As I read more of the book, one of the more striking aspects of the book is not necessarily the racism exhibited by the American people but the racism of the main character.
Throughout the book, although the main character is half-black, he seems to look down upon those African-Americans around him. When referring to the widow's black companion, he calls a "surly, black despot." When referring to his first encounter with Atlanta, he says, "the unkempt appearance, the shambling, slouching gait, and loud talk and laughter of these people aroused in me almost a feeling of repulsion." These kinds of moments seem pop up throughout the book, but I'm not quite sure how to interpret these moments.
Is this a hidden racism that belies his views - views that seem to echo those of W.E.B. Dubois? Is the subtle racism that the main character exhibits inevitable for the time that he lives in or to be expected considering his privileged upbringing?
If the main character is a subtle racist, does that mean his views about the state of the African-American's struggle for equality become delegitimized? I am concerned about what seems to be Johnson's racism; however, I am still reluctant to discard his views as the product of privilege and derived from an ability to look down on those who are less gifted than him.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
To me, the main character's "subtle racism" comes from his tendency to view the world using a "white" perspective. He lived the first seven or eight years of his life thinking he was part of the majority. Additionally, he is schooled by white teachers who instill in him the white values of the time, defining the distinction between blacks and whites. Regarding Vu's question, I do think that the main character's ideas on the state of Blacks' struggle for equality become somewhat delegitimized. The support behind his views stems from the notion that he was, and still is, more capable than Whites in both school and music. It appears a more personal fight than a racial struggle to him.
I think it's important here to differentiate between Johnson and his narrator. All that Johnson has set forth in this novel is a character, not himself. And that character has led a life that, with regard to race, is exceedingly complicated: born to a white, absentee father and a black mother (who he does not even recognize as black); living the early part of his childhood as white, and indeed, to many of his peers, passing as white; being suddenly redefined as a black man, and later determining to attend a black college. His upbringing was such that warped racial views are almost to be expected. I hesitate to say that Johnson's call for equality is any less legitimate for this--we must remember that he is not the same as the character he has set forth.
I think that this idea of "subtle racism" echoes throughout both texts in constant flux. Even though it is discreetly mentioned or observed, one can assume that both authors feel this type of racism to be a concern. Du Boise explains that African-Americans (At the time) have to constantly be aware of being seen as different, without any choice. Just as Johnson is forced to identify himself as one or the other, Duboise points out the fact that blacks are forced to look for a true identity (a merge between many).
Post a Comment