In this second episode of "Whitefoot the Wood Mouse" we journey away from the comfort and safety of the known, to the dangers and scary moments of the unknown. As we watch Whitefoot bravely start a new chapter in his life, we watch him face many fears. With hard work and wood smarts he shows us that all things can be overcome. Even in the most fearfull situations in life, friends can be made and succes is to be had. What once was scary can become a safe place if you allow it.

Today we start a new book "Whitefoot the Wood Mouse" by Thornton W. Burgess. I am fond of this story because of its ability to relate real life situations to such cute little characters allowing young kids to learn valuable life lessons. These first chapters find us watching Whitefoot navigate his life from a comfortable position in life. Although safe from most predators, he still finds danger can be found anywhere and at anytime. We will also watch as he cautiously makes friends with others even though they are not like him.

In this final chapter, Mr. Du Bois shows us the importance of the "Sorrow Songs". He shares how it is not just music but a story of suffering and pain. Yet, he also reveals the eternal hope that those songs brought to those that sang these songs. A hope for a better future and the strength to push on to see it. These are songs that have connected black Americans to their past, present, and someday their future people.

In Chapter 13 of "The Souls of Black Folk" we are told of the story of John Jones. A young black man who is sent off to college to better himself and his people. This story shows the racist attitude of the majority of white Americans toward black Americans in this day and age. Not only did they have issue with skin color, they seemed to have a large problem with a black person gaining knowledge. We also get to see how the education of John Jones not only caused him issues with white people but even made coming back to his family and friends difficult.

In this chapter of "The Souls of Black Folk" we get the opportunity to hear a little bit about the life of Alexander Crummell. The key focus in this chapter is the fact that the three temptations are representing what all black folk face when they encounter racism. One can easily see how easy it would be to give in to those temptations. Yet, we are shown how many black Americans choose to overcome those obstacles and live extraordinary lives.

Chapter 11 of "The Souls of Black Folk" is by far the most personal of all the chapters to this point by W.E.B. Du Bois. Mr. Du Bois tells us about the birth and death of his son Burghardt. From the joys of his birth, the worries of the world he was being brought into, the pain of his death, and lastly the thought that the child was probablly better off in death than in life, we are shown all. The ugliness of racism even in a man and womans time of loss will show just how bad and hurtful the actions of the worst of America were. The sad truth is, it's still going on. Another thing to keep in mind, even though Mr. Du Bois does not make the claim that racism caused the death, it was common in those days that white doctors would not treat black patients. One must wonder if that played any part in the loss of his son.

W.E.B. DuBois takes us to the spiritual side of black americans post emancipation in both the north and south. Both sides have major differences in practice but both northern and southern black churches had one major thing in common, They gave hope in a time of living hell. Throughout this chapter we will see the importance of the churches in their communities and the roles they played in establishing leaders amoung them.

In Chapter 9 W.E.B. Du Bois talks about the differnces in the life of white and black americans, post civil war. He takes us inside the fact that white americans at that time had very little knowledge into the inner workings of black families. The struggles of leaders being formed amoung former slaves due to the fact that had been slaves their entire lives and nothing else. He shows us the difficulties that black americans face and how that hinders the growth of the race making it harder to make progress as free people. Another flaw he points out, is the judicial system, which remains a problem to this day and why it needed fixed then. Finally, he speaks to the needs of both races to see, appreciate, and understand each others positions.

In our journey through "The Tale of Black Folk" we move into a new time and place in chapter 8. Cotton is still "King Crop" but is quickly losing value. The now freed black man is capable of owning his own crops. The problem is, there are no funds to obtain this new freedom with and blacks are put into great debt with little oppertunity of success. Mr. Du Bois takes us inside the typical black family and shares how slavery, formed a circle of failed black relationships and the new challenge of forming solid family foundations for the future. We continue to get a better understanding of just how badly slavery affected the black American population on a social level.

In Chapter 8, Georgia is the primary focus of location but more so as a referanceas to all the social injustices occuring across the south at that time. We learn of the population increase in the area of Georgia due to the availablity of jobs for blacks and whites. He also shares the purpose of Jim Crow laws that blocked oppertunities from blacks and allowed whites to stay seperate in their daily living. Mr. Du Bois shares stories of Black people and families so that their sufferage would not go unnoticed and all people would get a glimpse of understanding of the life of black Americans.