Reflection

     I am glad to have had the opportunity to learn more about Charles Chesnutt and create a website for him. When I first read, “The Wife of His Youth”, I was struck by the unique story and the way he used it to teach a lesson about staying true to yourself and remembering where you came from. I was able to see such wisdom in his words. For me, the story was about growth and about seeing where you were, where you are now, and what you could have been. I was so inspired by the story that I wanted to learn more about the man behind it. 

     Charles Chesnutt had a unique life. He was a very light skinned man of color and because of this, he not only saw the world in a different way, but he was able to reach people on both sides. He was able to talk about the racial problems that African Americans were facing and get through to a white audience. He was a bridge between these two groups of people and yet, was a mixed-race individual so he belonged to three groups. He made his mark on the world and left a legacy and a model of how to take who you are and teach others. From his time as a teacher, to his writing, and involvement in civic organizations, he clearly knew what his mission in life was and accepted it.  

​     What I take away from this project is a new role model, Charles Chesnutt. I will remember how he faced difficulties and not only rose above them, but he wrote about them in a way that everyone could understand and respect. All of us have the same opportunity. We all face challenges, things that feel too big for us to accomplish, odds that seem stacked against us. But Chesnutt did not let these things stop him. He knew that he wanted to be a writer and he achieved that goal, even in a time when race could play a factor in one’s success. He not only achieved the goal, but he was able to write about and bring to light these very controversial topics. I respect his strength and courage and I am honored to have been introduced to him through one of his stories.