Assignment Description:

 

This assignment required me to analyze Henry Dumas’s short story “The Ark of Bones” by examining how biblical references shape the meaning of the narrative. My task was to identify scriptural allusions, explain how they operate in the story, and connect Dumas’s storytelling to the broader African American tradition of using biblical symbolism to process oppression, trauma, and spiritual transformation.

 

Full Essay:

           In African American literature, biblical references are often used in their stories to serve as an understanding for life, death, spiritual growth of African Americans when dealing with oppression, and life after death. Henry Dumas' short story published in 1974 heavily uses biblical references to show themes of sacrifice, resurrection, and spiritual growth. Dumas, who’s a fiction writer and poet often uses music, black culture and religion then blends it with African spiritual traditions, with Christian imagery to tell us about the struggles that African Americans go through. The “ark” symbolizes all the oppressed and fallen africans who died to slavery, Headeye has to lead and guide them similar to biblical story Noah’s Ark , Headeye in the short story is very similar to a lot of christian martyrs because he died trying to spread the good word to his people. 

 

              Headeye disappearing in the story represents him dying, then God calling headeye to spiritually lead his ancestors, enslaved, and oppressed african americans in the afterlife. In the text Headeye says “This is a key bone to the culud man. Ain’t but one in the whole world.”  “It belongs to the people of God.”I ain’t feel like the people of God, but I just let him talk on.
“Remember when Ezekiel was in the valley of dry bones?” I reckoned I did. “. . . And the hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit to the valley of dry bones.
“And he said unto me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ and I said unto him, ‘Lord, thou knowest.’ “And he said unto me, ‘Go and bind them together. Prophesy that I shall come and put flesh upon them from generations and from generations.’ (Headeye pg.2) Headeye is telling us that God wants all of his fallen and oppressed people who died in slavery to lead them spiritually along with his ancestors. 

 

             The “ark” in the short story serves as a key biblical symbol referring to Noah’s Ark. Similar to the biblical “ Noah’s Ark” Noah just like headeye gets a calling from God. In book of Genesis Noah says, “The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family,because I have found you righteous in this generation”.(Noah Genesis 7:1) Both in the Ark of Bones and In Noah’s Ark they are both called by God to lead their families and those who have fallen but believed in Christ.   In the Bible the “ark” in Noah’s ark represented preserved life through death and destruction that symbolized God’s creation and his covenant with Noah. In the “Ark of Bones”, the “ark” holds the spirits and bones of all the enslaved people who were oppressed which represents the memories and suffering of African Americans over the years. In the story the Fish-Hound says “everybody’d been talkin bout Headeye and him getting sanctified, he was given a keybone which was a sign from the spirit of God calling him to lead those of the fallen african american spirits”.(Headeye pg.2) This is Dumas using biblical references to tell us about headyes fate and shows even though he got lynched he still has a positive impact for his time on Earth.  

    

           Headeye's death in the story is very similar to many christians who were martyred that made an impact on the future. A good example of this is Saint Peter, he died spreading God’s word across the world, which is similar to Headeyes case because he’s spreading the word of God, his ancestor, and all of the enslaved people. In the story Headeye says “ God gave me this keybone which means I have been called to join the ark with my ancestors and leave where I am at now to help serve for a better purpose”(Headeye pg.3)    

 

           Through the biblical references Henry Dumas short story “Ark of Bones” tells us that Headeyes disappearance means that he had to sacrifice his life on Earth to be with God and turn his spiritual life around. By using biblical references Dumas turns a black suffrage story about a man getting lynched into a story of meaningfulness and how much God can impact our life for the better no matter the situation. Instead of us knowing Headeye for getting lynched, we remember him for spreading God’s word and being on the Ark of Bones.