"Mr. Z" by M. Carl Holman

    In the poem, Mr. Z, author M. Carl Holman writes of society molding its members to have no sense of their own personal background.  The main character, Mr. Z, was "taught early that his mother's skin was the sign of error" (Holman).  This biracial character strives to dissociate with his mother's background by choosing "race less views of each situation" (Holman).  Overall, I believe M. Carl Holman is scrutinizing society.  Society has created this image of what the ideal person should be.  To live up to this image, one must eradicate themselves of any sense of ethnic culture.  Mr. Z clearly works to become this perfect member of society when he "disclaimed kinship with jazz and spirituals" (Holman).  Yet, at the end, Mr. Z becomes "one of the most distinguished members of his race" (Holman).  All in all, people spend their lives trying to become something they are not. But when these people are gone, they are remembered as the person they tried so hard to rid themselves of.