Answer :
The shared theme between James Baldwin's "Letter to My Nephew" and Joy Harjo's "Remember" is a focus on identity and history, but they differ in tone and scope. Baldwin's piece is direct and urgent about confronting racial issues, while Harjo's work is reflective and encompasses a broader connection to the earth and lineage.
James Baldwin's "Letter to My Nephew" and Joy Harjo's "Remember" share a thematic concern with identity and acknowledging one's past. Both works explore the importance of understanding and accepting one's history and heritage to forge a stronger, more informed identity. Baldwin's piece is direct and addresses the harsh realities of being an African American in a society that has a history of racism and oppression, while Harjo's poem connects to a broader sense of unity with the earth and one's ancestry.
Despite the shared themes of memory, identity, and honesty about the past, the tone of each piece is different. Baldwin employs a blunt and passionate style to convey the urgency of recognizing and confronting racial inequality. In contrast, Harjo uses a more meditative and spiritual tone to evoke a connection to all things as part of understanding oneself.
Baldwin's text is part personal address and part societal critique, speaking specifically to the African American experience. Meanwhile, Harjo's poem has a universal approach, encouraging the reader to remember the intrinsic link between humanity and the natural world, and to acknowledge the legacy and continuance of cultural traditions.
