James Alan McPherson
How is this individual account representative of the period? Of a specific cultural group-- a religion, a race, a tribe? And How is this individual account not representative to the period? Of a specific cultural group?

There are times when individuals try to recollect the situations of their past, which sometimes lead them to ponder over thoughts of what other individuals may have, or may have not said, that aids to the direction in which their thought pattern may sway. Being an individual born in the South, gives insight of some of the worst monstrosities that took place during the time of the Civil Rights Movement, and Segregation. It just so happens that this particular Author wrote about being born in Savannah, GA., in the early forties, to a Master Electrician, of African American descent, with the difficulties and limited advancements of Black American Citizens. McPherson's account of his life, touches on what some would consider to be "The Black Experience," of that time. This particular story of "Going Up to Atlanta," offers a more in-depth look at the thought process in which McPherson tries to cover most of the situations that helped him to summarize his own existence. McPherson speaks of the relationship between his father and himself, while looking at the situations where he felt either the most connected, or disconnected from him. This story mentions the educational success that McPherson experienced, while emphasizing the lack of personal success of his father's attempts at higher successes. He tells of a story about a Japanese movie called "Sansho the Bailiff," which seemed to offer a sleight idea of what the human experience was like in other parts of the world, but also with its similarities of his own. While taking short snippets of thought of certain family members and where they lived, he produced a somewhat "dotted tapestry" of a timeline, in which to draw from. McPherson mentions the conversations with various individuals, in regards to his father and the way that he lived. He understood that his father had a great reputation in the communities that he matriculated, from time to time, and that everyone recognized his skills and professionalism, as well as his demise. McPherson provides clues to the experiences of the Black American citizen, trying to gain position in the economy in which they lived, but the resistance of popular attitudes of racial tension, continues to shadow the progress of any professional movements. This account of the family's activities and bloodline, is a great representative of some of the issues of that period, but also lacks the other side of the picture, which may place more emphasis on how other cultural groups may've faired, during that same time in history. It appears that this writing focuses on one cultural group's struggle, while acknowledging the struggles of others of different religions, races, and nationalities. This individual account of McPherson's life, is a brief look at the time and life of most blacks, in the South. It takes the reader into the time and places, which some might have forgotten, and enlightens the mind to the social issues that somewhat clouds the thoughts of many.