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Ann Petry's "Like A Winding Sheet" shows the frustration and anger of being a poor black couple living in a "Ghetto" during the mid to early 20 th Century. As the story unfolds, it is obvious that racism and frustration bring about the unforeseeable climax of anger that has festered within Johnson's mind. This story illustrates the graphic nature of how insults and injustice can fester and lead to blind anger along with domestic violence despite the fact that Johnson brings bout his own downfall through his misconception about his wife, job, and racism. One of the first points to mention is that the relationship between Johnson and Mae would appear to be a good one, since the author points out that Johnson "had planned to get up before Mae did and surprise her by fixing breakfast" (117). Certainly, it would be more than obvious that they loved one another very much because they were always playing after getting home from work instead of trying to get sleep in preparation for the next night of work.
Another sign of Johnson's love for Mae is when they were arguing about being late for work and "he couldn't bring himself to talk to her roughly or threaten to strike her like a lot of men might have done" (118). Although this appears from the outward appearance to be a normal relationship it's hard to ignore the inward emotions that Johnson has been keeping bottled up, such as the envious feelings he has toward Mae's ability to be energetic and refreshed after having worked all night. A second point is to mention the fact that it is early in the 20 th Century and jobs are particularly hard to find especially for a black man with no special trade. With this in mind it would seem that Johnson would be thankful to have secured employment anywhere in town instead of grumbling and complaining by making statements like "all that standing beats the hell out of my legs" (120). While at work "he pushed the cart out on the concrete floor, thinking that if this was his plant he'd make a lot of changes in it" (118); with thoughts such as this one, he was always emphatically thinking of how tough the job was and how things didn't seem to be getting any better, and as the shift went on he would grow tired as "fatigue nibbled at him" (120). Apparently, even being payday wasn't enough to get excited about with complaints of the way the money was distributed, "They did it better in the plant where Mae worked, brought the money right to them at their benches" (121).
Thirdly, in relation to the other points, racism seems to be alive and well within this time period but only being as serious as the individual such as Johnson allows. "I'm sick of you niggers" (119); was a statement directed towards Johnson by his boss, which is definitely, in today's standards considered a racial statement. This along with the fact that it was coming from the mouth of a woman was more than Johnson was prepared to handle, despite the fact his attitude toward work was poor. Johnson should realize that he cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way, or that he cannot change the inevitable which is that some people are going to use slanderous remarks and act wicked towards others. This along with the misunderstanding he had with the young woman selling coffee, which in his mind was racist as well can be used as examples of where attitude will take you. As he said "coffee please" (121); and was told "it will be awhile on the coffee" (121); he should not have assumed it was only because of the fact that he was black but in reality it was because the young lady had to make more.
In an attempt to understand some of the misfortunes in life, a good relationship with you wife is something to be treasured, not abused like has been portrayed numerous times by the media. With the last two items, a good job and racism, it is apparent that attitude can determine the outcome of both. To sum it up, an author once said "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. It will break a company...
a church... a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. I am convinced that life is 10 % what happens to me and 90 % how I react to it. And so it is with you...
we are in charge of our Attitudes" (Swindon). Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on 20 Th Century Job And Racism Johnson
