#thebottom

Blog Post 7 - Originally Noted on April 2nd, 2023:

We talked about this a little in class, but I wanted to make more of a post about it and the importance, that is of The Bottom vs the valley in Sula. In the beginning of Sula we are noted about The Bottom, referring to uphill a place that slaves were given and told was the best land. However, this was not true as uphill it did not make it easier to live, it was rather much harder now for one to access resources and needs due to distance. 

I wanted to spin this, to relate to today’s America. I think for a long time, the United States has been trying to really say they are “The Dream” or “Best Place” but it isn’t as true. I mean the piling gun violence happening, getting rights for things such as abortion restricted, and even banning talks of LGBTQ+ topics and healthcare like Florida is doing doesn’t really make this place the best. 

So, in this case I see The Bottom, as individuals in America who aren’t white, male, able-bodied, higher class. Rather The Bottom would include Native Americans, People of Color, Women, the LGBTQ+ Community, Disabled Individuals, Lower Income Families/Individuals, the list could honestly go on. 

So, with seeing The Bottom vs the valley, we watch as those individuals up in The Bottom struggle compared to those in the valley who are already at an advantage, already have an easier route, and don’t have to go through more processes that others will have to endure. We can use the examples of a white man compared to a black man and the way we see how they might be criminalized.

 For example, oftentimes, we see the white man depicted as this innocent person, they show the best picture, and often give them no or less sentencing compared to a black individual. Or we could also use the example of an able bodied person compared to a disabled bodied individual going through their daily life, there might be places that aren’t as accessible and rather than putting in the work to do so, often people will blame it on the disabled even though they can’t change that, the abled bodies have an advantage.