Sea of black hats

Author

Ruth Leah Harp

Date of Award

8-1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

English

Major Professor

Allen Wier

Committee Members

Richard Kelly, Allison Ensor

Abstract

"Sea of Black Hats" is a story based on my grandmother, Beatrice May Rabinowitz. It is about her immigration from White Russia to New York in 1910. The 12 year old protagonist writes in her journal and in letters. She is learning English as the story progresses. The childish spelling and frequent grammatical missteps lessen through time and her voice improves as shown by word choice and spelling. "Sea of Black Hats" speaks to the geographic as well as the psychological isolation and dislocation of immigrants coming to America at the turn of the century.

Recommended Citation

Harp, Ruth Leah, "Sea of black hats. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1995.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/11129