Racism and Discrimination in One Friday Morning

Introduction

“One Friday Morning” is a short story by Langston Hughes, a notable African American thinker, writer, and activist. The story portrays the challenges faced by a black girl named Nancy Lee Johnson in a predominantly white school. Nancy, who is an excellent student, wins an art scholarship to the prestigious Westfield School. However, the school board retracts the offer when they realize that Nancy is black. The story explores themes of racism and discrimination, which were prevalent in American society during the 1950s, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. This essay explores the themes of racism and discrimination in the “One Friday Morning” short story.

Racism and Discrimination in the Short Story

In the story, Nancy is an exceptional student who desires to attend a better school to pursue her artistic talent. She applies for the Westfield School scholarship, hoping to secure admission since she has met all the requirements. After being selected as the best candidate for the scholarship, she is requested to come for an interview. On the day of the interview, Nancy is excited and believes that she has nothing to worry about since she has passed the scholarship exam. However, things take a turn for the worse when she arrives for the interview.

The interview panel is made up of three white men who ignore her greeting and proceed to ask her several demeaning and discriminatory questions. The interview board asks questions regarding her race, wanting to know whether she is black or white. When Nancy responds that she is black, the board members dismiss her, telling her that they cannot award her the scholarship since she is of the "wrong race." This instance illustrates how racism dictated the lives of many African Americans who were excluded from opportunities based on their race.

Moreover, discrimination is also evident when Nancy's fellow classmates disregard her talents. Nancy is not only great at art, but she is also highly talented in music. In instances where her class teacher asked for volunteers to compose music for the school choir, Nancy put herself forward. However, her request was denied, and instead, her white counterpart was given the task. The rejection of Nancy's talent and skills is evidence of systemic discrimination in schools and workplaces.

Conclusion

The themes of racism and discrimination in the "One Friday Morning" short story highlight the challenges that African Americans endured during the 1950s. Indeed, racial prejudice and discrimination were societal norms that limited the opportunities of people of color. The story by Hughes is a testament to the struggle for racial equality and emphasizes the importance of celebrating individual diversity rather than basing decisions on race or ethnicity. The story reminds us that discrimination based on skin color and racial should not dim the light of excellence, talent, and potential in people.