Grace analyzing beyond the irony of "history as fiction"

Page 152 in Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed caught my immediate attention as the contents of this conversation seemed to be parallel with current modern views on race and cultural significance to black individuals. Nathan asks Benoit if Benoit could help him get Jes Grews as if it was a step by step process to obtaining this illness. Nathan's innocence regarding the deep meaning and cultural significance of Jes Grew spurs Benoit on a long, inspirational speech about how Jes Grews should be learned and obtained from those who have the history and capacity to hold such deep meaning in their selves. Benoit advised, "Ask Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, your poets, your painters, your musicians, ask them how to catch it." Benoit implies that these inspirational and empowering black singers in history would be able to teach Nathan in much greater detail than Benoit ever could because they have had firsthand experience of racism towards their music, "Ask those people who be ...

I wanted to analyze the "trends" found in each book and specifically look at the cultural significance and origin of voodoo. In Ragtime, we see that many men joined "the coalhouse" because they felt a sense of connection with the struggles Coalhouse faced. The majority of the men in this organization are black because they can understand the racial separation and hatred directed towards them in society, as seen with the way the police and government deal with Coalhouse. Mother's Younger Brother finds this community excepting and seems to almost idolize them. He wants to fit in so bad that he does blackface and shaves his head. This community or group is also seen in mumbo jumbo but in a larger sense. Jes Grew, a term coined to represent the lust and happiness people felt in this society, presents itself it the best of ways. An onlooker could stare in disgust and confusion but then join the crowd moments later. Jes Grew was not officially written down in hist...