is rumored to disguise even the darkest block of charcoal, which represents the power even the smallest coating of white has on something that's black to the core. In addition, when the narrator creates the paint from the wrong hues, he is harshly reprimanded, but after it is fully mixed, the white paint is different, but unnoticeable. This indicating that if it's white enough, it will never be noticeable (how much effort the black man did to benefit the white man).
Liberty Paints is a huge symbol in this novel. The novel "Keep America Pure", represents the fact that the whites want to keep the country pure in terms of race. They want to eliminate blacks.The paint color,optic white, represents the supremacy of the white race in America. Putting the black drops in the white paint made some diffrence, but made it unnoticeable. This represents how no matter how hard blacks try, even after mixing alot, blacks will never have an impact on the white society. Of couse the name Liberty, is a reminder that this is all happening in America.
Liberty Paints creates the Optic White paint, or the "Right White." (Ironic that a black man came up with the motto) The paint is created by putting 10 drops of black into the white paint and mixing thoroughly. This symbolizes the work done by the black men to support the whites, however this work will never be noticed or credited. The paint is also said to be so "white that the only way you could determine if a block of coal covered in the paint was black was if you smashed it with a hammer." This shows the white man's philosophy that they can make any black man act and look so white that the only way to realize he is black is to break him down to his roots.
The motto for Liberty Paints is "if its Optic White, its the right white." Optic white represents a pure white, untainted by black ideology. The mixing of black paint into the bucket of white paint to create an optic white represents the necessity of black people in order to create a functioning society where white people are in power. The word "liberty" also invokes a sense of freedom, which is ironic because the narrator, like other black people are anything but free. The optic paint is also said to completely cover black color, representing the stranglehold that whites have on blacks and their inability to escape their situation.
The symbolism is in the paint itself. The white paint and the slogan "white is right" shoe a clear discrepancy between black and white. The warring images create a conflict that is embedded within the story, the differences between the black people and white people. The paint itself is all pure white, and then a foul smelling black substance is added. This is meant to show the relationship between black people and white people in society, Their differences as that they have more opportunities and therefore are more of the paint while the black is used almost not at all, representing that the blacks have no opportunities. The name liberty paints is ironic in this sense because the black people are not really free yet are a majority of the workforce there. Also I found it interesting that at the end the narrator found that all of the paints were tinted grey, representing that he does see the work that blacks do in society.
The symbolis associated with Liberty Paints is in the colors of their paint. Their most popular and best selling color is optic white, which is said to be so white that it can cover up a piece of coal. Their slogan for this color is "if it's Optic White, it's the right white." This symbolizes white supremacy in the United States. Also, in order to make optic white, a few drops of a black chemical were required. After being mixed in with another chemical, the optic white paint was produced. This shows that black people don't always get the credit they deserve, as it usually goes towards white people.
The scene at Liberty Paints is very symbolic in terms of racism. Their motto is "if its Optic White, its the right white." The word optic in Optic White means a pure white. This portrays the society that racist white men want, without black influence. The process of adding black paint to white paint to create Optic White represents the how society needs to be mixed with different ethnic backgrounds to be a true working society. The Optic paint is also said to be able to completely cover black, showing how whites want to control the blacks and keep them under themselves so they can stay on the top. Also, while it may be called Liberty Paints, the blacks have little liberty in this society, as it is completely controlled by the whites.
Liberty paints is full of symbolism on wwhite supremacy and the racism against blacks. The paint factory's most prominent paint is the Optic White color. It is extremely pure white it is in high demand. The way that Optic White is made however is with dark grungy colors and a dark brown color to make the pure white. This shows that with the blacks doing all the work, ,the whites still end up on top and are praised for it. Also that the white people wouldn't have their power and supremacy if there wasn't any blacks to do the work for them. The name Liberty Paints itself, that the blacks don't have liberty in the society and has white supremacy. And the Optic White motto, "if it's Optic White, it's the right white." also relates to how white is right .
Liberty Paints is filled with black and white symbolism. This is shown in one of the first examples, in which they describe how the Optic White paint is so white that the only way you could determine if a block of coal covered in the paint was black was if you smashed it with a hammer. This relates directly to the idea that whites have power over blacks in the book. As blacks try to function and exist in society, whites coat them with (symbolic) white paint in order to get them to reject their own culture and conform to white ideology. The fact that the white paint is cretaed from darker, grimier materials symbolizes the work that black slaves had to do for their white masters. Slaves would harvest and work so that the white male who owned them could make a profit off of the, like how the black chemicals produce a white product. Liberty Paints itself has a symbolic name as, in an attempt to market to American consumers, names itself after the freedom the country was based off of. This is purely ironic since both the narrator and Brockway work for the company, and neither are as free as their white compatriots.
ReplyDeleteLiberty Paints possibly includes the most contrasting black and white symbolism throughout the novel. The first of many points would have to be the fact that the Optic White paint is rumored to disguise even the darkest block of charcoal, which represents the power even the smallest coating of white has on something that's black to the core. In addition, when the narrator creates the paint from the wrong hues, he is harshly reprimanded, but after it is fully mixed, the white paint is different, but unnoticeable. This indicating that if it's white enough, it will never be noticeable (how much effort the black man did to benefit the white man).
ReplyDeleteLiberty Paints is a huge symbol in this novel. The novel "Keep America Pure", represents the fact that the whites want to keep the country pure in terms of race. They want to eliminate blacks.The paint color,optic white, represents the supremacy of the white race in America. Putting the black drops in the white paint made some diffrence, but made it unnoticeable. This represents how no matter how hard blacks try, even after mixing alot, blacks will never have an impact on the white society. Of couse the name Liberty, is a reminder that this is all happening in America.
ReplyDeleteLiberty Paints creates the Optic White paint, or the "Right White." (Ironic that a black man came up with the motto) The paint is created by putting 10 drops of black into the white paint and mixing thoroughly. This symbolizes the work done by the black men to support the whites, however this work will never be noticed or credited. The paint is also said to be so "white that the only way you could determine if a block of coal covered in the paint was black was if you smashed it with a hammer." This shows the white man's philosophy that they can make any black man act and look so white that the only way to realize he is black is to break him down to his roots.
ReplyDeleteThe motto for Liberty Paints is "if its Optic White, its the right white." Optic white represents a pure white, untainted by black ideology. The mixing of black paint into the bucket of white paint to create an optic white represents the necessity of black people in order to create a functioning society where white people are in power. The word "liberty" also invokes a sense of freedom, which is ironic because the narrator, like other black people are anything but free. The optic paint is also said to completely cover black color, representing the stranglehold that whites have on blacks and their inability to escape their situation.
ReplyDeleteThe symbolism is in the paint itself. The white paint and the slogan "white is right" shoe a clear discrepancy between black and white. The warring images create a conflict that is embedded within the story, the differences between the black people and white people. The paint itself is all pure white, and then a foul smelling black substance is added. This is meant to show the relationship between black people and white people in society, Their differences as that they have more opportunities and therefore are more of the paint while the black is used almost not at all, representing that the blacks have no opportunities. The name liberty paints is ironic in this sense because the black people are not really free yet are a majority of the workforce there. Also I found it interesting that at the end the narrator found that all of the paints were tinted grey, representing that he does see the work that blacks do in society.
ReplyDeleteThe symbolis associated with Liberty Paints is in the colors of their paint. Their most popular and best selling color is optic white, which is said to be so white that it can cover up a piece of coal. Their slogan for this color is "if it's Optic White, it's the right white." This symbolizes white supremacy in the United States. Also, in order to make optic white, a few drops of a black chemical were required. After being mixed in with another chemical, the optic white paint was produced. This shows that black people don't always get the credit they deserve, as it usually goes towards white people.
ReplyDeleteThe scene at Liberty Paints is very symbolic in terms of racism. Their motto is "if its Optic White, its the right white." The word optic in Optic White means a pure white. This portrays the society that racist white men want, without black influence. The process of adding black paint to white paint to create Optic White represents the how society needs to be mixed with different ethnic backgrounds to be a true working society. The Optic paint is also said to be able to completely cover black, showing how whites want to control the blacks and keep them under themselves so they can stay on the top. Also, while it may be called Liberty Paints, the blacks have little liberty in this society, as it is completely controlled by the whites.
ReplyDeleteLiberty paints is full of symbolism on wwhite supremacy and the racism against blacks. The paint factory's most prominent paint is the Optic White color. It is extremely pure white it is in high demand. The way that Optic White is made however is with dark grungy colors and a dark brown color to make the pure white. This shows that with the blacks doing all the work, ,the whites still end up on top and are praised for it. Also that the white people wouldn't have their power and supremacy if there wasn't any blacks to do the work for them. The name Liberty Paints itself, that the blacks don't have liberty in the society and has white supremacy. And the Optic White motto, "if it's Optic White, it's the right white." also relates to how white is right .
ReplyDelete