Creative Response

Dear Eva Barnes,

I just want to start out by saying how much I highly respect you and all the things you have accomplished by yourself. How you came to Chicago by yourself at the age of only twelve and had to survive in such a big city. You had many jobs that you did well in but most importantly, you, after all that got to do what you really wanted, which was to have this tavern. I think it was so brave what you have done over the years by yourself doing all this work. I know it would have been easier to get help for money or to get help to clean your tavern that one day the pipes burst, but by making your own path in life shows the amount of dignity and self-respect you have. You are also showing a lot by being a woman and doing all this. I think you helped pave the way for women to realize that we are not just here to please men, but to make a mark in society as well. That women are just as capable as men are and we can do it. Some people may not see this and may even look down on you because most people are lazy or still feel that a women’s place is still in the kitchen. Women can do a lot for the society besides making babies and by you having nothing to living a more than adequate life proves that times are changing.

In our class, we have discussed many ways of oppression and I think that us women can easily fit in the oppression of marginalization. Women are sometimes put off to the sides because they want a big strong man to do something that us women can very well do. Look at Hilary Clinton for example. I do not think that one man took her seriously in her campaign as president. She either was wearing the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing to make the men call her names. Women are never looked at the same as men in the terms of being taken seriously and sometimes in work settings. I would say that the problem is getting better these days but I understand with you how hard you needed to work to get people to respect you or take charge. I have an older brother who has many guy friends and I have known them since I was in 2^nd grade. This could be a good and bad thing here. They think of me as a younger sister so when they joke around, they do sometimes have demeaning jokes about me, which apparently seems to be the norm these days. More and more jokes are out there about women but you usually never hear a man being called a whore or a female dog, and why is that? I like how when things got tough you did not quit but worked harder to make things happen and they did because you had a husband, children, and job that you love or at least seem to love at the most part. I want to give you my sincerest apology about your husband; he seemed like a really nice gentleman. I also want to say how understanding of a person you are even towards the African Americans when no one else was nice to them. How you accepted them in your bar and how you let them play with your children, which I thought that was a cute story to talk about.

You seemed like you had a fun time in your life and did not take it for granted. Many people, in my opinion should follow your ways of hard work and maybe someday it will pay off. If everybody lived in the moment and really worked hard for that honest living, I think that people would be a lot happier these days. Have big weddings like yours, be nice to everyone, and just enjoy the life you are living because you only get one.

Sincerely,

Kathleen