In school, whenever I had to do something like memorize the periodic table, my father would say the key to doing boring tasks is to think about not so much what you're doing but the importance of why you're doing it. Though when I asked him if slavery wouldn't have been less psychologically damaging if they'd thought of it as "gardening," I got a vicious beating that would've made Kunta Kinte wince.
The narrator reflects on advice from his father concerning the approach to tedious tasks like memorizing the periodic table. His father emphasized focusing on the significance of the task rather than the task itself. This guidance suggests a mindset that can transform a mundane experience into a meaningful one by understanding its underlying purpose.
The narrator's inquiry about the psychological implications of slavery, suggesting it could have been seen as "gardening," leads to a harsh reaction from his father. This moment highlights the complexities of their relationship and the severe realities of discussing sensitive historical issues, indicating that some perspectives can provoke strong emotions and resistance.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
